Festool doesn't think they know better than many of their customers. And I think we are listening.

We have tried with numerous suppliers of bits to get a square drive bit in Centrotec format. We have tried on our own, and we enlisted the help of
McFeely's. It was not possible to get a Centrotec square drive bit in Festool quality at an acceptable price. We are well aware of the issue and we would love
to offer Centrotec square drive bits.

Christian

And that's a shame, because like most Canadians surrounded by Robertson everywhere, I would not be buying as a result. 

Christian I know that you yourself tried to get these made a few years ago and that you reported that lack of success here about three years ago.  So, I apologize for what I said about Festool knowing better than us.  You, as a representative of Festool, did take this requirement seriously.

But, that was three years ago (I just checked out datebase at this web site and you reported this on October the 10th, 2007).   Surely, if Festool Germany was serious about this requirement, with three years plus lead time they could have gotten one of the companies that does produce other bits that meet your standards to produce Robertson bits as well.  How hard can it be?

I'm conflicted about the Centro-Tec hand driver....  I got this at Home Depot for $9.99.  I normally avoid yellow tinged tools..  So, for the price it's fine.



I do like this quick release mechanism.  It is self-ejecting, and doesn't require any retracting/pulling to insert a bit.  You just push it in and it locks into place.  

To release, you retract the sleeve and it auto-unlocks, but a magnet keeps it from taking off.  In other words, you could change bits one-handed, on a ladder, easily.
It fits standard ball-detente driver bits.

On the other hand, regarding Centro-tec sets... I would love to have a hand driver, as included in the C-Tec 2010 drilling/driver *set*.

But, just on its own I wouldn't have much use for it, as I use the Bhs65 in my drill to hold driver bits, which are almost all 1/4" generics.
Almost all the things I own that are actual Centro-tec shanks are drill bits... not much use in a hand tool.

I say the next guy that mentions the Robertson Centrotec bits issue gets this

Are Torx drive screws banned from Canada? I sincerely just don't understand the Canadian affinity for square drive. Is it an invented here thing?


Tom

Hey, get to the back of the line!   

Yeah, I already have a Wera driver.  But, I also have the '07 Centrotec Set, and would like the Centrotec-Driver to use with all the bits in that set.  The Wera and Centrotec systems are not interchangeable, at least the tools I have aren't.  So, this is a different issue than just getting a Wera product instead.

Yes, it is true that a bit holder is useful with the C12 drill/driver to hold standard (non-Centrotec) hex bits.  But, that has absolutely nothing to do with wanting a Centrotec-Driver.  The C12 is a battery operated drill/driver.  The Centrotec-Driver is a handheld driver that accepts the Centrotec chuck, and therefor accepts any Centrotec item without requiring any bit holder in between.  This handheld driver should prove useful for anyone that already owns any of the Centrotec items.

Has anyone noticed that when Tom Silva uses his C12 on TOH or ATOH, he always uses it with the Jacobsen Chuck and not the centrotec system?

We need to see if Bob Marino can get him in tune with the program.

Neill

OMG!!

Those driver bits are available individually. I just put mine in the "attic". I also put the twist drills in there but I put a sheet of small bubble wrap to keep them from banging around.

There's also a bunch of room underneath the tray that the drill (T +) sits in.


Tom

Well, DUH!, if I'd have looked further into the catalog, I'd have seen them.  Thanks for pointing this out, Tom.  I use a companion "Stuff-tainer" for the assorted drill bits and drivers that I use most frequently.  Snap-On distributes a closed-cell foam liner for tool boxes that I've cut down to fit the drawers in the "Stuff-tainer".  This is particularly nice in that it doesn't absorb water or other gunk. 

Shane any update on this handle/driver? Approximate date and whether or not it will be available on its own? THANKS

I have been getting really irritated lately not only that Festool won't adopt Robertson in some fashion. But actually now I can't blame them because there are so many of these double ended Robertson bits that are non-standard and don't even work in my Robertson bit holder :-(  Centrotec is so darn close to Robertson that bugs me too. What is so hard about standardizing within a given industry?