Acceptable play on BHC 18 SDS+ cordless drill?

[digilante]

Hi,

I have a BHC 18 that is just under a year old and I've drilled about 100 holes in concrete, mostly 6mm. I now see that there is a significant play on the shaft / bit. With a 12mm SDS+ bit, I estimate the diameter of the play at the tip of the bit at about 4-5mm, and with a CentroTec and a short screwdriver bit, the play is about 2-3mm.

I find this unacceptable as now even drilling in concrete results in a messy hole and tons of vibration. When I approached the dealer he dismissed me with a "It's normal, I'm not going to send it in." It does not seem normal to me, especially when one watches the Festool video about the drill where the action is oh so smooth and straight.

What sort of play do you see on your BHC 18? Is the play I experience sufficiently unacceptable for me to go back and take a much harder stance with the dealer?

Thanks,
Peter.

 

[mrboult]

No play on mine (6 years old now) use it, with the depth stop Rod, to do 35mm cabinet hinge holes all the time. If it had bad play or runout I’d see it with that application.

 

[semenza]

I would send it in. Warranty is three years including shipping both ways. Contact Festool directly by phone or use the online form here ------------>https://www.festoolusa.com/campaigns/microsites/onlinerepair

Seth

 

[Coen]

Well, how long was the drill bit ?

But that is more than I have in my SDS drill even when using 30mm fat 450mm long drill.

Either bad bit... or bad tool.

 

[grobkuschelig]

Make sure it’s not just how the drill bit is sitting in the SDS chuck. I had similar reservations when I first bought my BHC18 and sent the unit into Festool Service here in Germany.
Got the drill back with the statement that everything is alright..

I have made some tests and found that depending on how the bit sits, wobble was visible under “no load” investigation.
But so far, no issues at all when drilling. Holes are spot on.
YMMV...

 

[mino]

I would send it in. Warranty is three years including shipping both ways. Contact Festool directly by phone or use the online form here ------------>https://www.festoolusa.com/campaigns/microsites/onlinerepair
Seth

This.

SDS bits themselves tend to be anything but straight. Had a Bosch Pro bit which just wouldn't go straight and the shop also said "it is normal" just so they do not have to replace the bit ..

Ignore the dealer and contact Festool per above.
The All-inclusive is not with dealer but with Festool. The dealer may be applying their usual "lets see if the customer persists" game they do for all the customers, regardless the brand.

Festool does not play these games but actually tests/checks the tool. Ideally, you should send them also the bit/chuck you experience the problem with so they can check it too.

 

[digilante]

Hi,

Thanks all for your replies. I tested this with the SDS+ 12mm bit that comes in the Festool SDS+ pack, so it's what 4 inches long? Note that this happens also with a CentroTec adapter and a short screwdriver bit... even without anything, and looking with a light into the hole where the bits go, I can see the play.

Yes, there is a difference in play if the bit is inserted one way, and then 180 degrees rotated around.

Unfortunately in Europe the rule is "Just bring it to your nearest dealer and he'll take care of the rest." In reality, you get huge pushback if you did not purchase the tool from them. Well, sorry, but if a tool is 20-30% cheaper on some German website, I'm not going to buy it from the dealer... which is kind of messed up because I can understand the dealer's resentment. I wish I could just ship the thing to Festool BeNeLux myself.

Regards,
Peter.

 

[mrboult]

Yikes. Where in Europe? In the UK we can use dealer or send straight to festool.

 

[digilante]

Hi,

Luxembourg, i.e. BeNeLux region. For those who can deal with some Dutch, this is from the festool.be site:

U kunt de herstelling via uw vakhandelaar bij Festool aanvragen. We halen het gereedschap bij de vakhandel van uw keuze gratis af en leveren het na herstelling ook gratis opnieuw daar af.
Onze in house herstellingsafdeling zorgt voor een professionele herstelling binnen maximum 48 uren.
Zodat u snel weer aan het werk kunt.

(Go to your dealer, we get the tool for free, fix it, and return it for free... not quite so in reality). I cannot find anything about sending it directly.

Peter.

 

[mino]

Unfortunately in Europe the rule is "Just bring it to your nearest dealer and he'll take care of the rest." In reality, you get huge pushback if you did not purchase the tool from them. Well, sorry, but if a tool is 20-30% cheaper on some German website, I'm not going to buy it from the dealer... which is kind of messed up because I can understand the dealer's resentment. I wish I could just ship the thing to Festool BeNeLux myself.

This is not so elsewhere in EU so not see a reason why should be different in Benelux. It may be the dealer did not want to inform you.

Best/easiest is to register your tool on Festool.be/Festool.nl under "MyFestool" and then you should be able to order a repair directly from the "My tools" page when clicking in the tool.

They will usually schedule you a pickup by a local shipping service. All you normally need is to have it packaged properly so it does not get damaged in transport.

In any case, if the bit vibrates differently depending how it is attached it may indicate issue with the bit - but not only. The chuck can be having a problem too. Without a Festool technician looking it over no one can tell reliably.

 

[digilante]

Hi,

Yes, all my tools are registered under MyFestool, but the link to request repair is missing and instead you just see the text about bringing the tool to your dealer... :-(

Peter.

 

[mino]

Hi,

Yes, all my tools are registered under MyFestool, but the link to request repair is missing and instead you just see the text about bringing the tool to your dealer... :-(

Peter.

Strange. This must be something Benelux-specific.

Still, best would be contact Festool directly and mention the dealer is refusing to accept the tool for a checkup asking for an advice.

 

[grobkuschelig]

If you bought the tool at a German dealer, I would check with them, if they will handle the repair. Might be a „middle-way“ option.