Battery compability and recommendation for T18 and TSC 55

[olpo]

Hi!

I’m new to the forum and Festool in general, I hope it is OK with a few newbie questions.

I’m about to purchase the T18+3 to aid me when assembling a kitchen and other stuff around the house. Would you go for the lighter 3.1 Ah battery or the more powerful but heavier 6.2 Ah? I’m having a hard time to decide, since I’m also interested in  the TSC 55. If I go for the 6.2 Ah, maybe I can share it with the TSC which I assume could use the extra power? Is the 6.2 Ah too heavy for the T18?

Thoughts and guiedence are appretiated

 

[semenza]

Hi,

      Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

            The 4.0 , 5.2, 6.2 will all run the saw. 3.1 will not. Personally I would opt for the 4.0 to run everything. It is a good combination of size, weight, and run time.

Seth

 

[Ron B]

I agree that the 4.0 would be a good choice.  I think a couple of the 6.2 in the saw would definitely make it on the heavy side.  I think the 5.2 makes the saw heavy enough.    Also, the 5.2 batteries come up on the FOG classified site sometimes if you ever wanted more batteries.  The 4.0 are newer and do not come up for sale. 

 

[FestitaMakool]

Welcome to the forum!

As Seth said, or opt for both 3,1 and 4,0Ah.
The 3,1 is beautifully light in comparison and are perfect for the drill. Remember less Ah charges faster too.
On a budget, 1 3,1Ah and two higher capacity for the saw will do a long way. Don’t overbuying batteries, buy as you need and for features. Remember the 3,1 is also available with Bluetooth, If you later buy a jig saw for example, or indeed the lighter tools that you would want to go with dust collection.

The T18 is a great drill!

 

[Paul_HKI]

While I like the idea of the 4.0Ah batteries, I've been sticking with the 5.2Ah's for the time being.  They're perfectly fine on the T18 (I have one myself) for use around the house/home and aren't excessively heavy in that context.  If it was an all day long, 6 days a week requirement, lighter might be better of course.

Regarding the 4.0's, am I mistaken in thinking these are made in China?  If so, that's an unfortunate development IMHO.

 

[mrboult]

I am constantly raving about my T18 around these parts. This is exclusively used with the 3.1 (and previous 2.6) compact batteries. I find the 4.0 noticeably heavier and don’t use them in the drills as often. However in your position I would go 4.0. They’re still noticeably lighter and more compact in the drills and run the big tools great also.

The large batteries are fine in the T18, and my first T18 came with large batteries (back then they were 3.0ah large batteries) and while I still liked the drill a lot back then it was the arrival of the compact batteries that sparked true love for my t18.

But I am a daily user and these things matter to me. The T18 is a fantastic tool with any of them.

 

[demographic]

As someone who works on sites where reliable charging points can be some distance away I wouldn't ever buy a  battery smaller than 5Ah nowadays and I'd just live with the little bit of extra weight every time.

That goes for, cordless drills, rattle gun, nailgun, jigsaw, circ saw, SDS drill, you name it.
The one tool that I can think of with smaller batteries is my PLS180 self levelling laser.

If you're working in comissioned houses all the time where power is reliable then possibly the little batteries make sense but I can't say I've used a cordless drill with a 5 (or slightly over) Ah battery and thought it was too heavy. It often makes them balance on their base better
Oh, I have found a Bosch cordless drill to be heavy and numb but that was a few years ago and was more due to the entire thing being made from something the density of a neutron star rather than just the weight ot the batteries.

 

[semenza]

A lot really depends the work situation. The size, weight, compactness, work out in different ways for different people and situations.

My impression from [member=75189]olpo[/member] post is that these are for personal "around the house" use.

  Seth

 

[mino]

I went all 5.2 due to the promotion with free batteries last year but now regret it and will be getting a Vecturo 3.1 set to get 3.1 bats for my DRC.

If you can (these are not available in US anymore etc.), get the 3.1 version of the T18 or plan some other combination that will get you two 3.1 bats in your set.

A drill driver is THE most used tool and it is not worth it to compromise its ergonomy.

But you mention TSC. I would advise to speed up the purchase and go for the still available REBQ aka "older" model with a riving knife. If you do not plan multiple saws, it can serve you well also for free-hand use while the newer TSC is more geared for rail-only use.

And, right now, if you are in Europe, there is a promotion running in Germany where you get a free 5.2 bat even with a bare TSC:
Great deal for home user - you can use the charger from your T18 and then you need only one more battery and are good to go.

If you can, I would get the promotions TSC  + promotions T18 and buy the TCL6 charger standalone.
Then, on next opportunity, I would get the OSC 18 3.1 set (to get another TCL6 for free essentially plus a set of small bats).

For Germany/Europe:
https://www.rubart.de/AKTION%3A-Festool-Akku-Tauchsäge-TSC-55-Li-REB-Basic-–-201395-GratisAkku-ab-27.01.21-solange-Vorrat-reicht**-p10072308
https://www.rubart.de/AKTION%3A-Festool-Akku-Bohrschrauber-T-18-3-Basic-576448-GratisAkku-ab-27.01.21-solange-Vorrat-reicht**-p10157727

Alternatively, the TSC basic (+free bat) + T18 3,1 set (+free bat):
https://www.rubart.de/AKTION%3A-Festool-Akku-Bohrschrauber-T-18-3-C-3%2C1-Plus-576449-GratisAkku-ab-27.01.21-solange-Vorrat-reicht**-p10157728

Hard to beat these free-bat-with-basic-tool deals ...

Feeling spendy, get a "holy" FS/2 1400 LR32 rail to go along, a Festool FS-WA/90° rail square and you are good to go!