C12 outdated?

greenMonster · Apr 13, 2012

So I have zero need for a I guess "mid-sized" drill, but I have a problem saying no to potential deals. [embarassed]
I'm picking up a ro150 for $225 tomorrow and he also has a C12 available ($200).

I guess maybe I could use a mid sized drill (here comes the rationalization part) as I have small ones and large ones...
I do remodeling, so I do a "little bit of everything".

Any thoughts?

(also, generally not a fan of buying discontinued battery powered tools as the battery is likely not the freshest)

(*I also have said I would never buy a festool drill, unless I could give it a go heavily discounted *whistling)

Vindingo · Apr 13, 2012

If it is non Li-ion, I would pass.

If you get the old C12, you will probably really enjoy it. Then you will start thinking, well the new ones are lighter, Li-ion batteries last longer, they have a belt clip, and a light... then you drop more $$$ on a new drill. Then you have two Fes drills! Or you buy it and have to spend $$ to rebuild the batteries, and end up spending even more on an old drill.

Even if the rotex is the old one (which I have and love) it will be the best $250 you've spent.

greenMonster · Apr 13, 2012

good points,I'm not well enough versed with the line up to have realized that were different models within the same lineup.

So for the c12, they went presumably from nicad to liion.
What about the rotex, what's changed and how do I tell?
Thanks

Vindingo said:
If it is non Li-ion, I would pass.

If you get the old C12, you will probably really enjoy it. Then you will start thinking, well the new ones are lighter, Li-ion batteries last longer, they have a belt clip, and a light... then you drop more $$$ on a new drill. Then you have two Fes drills! Or you buy it and have to spend $$ to rebuild the batteries, and end up spending even more on an old drill.

Even if the rotex is the old one (which I have and love) it will be the best $250 you've spent.

Wood_Junkie · Apr 13, 2012

If it is the C12 KIT, then get it. The angle, eccentric, Jacobs chuck and Centro-tec holder are worth that much alone (much more, actually). Not to mention the battery(ies?), charger, Systainer, etc. The drill is free in this equation. Heck, offer a bit less and see if they'll take it.

I love using the C12 for assembly purposes.

... I'm guilty of the multiple Festool drills syndrome... up to three now (C12 and 2x TDK12's), and the CXS. The batteries have very good longevity.

greenMonster · Apr 13, 2012

oh right!
That was my other point, its the full kit. Do the chucks work with all/some of the other drills (thinking down the road, can rationalize the purchase even more if push comes to shove the accessories outlive the drills usefullness)

*also, what kind of backwards compatibility is there with batteries/chargers if any since you brought it up

Wood_Junkie said:
If it is the C12 KIT, then get it. The angle, eccentric, Jacobs chuck and Centro-tec holder are worth that much alone (much more, actually). Not to mention the battery(ies?), charger, Systainer, etc. The drill is free in this equation. Heck, offer a bit less and see if they'll take it.

I love using the C12 for assembly purposes.

... I'm guilty of the multiple Festool drills syndrome... up to three now (C12 and 2x TDK12's), and the CXS. The batteries have very good longevity.

tbellemare · Apr 13, 2012

The keyless, Jacob's style chucks and Centrotec chucks work on all the drills. The CXS has a special mounting mechanism for its right-angle chuck but all the other drills use a common mount for the right angle, eccentric, and depth-stop chucks.

Tom

Vindingo · Apr 13, 2012

greenMonster said:
What about the rotex, what's changed and how do I tell?
Thanks

If it looks like a random orbit sander, it is the old rotex. If it looks like an alien spaceship... its the new one.

The old one is still a great machine IMO.

greenMonster · Apr 13, 2012

In that case, think im sold on the c12 assuming its liion.

Old rotex reminds me more of the ras.

AlexThePalex · Apr 13, 2012

greenMonster said:
In that case, think im sold on the c12 assuming its liion.

If it's a used C12 you'd better assume it's NOT Li-Ion but most probably NiCd. The Li-Ion drills are out only a year and no sound mind would sell that for $200. I'd also assume the batteries won't be in too good a shape anymore. I'd pass.

greenMonster said:
What about the rotex, what's changed and how do I tell?

What mostly changed is the shape and the motor. The Old Rotex has a 500 watt motor, the new one a 750 watt motor. The older Rotex also has an oval dust port, which is not my favourite. The DC is less and the hose will wiggle itself loose a lot easier. They changed it to the standard round dust port on the new one, which I think it much better. The old Rotex is probably easier to control than the new one. But the new one is a lot stronger. and has better DC.

greenMonster · Apr 13, 2012

Well you just muddied up the water! (thanks for the Info though

)

* scratches head, looks like I got some more reading up to do.

Also didn't realize the drills come in different batteries capacities

Timtool · Apr 13, 2012

My dealer still has a stack of old T12's and T15's NiCd in classic systainers, he is doing a 18% discount on those which makes them a couple hundreds cheaper than the new ones.
I thought it might be interesting to get one of those for the jobsite work and keep my new T15 nice and clean in the shop, but when i picked one up i was surprised by the considerable weight difference which put me off.

waho6o9 · Apr 13, 2012

Personally, any Festool drill is way better than no Festool drill. Get the drill.

Alan m · Apr 13, 2012

if its the set. get it.
you could probably ebay it and make more back on the chucks etc if the bateries are ruined.

greenMonster · Apr 13, 2012

Get it....don't get it [blink]

peter halle · Apr 13, 2012

Get it. I got a C-12 with nicads earlier this year and love it! I reach for it more than my T-15.

Peter

rookie08 · Apr 13, 2012

I got the same deal but with the T-12 Lithium set (the model before the current; no light, no belt clip) dealer demo. Great deal and a way to get into the Festool drill line very inexpensively and for longer than the 30 day return policy (which is still great but sometimes you just need a bit longer). If you like it and see the value you could always sell the old C12 drill, except for the chucks,, on ebay, as mentioned above, make your money back (or more), and put that cash towards a new C15, but save $$ since you don;t need to pay for the set, just the drill.

Yes, I know, Festool and save in the same post, what am I thinking. [tongue] Because here is what will happen; you'll be so impressed with the quality and value of the drill, you'll end up buying more and more green, for more and more green.

Look at it this way, at least for the drill, you can't lose any money so it's the ultimate no risk guarantee. [big grin]

Cheers

James

ericbuggeln · Apr 13, 2012

I do remodeling too and I use the c12 everyday for years now. you should definitely buy that, even if you have to get new batteries you will be psyched at that price, Eric

greenMonster · Apr 13, 2012

what's the deal with backward compatibility?

New batteries/chargers with old and old batteries/chargers with new?

peter halle · Apr 13, 2012

Old batteries can be charged on new chargers - I think.

Peter

mastercabman · Apr 13, 2012

Peter Halle said:
Old batteries can be charged on new chargers - I think.

Peter

Yes they can.

C12 outdated?

greenMonster

Vindingo

greenMonster

Wood_Junkie

greenMonster

tbellemare

Vindingo

greenMonster

AlexThePalex

greenMonster

Timtool

waho6o9

Alan m

greenMonster

peter halle

Festool Moderator

rookie08

ericbuggeln

Guest

greenMonster

peter halle

Festool Moderator

mastercabman

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