C15 or C18

[JGrant54]

I have been doing a lot of reading on here and thinking this over for some time now and I can't decide wether to get the C15 or the C18 so I was wondering what you guys thought?  I have a Hilti Drill and Impact set that I use for all of my framing and work like that, what I am looking at a Festool drill for would be trim work and cabinet installs as well as construction.

 

[Kev]

To my thinking there is no reason to choose a 15 now. The is virtually identical and there's no down side.

If you really want a 15, buy an 18 and I'll swap with you [wink]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]I purchased a C15 basic earlier this year, even though there were rumours of the C18, and the price difference ended up being significantly in my favour. However the lack of the physically smaller 2.6 amp batt for the C15 has been a small issue.

So if you can still get a C15 at a good price consider it. If the prices are close, definitely go C18.



And Welcome to the FOG.

 

[Staniam]

Besides price, there isn't a benefit to the C15 over the C18 that I can see. And the 2.6ah battery is really awesome. I have 2 4ah batteries already and picked up the C18 basic last week with a 2.6ah battery and it's insanely light and compact. Super comfortable to work with. Paired with my CXS  (also the new version with 2.6ah batteries), there won't be many things I can't tackle outside of masonry drilling.

Here's a picture of the C18 alongside the CXS.

 

[cue003]

Cost is the only factor. Get the C18 set and a 2.6ah battery and call it a day. No need for csx etc like many people have.

 

[Staniam]

Cost is the only factor. Get the C18 set and a 2.6ah battery and call it a day. No need for csx etc like many people have.

Why's there no need? Just curious.

 

[bkharman]

Cost is the only factor. Get the C18 set and a 2.6ah battery and call it a day. No need for csx etc like many people have.

Why's there no need? Just curious.

Don't agree with this ^

I have a PDC and CSX and love both for their own purpose. The CSX was my first purchase years ago. I use it all the time. Picked up the PDC this summer and love it for the big stuff.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[Cheese]

Cost is the only factor. Get the C18 set and a 2.6ah battery and call it a day. No need for csx etc like many people have.

Why is there no need for the CSX? It's a completely different drill powerwise, than the C 15.
Two different tools...two different applications.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

I also want to add to my Festool PDC 18/4 a small drill for light duty,and can't decide which one: CXS os C18 ?

 

[Staniam]

I also want to add to my Festool PDC 18/4 a small drill for light duty,and can't decide which one: CXS os C18 ?

I wouldn't consider the C18 (or T18) light duty drills in any way so I'd recommend the CXS if you're set on another Festool drill. They're lightweight and compact for 18v but they're not light duty in my opinion.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

I also want to add to my Festool PDC 18/4 a small drill for light duty,and can't decide which one: CXS os C18 ?

I wouldn't consider the C18 (or T18) light duty drills in any way so I'd recommend the CXS if you're set on another Festool drill. They're lightweight and compact for 18v but they're not light duty in my opinion.

Yeah,you right,according to specs,CXS  is more light duty than C18,definitely need add one to my  PDC 18/4.
Its just looks from the picture above that  CXS and C18 similar in size,I mean handle,but I may be wrong.Which one is more comfortable for you between CXS and C18? Looks like CXS handle have more room.

 

[Cheese]

The CXS and  C 15/18 are similar in form only...not in size or capabilities.

The CXS is the little engine that could...

 

[cue003]

Cost is the only factor. Get the C18 set and a 2.6ah battery and call it a day. No need for csx etc like many people have.

Why's there no need? Just curious.

I was saying no need from a cost perspective. The cxs cost can go into other tools.  The c18 with the lighter 2.6ah battery can do everything that the cxs can.  But if you must have something that is lite duty (which the c18 with all the torque settings can be used for light duty) and your usage or desires are driving for something that is about 1lb lighter (.9kg for cxs, 1.4kg for c18 with 2.6ah batt) or a smaller form factor then the cxs will fit that bill.  Speaking of weight the c18 with smaller batter will most likely already be lighter than the Hilti drills that the OP are currently using.

I was not trying to offend anyone and I should have clarified my comment above. 

 

[AIPDX]

I own a CXS drill and I've been also thinking about T15 or T18 (or C15 and C18). I tried both "T" versions in a store (they did not have the "C"s in stock, but they are different from the Ts only in form-factor).

PROs of 15 Volt models:
1. Slightly lighter. However, the weight difference is marginal. You can tell the difference if you are doing a "blind test" and hold both drills in your left and right arm without knowing which is which, but it takes a few seconds of thinking before you become confident which is lighter.

2. Cheaper. This is kind of important.

PROs of the 18 Volts model:

1. Longer battery life. The battery may have the same capacity, but power = voltage * current, and capacity is just current * time. So 18 Volts versus 15 volts means 20% longer battery life, for the same power, or more power for the same time. This probably does not make much difference for practical purposes. 20% is too small to feel it easily.

2. Compatibility of batteries with other Festool cordless tools. They are all made 18 Volts these days. Extra two batteries are helpful to have at hand, if you are not using the drill but using, e.g., a cordless track saw, so you can have two batteries in charger while using the other two. This can be an important factor, but only IF you have other battery operated Festool tools, or plan to buy them.

3. 18 Volts seems to be current battery technology which is at its maturity, 15 Volts is more like yesterday's technology. This could have impact on availability or cost of replacement batteries when the originals die. However, this does not play a major role as Festool guarantees availability of spare parts for 10 years.

4. A little more power, but the difference is too small to be significant. Both have more power than one can use in a small package. If you need a lot of power and torque, get a corded 500+ Watts drill with a side handle.

So ultimately it all boils down to cost and ex-changeability of batteries with other cordless tools, I think.

 

[Staniam]

I also want to add to my Festool PDC 18/4 a small drill for light duty,and can't decide which one: CXS os C18 ?

Yeah,you right,according to specs,CXS  is more light duty than C18,definitely need add one to my  PDC 18/4.
Its just looks from the picture above that  CXS and C18 similar in size,I mean handle,but I may be wrong.Which one is more comfortable for you between CXS and C18? Looks like CXS handle have more room.

In the picture I posted, the C18 has the 2.6ah compact battery on it so it's very compact overall. With the 4 or 5 ah batteries it's maybe an 1"-1.5" taller. I can post a picture with the C18 and the 4ah battery later when I get home from work.

 

[Staniam]

Cost is the only factor. Get the C18 set and a 2.6ah battery and call it a day. No need for csx etc like many people have.

Why's there no need? Just curious.

I was saying no need from a cost perspective. The cxs cost can go into other tools.  The c18 with the lighter 2.6ah battery can do everything that the cxs can.  But if you must have something that is lite duty (which the c18 with all the torque settings can be used for light duty) and your usage or desires are driving for something that is about 1lb lighter (.9kg for cxs, 1.4kg for c18 with 2.6ah batt) or a smaller form factor then the cxs will fit that bill.  Speaking of weight the c18 with smaller batter will most likely already be lighter than the Hilti drills that the OP are currently using.

I was not trying to offend anyone and I should have clarified my comment above.

You didn't offend, I was just wondering  [smile]

 

[CumminsDiesel]

Staniam,thanks! I appreciate it!

Soon or later I'm planing to add to my PDC 18/4 a "light" duty drill,it probably be C18,it looks more compact for me from the picture,I mean side view,and CXS looks a bit wider.

I also want to add to my Festool PDC 18/4 a small drill for light duty,and can't decide which one: CXS os C18 ?

Yeah,you right,according to specs,CXS  is more light duty than C18,definitely need add one to my  PDC 18/4.
Its just looks from the picture above that  CXS and C18 similar in size,I mean handle,but I may be wrong.Which one is more comfortable for you between CXS and C18? Looks like CXS handle have more room.

In the picture I posted, the C18 has the 2.6ah compact battery on it so it's very compact overall. With the 4 or 5 ah batteries it's maybe an 1"-1.5" taller. I can post a picture with the C18 and the 4ah battery later when I get home from work.

 

[bkharman]

The CXS is the smaller of the two and well loved by most members of this forum. It is ideal for small screw work including cabinet assembly and other "light duty" tasks. I pick it up 90% of the time.  I use my PDC for everything else.

I don't want to sway your decision but I would do one of the following:

-PDC plus CXS.
-C18 plus CXS.

I am fairly certain that I wouldn't do the C18 plus PDC. It is overkill.  You could do the PDC plus C15 if you wanted to...

If you are already mixing batteries, go for comfort as you already have dropped compatibility on the batteries but will retain compatibility on the Centrotec parts.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[CumminsDiesel]

Thanks Bryan!

My choice CXS with my PDC.

 

[Darren1972]

C15 or c18 well c18 obviously c15 is getting fazed out for the c18 anyway so its a no brainer