mouppe
Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2010
- Messages
- 3,036
I just visited the UK and waiting for me when I arrived was a new T-Loc sys 1 Centrotec set item number 497628. This item is currently NAINA, but it is expected to come over here in 2011. Unlike previous centrotec sets which were released in years past and then discontinued, this item is supposedly a permanent addition to the Festool product line-up.
It cost me GBP 219, which is about $350. Strangely, two weeks after it went on sale in the UK at the beginning of October, the price was bumped up to GBP 286, which is about $460. Presumably this was to remove the large discrepancy with the euro price of E350 (roughly $470).
OK, so what do you get?
First you get a new T-Loc systainer. Much has been written on the FOG about the pros and cons of the new systainers vs the old ones, so I won't re-hash it all here. One thing that
I did notice and did not like is that unless you latch the systainer to the one below, it will slide around freely. With the old systainers you could stack them and they would remain pretty stable. You only had to latch them if you were carrying them. Not the new model. I do not know if this is only with a new sys on top of an old one, but anyway, it's annoying.
I also wish the t-loc had firmer locking positions. It is very easy to rotate the t-loc past the desired point. Minor irritation.
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Inside the lid is a diagram showing all the including bits, plus a photo on the right side of how they all fit in the box. Something that all festools should come with in my opinion and a topic that has featured many times on the FOG. There is also a little foam piece that stops the bits becoming dislodged.
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Inside the systainer are two layers. On the left side of the upper layer is item 495128, a 10-piece drill bit kit in its own mini case. Drill bit sizes are 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm, 8mm and 10mm. There is also an allen key so you can replace the bits when they become blunt. This mini kit sells by itself for GBP55 or about $90. On the bottom of the box is a list of part numbers for the various bits so you can easily order replacements. Also the box has a small plastic hook on the top but I tried holding the box by this and it fell off. Er, best to avoid this feature. I think it is there for retailers to display it but if you open it when it is hanging by its hook, it will fall off.
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On the right side of the upper layer are 12 long centrotec driver bits- flathead, Philips and Torx, a centrotec screwdriver handle, a 10-piece TwinBOX mix (item 496936), and a centrotec tool chuck. At first I wondered why the chuck is included in the kit since you get one with every Festool drill, but the screwdriver does not hold the bits very well without it, so I suppose if the drill is not to hand, you can use this set as a screwdriver set all the same.
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On the lower level, accessed by removing the two black plastic inserts, are the specialty drill bits and accessories.
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On the left side, starting at the top and moving down, are (festool part numbers in brackets):-
- a Centrotec drill adapter (if you want to use centrotec bits in a regular drill chuck)
- a small deburring countersink
- a large deburring countersink
- a centrotec 5mm drill bit with a depth stop (492522)
- a centrotec 3.5mm drill bit with depth stop and a countersink (495523)
- a centrotec 5mm centring bit (492525)
- an extra-long 150mm magnetic bit holder
- a regular-sized magnetic bit holder
- a centrotec hook driver (492526)
In the middle of the tray at the top is a 5-piece wood drill bit set (495130) containing sizes 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm and 8mm.
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Top right of the tray are empty spaces for extra bits you can put there yourself, and bottom right are 50 assorted torx, philips and posidrive bits. 5 of each of PZ1, PZ2, PZ3, PH1, PH2, PH3, TX15, TX20, TX25 and TX30.
So in conclusion, it's a really well-equipped kit but not cheap. If you buy all the bits separately you save a lot buying the set, but then again, would anyone buy all the bits it comes with? I also would have liked some sort of hinged assembly on the upper trays so that they stay attached to the systainer somehow.
Not an essential Festool but definitely nice to have. Recommended.
Richard.
It cost me GBP 219, which is about $350. Strangely, two weeks after it went on sale in the UK at the beginning of October, the price was bumped up to GBP 286, which is about $460. Presumably this was to remove the large discrepancy with the euro price of E350 (roughly $470).
OK, so what do you get?
First you get a new T-Loc systainer. Much has been written on the FOG about the pros and cons of the new systainers vs the old ones, so I won't re-hash it all here. One thing that
I did notice and did not like is that unless you latch the systainer to the one below, it will slide around freely. With the old systainers you could stack them and they would remain pretty stable. You only had to latch them if you were carrying them. Not the new model. I do not know if this is only with a new sys on top of an old one, but anyway, it's annoying.
I also wish the t-loc had firmer locking positions. It is very easy to rotate the t-loc past the desired point. Minor irritation.
[attachthumb=#]
[attachthumb=#]
Inside the lid is a diagram showing all the including bits, plus a photo on the right side of how they all fit in the box. Something that all festools should come with in my opinion and a topic that has featured many times on the FOG. There is also a little foam piece that stops the bits becoming dislodged.
[attachthumb=#]
Inside the systainer are two layers. On the left side of the upper layer is item 495128, a 10-piece drill bit kit in its own mini case. Drill bit sizes are 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm, 8mm and 10mm. There is also an allen key so you can replace the bits when they become blunt. This mini kit sells by itself for GBP55 or about $90. On the bottom of the box is a list of part numbers for the various bits so you can easily order replacements. Also the box has a small plastic hook on the top but I tried holding the box by this and it fell off. Er, best to avoid this feature. I think it is there for retailers to display it but if you open it when it is hanging by its hook, it will fall off.
[attachthumb=#]
[attachthumb=#]
[attachthumb=#]
On the right side of the upper layer are 12 long centrotec driver bits- flathead, Philips and Torx, a centrotec screwdriver handle, a 10-piece TwinBOX mix (item 496936), and a centrotec tool chuck. At first I wondered why the chuck is included in the kit since you get one with every Festool drill, but the screwdriver does not hold the bits very well without it, so I suppose if the drill is not to hand, you can use this set as a screwdriver set all the same.
[attachthumb=#]
On the lower level, accessed by removing the two black plastic inserts, are the specialty drill bits and accessories.
[attachthumb=#]
[attachthumb=#]
On the left side, starting at the top and moving down, are (festool part numbers in brackets):-
- a Centrotec drill adapter (if you want to use centrotec bits in a regular drill chuck)
- a small deburring countersink
- a large deburring countersink
- a centrotec 5mm drill bit with a depth stop (492522)
- a centrotec 3.5mm drill bit with depth stop and a countersink (495523)
- a centrotec 5mm centring bit (492525)
- an extra-long 150mm magnetic bit holder
- a regular-sized magnetic bit holder
- a centrotec hook driver (492526)
In the middle of the tray at the top is a 5-piece wood drill bit set (495130) containing sizes 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm and 8mm.
[attachthumb=#]
Top right of the tray are empty spaces for extra bits you can put there yourself, and bottom right are 50 assorted torx, philips and posidrive bits. 5 of each of PZ1, PZ2, PZ3, PH1, PH2, PH3, TX15, TX20, TX25 and TX30.
So in conclusion, it's a really well-equipped kit but not cheap. If you buy all the bits separately you save a lot buying the set, but then again, would anyone buy all the bits it comes with? I also would have liked some sort of hinged assembly on the upper trays so that they stay attached to the systainer somehow.
Not an essential Festool but definitely nice to have. Recommended.
Richard.
