Centrotec bit holder...metric vs imperial

[Jaco77]

Big question for the cheapest festool piece money can by...

First excuse my english it's my second language.

Modification: while talking about the chrome bit holder I am talking about the BH60...

I just bought the T18 drill with all the attachment possible, unfortunately the Centrotec chuck is metric in size and our bits in Canada are imperial, it is less than a mil. différence in size between both but it dos not fit so I have to use the chome bit holder, that i find annoying because the magnetism is not strong enough everytime I screw, countersink even drill when I pull out the drill whichever bits stay attached on the piece that i work on...

The solution that I have are the following : Buy for a lot of money every bits and drill bit that Festool sell in metric and not be able to pay my 2 next month electricity bills.

A friend told me to put my bits in a press drill and file the connecting hexagone I tried surprisingly it it work but only for some screw bits...

Ho by the way I can use the drill chuck attachment but I dont want to.

Thanks for the inputs

Ray

Is there any solution for me better than selling my T18         

 

[six-point socket II]

Buy this bit holder.https://www.festoolcanada.com/accessory/492648---bhs-65-ce#Overview

The issue is btw. not metric vs. imperial. Centrotec bits are a bit thinner and have a different design on the machine side. 1/4" (6.4mm) bits don't work with it without the bit holder.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Bob D.]

Maybe a quick change 1/4" hex bit adapter modified to fit into the Centrotec chuck. Then you only have to modiy one piece and all your 1/4" hex bits will fit w/o modification.

I see Oliver was posting at the same time I was and I like his solution much better though I think $41 is a bit hefty for this piece.

 

[sancho57]

@ Bob D.

Yeah that is a bit pricey isnt it. But Im ordering one tomorrow. It will come in handy for my non centrotec bits.

 

[peter halle]

That adapter works great and the expense will be forgotten over time.

 

[ScotF]

It is in all the Installers sets if you have one of those - it is a great bit holder.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Just buy the much cheaper BH 60 bit holder, the BH 65 is crap anyway.

 

[six-point socket II]

OP has the BH 60, thinks magnet is not strong enough.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Ah, I see that's what he meant with "chome bit holder".

Odd, I hardly have that problem except with PZ2 sometimes, they can stick very well in a screw's head. But rarely.

I do use mostly Festool, Protool, Bosch or Wera bits, all German quality bits. They are 1/4 inch or 6,35 mm wide, imperial standard. I don't think they're that expensive. But of course more expensive than a chinese 20-for-a-dollar set. 

I severely dislike the BH65, the locking head's too big and it's a terrible bore you have to push the ring forward to unlock. All my Wera bit holders push backwards, much more comfortable to work with. But redundant now I use centrotec exclusively.

Bosch and Wera bits should be easily available in Canada. I think with those brands losing the bits will be less of a problem.

 

[Alanbach]

[member=61712]six-point socket II[/member] - Thank you for another Centrotec adapter part number! I just ordered this on Amazon for $29 US. Thank you!

 

[six-point socket II]

You're right Alex. The Wera Rapidaptor is one of the, if not the best bit holder available. There is a version with a slightly longer shank, I know a couple of people who filed/ground it to fit the Centrotec standard - this only works with the longer shank version, the commonly found Rapidaptor's shank is too short to make this conversion.

But since I also use Centrotec more or less exclusively, with the only bits missing being the Spax T-Stars - I never took the time/effort to convert one of them myself. I did however ask both Festool and Spax to make a Centrotec version of the T-Stars, sadly there is not enough demand for them. (I know that regular Torx will fit corresponding T-Star heads, but I find T-Star fits best. A friend send me some really great, Made in Germany stainless T-Star bits by "Athlet" those are amazing.

Speaking of the magnetic bit holders, I can only say that most of those I own work as you say, and hold the bit secure most of the time. But I also have one that seems to have a slightly less strong magnet, and I pulled many bits out while driving screws. The same happened to me with one of my Snap-On 1/4" to 1/4" hex adapters, most work flawless, one is a dud.

And lets not forget the Festool BHM 65 with ring magnet - which is (was) a great bit holder - sadly not available as accessory/spare part.

->

Video by Michael fromhttps://michael-hild.blogspot.com

[member=66185]Alanbach[/member] Glad my post was of help to you!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Alanbach]

I have a magnetizer / demagnetizer made by Wera. Do you think that would help with your “duds”? I find it comes in handy.

 

[Jaco77]

Wow, never thought that my question will receive so many answers...

First of all, Yes I was talking about the BH60 while talking the chome bit holder...found this name in the description of the T18 kit and never thought of looking for the real name.

So Alex If I follow you, those bits : Protool, Bosch or Wera bits, fits in the Centrotec?

I use mostly the Robertson bits 95% of the time and Philips the rest of the time...

So buying a bit kit from Protool or wera even Festool give me nothing, all the kits I found around dont have Robertson bits and even I if found a kit I have lots of bits that will never be use...

I feel that I am running like a dog who try to bite is tail...

Why do we have to use an BH60 or 65 adaptor, they're is no way that Festool could make a Fitting Centrotec?

Am I the only one to want that?

Regards     

 

[Dick Mahany]

I use mostly the Robertson bits 95% of the time and Philips the rest of the time...

Regards   

If you use the #2 Robertson bits frequently, there is a Centrotec compatible bit available from Snappy here..  This bit is excellent and has a hardened steel insert for the square driver.  They also have one in a #1 size.

[attachimg=1]

 

[AlexThePalex]

So Alex If I follow you, those bits : Protool, Bosch or Wera bits, fits in the Centrotec?

The fit the centrotec bitholders like the BH60 and BH65. Those are made for standard 1/4 inch bits.

But they will not fit directly in the centrotec chuck, the round thing with the green ring.

I use mostly the Robertson bits 95% ....

Why do we have to use an BH60 or 65 adaptor, they're is no way that Festool could make a Fitting Centrotec?

Am I the only one to want that?

You are certainly not the only one to want that, the question has come up many times before. Festool's answer was they looked into it, but decided they could not offer Robertson bits in North America that would fit their quality standard. Which is odd if you ask me, but that was the explanation given.

But as you can see above, 3rd party alternatives have found their way to the market.

 

[semenza]

I go with this set up for my commonly used driver bits. 

The only time I have any trouble on any regular basis with the holder not holding the bit is with square drive. Because the bit tends to stick in the screw head. Which is why I really like Torx. I know that it is nice when the square drive helps hold the screw on the driver but I find it a constant annoyance when I have to wiggle and pull to get the drill removed from a driven screw.

[attachimg=1]

Seth

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I use the Snappy Centrotec square drive bits since I only use square drive when I have a choice and Festool never offered the product...I also got the "quality" excuse for years each time I asked.