Chief Team Player
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do all of the cordless drills require the centrotec (sp) bits? and if so, are those bits always available?
cordless drills
- Thread starter Chief Team Player
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AlexThePalex
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I'm not Festool but I can tell you right away you do not require centrotec bits. They're purely optional.
All Festool drills come with a standard 3 jaw adjustable jacobs chuck so you can use any bit of any brand you want, just like with drills from other brands.
All Festool drills come with a standard 3 jaw adjustable jacobs chuck so you can use any bit of any brand you want, just like with drills from other brands.
IMO Festool drills and centrotec bits are overpriced, however that said if you are going to go for one, the centrotec aspect enhances and somewhat justifies the purchase a little more. In an "in for a penny in for a pound" sort of way.
So if you just want a three jaw chuck drill the are cheaper and equally good/better alternatives from other manufacturers in each class.
So if you just want a three jaw chuck drill the are cheaper and equally good/better alternatives from other manufacturers in each class.
McNally Family
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Chief Team Player said:
This is what I purchased, the same day I bought my Festool drill:
https://www.festoolproducts.com/Festool-201312-Limited-Edition-Centrotec-Installer-p/201312.htm
This is what I am going to buy next:
https://www.festoolproducts.com/Festool-500173-5-Piece-ZOBO-Forstner-Style-Bit-Set-p/500173.htm
They also make the ZOBO set in Imperial, but I am learning Metric now (even at my old age), so Metric it is for me!
ear3
Member
For an overview of Centrotec standard:
EDIT: Sorry, since I was posting from my phone, which doesn't have adblock software, I accidentally posted a link for a popup ad.
EDIT: Sorry, since I was posting from my phone, which doesn't have adblock software, I accidentally posted a link for a popup ad.
Glenn in Shailer
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...wow... Lowe's house love... you are an ol' romantic Edward...
For the original poster, and anyone not so familiar with the the Festool drills,
One nicety of the Centrotec that may not be immediately obvious is that the Centrotec 'chuck' (the compact thingy with the green quick-release collar) simply holds the bit in place, you are not reliant on it to drive the bit. There is a hex-hole in the end of the drive shaft of the motor, into which the bit slots; you can put regular 1/4" drive bits directly into that if you wish (typically for working in very tight spaces).
I don't have any Centrotec screwdriver bits (I very seldom use a powered screwdriver), but do have a selection of Festool drills bits; they're not the most expensive I've seen (and maybe not the very best) but I'm pleased with them - especially the stubby wood drill bits.
Some of the ones I have are marked 'Made in Austria'; I always assumed Festool didn't actually make them themselves (why would they bother?). Are they made by Fisch?
The HSS bits (the little Centrotec holders with the 'ball' and replaceable bits) I found to be better value than they appear at first glance, since each one came with two spare bits.
If your task involves a mix of Centrotec and non-bits, the quick fitting of the Jacobs-type chuck works well.
One nicety of the Centrotec that may not be immediately obvious is that the Centrotec 'chuck' (the compact thingy with the green quick-release collar) simply holds the bit in place, you are not reliant on it to drive the bit. There is a hex-hole in the end of the drive shaft of the motor, into which the bit slots; you can put regular 1/4" drive bits directly into that if you wish (typically for working in very tight spaces).
I don't have any Centrotec screwdriver bits (I very seldom use a powered screwdriver), but do have a selection of Festool drills bits; they're not the most expensive I've seen (and maybe not the very best) but I'm pleased with them - especially the stubby wood drill bits.
Some of the ones I have are marked 'Made in Austria'; I always assumed Festool didn't actually make them themselves (why would they bother?). Are they made by Fisch?
The HSS bits (the little Centrotec holders with the 'ball' and replaceable bits) I found to be better value than they appear at first glance, since each one came with two spare bits.
If your task involves a mix of Centrotec and non-bits, the quick fitting of the Jacobs-type chuck works well.
ear3
Member
Sorry bout that. Link fixed.
It's 1/4". Imperial dimensions for the various drive-sizes in sockets, ratchets and bits prevail in Europe (eg, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 1/2 etc) even if they are, on odd occasions, described in mm - regardless of metric dominating for fastener sizes.
Just be sure, I measured some Centrotec drill bits and the 'shaft hole' on a CSX.
Just be sure, I measured some Centrotec drill bits and the 'shaft hole' on a CSX.
Well, this got me curious (and confused) as I cannot find anything that defines the Centrotec hex standard as 6mm - or as anything else for that matter. Is that described somewhere, Holmz?
I may have muddled things earlier by talking about the hex hole in the shaft - whose primary purpose, I assume, is to take the drive peg of the Jacobs chuck and regular 1/4" screwdriver bits, whereas Centrotec driver bits would normally go into the Centrotec chuck.
The various Centrotec drill bits I have (three different varieties) measure in the range 6.24-6.29 AF - nearer to being 1/4" (with a tolerance to slide into a holder) than to 6mm. My Centrotec drills (especially the stubbies which measure at the upper range in my checks) would fit directly into the shaft of my CSX with acceptable snugness if I really had to do it for clearance reasons.
After all, when in the Centrotec chuck, the bit is still driven by the hole in the shaft that takes marginally larger true 1/4" hex bits, so presumably that tolerance is deemed ok.
So...
1) Is the Centrotec bit hex dimension intentionally a tad smaller than 1/4" (but not 6mm) just to give clearance for slotting into the Centrotec chuck? And if so, why not just make the chuck fractionally larger? Or perhaps for proprietary reasons?
2) If you had a 1/4" hex drive drill bit with a sufficiently long hex shank (I don't have one to hand) and tried to use it in the Centotec chuck (notwithstanding it not engaging indents and balls) would you risk it getting jammed in, or would it not go in at all?
I may have muddled things earlier by talking about the hex hole in the shaft - whose primary purpose, I assume, is to take the drive peg of the Jacobs chuck and regular 1/4" screwdriver bits, whereas Centrotec driver bits would normally go into the Centrotec chuck.
The various Centrotec drill bits I have (three different varieties) measure in the range 6.24-6.29 AF - nearer to being 1/4" (with a tolerance to slide into a holder) than to 6mm. My Centrotec drills (especially the stubbies which measure at the upper range in my checks) would fit directly into the shaft of my CSX with acceptable snugness if I really had to do it for clearance reasons.
After all, when in the Centrotec chuck, the bit is still driven by the hole in the shaft that takes marginally larger true 1/4" hex bits, so presumably that tolerance is deemed ok.
So...
1) Is the Centrotec bit hex dimension intentionally a tad smaller than 1/4" (but not 6mm) just to give clearance for slotting into the Centrotec chuck? And if so, why not just make the chuck fractionally larger? Or perhaps for proprietary reasons?
2) If you had a 1/4" hex drive drill bit with a sufficiently long hex shank (I don't have one to hand) and tried to use it in the Centotec chuck (notwithstanding it not engaging indents and balls) would you risk it getting jammed in, or would it not go in at all?
Chief Team Player said:
I see that [member=37411]Edward A Reno III[/member] has already posted the link to the Centrotec video - many thanks Edward. I am an absolute fan of the standard as it really does make life easier using the little green Centrotec Tool Chuck. The Festool drills, with their detachable chucks and the ability to take the Centrotec Tool Chuck, are superb but it is a great pity that there is no impact driver in the line-up.
I have just discovered that Axminster Tools and Machinery are selling Centrotec compatible drills and accessories. They kindly sent a sample pack of their new screw line recently and included a Centrotec compatible bit holder which can be seen in this set on their web site:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-trade-bitz-28-piece-tin-coated-bit-set-506280
This contains a Centrotec ended magnetic bit holder and also a Centrotec ended quick release bit holder. I will try and do something on this before the end of the summer.
Peter
The flats on Centrotec bits are 1/4 inch. The size of the 'points' between the flats, or outside diameter, is smaller than a standard 1/4 inch hex. This was done to purposely keep a user from installing a standard bit, and for good reason. This smaller OD is the feature that pilots inside the Centrotec chuck and keeps the bit or drill running true. Peter's video does a great job illustrating this. The hex inside the drill spindle is, indeed, 1/4 inch to match 1/4 bit flats AND 1/4 inch Centrotec flats.
To clarify, if you look at a Centrotec chuck it has no flats at all. It cannot jam a bit on the flats, only the outside diameter, and one would have a hard time getting most standard bits to go in at all. All the threads in the past about converting any standard bits to fit the Centrotec chuck refer to sanding or grinding down the diameter to fit the chuck, not the flats as they are the same.
To clarify, if you look at a Centrotec chuck it has no flats at all. It cannot jam a bit on the flats, only the outside diameter, and one would have a hard time getting most standard bits to go in at all. All the threads in the past about converting any standard bits to fit the Centrotec chuck refer to sanding or grinding down the diameter to fit the chuck, not the flats as they are the same.
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