Cxs12 or cxs18 buying choice

[klally10]

I apologize if this has been asked. I already have an 18v impact driver and 18v drill both are Dewalt. I’d like to add a csx for finish assembly. Having a hard time deciding on csx12 or csx18. Any recommendation and input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lunkerj]

12 more compact and plenty of power for assembly

 

[Holzhacker]

If you already have a couple 18v, buy the cxs 12v. Nicer for assembly work. It will handle bigger screws when needed.
I've got a couple T18's and C12's that I now use when needed. The cxs 12 is the regular use drill.

 

[Cheese]

CXS 12 is my go-to.

The older CXS 10.8 is quieter and shows up a lot on Festool Recon. But it's also a different battery platform so it uses a different charger and it doesn't have as much grunt as the new CXS 12.

 

[FestitaMakool]

Since I’m working with both as we speak..:

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Beware of perspective in this photo:
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But yes, the 12V is the go-to. The CXS 18 is just as nice, only bigger (weight difference shown is non existent) Held in any positions the 12V is more balanced and less tiring to use in the long run when going sideways (ie in cabinets and such) The 18V bridges the gap between full size drills and the 12V  It’s lighter than most 18V and very comfortable when holding normally for more tough drilling/screwdriving.

 

[klally10]

Thank you for your input. I am going with the cxs 12

 

[mrboult]

IMO the CXS 12 is the better bet if you already have 18v drill kit you like.

You'll get all the benefits of the CXS concept as originally intended.

Personally I don't see the point of the CXS 18. But I haven't used one, and I get that we're all different

 

[guybo]

Since I’m working with both as we speak..:

see excess  [smile]

 

[Frank-Jan]

First time I noticed the cxs12 batteries are shorter... So they will probably not work on my old c12 Li ion or my Protool dwc 12.

 

[FestitaMakool]

Since I’m working with both as we speak..:

see excess  [smile]

But off course [member=58842]guybo[/member]  [big grin]

That said, I have 2 Makita 18V, regular drill and impact that has the same grip, same trigger feel.
In 12V Makita I have 4, impact, drill with regular chuck, drill with hex chuck, 1/2” socket impact. All with the same grip and feel.. all above I use mostly for framing type of work. Switching between them is very adaptable and they feel very much the same tool except what’s attached up front, whether it’s a drill bit, socket or a bit driver. It’s muscle memory on the ease.. [wink]

Same with the two 12V and 18V Festool’s above.. they feel almost exactly the same when grabbing the one or the other. These I use for finer woodworking. I sold my old CXS 10,8 and C18, with nearly negligible loss - it almost paid for these two new. (18V CXS were bought as a set version with the angle chuck and DF lid, as I have 18V batteries from before)
Those two makes a brilliant companionship.. as the C18 and CXS 10,8 is quite the opposite of each other. That said, despite the weight, I miss the C18 a bit - I think it’s the smoothest drill I’ve ever used.

 

[FestitaMakool]

First time I noticed the cxs12 batteries are shorter... So they will probably not work on my old c12 Li ion or my Protool dwc 12.

If so, it would have been cool.. But the drills wouldn’t have the LiPo cut of protection to not drain the battery beyond a certain value (3,6V on each cell) - And you’d likely kill the new batteries..

 

[guybo]

Also a great name for that whaler sea excess

 

[squall_line]

First time I noticed the cxs12 batteries are shorter... So they will probably not work on my old c12 Li ion or my Protool dwc 12.

If so, it would have been cool.. But the drills wouldn’t have the LiPo cut of protection to not drain the battery beyond a certain value (3,6V on each cell) - And you’d likely kill the new batteries..

I just tried tonight.  The new CXS 12 batteries will not fit an old C12, and the old C12 batteries (which are the same size as a C18 battery) will not fit the CXS 12.

Same for the CXS 12 battery in an 18V tool like the TID 18, whereas the old C12 LIon batteries will both fit in and run most 18V tools, albeit at a slower speed (the OSC18, on the other hand, will just beep at you for being so foolish as to try).

Ironically, the CXS12 battery DOES fit in the small SysROCK radio, and engages the terminals, and powers up the radio, but the tabs don't fully latch into place.

I use my old C12 LIon batteries for that radio more than I do for my C12, for better or worse.

For all of these, they slide/slot in just the same on all of the tools, it's just a matter of various moldings on the sliding profile to prevent or allow engagement of the battery on the tool (protecting 12V and 15V tools from using 18V batteries, etc).

 

[Cheese]

I just tried tonight.  The new CXS 12 batteries will not fit an old C12, and the old C12 batteries (which are the same size as a C18 battery) will not fit the CXS 12.

Same for the CXS 12 battery in an 18V tool like the TID 18, whereas the old C12 LIon batteries will both fit in and run most 18V tools, albeit at a slower speed (the OSC18, on the other hand, will just beep at you for being so foolish as to try).

Ironically, the CXS12 battery DOES fit in the small SysROCK radio, and engages the terminals, and powers up the radio, but the tabs don't fully latch into place.

I use my old C12 LIon batteries for that radio more than I do for my C12, for better or worse.

For all of these, they slide/slot in just the same on all of the tools, it's just a matter of various moldings on the sliding profile to prevent or allow engagement of the battery on the tool (protecting 12V and 15V tools from using 18V batteries, etc).

Ya I concur...I was just removing a CSX 12 battery from the charger today and on a whim, I decided to try to install it into an OSC 18, arguably the least current hungry tool of the Festool lot and it was "keyed out". In other words, there were physical impediments that prevented the battery from being attached to the OSC 18.

 

[grobkuschelig]

I just tried tonight.  The new CXS 12 batteries will not fit an old C12, and the old C12 batteries (which are the same size as a C18 battery) will not fit the CXS 12.

Same for the CXS 12 battery in an 18V tool like the TID 18, whereas the old C12 LIon batteries will both fit in and run most 18V tools, albeit at a slower speed (the OSC18, on the other hand, will just beep at you for being so foolish as to try).

Ironically, the CXS12 battery DOES fit in the small SysROCK radio, and engages the terminals, and powers up the radio, but the tabs don't fully latch into place.

I use my old C12 LIon batteries for that radio more than I do for my C12, for better or worse.

For all of these, they slide/slot in just the same on all of the tools, it's just a matter of various moldings on the sliding profile to prevent or allow engagement of the battery on the tool (protecting 12V and 15V tools from using 18V batteries, etc).

Ya I concur...I was just removing a CSX 12 battery from the charger today and on a whim, I decided to try to install it into an OSC 18, arguably the least current hungry tool of the Festool lot and it was "keyed out". In other words, there were physical impediments that prevented the battery from being attached to the OSC 18.

Don’t know how much inside the OSC18 is carried over from the Fein SuperCut. If not only the blade drive but also the electronics are the same, it should be able to run on 12V. Fein used to have their multivolt-technology on most of their 18V tools that made it possible to use any of their batteries, at least on their old „own“ platform. Now with the switch to Bosch AmpShare this is likely gone.

The SuperCut runs great on their 12V and is substantially lighter, which I appreciate for overhead work.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[mino]

Don’t know how much inside the OSC18 is carried over from the Fein SuperCut. If not only the blade drive but also the electronics are the same, it should be able to run on 12V.
...

As mentioned above, the OSC runs fine on the older 12V BP packs from C12/T12 era. Just not with the new packs as these are physically shorter.

Asn yes, the 1.5Ah 12V packs are ideal for the OSC 18 as well as for the CARVEX. Unfortunately Festool never made a 3.1/2.6 version of the form factor and the 3.0 packs use 6 cells, negating the weight advantage.

 

[Cheese]

Here's an example of the power of the new CXS 12. I've been using a 1" diameter ship auger with a 7/16" hex drive to drill through 2x6 studs to run Romex.

Yesterday, I ran into this very narrow stud cavity. So CXS 12 + right angle attachment + C 15 drill chuck = 1" diameter hole through 3" of fir. The older CXS 10.8 would never have powered through a double layer of 2x6's.

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[Cheese]

Check out this photo...talking about the CXS 12 being a multitasker, here's what I'm using right now to install electrical receptacles.

I keep an RA adapter + C 15 chuck + 1" ship auger bit for small/narrow stud cavities nearby and a 1/4" hex Phillips bit for installing the receptacles. This new CXS 12 is a lot more versatile than the older CXS 10.8. 

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[six-point socket II]

Great use of the CXS 12!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Cheese]

So, in an earlier post after using the CSX 12 with the RA attachment and a 1" ship auger to bore a few through-holes in 2x6 studs to run Romex in a few very narrow stud cavities, I was so impressed with how easily it bored through the studs that I decided today to dispense with using the larger Milwaukee 18V drill as it's significantly heavier and I really dislike the trigger speed control.

Just saying, I am so impressed with the versatility of this CSX 12 drill...it really is impressive.

And then I hit a framing nail buried in the 2x6...well that was the end of that euphoric experience. I tried at least a dozen times to slice through the nail but nothing worked, the CSX 12 just beeped.

At that moment I wondered what happens if I switch back to the Milwaukee drill instead. After placing the ship auger back in the Milwaukee chuck, I sliced through the framing nail the first time.

So, my take on this situation is that for a majority of DIY folks, the CXS 12 could indeed become their only drill, but for larger construction projects it will need to be supplemented with a larger 18 volt cousin.

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