Drill differences

[b_m_hart]

As Mr. Garrison on South Park would say:  "There are no stupid questions Kyle, only stupid people".

With that out of the way, what's the difference, for example, between the C12 1.3 Ah, C12 2.4 Ah, and C12 3.0 Ah?  Is it just the amount of torque they have?

 

[Neill]

If you check McFeely's they give an excellent summary of the differences between the three options.
Based upon this information, I purchased the 2.4 and am very pleased.

Neill

 

[b_m_hart]

Ah, so it's how many hours the batteries are supposed to last, gotcha.  Thanks!  (it would be nice if Festool included such information on their site)

 

[Neill]

There are actually a few more factors other than just battery life.  There is also weight, time required between charges and length of charging times.  Price is a small factor, I believe $20 between each model, based on battery costs.

Neill

 

[Warrior]

The amount of torque is not affected by the amp hr rating of the battery. A C12 with a 1.3 ah battery will have the same torque as a C12 with a 3.0ah battery. It will however drive less screws per charge but be a heck of alot lighter and faster to charge. It takes about 20 min to charge the 1.3ah battery and about 45 min to charge the 3.0ah battery.

I recently bought the C12. I decided that the weight was an important factor for me so I opted for the 1.3ah battery. I may add a third battery. I love this thing. I think it might be my favorite Festool. with the 1.3 battery it feels about as light as my Makita Lion impact driver. I used to prefer using the impact driver for driving screws. Not anymore. The C12 packs a punch and has just as much control as the Makita. A big plus is that I dont have to listen to the annoying rat-tat-tat-tat  impacts any longer.

before getting the C12 I did not realize the benefit of the eccentric and right angle chucks. Now after using them I realize I often needed them before but had a work around. I reach for the accessory chuck often.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Agreed, I love my C12 2.4ah.  I cannot believe the amount of times I have use the 90 degree and the ecentric chucks.
That thing just keeps on chugging too!

 

[Michael Kellough]

The amount of torque is not affected by the amp hr rating of the battery. A C12 with a 1.3 ah battery will have the same torque as a C12 with a 3.0ah battery. It will however drive less screws per charge but be a heck of alot lighter and faster to charge. It takes about 20 min to charge the 1.3ah battery and about 45 min to charge the 3.0ah battery.

I recently bought the C12. I decided that the weight was an important factor for me so I opted for the 1.3ah battery. I may add a third battery. I love this thing. I think it might be my favorite Festool. with the 1.3 battery it feels about as light as my Makita Lion impact driver. I used to prefer using the impact driver for driving screws. Not anymore. The C12 packs a punch and has just as much control as the Makita. A big plus is that I dont have to listen to the annoying rat-tat-tat-tat  impacts any longer.

before getting the C12 I did not realize the benefit of the eccentric and right angle chucks. Now after using them I realize I often needed them before but had a work around. I reach for the accessory chuck often.

Well gee Eiji, can't you think of anything negative to say about the C12?

Like, at night when you turn the shop lights out you can't see the C12 in the dark. 

That is something I like about the Makita impact driver when working away from the lights on a set, that glow in the dark collar. The LED light helps to too.

 

[Warrior]

What sold me on the C12 was the 1,000,000 screw motor. An LED on the C12 would be nice.  I think festool should put leds on the kapex, OF1400, C12, TDK, OF1010 and the Trions

 

[dltflt]

I bought the 1.3 also and it works great.  I quit using my 18volt PC, it is just collecting dust.

 

[Warrior]

[
Well gee Eiji, can't you think of anything negative to say about the C12?

Yes I can. The most annoying thing about the C12 is the centrotec,yes thats right. You read correctly. The most annoying thing about the C12 is the centrotec chuck and the propriotary centrotec bits. I really dont know what Festool was thinking there. Did they think that we wouldnt buy the Festool bits if we didnt have too? I personally would buy the festool bits and drivers because they are the highest quality available, but I would like to still use my other quick change bits as well. It seems a bit foolishly selfish. It makes no sense to me because I would have bought a load of festool bits, before I had the C12, to use in my Makita.
I think they would sell alot of the bits to non C12 owners if they used a standard 1/4" hex chuck.

 

[b_m_hart]

I picked up a C12 today (the 2.4 version).  I may pick up a smaller battery for the better half because the corded DeWalt was too heavy for her.  I showed her the new toy, and she said "oooh, nice drill", haha.  So, I guess I won't be getting any grief for this one

 

[Michael Kellough]

I picked up a C12 today (the 2.4 version).  I may pick up a smaller battery for the better half because the corded DeWalt was too heavy for her.  I showed her the new toy, and she said "oooh, nice drill", haha.  So, I guess I won't be getting any grief for this one

Lucky man!

The most positive response I ever get it, "Don't you have one of those?"

 

[Michael Kellough]

[
Well gee Eiji, can't you think of anything negative to say about the C12?

Yes I can. The most annoying thing about the C12 is the centrotec,yes thats right. You read correctly. The most annoying thing about the C12 is the centrotec chuck and the propriotary centrotec bits. I really dont know what Festool was thinking there. Did they think that we wouldnt buy the Festool bits if we didnt have too? I personally would buy the festool bits and drivers because they are the highest quality available, but I would like to still use my other quick change bits as well. It seems a bit foolishly selfish. It makes no sense to me because I would have bought a load of festool bits, before I had the C12, to use in my Makita.
I think they would sell alot of the bits to non C12 owners if they used a standard 1/4" hex chuck.

This isn't much of a solution Eiji but if you don't have one of these...

Milwaukee makes a 6 inch extension shaft that is straight and strong and has a universal quick realease bit holder on the end. Anything except 1" bits work great in it and that includes Centrotec bits. Just slide the bit in and it's completly secure with little to no run-out.

You don't always need a short gun. Sometimes a longer tool helps in aiming.

 

[Dave Rudy]

FWIW,

For those situations where you just need to drive a screw and don't have the right bit holder for centrotec, here's a quick tip:  you can insert a drill bit (not the small bit ends but a two inch or so) directly into the drill with no chuck at all on it and it works (although it will fall out if turned upside down).  With a little pressure on the screw head, stays in fine during drilling.

I discovered this when I had to fit hinges into an opening that was too small to allow the the right angle attachment.  With no chuck, the drill will turn a very small corner.

This doesn't even come close to solving the centrotec problem, but it will work in the right situation.

 

[greg mann]

[
Well gee Eiji, can't you think of anything negative to say about the C12?

Yes I can. The most annoying thing about the C12 is the centrotec,yes thats right. You read correctly. The most annoying thing about the C12 is the centrotec chuck and the propriotary centrotec bits. I really dont know what Festool was thinking there. Did they think that we wouldnt buy the Festool bits if we didnt have too? I personally would buy the festool bits and drivers because they are the highest quality available, but I would like to still use my other quick change bits as well. It seems a bit foolishly selfish. It makes no sense to me because I would have bought a load of festool bits, before I had the C12, to use in my Makita.
I think they would sell alot of the bits to non C12 owners if they used a standard 1/4" hex chuck.

Eiji,

If you study the Centrotec closely enough you will realize that it was designed to overcome the inherent weaknesses of the standard hex drive system AND the fact that whatever manufacturing standards that apply to it are so often ignored. There is no uniformity beyond the hex itself in terms of tool shank diameter and rounout. You cannot design around this shortcoming and still produce a tool that will have acceptable accuracy when used with bits from undetermined and uncontrolled sources. The accuracy of the Centrotec comes from piloting on the round shank above the hex area, and from controlling the diameter between the flats of the hex. No one else does that to an accuracy standard that would translate to a true running tool. I am convinced that Festool did this not with the intent to force everyone to use their bits. They did it to maintain accuracy and design intent. How can I confirm this? Easy. If you want to, you can set the Centrotec aside and pop any standard short hex bit directly into the drill spindle, or any of the accessories, for that matter. These short bits are the true perishables that Festool would want to control if they were looking for extra profit through the use of their drill. Instead they designed a system that would allow the short bits to be used (bought from anyone and hardly ever from Festool) and still provide the accuracy and quick-change of the Centrotec system for other tasks like drilling. Elegant. 

 

[Warrior]

Greg,

I tend to agree with you. I had a feeling that it was like that.  Yet it seems that they could have accomplished both an accurate system of bits and drivers and compatability for existing systems. Maybe I dont understand what was involved.

I do however do not believe this to be a deal breaker in any way shape or form. IMO the C12 !@#@!$ KICKS SO MUCH @&& that I dont really care about the bits. I was reachin because Michael pushed.

Eiji

 

[greg mann]

I was reachin because Michael pushed.

Eiji

Yeah, that Michael, he does that, doesn't he. ;D

 

[Michael Kellough]

I was reachin because Michael pushed.

Eiji

Yeah, that Michael, he does that, doesn't he. ;D

In this case it was just to prompt Eiji to show that he hadn't actually swallowed the green Kool-aid.