Drill wobble

[crsowa]

any one else having problems with drill/drivers and/or chucks...??

I got the T15, C15 and TI15 during this sale, and all of them appear to wobble.  I've checked every kind of chuck.. The right angle and eccentric are fine, but any straight chuck makes a bit wobble.  I thought, at first, it was just a loose (hex) bit in the bit holder, but I'm making a bed right now and put a 3/8" brad point bit in to drill holes for dowels and the wobble was very noticeable.  I took the bit out and put it in my Bosch... All straight, back into the T15... Wobble.

Seems like I read about someone else having the same problem?  I'd hate to have to send all 3 in within a week or so of receiving them... Thoughts?.

Chris

 

[mprzybylski]

The TI15 I got in the recon sale also has this issue. I thought it was the bit I was using so I kept taking off bit, bit holder, centrotec chuck, hen down to just the bare head that accepts the chucks and I can visibly see it wobbly when I go slow with the drill. It's not a little, it's quite a lot actually, so I'll be calling Festool on Monday as well.

 

[Michael Kellough]

It's not clear what you guys are putting in what.

The only valid test for run-out is to put a precision ground shaft (not just a drill bit) in the three jawed chuck. While there is the possibility that a sample of the three jawed chuck may be defective it's the only way to test the spindle which is the only thing you can expect to run true.

If you are putting a roughly 1/4" hex shank bit in the end of the drill spindle, or in the eccentric chuck, or directly into the right angle chuck, you can expect it to wobble. The short hex socket is a convenience not a precision tool. Even if the socket was precision there are few hex shank bits that are precisely milled to 1/4". I think the Festool sockets are deliberately more than 1/4" for some reason.

 

[Runhard]

Unfortunately my drills have some wobble also. I was pretty disappointed when I bought my T18+3 set and 98piece installers kit, only to discovered the wobble. For that kind of money I expected near perfection.

Hopefully you can get it sorted out.

Sorry this is off topic, but I noticed your location. I'm up that way 5-6 times a year to go camping. My 2 syslites and cooltainer are great for camping!

 

[crsowa]

Sorry this is off topic, but I noticed your location. I'm up that way 5-6 times a year to go camping. My 2 syslites and cooltainer are great for camping!

Syslites for camping..... Brilliant!!! I'll have to get me some of those...

 

[crsowa]

It's not clear what you guys are putting in what.

The only valid test for run-out is to put a precision ground shaft (not just a drill bit) in the three jawed chuck. While there is the possibility that a sample of the three jawed chuck may be defective it's the only way to test the spindle which is the only thing you can expect to run true.

If you are putting a roughly 1/4" hex shank bit in the end of the drill spindle, or in the eccentric chuck, or directly into the right angle chuck, you can expect it to wobble. The short hex socket is a convenience not a precision tool. Even if the socket was precision there are few hex shank bits that are precisely milled to 1/4". I think the Festool sockets are deliberately more than 1/4" for some reason.

Ya see... The 1/4" hex shank bit in the right-angle or the eccentric runs perfectly straight.  The problems I'm having are encountered when using the centrotec chuck and the keyless 3-jaw chuck.  If I use a 3" x 3/8" precision ground drill bit in the drill chuck, I get wobble at the tip... No such wobble/run out in my Bosch with the same bit.  Doesn't matter what I put in the centrotec... It wobbles... I've switched out every chuck I have in all 3 drills...7 different chucks or so that I have.  I'll pull them all out again tomorrow to verify.  I will say that if I run the drill with no chuck, there appears to be no wobble on the shaft. 
Chris

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

It's a cordless drill. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

When you use the centrotec bits in the centrotec chuck, there is a bit of a wobble, and that's by design because the shaft of the centrotec chucks are slightly smaller than that of a standard bit.

There is really nothing to worry about the wobble, it has no influence on your work.

There is a minute play at the drill side. So when you turn the drill with the bit in the air, due to distance the wobble gets exaggerated at the other end.

But people generally don't buy a drill to make holes in the air. When you actually use the drill, it is fixed against the work piece, and the center of the tip is going nowhere. Instead of idling in the air, the bit is now fixed between two points, and the wobble that still might exist is now only measurable in micrometers, and not something people can notice with their eyes. 

If you use a drill, your hands will not follow a straight line, but will also wobble a bit. The centrotec wobble is in the same order of magnitude, probably even smaller.

 

[crsowa]

Well, I was using my kreg jig for something yesterday and I could feel the difference.  I used my t15 and I could feel the bit vibrate as it was running against the steel sleeve in the kreg jig as I was drilling.  And, once again, switched to my Bosch to check and make sure it wasn't a bent bit... With my Bosch drill, no vibration.  The big problem with this, and I agree that a small bit of wobble with the driver bits is not a problem, is the precision of a drill hole size. With a brad point bit wobbling, my drill holes will actually be bigger than the bit and therefor too be for the appropriate dowel to fill the hole if that's the route I'm going.

 

[wow]

I find it interesting that with all the talk of the Centrotec being a 'superior system' you are experiencing the problem that you are. Not questioning you, BTW - just finding it interesting.

I get virtually ZERO wobble with my Milwaukee M12 drivers with the hex quick-release chuck - even with a 6" bit in them. I would ABSOLUTELY expect the Festool to be significantly better based on the cost of the Festool drills.

I will be interested to hear what Festool Service has to say once you contact them...

 

[Jaybolishes]

My t18 and c15 were recons at the 40% discount, so this post got me worried and I just tested them.  The two drills are dead on using the centrotec bit and the Jacobs chuck.  I noticed a minuscule wobble using the Jacobs chuck, but after loosening the chuck and pointing the tip straight up in the air and hand turning the chuck until the bit was secured, the brad point bit I was testing with was perfectly aligned with no wobble.  I'm very impressed how precise the centrotec chucks are.  My cxs has some slight wobble in the chucks, but in no way is bad enough to be a  problem.

 

[Claimdude]

I have bought 4 new Festool drills this year. The first was a T-12 + 3. The chuck ran very true (the key selling point for me after using Makitas forever. I then bought a C-15 set and it wobbled too much to suit me along a problem with the design I returned it in exchange for a T-15. It runs as well as my T-12 that I sold after purchasing the T-15. I then bought a Ti-15 and it wobbled unacceptably. I exchanged it for another Ti-15 and it runs true. I also purchased a CXS and it runs true (no exchange needed). So with my experience I would not buy a recon drill at any price unless I could first test it out. When I say my three drills run true I mean with centrotec chuck, jacobs chuck, angle chuck, and without a chuck. I put a 6" square drive bit in my T-15 (centrotec) yesterday and pulled the trigger and the run out at the end of the bit was barely perceptible. That is what I expect for a $500+ drill.

Frankly, I think Festool needs to tighten its specs on their drills. It seems to me a number of their drill owners either don't really care much about the run out or it never occurred to them that the drills could and are better if you get the right ones.

Jack

 

[wow]

I put a 6" square drive bit in my T-15 (centrotec) yesterday and pulled the trigger and the run out at the end of the bit was barely perceptible. That is what I expect for a $500+ drill.

That is exactly my experience with my $70 M12 drill/driver, so I'd expect no less from Festool.

The people who are posting about this problem (like yourself) seem to be intelligent enough and have performed enough tests to rule out user error ... leaving only manufacturing problems as the remaining issue. Not what I want to hear, since I have yet to drink the kool-aid on the drills. I'm on the sidelines watching while this plays out...

 

[crsowa]

I think I have it narrowed down to one of the drill chucks (3 jaw). Ran all the tests again and I find that it is just one of the chucks. I hadn't tried the centrotec drill bit before today in the centrotec chuck... Just the off drill chuck must have been.  I will be able to get a better idea once I start to acquire more centrotec bits.... The centrotec installers kits look great... Albeit a tad pricy  [eek]... Might be a while until I can get my hands on one of those. 

 

[carlb40]

I would just like to add my input on this having just received my C15, so i was able to test it and the Ti 15 i purchased last week.
The C15 with centrotec and jacobs chuck have no visible play.
The Ti 15 has slight play with the centrotec chuck, but not enough to worry about as it is an impact drill. So will not be used for the finer work.  [smile]

 

[blakjak220]

any one else having problems with drill/drivers and/or chucks...??

I got the T15, C15 and TI15 during this sale, and all of them appear to wobble.  I've checked every kind of chuck.. The right angle and eccentric are fine, but any straight chuck makes a bit wobble.  I thought, at first, it was just a loose (hex) bit in the bit holder, but I'm making a bed right now and put a 3/8" brad point bit in to drill holes for dowels and the wobble was very noticeable.  I took the bit out and put it in my Bosch... All straight, back into the T15... Wobble.

Seems like I read about someone else having the same problem?  I'd hate to have to send all 3 in within a week or so of receiving them... Thoughts?.

Chris

I'd send them all back.... I've seen ones with wobble but the CXS I have now is perfect. Spend $40 for a Black and Decker and wobble is acceptable... spend $300-$500 and, to me, it's just not acceptable. And I notice there are always a few people that say something like "well, it's just a handheld drill."... I don't know about them, but when I'm trying to drill a small hole very precisely, it does matter if the bit is wobbling as it goes in...the wobble isn't always stopped by the small amount of pressure applied when drilling/driving. Some people may be ok paying half a grand for a drill with very visible runout... I'm not. And it's obviously bothering you also... I'd exchange them.

 

[bail]

I just bought a CXS and I noticed the wobble the first time I used it. I love the drill otherwise and am torn about sending it back.