European Festool tools used in US?

[jericho]

Hi Everyone,
This topic has probably been done to death, but I was not successful finding it in the search section with the word combination I was using! I was wondering who here has used some of the 230v Euro Festool and are there any concerns with using a transformer/converter with a tool and it messing the motor up? Festool USA isn't set up to repair 230v tools, so it would really stink if a tool had to be sent back for repair to Great Britain! Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this? Thanks for any feedback!!

 

[sancho57]

We do use 220V (not festool and not power tools) But you can have it in your shop if you'd like. I don't think there would be a issue using 220V

 

[Shane Holland]

There are some threads on the topic. Here's a simple search for "transformer" that might help.
http://festoolownersgroup.com/search2/?search=transformer

 

[Svar]

I think its time for Festool to come up with a converter in Systainer. 230V to 110V and vice versa. Officially for UK since they use both voltages, unofficially for the US Festool addicts.

 

[Holmz]

Hi Everyone,
This topic has probably been done to death, but I was not successful finding it in the search section with the word combination I was using! I was wondering who here has used some of the 230v Euro Festool and are there any concerns with using a transformer/converter with a tool and it messing the motor up? Festool USA isn't set up to repair 230v tools, so it would really stink if a tool had to be sent back for repair to Great Britain! Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this? Thanks for any feedback!!

The issue would be the frequency of the motor more than the voltage.
I am not sure if the Festool have "Universal" motors, like Mafell. They are not labeled "Universal" so I think that they are not.
However a 50 Hz tool run on 60-Hz is historically better than a 60-Hz tool run at 50-Hz.
And one would probably sent back a tool to Germany rather than GB.

The main advantage of 220/230 for me is that it also opens up the possibility of using all the other Eu tools.

I think its time for Festool to come up with a converter in Systainer. 230V to 110V and vice versa. Officially for UK since they use both voltages, unofficially for the US Festool addicts.

Every man and his dog already make transformers, so one could take to an existing transformer with a can of green paint.
Really I would prefer Festool to stick to just reselling their existing lineup, and fixing up the Kapex... and not reselling some existing transformer in a systainer. That is in no way bringing anything new to the party.

 

[Svar]

The issue would be the frequency of the motor more than the voltage.
I am not sure if the Festool have "Universal" motors, like Mafell. They are not labeled "Universal" so I think that they are not.

Of course they are universal motors. Induction motor would make a power tool bit heavy.
Universal motors are not too sensitive to frequency.

 

[VictorL]

Voltage is not a problem. I own two Festool's belt sanders (BS-75 and BS-105). They are work fine with cheap transformer without any issues.  Just buy and enjoy.
P.S. which tools would you like to buy?

 

[jericho]

Voltage is not a problem. I own two Festool's belt sanders (BS-75 and BS-105). They are work fine with cheap transformer without any issues.  Just buy and enjoy.
P.S. which tools would you like to buy?

Sorry for the delay in response, but after seeing the HK 55, am seriously thinking about the HK 85!

 

[Holmz]

Voltage is not a problem. I own two Festool's belt sanders (BS-75 and BS-105). They are work fine with cheap transformer without any issues.  Just buy and enjoy.
P.S. which tools would you like to buy?

[member=996]VictorL[/member]
Are they worth having?
There is also the AEG, but I could picture those held sanders as being useful to me.
(P'rolly the 105)

 

[Michael Kellough]

Voltage is not a problem. I own two Festool's belt sanders (BS-75 and BS-105). They are work fine with cheap transformer without any issues.  Just buy and enjoy.
P.S. which tools would you like to buy?

[member=996]VictorL[/member]
Are they worth having?
There is also the AEG, but I could picture those held sanders as being useful to me.
(P'rolly the 105)

With the sanding frame the belt sander is awesome. I have the older AEG and frame but now that Festool bought the factory (since about 13 years ago) the Festool BS is the only tool available with a good sanding frame.

 

[Holmz]

Apparently there is a frame for the makita, called a "shoe". Too bad the AEG is no longer available. Not sure I can justify a BS105.

 

[Michael Kellough]

The Makita "shoe" is way better than nothing but isn't nearly as good as the HolzHer/Festool frame with stiff bristles and four point adjustment (in the initial setup).

The Makita shoe is similar to but still not as good as the older Elu BS frame.

The Festool BS with frame is an even more significant improvement over ordinary BS tools than the Mafell jig saw is to other jig saws.

 

[fp1337]

Why would one need a transformer if you run 220v in your shop?

 

[Cheese]

With the sanding frame the belt sander is awesome. I have the older AEG and frame but now that Festool bought the factory (since about 13 years ago) the Festool BS is the only tool available with a good sanding frame.

Interesting...I've always wondered what happened to AEG. I still use a couple of Milwaukee cordless drills that were made by AEG. They're 13 or 14 years old and still going strong even having fallen off of ladders and scaffolding.

 

[bobfog]

With the sanding frame the belt sander is awesome. I have the older AEG and frame but now that Festool bought the factory (since about 13 years ago) the Festool BS is the only tool available with a good sanding frame.

Interesting...I've always wondered what happened to AEG. I still use a couple of Milwaukee cordless drills that were made by AEG. They're 13 or 14 years old and still going strong even having fallen off of ladders and scaffolding.

AEG tools are still available. I bought one of their grinders a few years ago and they're still listed on many UK tool sites.

 

[six-point socket II]

With the sanding frame the belt sander is awesome. I have the older AEG and frame but now that Festool bought the factory (since about 13 years ago) the Festool BS is the only tool available with a good sanding frame.

Interesting...I've always wondered what happened to AEG. I still use a couple of Milwaukee cordless drills that were made by AEG. They're 13 or 14 years old and still going strong even having fallen off of ladders and scaffolding.

Hi!

In 1992, ten years after the original AEG company had to undergo/started mayor restructuring of the company, AEG PowerTools was bought by Atlas Copco. In 2005 TTI (Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.) bought AEG and Milwaukee from Atlas Copco. TTI uses the AEG brand name under license from Electrolux (to the best of my knowledge).

Product development/research for AEG is still located in Winnenden, Germany - rotary hammers are still being produced there to this day, also for the Milwaukee brand. About 450 people work there. Overall it's more than 1100 employees for "AEG" worldwide. Once AEG had over 2000 employees. Most products are made in China nowadays with another European factory being in Czech Republic.

TTI is the third largest producer for PowerTools after Black&Decker and Bosch.

TTI also owns: Ryobi (step by step takeover, still in progress), Homeelite, Stiletto Tool Company, Hoover USA (Name/brand rights for European & Mediterranean Sea region are still being held by the Italian Candy-Group), Dirt Devil, Royal, Regina, Vax, Second Nature, Nomad, Medisana and DreBo (Being one of the leading manufacturers in Germany for carbide tipped tools/accessories for concrete/masonry).

They also produce for Home Depot and even for competitors.

I put this quick reference together with a little help from Wikipedia.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Michael Kellough]

"They also produce for Home Depot"

TTI makes the Ridgid tools for HD

TTI recruiting

 

[nickao]

Hi Everyone,
This topic has probably been done to death, but I was not successful finding it in the search section with the word combination I was using! I was wondering who here has used some of the 230v Euro Festool and are there any concerns with using a transformer/converter with a tool and it messing the motor up? Festool USA isn't set up to repair 230v tools, so it would really stink if a tool had to be sent back for repair to Great Britain! Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this? Thanks for any feedback!!

I use the RAS 180 everyday. I used an adapter from European 220v plug end to US 220V plug end, the tool worked fine. Then I just cut the plug end off the tool and replaced it with a 220V US plug end. I have been using it everyday for about 8 months and it works perfectly.

Most every 220V Festool made in Europe is going to work fine as most are 220-250V - 50 to 60hz rated, which is exactly what we use. A very few may be more specific and be 50Hz, but even those work fine on our 60HZ. The last two 220V tools I received from Italy(specifically Festools) are rated 50-60hz. I must say in the last 2 or 3 years I haven't come across any 220V tool that weren't labeled 50-60 hz myself. Possibly they make them this way as a matter of fact now to simplify manufacturing for different areas. I don't live in the UK though and am familiar with mostly Festool. Maybe others from across the pond can look at their most  current 220V tools (within a year or two of age) and see if they are labeled only 50hz or 50-60hz.

Our 220V to 240V is not going to ruin the tool, the EU tools work fine here 220V is 220V. I know, I use a couple of the European tools everyday. You don't need any convertor or anything like that if you are buying the 220V tools from Europe, just put 220V in your work area.

 

[Holmz]

Why would one need a transformer if you run 220v in your shop?

Only 1 reason:
1) if you think you may want to stumble out of the shop to where there is no 220v outlet, but there is a 110v.

If one does not want to have a 220v US male to 230v schenko EU female cheater, or some Eu outlets wired in, or is adverse to changing out the male plug; then those may also apply...

 

[aloysius]

To achieve any given output from a brushed motor, the current must as least double when the voltage is halved.  Ohm's law 101.  Therein seems to be the problem plagueing Festo's much maligned Kapex saws.

The armature's windings have been, to be charitable, "built to a price", which presumably cannot cope with what is effectively excessive currents within the field coils & windings.  That the problem of premature expiry is common to 110v models & rarer in 220/240v models lends credence to my thesis.

Perhaps the answer to the endemic unreliability & notoriously short lifespan of North American market Kapex models is to instead supply the market with 220/240v machines and include a 2:1 voltage inverter as part of the package price.  This would virtually instantly eliminate any ongoing warranty claims, but does nothing for the poor mugs saddled with the rather dodgy originals!

Using what is in the 21st century an essentially safer, but typically 3rd. world transmission & reticulation network concurrent with the expectation that high powered machinery should peform as or nearly as well as the rest of the world is problematic.  A mini grinder that draws 13 A @ 240v will draw in excess of 28 A @ 110v!  At these current levels, excessive heat generation & premature burnout is virtually inevitable in many portable tools.  Current spikes dramatically in any universal motor placed under even reasonable startup & working loads.  You would need extremely high quality motor design & manufacture to avoid these effects, which is why high quality site tools specifically designed for 110v are so expensive.

I'd therefore contend that in terms of longevity and reliability that a suite of 220/240v tools should prove more reliable in heavy duty use.  Similarly, in stationary machinery 415v or greater multiphase supply will allow machinery (especially with induction motors) to perform with significantly less stress, wear & failure rates.