Fein 18v ASCM

[MrToolJunkie]

Good review, [member=22405]johnleve[/member]. Mine is supposed to arrive on Monday. I have been looking at this drill since it came out and I agree that the deal was too good to pass on, even if the drill turned out to be mediocre. I only wish that there was a readily available right angle chuck for it. I am 90% sure that the Metabo chuck will fit, but could be a costly mistake if not and these are not easily found in NA to try.

 

[johnleve]

Good review, [member=22405]johnleve[/member]. Mine is supposed to arrive on Monday. I have been looking at this drill since it came out and I agree that the deal was too good to pass on, even if the drill turned out to be mediocre. I only wish that there was a readily available right angle chuck for it. I am 90% sure that the Metabo chuck will fit, but could be a costly mistake if not and these are not easily found in NA to try.

If you try it out let me know, would love to buy one if it works!

 

[tazprime38]

I spoke to a fein rep last year at an exhibition and he told me that someone had tweeked the festool angle chuck and got that to fit the fein drill. I mentioned this here and someone actually posted a link to a thread with pictures of the centrotec fastfix chucks being used by the fein drill. So its somewhere in the archives if someone can find it.

 

[johnleve]

Used the new drill all day today.  I think it is a great drill and the amount of power it has is astounding.  I set the clutch at 7 and it was burying lag bolts, the headerlok ones with a 1/2" head on them, with no issue.  I cannot imagine what it would do at max.  I only ran through about 1/2 of a battery.

If anyone is on the fence about this drill I think it is worth more than the going price of $170.  It has its shortcomings but I don't think there is anything better at the price point.

 

[fshanno]

Used the new drill all day today.  I think it is a great drill and the amount of power it has is astounding.  I set the clutch at 7 and it was burying lag bolts, the headerlok ones with a 1/2" head on them, with no issue.  I cannot imagine what it would do at max.  I only ran through about 1/2 of a battery.

If anyone is on the fence about this drill I think it is worth more than the going price of $170.  It has its shortcomings but I don't think there is anything better at the price point.

I'll bet this price is temporary.  I haven't had a chance to use it in anger.  I charged the batteries and drill a bunch of holes with a 35mm forstner bit to see how it felt drilling hinge cup holes.  It was a beech board and it just ate that little job up.

 

[fshanno]

I got mine Friday.  The collar is 48.4mm so the Metabo stuff won't work. 

It's remotely possible that the right angle chuck for a PDC might but judging from the photos of the PDC its collar is smaller and the odds of the receiver on this Fein and the PDC being the same are remote as well.

 

[Tayler_mann]

So come home today after going to the grocery store and what do I find on my bench? My girlfriend bought me a new toy.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Got mine today as well - just charging the batteries and tested it in the gears and speeds to make sure it all worked. Feels good in the hand...a tad-bit on the heavy side, but nice balance. I put the right angle and the eccentric chuck on the drill -- they do not lock on the drill, but they do fit and engage. The Centrotec chuck, however, does not fit.

Bummer on the collar size - I guess this will just need to be used as a traditional drill at the moment. I bought it for the torque, so that is OK. This is a screaming deal anyway you look at it and a 3 year warranty on everything is great. I also like the insert -- protects the drill nicely. It is not a Systainer, but lots of room inside to hold some bits and accessories to boot.

 

[Tayler_mann]

So come home today after going to the grocery store and what do I find on my bench? My girlfriend bought me a new toy.

I gave it a test run last night and boy do I have a new favorite drill. I can't believe how smooth of a drill it is. Especially at the price point it was at thanks [member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] I've found a new person to buy tools from. Anyone know of any good driver/drill bit sets for this. My porter cable set is way to wobbly with the quick change on.

 

[sae]

So come home today after going to the grocery store and what do I find on my bench? My girlfriend bought me a new toy.

I gave it a test run last night and boy do I have a new favorite drill. I can't believe how smooth of a drill it is. Especially at the price point it was at thanks [member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] I've found a new person to buy tools from. Anyone know of any good driver/drill bit sets for this. My porter cable set is way to wobbly with the quick change on.

How about that Makita set that toolnut stocks that comes w/ a systainer?

 

[Shane Holland]

Yeah, if you like Systainers  [huh] then that Makita Contractors 100-Piece Bit Set in a Systainer is a good option. $69 with free shipping at The Nut.

 

[fshanno]

I get a bad wobble with the ball detent chuck.  I contacted Fein USA and they sent me another chuck.  But the replacement is just as bad.  The amount of wobble I'm getting makes the chuck and it's replacement unusable for many bits.

The wobble was noted in the review by Canadian Woodworking mag. site.  The reviewer said it was slight.  Guess I'm just unlucky here.  Perhaps I should just keep trying till I get one that doesn't wobble? 

 

[Tayler_mann]

I get a bad wobble with the ball detent chuck.  I contacted Fein USA and they sent me another chuck.  But the replacement is just as bad.  The amount of wobble I'm getting makes the chuck and it's replacement unusable for many bits.

The wobble was noted in the review by Canadian Woodworking mag. site.  The reviewer said it was slight.  Guess I'm just unlucky here.  Perhaps I should just keep trying till I get one that doesn't wobble?

Mine only wobbles at the 4th gear. As soon as I have screw on the end I have no problems I guess. My hole saw worked fan freakingtastic in it as well. I guess I'm saying the wobble was there until I was actually using it to put a screw in.

 

[rst]

I've only used mine to drill 2"+ holes into two 4X4s to support my pullup bar so I could winch my new bench top milling machine 650 lb of  the floor dolly.  It cut fantastically easy in low gear, for less than the price of two new Milwaukee 18V batteries.  Now if Toolnut would...please discount the 18V Supercut even more!!!

 

[fshanno]

Mine only wobbles at the 4th gear. As soon as I have screw on the end I have no problems I guess. My hole saw worked fan freakingtastic in it as well. I guess I'm saying the wobble was there until I was actually using it to put a screw in.

That was my expectation.  When it actually got to work it would settle down.  But that's not the case.  The wobble is carried back up through the whole rig and the thing shakes like crazy.  Drilling too.  I tried a self centering bit and the vibration caused the bit to unscrew.  I wouldn't even try 4th gear with this chuck and certainly not a hole saw.  That would be a mess.

It's not just on long bits.  2" long bits are bad.  Very short socket bits aren't too terribly bad.

It's interesting that both of the chucks I have exhibit the same behavior.  There must be some time span between when each was manufactured cause one came with a drill and one is spare parts inventory.  I'll try to talk to a service manager this time and try to get him send me a chuck that he has personally tested and found satisfactory. 

If it still wobbles then I don't know what to do.  I can't see how it can be the drill.  The Jacobs chucks works fine.  The same bits that wobble so badly in the ball detent chuck work fine in the Jacobs chuck.  Small bits inserted directly in the receiver work fine. 

 

[johnleve]

Maybe I missed it but have you tried it with a bit in the hex key without a chuck or with the jacobs chuck?  It seems odd that the ball detent chuck would cause that much of a wobble on its own.  I have two units and never tested the chuck on the second, I will have to go back and do that.

 

[Tayler_mann]

Mine only wobbles at the 4th gear. As soon as I have screw on the end I have no problems I guess. My hole saw worked fan freakingtastic in it as well. I guess I'm saying the wobble was there until I was actually using it to put a screw in.

That was my expectation.  When it actually got to work it would settle down.  But that's not the case.  The wobble is carried back up through the whole rig and the thing shakes like crazy.  Drilling too.  I tried a self centering bit and the vibration caused the bit to unscrew.  I wouldn't even try 4th gear with this chuck and certainly not a hole saw.  That would be a mess.

It's not just on long bits.  2" long bits are bad.  Very short socket bits aren't too terribly bad.

It's interesting that both of the chucks I have exhibit the same behavior.  There must be some time span between when each was manufactured cause one came with a drill and one is spare parts inventory.  I'll try to talk to a service manager this time and try to get him send me a chuck that he has personally tested and found satisfactory. 

If it still wobbles then I don't know what to do.  I can't see how it can be the drill.  The Jacobs chucks works fine.  The same bits that wobble so badly in the ball detent chuck work fine in the Jacobs chuck.  Small bits inserted directly in the receiver work fine.

I would have to say that the wobble is in the drill itself if both chucks do it. The only common denominator is the drill between the two. I found that when driving screwed I use he 3/4" drivers and it reduces the wobble. I thought that you needed the ball on the end but you don't t holds all 1/4" drivers in he quick change. I would call and get a new drill ASAP because that sounds to me like something is seriously wrong. The first time I put a 250mm screw in 4th I told myself I hadnever used such a smooth drill in my life. You should be telling yourself the same thing.

 

[teocaf]

Couldn't both the chucks be bad or at least built to a different tolerance?  Why does it not wobble in the Jacobs?

 

[fshanno]

Maybe I missed it but have you tried it with a bit in the hex key without a chuck or with the jacobs chuck?  It seems odd that the ball detent chuck would cause that much of a wobble on its own.  I have two units and never tested the chuck on the second, I will have to go back and do that.

Small bits in the hex receiver, without a chuck, work fine.  Everything works fine in the Jacobs chuck.

I wish you would try that second unit and let us know.

 

[fshanno]

I would have to say that the wobble is in the drill itself if both chucks do it. The only common denominator is the drill between the two. I found that when driving screwed I use he 3/4" drivers and it reduces the wobble. I thought that you needed the ball on the end but you don't t holds all 1/4" drivers in he quick change. I would call and get a new drill ASAP because that sounds to me like something is seriously wrong. The first time I put a 250mm screw in 4th I told myself I hadnever used such a smooth drill in my life. You should be telling yourself the same thing.

I don't think it's the drill.  I've also tried it in 4th using the Jacobs chuck and it's very smooth.  If there was a runout problem I'd know it at 3800 rpm.  Also small bits inserted directly in the receiver work fine.  In fact, that's the way I intend to use it for driving.

I'm sure the problem I'm experiencing is all about the ball detent chuck.  The thing is that Fein sent me a replacement ball detent chuck and it has the same problem as the one that came with the drill.  That's why I decided to post the problem.  The drill itself is super and I don't want a replacement.

So I take it that your ball detent chuck works fine.  And that's what I need to know.