Fein ASCM drill, any users?

[Hogarth]

I need to replace my drill ASAP, and it seems like it might take a while to get the PDC over to this side of the pond, which is frustrating! ???

Anyway,I've started to look at other alternatives and the Fein, four speed drill looks interesting. I am curious to hear if anyone here owns it, and how it measures up to the Festools.

 

[shed9]

Hi Hogarth

I currently have an 18V version of the ASCM for review from Fein as an outcome of my own Fein saga.

The only other Festool drill I have to compare is the CXS which is by no means a viable comparison other than the ability to compare the CXS's version of Centrotec. One thing to note, the Fein changeable head function and Centrotec are not compatible.

The ASCM is a decent drill and its actually made in Germany; I mention this as this was the basis of my gripe on that link up there, however I also understand that the PDC is sourced from the Czech Republic for balance. I have  the ASCD 18 impact driver and the ASB 18 combi/driver (as per the link); these tools are not of German origin and there is (in my opinion) a 'slight' difference between these and the ASCM but that's another conversation.

I've not used the ASCM too much as the point of the review was to ascertain its suitability for use in a wider project. The drill that was supplied for review had seen 'some' previous use and our concern was that if the drill failed in the review we couldn't know if that was due to misuse by a prior user. To be fair, I was advised it was a marketing stock machine but didn't think it would have been that well used - my mistake, not Fein's.

My initial feeling on the ASCM is that it is well made, robust and certainly worth the money. The trigger is very responsive although has slow start-up (if that makes sense). The engineering of the changeable head is just superb and the 4 speed gearbox puts it way ahead of the usual contenders. It takes some getting used to selecting the correct setting but this is a minor learning curve. The balance is spot on and it has a reassuring mass.

If you have any particular questions or you want me to try a particular application, let me know and I'll post the results on here.

 

[Hogarth]

Thank you, Shed.

I got a Fein BOP corded drill, and I am impressed by the build quality of it. Works really well. What holds me back a little with the ASCM vs. PDC is the lack of compatibility with the centrotec system, as well as having to have different batteries and chargers than the Festools that I have.

I gotta say though, the specs on the Fein ASCM 18 are pretty impressive. 90nm of torque..!? I also really like the gear shift on it.

 

[shed9]

I'm never mobile so the battery thing only applies to cordless drills for me and despite being knee deep in Festool tools, I just can't bring myself to invest in the drills when compared to what else is out there.

I have no doubt they are worth the money, the CXS has proved that for me but nearly £500 for one drill is not justifiable for my business purposes at the moment.

If you've already invested in Festool batteries and any centrotec kit though I'd be pushed to wait for the PDC.

That said, if the batteries are going to be kept and used with their specific tools the battery argument may be moot.

 

[ToolBoxTim]

Ive just bought the ASCM18. And I'm selling it again ( http://ebay.eu/1xTgcCT ) in order to get the QX version.
I hadn't quite appreciated the difference before I took the plunge. Having bought the ANCM18 I phoned up Fein to ask if I could get buy the quick change chuck and quick change bit holder. They told me that its one system or the other and what I had was the heavier duty all metal, permanent chuck. the all metal chuck has ha hex on te nose so that you can put a spanner on it. I can only imagine thats if you got your drill bit stuck or if the 90nm of torque wasn't sufficient to remove something and you wanted to put a spanner on it.

I think Fein could do a better job of advertising the interesting features like this, and of explaining the differences between their drills. Anyway I decided I value flexibility over strength and decided to sell mine and look for a qx version.

 

[shed9]

ToolBoxTim, I'm still reviewing the QX version and have to say I rarely swap the chuck and bit holder heads out to the extent that I'd prefer the metal chuck on the non-QX drill over the ability to change it.

I find an impact handles most of the driver functions for me and have rarely found the QX that useful as a driver itself.

Edit: To add, I also invested in the Fein combo pack of the impact and combi 18V drills. Good value drills but knowing what I know now, I'm starting to think that the Festool would be a wiser choice.

 

[ToolBoxTim]

Hi shed9,
What are your drilling and driving requirements and in light of that could you expand on your thoughts why you are now wondering about festool in preference to fein?

For myself I was looking for a "do everything drill" - perhaps a dangerouse ambition. I live on a boat and do a fair bit of work on it. Very varied jobs, metal and wood drilling, lots of screws from small to coach bolts. I don't need a hammer function as I don't have any masonry to drill. I'm looking for a drill that will last as long as I do. I'm not in the trade so I have to justify tools against the money i save not employing professionals doing work on my home. I don't really want the expense I a drill and an impact driver and for my needs I'm not sure what extra benefit is get from an impact driver. I also don't like the noise or need to put on ear defenders. So to me the ASCM looks like the one drill to rule them all. The final nudge for me towards the ascm18 was that I already have an 18v fein supercut.
Anyway, I'm interested in your thought process and open to being swayed from orange to green.
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