Festool 18v Sanders Announced

[Kev]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] - which customers would that be ?  Did they survey you or anyone else around here for tool wants or needs ? 

Did you respond that you were looking for a cordless sander ?

Do you already own a battery sander ? Does anyone else around here ?

I know guys here HAVE ASKED about a battery mitersaw and a cordless multi tool and for a 110v adapter for the other battery tools.  But I'm fairly certain no one has posted in the ask Festool section about a cordless sander.

So I ask again, which market(s) is clamoring for a cordless sander ?

Does the vacuum trigger in battery mode ?  Now that, would be a huge step.

[member=727]antss[/member] why the hostility? "Listening to market" doesn't mean you need to be interviewed. My point is that this (to me) appears to be the result of insight gained from the market and not simply a product geared as a cash grab from a marketing perspective.

I'm a glass half full kinda guy and I see merit in these new sanders and can visualise the many use cases these can be applied in.

 

[Nat X]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] - which customers would that be ?  Did they survey you or anyone else around here for tool wants or needs ? 

Did you respond that you were looking for a cordless sander ?

Do you already own a battery sander ? Does anyone else around here ?

I know guys here HAVE ASKED about a battery mitersaw and a cordless multi tool and for a 110v adapter for the other battery tools.  But I'm fairly certain no one has posted in the ask Festool section about a cordless sander.

So I ask again, which market(s) is clamoring for a cordless sander ?

Does the vacuum trigger in battery mode ?  Now that, would be a huge step.

Don't buy them and I promise you they will not impact your life in any way whatsoever. Festool needs your opinions like the English language needs superfluous spaces before punctuation marks.

 

[ear3]

For me the choice of cordless or no is about the dust collection.  If the dust collection is already poor, like on the Carvex, or if the temporary bag setup is good, like on the TSC or HKC, then I prefer the cordless, since it allows me to cut all ties from the tool.  But on a sander, where the dust collection provided by the hose is both good and necessary, it's not an additional burden to have the cord tied in as well (I have it wrapped to the hose in any event, so it's not like I have to deal with two sources of interference when running a plug-it tool and a hose).

I'm sure people will buy the sander, especially if they don't have those models yet, but I doubt I will be an early adopter when it comes to the American market.  Of course, if the performance of the sander is better than the corded, then that changes the equation.  I guess we'll see...

Oh, and please keep it civil.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I can see the appeal of these. Climbing a ladder to sand drywall or siding with no hose or cord would be nice. I like not having to deal with either with my TSC. Not sure if I will buy one as I have the various styles in corded versions, but I could see adding one if projects warranted it.

 

[six-point socket II]

How many of you have really longed for a batter sander ?  You already own the makita that's been out for over a year now - and find it lacking ?

-or- the Ryobi, or Ridgid ?  Or the Bosch or Skil, or Porter Cable, or B&D ????????  all of which utilize an exiting battery platform.

Now, the FT version is arguably better, and NONE of those offer the plug in conversion.  But, this looks like a Marketing Manager's new program to grow sales because nothing else is working.

Nothing wrong with that, but I'm guessing this type of tool has a real limited appeal.  Also betting that less than 1/2 dozen guys around here have one of these types of sanders now.  The novelty of the cord/ cordless will drive initial sales - if the batteries are priced competitively . :

Hi,

Here, me. If there had been this cordless/hybrid option when I bought my DTS in early '16, I would have bought it immediately.

However, the need is/was not big enough for me to consider buying a tool from another manufacturer.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Jmacpherson]

If you go and read the Main Application section of the sanders it clearly states who Festool is aiming these tools at and what tasks/issues they are attempting to overcome.

In summary its for outdoor, jobs where no power is available or hard to reach areas and/or where the hose and cable gets in the way or

Then to help you out in the shop or indoors you can adapt to power and use a vac and have unlimited run-time or if you forget to charge the batteries etc.

So they are giving you a mobile sander without strings and giving you a shop sander all in a single tool - quite smart imho

 

[Jmacpherson]

For me the choice of cordless or no is about the dust collection.  If the dust collection is already poor, like on the Carvex, or if the temporary bag setup is good, like on the TSC or HKC, then I prefer the cordless, since it allows me to cut all ties from the tool.  But on a sander, where the dust collection provided by the hose is both good and necessary, it's not an additional burden to have the cord tied in as well (I have it wrapped to the hose in any event, so it's not like I have to deal with two sources of interference when running a plug-it tool and a hose).

I'm sure people will buy the sander, especially if they don't have those models yet, but I doubt I will be an early adopter when it comes to the American market.  Of course, if the performance of the sander is better than the corded, then that changes the equation.  I guess we'll see...

Oh, and please keep it civil.

Looks like they are using the new cleantec system and dust bags that are on the recent corded versions of the ets/rts/dts.
If I recall from Peter Parfits review of them, he was quite happy with the dust collection in the bags.
I would assume these would perform the same?

Used my HKC this weekend with the bag, still surprises me how effective it is  [smile]

 

[GarryMartin]

I'm told the batteries have a run time of 30 mins and recharge in 25 mins.

Looks like we can also expect a new mesh paper type and the introduction of Jetstream 2 (including new pads and paper).

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

 

[Scorpion]

In summary its for outdoor, jobs where no power is available or hard to reach areas and/or where the hose and cable gets in the way or

My immediate thought was to enable the guy who's prepping the exterior of a house for paint.  Up the ladder with a few batteries and a small stack of sandpaper for an hour or so and magic happens.  Quite valuable it would be for such a task.

I do agree with others, given how I work around the house and shop, I have limited application for such a tool.  That being said, if the format of festool tools were to shift towards all tools becoming both wireless and wired (using the 110 battery to plugit adapter which enables me to plug a cordless tool into the wall or a dust collector) I would view that as a substantial innovation in power tools.  Such a feature would allow the user to use the tool wherever and whenever as needed and in any combination.  Make it make total sense by enabling a user to use a single battery format on all tools so he/she could have only 2 or 10 per their needs.  I MIGHT just buy all of my festools again and shudder at the thought at the same time.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DB10]

The new mesh sanding discs look interesting and it's going to be great to be able to buy small quantities of them, as and when I need them when they eventually go on sale in Australia.   
I'm a big fan of the Mirka Abranet and use them a lot but they are expensive to buy down here so it's cheaper to import them in bulk.

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi,

Thanks for the heads up [member=11629]GarryMartin[/member] !!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Jmacpherson]

I'm told the batteries have a run time of 30 mins and recharge in 25 mins.

Garry, any talk of large Ah batteries in near future?

If Festool are smart and serious about cordless tools and dust extraction in general, think HKC/TSC.
Then they need to come up with something like Metabo have where the dust extraction hose has a sensor that as soon as it detects vibration from the cordless tool (any brand as per Metabo), the vac switches on.
The AC adapter is a start but that would really give you flexibility.

 

[GarryMartin]

Garry, any talk of large Ah batteries in near future?

It's all new news at the moment, but I wouldn't have thought Festool would announce higher Ah batteries any time soon. The marketing text is making a good deal about the fact that the battery is quicker to charge than deplete, so with two batteries, you should be able to work near non-stop I guess?

We already have an excellent solution to starting the Festool extractors with a remote keyfob, so it's not beyond the realms of imagination that a vibration sensor could be coupled to the same sort of electronics.

[member=191]Rick Christopherson[/member]

 

[GarryMartin]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

And it seems the Vecturo is going corded, or there will be a corded (non-Plug It) version...

[attachimg=3]

 

[semenza]

That new pad design looks like it will improve collection from the outer edge of the pad. Not that it is bad now but that is one place where dust escapes a bit.

Seth

 

[Gregor]

And it seems the Vecturo is going corded, or there will be a corded (non-Plug It) version...

Why dump the plugit? Dosn't make sense to me, I think it's a great feature.
I always hate the fixed cord (and how I have to untangle it) when I pull out my HL 850...

 

[Bob D.]

[member=11629]GarryMartin[/member] , was there any mention of compatibility with the 18V AirStream chargers?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Hard to believe some people can be negative about this. It's just another option added to the already existing range. Don't like it, don't buy it.

I could use one right now, I have to paint the front of somebody's garage box that's far out in a place without power. Oh, I'm really looking forward to hand sand all the rust off that metal door - not.

But it would be something I wouldn't use that often, always preferring my sanders hooked up to a vac when possible. But nice to have when you need it. Bit pricey though .... €728 over here, double that of the corded version. I don't think these new sanders are going to be on Festool's best seller list.

 

[antss]

Kev - not being hostile.  I am simply questioning where your "listening to" or "filling a void " in the market stance comes from ?  This is just open discussion. 

Who is or was asking for a product like this ?  And if they exist, how did FT get in touch with them ? Facebook ?  The local bar in Wendlingen ? Coffee shop in Lebanon ?  No one here has said they own cordless sander of any make yet. And many of those have been available for some time now. I also referenced several things that have been asked for around FOG that have been ignored by FT. 

Which lead me to the conclusion this is a product searching for a market. Not a product filling a need in the marketplace. And that FT doesn't seem to connect with its customer base for product development.

I am making no comment on whether this is good or valuable product.  I have already said I think they'll sell these in good numbers to start, and that the conversion to mains power is ahead of the curve.  Only Dewalt is pursuing this type of compatibility.

Everyone doesn't have to agree.  It's this sort of thing that gives FT owners monikers like fan boy, and kool-aid drinker.  By all means , applaud them for coming out with a new widget, but don't get all bent out of shape or think you are being attacked because someone else thinks the latest rollout isn't a home run.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

30 years or more ago, AEG manufactured a 12v cordless right angle random orbit sander.

I'm not sure of the actual manufacturing years, but this was after AEG and Milwaukee tools had both been purchased by Atlas Copco, but before the unified PBS battery system had been adapted by all three brands.

While Makita at the time was manufacturing all sorts of tools using their NiCd stick batteries, the AEG sander was sort of anomalous, since I believe AEG was mostly sticking to drills and screwdrivers for their cordless range.

My guess is that the sander was designed and manufactured for a specific industrial need, maybe for one or more manufacturers, or  for some specific trade or professional use. Bosch at sround the same time was manufacturing specialty cordless rotary shears for fabric, a cordless version of their foam shear, and a cordless light gauge sheet metal shear. I don't know how much the AEG sander cost, but the Bosch tools were around $1000 or more each, which is about four times or more what a cordless drill or driver cost at the time. I doubt these would have been made if their wasn't a specific market that had an interest in a cordless version of the tools.

As for the Festool cordless sanders, there may be a soecific manufacturer or market that expressed interest in a cordless sander. Maybee for finishing in an industrial setting. I believe Martin guitars used to have people sanding the guitar finishes with fans that blew the dust away from the finishers into a dust filtration system, eliminating the use of vacuum dust hoses connected to the sanders. A light weight cordless sander could likely replace a pneumatic sander, and eliminate the awkward pneumatic hose. Fein and Makita both manufacture cordless screwdrivers for industrial use presumably for the same reason.