Festool 18v Sanders Announced

[Jmacpherson]

Down here in South Africa the local Festool website has just added 3x new 18v sanders to the website stating they will be available in September.
https://www.festool.co.za/products/cordless-products/cordless-sander/201533---etsc-125-li-basic

A cordless ETS 125, RTS400 and DTS 400.
New 18v battery shape though but suppose that keeps the weight down but won't work in other tools.
An AC adapter to work with plug-it cords instead of the battery pack

 

[Bob D.]

Awesome. I am happy to hear that they will make an AC adapter available. I would like to see that for other tools like the jig saw, a small router, the Domino 500, or a track saw. Being able to use mains power and then quickly switch to battery for truly portable work would be the best.

 

[Jmacpherson]

Awesome.

Two months to go before I dig the Festool hole deeper  [scared]

 

[mrboult]

Hmmm. . using a battery platform that won't work with other tools is a big shame. I see it works with the chargers sure, and I obviously get the advantages it affords, but damn!

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi,

So cool, thanks for sharing!

I think it was pretty obvious that with the current 5.2 and 6.2 Ah batteries a one handed, cordless sander was out of question for ergonomic and weight/weight distribution reasons.

I look very forward to handling those and I think it was a very wise move to have this plug-it adapter which kinda make them "hybrids". I think that is really great!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Cheese]

Interesting...brushless [unsure]

It seems like that would have been the natural move when they released the new DTS/RTS/ETS/PRO 5 sanders. [tongue]

 

[rdr]

Looks good

[off topic]

What would be great is if Festool made a mains adapter in the current battery form factor as well. They would only have to manufacture  the cordless jigsaws as they are essentially the same as the corded so there would be a cost save and would probably convert a lot of users to them being both corded and cordless. The BHC would be another great tool to have such an option.

 

[rdr]

Just noticed they are on the UK website:
https://www.festool.co.uk/products/...s-for-fine-sanding/201519---rtsc-400-li-basic

 

[Jmacpherson]

I was also surprised by the format change but then realised they had no choice otherwise they would have lost the battle with weight and ergonomics.
If they went with the current batteries would have looked like the Makita 18v 125mm sander.
I'm sure they will eventually release larger ah batteries that are the same physical size as these new "ergo" ones.

With the way the world is moving with cordless mitre saws, table saws, track saws etc. it begs the question, when do we see the 18v Rotex?

 

[Jmacpherson]

Just noticed they are on the UK website:
https://www.festool.co.uk/products/...s-for-fine-sanding/201519---rtsc-400-li-basic

Also on the German site, not on the international english version though

 

[Bob D.]

Looks good

[off topic]

What would be great is if Festool made a mains adapter in the current battery form factor as well. They would only have to manufacture  the cordless jigsaws as they are essentially the same as the corded so there would be a cost save and would probably convert a lot of users to them being both corded and cordless. The BHC would be another great tool to have such an option.

That's what I was thinking too.

 

[Bob D.]

If the sander 18v batteries use the TCL 6 charger can they also be charged with the SCA 8 AirStream Charger since that charger is supposed to be compatible with all 18v batteries, at least those available at the time the SCA 8 came out which was earlier this year IIRC?

 

[Kev]

Finally - something new that's worthy of a cheer [big grin]

Shame about there being another battery format but for the sake of effective ergonomics I understand the reason.

 

[live4ever]

Wonder how long before they are AINA.  Maybe March 2018?

 

[Kev]

Wonder how long before they are AINA.  Maybe March 2018?

Long before Oz I bet .. there was a time when we were early in the new release cycle - now we must be absolute last [sad]

 

[antss]

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 . :

 

[Kev]

[member=727]antss[/member] can't agree .. I actually believe this is a huge step. Time will tell, but I believe this is much more a case of people at Festool listening to their market than the marketing people at Festool dreaming up plans [wink] [big grin]

Now if they'd just made this new range one sander with a range of interchangeable bases I would have been seriously impressed [sad]

 

[Bob D.]

"Now if they'd just made this new range one sander with a range
of interchangeable bases I would have been seriously impressed"

Yes, that would have been a good move. Unfortunate that the batteries
will not be compatible with other cordless tools but I can understand why.
But if they can be charged using the same chargers as other 18v batteries
it takes away some of the pain of a different battery form factor.

It will be interesting to see what the run time is for these sanders running
off the battery. I hope these will come to NA market because I will be looking
to get at least one of them. The hybrid functionality will sell it for me if the
performance is up to the level of quality Festool is known for with sanding
and dust collection.

 

[Gregor]

Shame about there being another battery format but for the sake of effective ergonomics I understand the reason.

I see the different form factor not based in ergonomics (as they could have put the normal 3A batteries on it in basically the same location), but to disable use of the power adapter (rated 150W) on the existing 18V line.

What makes me curious is that they usually stated that sanders should always used with dust collection (health, prolong the time the paper lasts), so I wonder what has changed with the battery powered ones... do they have an internal fan now to prevent the paper from clogging?

 

[antss]

[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.