Festool CXS - a new kid in town

[WarnerConstCo.]

What is up with the new systainers,   will the lock/stack with the existing ones? 

nice drill but I really wouldn't have much use for it.  I'm waiting for the C15.   i have a small 10.8 bosch,  90 degree drill already that I like.

You don't pay too much attention do you Dan? [poke]

They will latch on top of the systainers you all ready have.
You can not latch the old ones on top of the T-Loc's.

Big advantage is that you dont have to unstack them all just to in one that is in the middle of a stack.  Turn the handle one way and you can get in, turn the other way and you can take them apart.

 

[GPowers]

That little CXM drilled through the huge beam, with that auger, AMAZING  [eek]

 

[pemo]

Dear all,

I am very interested by this small CXS drill. In particular for light woodworking (repair everything in a house, building cabinets, assembling kitchen, etc.).
However, I have a bigger project: building a wood deck and a wood pergola. I will do it only once, but do you think the CXS is sufficient for that.
I have the feeling that it is powerful enough, but will it be strong enough (I have more than 1500 screws to fix).
Or do you think I should consider the C12 instead ?

Thanks for your help.

  cheers,
  Pemo

 

[jonny round boy]

Dear all,

I am very interested by this small CXS drill. In particular for light woodworking (repair everything in a house, building cabinets, assembling kitchen, etc.).
However, I have a bigger project: building a wood deck and a wood pergola. I will do it only once, but do you think the CXS is sufficient for that.
I have the feeling that it is powerful enough, but will it be strong enough (I have more than 1500 screws to fix).
Or do you think I should consider the C12 instead ?

Thanks for your help.

  cheers,
  Pemo

pemo,

I would imagine the CXS will handle it easily. Sure, there are digger,more powerful drills that may do it a little quicker, but for a one-off job that's not really an issue.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Pemo:

With the C12, C15 and CXS I find the only one of those I would bring to "work" is the C15. The CXS has so much poorer battery life that I would not use it for your mentioned task, I find I run out of juice far too often with the CXS. The C12 I use at home has limited battery life as well as compared to the C15 and I find that I too often run out.

The CXS is a side kick that I find too big for being so small and I can honestly say that if it wasn't for the angle chuck I would have gotten a pair of small Makitas instead, and maybe I should have.

When you write repair "everything in house" the CXS is immediately out of the question and the C12 will fall short on some tasks. For me everything in house means two machines; a small and a powerful one.

On the complaining note I find that even the new ratcheting chuck does not grip well. And on mine the center hex came loose as well. (On one of the two I have, the other one does not grip to well either, both are the new type, the old one was discarded.) And before anyone screams out user error I wonder why I NEVER have that issue (ok, once, but it was a long time ago) with the Makitas and Hitachis or my friends Milwaukee. Rohm chucks are the best, why Festool settles for a clearly inferior solution is beyond me.

The other day I nearly wrecked a glass shower swing door that I had laid out on a carpet; as I walked past it the Festool chuck (and yes, it did click-click-click into place) decided to let go of a stepped hole drill and it nearly hit the glass door. Never happens with the better chucks. With them better drill chucks you tighten it and feel that it is secure - with the Festool chuck you "think" you got it but sometimes you don't.

On a positive note: I love the C15 for performance. (But wish the grip was as comfy as the T12)

 

[Guy Ashley]

I was thinking of the CXS as a workshop bench tool but having read Henrick's posts maybe the CXS is not all we had hoped for? [crying]

Anyone else got one that wants to share their experiences?

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Guy: the CXS has a form factor that is odd. The ergonomics only work until you add the drillchuck or the angle head, then the drill feels unbalanced.

As a workshop drill? For minor tasks it does well. Another thing I am not sure if I like or not is the light which only stays on for as long as you keep your finger on the trigger. On the Hitachi I have I can activate the light on a button on the battery and it stays on. Here in Sweden during the dark five months of the year it is quite handy as an auxiliary light - and it can stand on its own.

It's them little things that make or break a product and lately when I have been swamped with work and have been working with all three drills I have found that none of them are perfect but the C15 is very good.

The C12 has shorter battery life than expected and at first I wasn't sure but after a while I realized I was running out quite often and now I don't trust the drill enough just to bring the C12 and two freshly charged batteries for a days work with "some" drilling/screwing.

After three very hard years of service my Makitas were wearing thin but I realize that I got very good value for money. My Hitachi Li-Ion 14,4V is awesome - but - lacks a little bit of power when compared to the Makita. The C15 does well in every regard without being tops for anything really.

The only thing that keep me in the Festool drill/screwdriver loop is the angle chuck and the off set chuck though the latter seldom gets used. If I could find an angle chuck that worked as well as Festools I would ditch them and switch brands.  

I have (too) many Festool gadgets and most of them are top notch and help me deliver the goods on a daily basis but I have less love for them drills/screwdrivers the more I use them. [unsure]

Oh - I almost forgot; the belt clip on the Festool drill batteries is useless IMO, I have dropped the drills numerous times just walking down a ladder and have resorted to another solution (using the old one with the ball on a loop). The CXS has a deeper clip and it does stay in place though. Out of five people that have tried the CXS in actual use not one person likes it and my girlfriend is still lamenting that "redundant" Hitachi 10,8V I gave to her father for last X-mas.

Henrik

 

[tbellemare]

Could it be the batteries on your C 12 are worn out? They should last a long time.

Tom

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Hello Tom,
it is the C12 Li-ion, a brand new machine.

My old C12 is fine, thanks for asking.  [big grin]

I am sorry if I come down a little hard on the Festool drills/screwdrivers, maybe I was hoping for too much. Especially considering I paid a premium for a product that does not excel.

The best handling of the Festool drills I think is in the T12. Best grip but bulky battery. I wish they made the batteries smaller like some of the competition. I don't buy that they are designed so they can stand up with a large drill/hole saw in them. I always place them om the side anyway as the risk of someone (you, me, anybody) knocking down the drill and putting a dent on that expensive floor is only lessened by placing the drill on the side already tipped over.

I would stop complaining if Festool made a T15 spec machine in a T12 size body and a smaller sized battery. I would buy three of them and replace all my other drills but until then I am leaning towards checking out what the competition is up to.

 

 

[woodguy7]

I just got the CXS & only used it a couple of times.  I like it but today i thought it was under powered.  But then i remembered what size it is & i am used to the C12 & C15 so it is probably about right on power.

Henrik, you are right about it being un balanced.  I put the chuck in it today & tightened a Trend countersink bit into it then put it down standing up.  It fell forward  [sad]  I have noticed that the bit comes slack in the chuck like you said, quite disapointing really.  My C12 battery lasts almost as long as my C15 & i am more than happy with both those drills.

I really like the CXS but i dont think i would pay full retail for it (mine was gifted to me) when the likes of Makita do good drills for much less.  I am about to retire a Panasonic drill that must be 15 years old.  It cost more than the rest when i bought it but it owes me nothing now.  I would hope that the price of the Festool drills, i would get as long as i did with the panasonics.  Love the new T lock Systainers  [smile].  I too think the light should stay on longer.  My old Makita impact would stay on a good 5 secs after releasing the trigger.  The belt clip on the CXS is the best of the Festool clips.  The clip on the C15 can be fiddily if in the middle setting.

Woodguy

 

[jmbfestool]

Very disappointing festool still is making rubbish chucks just like they did or still do with the T15 i own you properly all read the other topic about festools rubbish chucks.  They will later bring out better chucks for the cxs after a lot of people complain about them but it's to late damage is done why not have a decent chuck now.

I gotta say it and you all know it's true festool make the worst chuck in the professional market and even worse chucks than DIY tools.

About standing a drill up. Well bosch makita non of their small drills stand up so don't see a problem with that to be honest. I wouldn't go for the makita small drill they are rubbish i own them yes they are good the batteries are rubbish though don't use mine to wear the batteries out but many trades men i spoke to have killed the batteries within a year.  The good thing bout the cxs you get 3 years warranty on batteries.

I also own the small bosch and the makitas have a lot more power so bosch are rubbish lol

Jmb 

 

[woodguy7]

Well, in comparison the CXS is probably quite good then.  Never used the small Makita or Bosch.  I understand that the others wont stand up but the CXS is a shape thatwill stand up & it does with the centrotec chuck.  Just when you put the larger chuck in it falls over.  No big deal really i suppose.  I would like to test it out side by side with the others.  I think that because it is bigger than the others then we expect it to have more power, but it is still a 10.8 after all.

Woodguy

 

[jmbfestool]

Well, in comparison the CXS is probably quite good then.  Never used the small Makita or Bosch.  I understand that the others wont stand up but the CXS is a shape thatwill stand up & it does with the centrotec chuck.  Just when you put the larger chuck in it falls over.  No big deal really i suppose.  I would like to test it out side by side with the others.  I think that because it is bigger than the others then we expect it to have more power, but it is still a 10.8 after all.

Woodguy

Yes you do expect more. But the 3 year warranty is a big plus and also the bosch and makita do not have belt clips and they have no angle chuck which in theory makes your cxs drill the smallest drill as you can get into smaller spaces than the Bosch and makita.  I see what your saying the shape is a kinda shape you should be able to stand the drill up with the chuck. 

RCF was going to send me the drill regardless if i wanted it or not lol he was thinking i would buy it after i had it in my hands but i told him not to waist his money on delivery charges as he said he would pay for it to be returned aswell if i didnt want it. Would be nice if he just sent it me just for me to test the drill only with my makita and bosch
As i don't want to buy it because 1. I am spending to much money on tools at the moment 2. I hate my T15 chuck so it would drive me mad if I had two festool drills with two crap chucks.

JMB

 

[woodguy7]

The C15 chuck is really good

 

[jmbfestool]

The C15 chuck is really good

You c15 must be a ratchet chuck then

Jmb

 

[jmbfestool]

I dont own the CXS so I could not test it with the bosch and makita and I will never ever buy the CXS untill they change the chuck to the ratchet chuck.

Any way I did a video to compare the power between the makita and Bosch

> Bosch cost more money  I bought mine in 2007 and cost me £160 inc   Charger, 2 batteries, drill all comes in a bag (the bag is crap)

> Makita cost me £140  bought it in 2009 which included TWO drills impact and drill/driver, 2 batteries, charger and a hard case

Makita is better value for money


> Bosch is bigger in size about 15mm in length and is a bit beefier.  Weight 840g Naked

> Makita is smaller lighter Weight 754g naked.

Both makita and bosh batteries are the same weight.
[attachimg=#]

Power difference well let my video show you the difference and you can decide for your self.

Bosch VS Makita 10.8V

JMB

 

[woodguy7]

Thats quite impressive for the Makita.  Nice vid, Cheers  [thumbs up]

Oh, your work trousers look the same as mine, clartered in silicone & glue  [big grin]

Woodguy.

 

[BigHonu]

Great video JMB!  I have the same drill/driver set, and must agree that it does offer a good bang for your buck.

 

[jmbfestool]

Thats quite impressive for the Makita.  Nice vid, Cheers  [thumbs up]

Oh, your work trousers look the same as mine, clartered in silicone & glue  [big grin]

Woodguy.

You can see what I mean how the bosh lacks power!  Its the last 20mm the bosch struggles it just makes alot of noise but hardly turns the screw and in reverse it has even less power as the makita has the same amount of power in reverse. Because of this bosch 10.8v drill I wont buy any other bosch drills as I get the feeling they will just be the same not enough power.  If I got hold off a CXS I will do another video.

JMB

 

[jmbfestool]

Great video JMB!  I have the same drill/driver set, and must agree that it does offer a good bang for your buck.

Cheers

Yeah you get alot more for your money I also got some drill bits with mine aswell as a freebie.

jmb