Festool DRIL

[DanielOB]

Got Fein oscillating tool (made in Germany), with a drill-hammer in the set. Just yesterday figured out the drill-hammer is made in China, but they try a new trickery like made in PRC (people Republic of China [tongue]). Long-short the drill is left behind for dirty jobs.

Now I am practically without a small drill. I am sick and tired from craps made in Ch. Cost me a large fortune already. Most likely will finish with Festool drill (the least-expensive tools on the planet, after the math).

I also see here something about Metabo. Is there any connection between the Metabo and China?

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

My Festool PDC drill says made in the Cech Rep.  Not sure about Metabo. 

 

[dutchie]

I believe roughly the high end Metabo stuff is still made in Germany and the low end stuff mostly in China.

 

[Timtool]

Metabo has a double reputation in Europe, stay the heck away from the ones that say PRC, the made in Germany ones tend to be of good quality.

Festool TTS bought over a Czech company "Narex" (former protool stuff) and kept production there, it's not like they opened a factory in the east to reduce costs or for the cheaper labor. Narex actually has a good rep and serious know how.

 

[NH-Engineering]

Last time I bought Metabo was 7 years ago. It was a BIG box with 4 tools in it; Lamp, Drill, Tracksaw, and a Reciprocating saw. All sharing the same 2 batteries. At the time of this purchase all these tools was in the "High end" range of the Metabo product line. But all where made in PRC when I studied the label on each tool. BUT on the box it was printed assembled in Germany. I assume that this means that the tools was put into the box in Germany and that each tool was assembled in China. But there is a strong link between Metabo and China at least due to my opinion. All tools have performed perfectly with exception of the drill that I replaced 3 times! the first week. 1st drill came with a big wobble in the chuck, 2nd drill had problems with the knob switching between 1. and 2nd gear. 3rd drill was perfect. My opinion is that Metabo is high quality tools!

 

[sae]

Toolnut is selling the ASCM 18 QX for $300 off. Does Toolnut ship to Canada, [member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] ?

I know it's not compact, but it's also 75% off for what's essentially a DRC, with 50% more torque.

http://www.toolnut.com/Fein_71160461090_ASCM18_QX_4_Speed_Cordless_Drill_p/71160461090.htm

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=38144]sae[/member], thanks for the mention and for sharing this incredible deal. It'll be hard to find a brushless cordless drill for less.

Unfortunately, we do not ship to Canada.  [unsure] Sorry.

Shane

 

[sae]

[member=38144]sae[/member], thanks for the mention and for sharing this incredible deal. It'll be hard to find a brushless cordless drill for less.

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member] Incredible deal indeed! I am seriously considering, despite being yet another battery platform for me.

Back to the OPs original question, Metabo does make a few of their tools in China, however I haven't found that they're specifically lacking in quality or failing prematurely; the tools are very serviceable. Maybe some of their plastics aren't trimmed as nicely, but honestly I don't notice a difference. Economics and reputation aside, manufacturing in China isn't the kiss of death as some people make it out to be; you can make things in China to take advantage of the lower labor cost, but you can also take cost savings a step too far and cut corners in design and production to achieve a lower parts cost and assembly time as well. In my limited experience of Metabo's tools, my impression is they've only cut the labor cost down, and their tools themselves are still well designed and made (except for the recip saw, which I dislike thoroughly...though its supposedly being revamped right now as we speak).

I'm about 15 tools deep into their 18v cordless lineup now, so feel free to ask questions about any specific tool, and I'll answer honestly. Only three of them are made in China iirc, which are the rotary hammer, recip saw, and circ saw. Their 18v drills are made in Germany, minus the BS 18 Quick which is made in China iirc. Any of their brushless tools are German made as of today. Both my most hated tool (recip saw) and one of my most loved (rotary hammer) are Chinese made, go figure.

 

[DzordanoBruno]

Metabo has a double reputation in Europe, stay the heck away from the ones that say PRC, the made in Germany ones tend to be of good quality.

Festool TTS bought over a Czech company "Narex" (former protool stuff) and kept production there, it's not like they opened a factory in the east to reduce costs or for the cheaper labor. Narex actually has a good rep and serious know how.

Thats  right. Festool/Prootol/Narex made factory in Česká Lípa. Iam from Czech Republic and Narex is in our country rated as brilliant  manufacture. I have angle grinder and corded drill and they are absolutely fantastic, high  quality tools.

And Metabo. Ehm, this brand is nothing  special. My friend  bought Metabo case  with drill and few bits and drill was plastic like toy,  unpowered and this tool didnt  work correctly. [emoji53]

So, buy another brand.

 

[DB10]

My 18v Metabo portable LED, site light. Is made in Taiwan. Very nice light and really good quality - IMO.

 

[DanielOB]

Thanks guys. Made in Chez rep. is OK.
SAE
I see you do not have a real world experience with Chinese people. I have contact with 8 Phd in USA/Canada, I work with Chinese through design review (direct with a factory in China), I check some engineering products, on my job, that comes from "there", ... Simple dumb...

Only one example: Nikon (pin-pin company in Japan, means top-notch Japanese company), make Nikon F6 Photo-Camera in Japan, and optional battery holder in China. You put a sticker on made in china and remove it. The paint comes off with a sticker ..., unlike with made in Japan. Hundreds more REAL-LIFE examples, and non-positive. But if it all does not bothers you, it will be fine.
When Engineers go to China for supplier approval, they (Chinese company) hire retired white people (US/Germans mostly) for a lot of money to handle the problem. After get approved as a supplier, no more people are there, just Chinese. You have to see what is happening to believe it...

Many people are just so different, but most have no idea what actually "made in China" means. I am out of such deals, and I know very well why I put in the original question : "festool tools are the least expensive on the market".

Bruno : thanks for a good point

 

[Darren1972]

Millwaulkee fuel make good drills cheap aswell in the us /canada i live in uk so prices here are pretty high so i buy festool the c18 set is an awsome setup it has a setup for every situation and has never let me down if you need a small one go for the Cxs ps metabo are not high end tools inho