Festool drill bits

[tdfiver]

I ordered some Festool Centrotec HSS drill bits for spares, come in packs of 10, in 4 & 6 mm. part no's 493439 & 493443.

Well when they arrived you could have knocked me down with a feather !!!!

MADE IN CHINA  [eek]  I'm not exactly a happy bunny at that revelation  [mad]

 

[peter halle]

You may want to check to make sure that the made in China does not correspond to the packaging / case.  I know that the Centrotec drill bit case that I have has made in China on it, but that is the case only.

Peter

 

[tdfiver]

I have just checked, the MADE IN CHINA is on the label, not the case, there is no marking on the actual bits just stamped 6 HSS. I really do find it hard to believe Festool get parts from China ??

Could they be fakes ?

They came from TS Tool Save in the Midlands (UK) who are authorised Festool dealer. I've had stuff from them before.

 

[luke1984]

Tool save is my dealer ther not fakes have you used them yet I had a load off Dave the are brilliant    Luke

 

[Alan m]

made in chine isnt a bad thing. lots of great products are made in chins adn other (places thought to produce rubish) such as apple products.

 

[tbellemare]

There is a lot of semi-conductor manufacturing equipment made in China and that's not chopped liver...

Tom

 

[tdfiver]

No I've not used them yet as I am down to last one of each in my Centrotec kit, I bought these, I have found the (original) bits to be excellent quality. I really hope these are of the same quality.

My understanding is I am buying German quality steel, not Chinese stuff. If I wanted Chinese stuff I would buy it, we'll see.

 

[Holzhacker]

This brings up a very important consideration for some of us.
As others have mentioned there are a lot of good, high quality products being made in China these days, along with all the knock off garbage. One used to be able to say with a pretty good degree of certainty that anything coming out of China was crap. However, that isn't the case anymore. Nonetheless, quality isn't the only issue.
It takes a lot of time and diligence to be able to buy stuff that isn't made in China. Sometimes you just can't find the product you need without it being made there. I try very hard not to buy things made in china and various other countries. Don't get me wrong, I have lots of stuff made in those places in my house. If I can buy it made in usa or europe, I will pay the extra freight and do so or live without.
For me, I'm not interested in supporting slave wages and poor working conditions.
Hmmm ... wait a minute that means I can almost never buy anything made almost anywhere.  [dead horse]
As consumers all we can do is try to make buying decisions that hopefully work out better.
Personally, if Festool starts outsourcing production of tools to China, I'm done. I will not pay Festool prices to a company, so that that company can pay lower wages to workers and stick the extra money in their corporate pocket. Part of the reason, we pay high festool prices is due to high wages in Germany. I don't have a problem paying someone for services. People pay me for my services all the time.

 

[GPowers]

WoW China I would not have expected that. Some where in Europe yes, China no.  [sad]

 

[Frank Pellow]

Holzhacker, this is bordering on being political, but I agree completely with what you said (other than the fact that you forgot Canada, Australia, and some other countries where, for the most part, workers earn decent wages.)

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Regardless of where they are manufactured, they must still adhere to our strict quality standards to have the Festool name on them.

I think you'll be pleased with their performance and quality, despite being displeased (or at least surprised by) the country where they were manufactured.

 

[Brice Burrell]

.....If I can buy it made in usa or europe, I will pay the extra freight and do so or live without.
For me, I'm not interested in supporting slave wages and poor working conditions.
Hmmm ... wait a minute that means I can almost never buy anything made almost anywhere.  [dead horse]
As consumers all we can do is try to make buying decisions that hopefully work out better. Personally, if Festool starts outsourcing production of tools to China, I'm done. I will not pay Festool prices to a company, so that that company can pay lower wages to workers and stick the extra money in their corporate pocket. Part of the reason, we pay high festool prices is due to high wages in Germany. I don't have a problem paying someone for services. People pay me for my services all the time.

Agreed!   

 

[mastercabman]

Same here,i get the 10 bits package and it does shows "made in china"but don't let that fool you,so far they are the best bits i ever used!

 

[Tim Morris]

I've bought several of the 10 packs and would echo mastercabman's remarks these hold an edge like no other bit I have ever used.

 

[Len]

Regardless of where they are manufactured, they must still adhere to our strict quality standards to have the Festool name on them.

I think you'll be pleased with their performance and quality, despite being displeased (or at least surprised by) the country where they were manufactured.

Ok Shane, what else is made in China?  Does you catalog highlight where the tools are manufactured?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

The only thing I see listed as being made in China in our system are the longlife filter bag and guide rail tote bag. I don't even see those bits listed, but it may be a recent change.

No, it's not listed in the catalog.

 

[RONWEN]

I dislike buying products made in china (and some other Asian countries) because the workers in those countries don't earn a living wage.
Those low wages are part of what provides outside companies a tremendous cost advantage on those products made.  I can't fault a company i.e. Festool for moving an item(s) to china if they are having trouble with a price point in order to be competitive however I would also expect them to share those savings with customers.  We should be shocked at how inexpensive those very high quality Festool drills are -- why aren't we???  [unsure]

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I dislike buying products made in china (and some other Asian countries) because the workers in those countries don't earn a living wage.
Those low wages are part of what provides outside companies a tremendous cost advantage on those products made.  I can't fault a company i.e. Festool for moving an item(s) to china if they are having trouble with a price point in order to be competitive however I would also expect them to share those savings with customers.  We should be shocked at how inexpensive those very high quality Festool drills are -- why aren't we???  [unsure]

Ron, I'd consider $14 for a pack of 10 replacement bits a decent price. Remember, our dealers need some meat on the bone too.

 

[RONWEN]

I dislike buying products made in china (and some other Asian countries) because the workers in those countries don't earn a living wage.
Those low wages are part of what provides outside companies a tremendous cost advantage on those products made.  I can't fault a company i.e. Festool for moving an item(s) to china if they are having trouble with a price point in order to be competitive however I would also expect them to share those savings with customers.  We should be shocked at how inexpensive those very high quality Festool drills are -- why aren't we???   [unsure]

Ron, I'd consider $14 for a pack of 10 replacement bits a decent price. Remember, our dealers need some meat on the bone too.

I mean it's not like we're selling a $0.75 Festool knob for $9.00... [poke]

That certainly is a reasonable price -- I guess I was thinking of some of the other Festool drill sets I've purchased.

It's a deal -- I'll take a thousand Festool knobs @$.75 ea.  [wink]

 

[jlyons]

THE LONG LIFE FILTER BAG!!! Made in china and still $200!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You foul characters.