Festool drill driver C or T, Airstream or not

[Naildrivingman]

I'm curious what members of the forum think about the C style handle versus the T style handle and also what is the difference between an airstream drill and a non-airstream drill.  I like the idea of the C handle, but I am wondering if it gets in the way in a tight space more than the T handle. All opinions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Doug S]

All comes down to personal preference, you have to try them both yourself.

I love my cxs which is a c handle and very light but I really can't get on with the bigger c15 and c18, too front heavy/unbalanced for me.

Doug

 

[Naildrivingman]

All comes down to personal preference, you have to try them both yourself.

I love my cxs which is a c handle and very light but I really can't get on with the bigger c15 and c18, too front heavy/unbalanced for me.

Doug

Thanks Doug.  Unfortunately I missed the FT roadshow and none of the vendors in my area have the C or T18 as a demo for me to try.  I have held both, but that doesn't tell me much. It is interesting that you feel the C handle is unbalanced. Based on the pictures and nothing else, my opinion is that the C would be more balanced, but again I have not operated either drill.

Thx for your suggestions.

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi Christ,

I start with your Airstream question.

Airstream has nothing to do with the drill, it's about current Festool batteries and charger.

In short: Airstream batteries are designed in a way that air can travel between capsuled groups of cells. The Airstream charger is equipped with a fan that ensures air flow in these "tunnels", cooling them while charging. This is how Festool realized faster charging times without putting extra stress (heat) on the battery packs.

If you'd like to know how it works, take a look at this scene from [member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member] 's video of the Festool Blogger Event in Germany:
=4m46s

And here you have [member=41214]Phil Beckley[/member] explaining it:


So whenever you come across SCA following the tool's name/set description it means that the tool/set comes with the Airstream charger. If you buy a tool/set without SCA in the name/description it will come with current Airstream batteries, but the non-Airstream charger TCL6 - plainly resulting in longer charging times. Of course, everything "Basic" - just as before - comes tool only without batteries or charger.

All of this is compatible with each other: You can charge Airstream batteries on both chargers, and you can charge non Airstream batteries on the Airstream charger (although, this will be as fast/as slow as before) Only Airstream batteries on a Airstream charger will benefit from each other.

--

As others have said, T vs. C or C vs. T is purely personal.

I love my CXS and wouldn't want a TXS.

I love my PDC with T-Handle and wouldn't want a C style handle on it. (If Festool ever decided to offer that. PDC and DRC are T-Style only)

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Naildrivingman]

Thanks Oliver.  I also noticed that the T style has measurably more torque than the C. I think T it is.

 

[grobkuschelig]

Hi.

@six-point socket II you can get the "PDC" in C-handle. Wired, that is.

I have a PDC (T) and a CXS and a C18.

For me the CXS was the entry drug into C-Land. The C18 won out over the T18, since it just feels so much more like a precision tool for me.
I tend to hold the C-Styles with my index finger pointing where the drill points. Like pointing anything out, like you have done since you were a little kid, it gives you more of an "intuitive precision". It is just easier to hit a spot pointing with your index finger than it is pointing with your fist.

Where I concur with Oliver is that the T-Style is preferable on the heavy PDC, especially with heavy batteries.
I tend to do "rougher" stuff with the PDC, where I feel like the "fist-grip gives me more of a "safety-feeling".

I read that the torque difference between C18 and T18 also comes from the fact that you hold the C18 closer to the axis of drilling, thus having a smaller leverage compared to the T18, making it harder for you to "hold the drill against the torque". Sounds like an ergonomic decision to me.
...though I never felt the C18 lacking in use. Might also be that I tend to use the PDC right away, when I know power is needed.

Hope this helps. [emoji56][emoji51]

 

[mrboult]

All comes down to personal preference, you have to try them both yourself.

I love my cxs which is a c handle and very light but I really can't get on with the bigger c15 and c18, too front heavy/unbalanced for me.

Doug

I agree 100% I've spent time with ALL the Festool Drills. C18 is too front heavy in my opinion.

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi.

[member=61712]six-point socket II[/member] you can get the "PDC" in C-handle. Wired, that is.

(...)

Only new-old-stock, It's discontinued.

Kind regards,
Oliver