Festool drill or Milwaukee?

[treesner]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a drill setup and am leaning towards a Milwaukee but have considered the Festool as well, wondering what you guys think. Currently I do furniture and instruments with mainly hand tools. For drilling i use auger/brace, egg beater or drill press. When those construction style jobs (screws instead of dowels/joints) come up I borrow my neighbors M18 and M12 driver.

The setups i'm contemplating are.

1) Milwaukee M18 fuel. Seems like it will handle all my needs. Later down the line get something more dedicated for screwing like a m12 or festool cxs with angle adapters and such

2) Milwaukee M12 fuel 1/2. Light weight and I think it will handle most of my needs. Maybe get a corded drill in the future.

3) Milwaukee M18 brushless drill & impact kit. Would be nice to have both drills one dedicated to drilling and one to screws right out of the gate

4) Festool CXS 3/8. Seems like a great drill with all the attachments but it's only 3/8, maybe get a corded drill later for big jobs.

5) Festool T18 seems like a great drill that will last along time

Is it worth getting a festool drill or should I save some money here and put that into a festool sander/domino
thanks!
-chris

 

[blaszcsj]

On cordless tools I personally would not go with Festool. Cordless tools are a commitment to a system as the cost of batteries is high. I actually chose dewalt 20v system due to the brush-less drill and other tools in the line up like the framing nailer. And Milwaukee is a great brand, I read several reviews them out performing the festool (and dewalt). To me, I would save our money for more of a game changing tool like the domino or one of the RO sanders. Stick with the milwaukee and have access to all the different tools in the M18 lineup.

 

[DzordanoBruno]

Save money, buy  Milwaukee, Dewalt, Bosch. Festool make really good drills, but when You dont need big drills like PDC  isnt neccessary to buy Festool.

 

[Birdhunter]

My T18 surprised me with its superior ergonomics and extreme power. The CXS is a really fun and useful drill. If you get either, buy the set. The attachments really extend the usefulness of the drill.

I build anything from intricate boxes to furniture to bookcases to mantles and those two drills handle everything.

I used to buy DeWalt and Bosch drills. Good products! But, until you actually use a Festool drill, you can't understand why they cost so much.

If you are going to buy a cheaper drill, I suggest you put the money saved into a Domino instead of a sander. It is truly a game changer.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Chris, welcome to the FOG.  I agree with the others, skip the Festool drill and save the money.  My thinking is you're not going to get a lot of use out of a cordless drill with the type of work you do.  So I feel it will hard to get enough use out of a high end drill to justify the cost.  As you said the savings can go towards another Festool tool.

 

[DanielOB]

Bosch and other from the group make tools for construction, not for furniture
Festool makes tools for furniture not for construction.
Many times that two things overlaps, but more often not. The difference between the two is accuracy, and for drill matter accuracy relates to the drill-bit RUNOUT when it turns. What it means? With construction tools you get much bigger hole than the drill-bit is, and its size is not consistent too. Drilling holes, e.g. for joint dowels in furniture that way is equal to failure, while in construction +/- 1 inch who care.

Recommendations:
1. for small holes, up to 12 mm dia, get with battery Festool or Fein. Look for set drill + oscilating tool (can get good discount sometimes). If you intend to go with other Festools on battery, go with Festool (this cost more JUST INITIALLY)
2. for larger holes that can have bigger tolerances (or deviations in size) get Bosch, Bulldog is the best if you are a strong maaaan.

 

[griffs]

I purchased a milwaukee 18v three years ago , the drill is fine , the chuck is probably the worst I have ever owned.

 

[GPowers]

I have found the M12 system great for the rehab jobs we do at our apartment complex. I find the M12 impact driver and the M12 drill/driver are a great combo. In addition we have purchased other m12 units. Like the rotary hammer, Hackzall and even the m12 Tubing Cutter. But the M12 system is huge with all kinds of tools all using the same battery family.

Plus Milwaukee offer the tool in several different kits and as a bare tool. So you only buy what you want.

 

[jmbfestool]

I personally would go festool.

I have Milwaukee drills and festool.

Over the years my Milwaukee drills have been replaced and now I've stopped buying them.

Yet the first festool drill I bought many years ago is still going now.

I have also always favoured using the festool because of its size and power.  Also the accessories like the angle attachment has been a god send.

 

[Kev]

I have 10+ Festool and Protool drills. If I were making a cost / performance decision today and taking a gamble on ultimate cordless range benefits, I'd choose Metabo.

 

[#Tee]

get the green having red in the collection looks weird. im about to leave my yellow in a box in the backyard.

 

[DB10]

I would say, for your type of work, i'd go Milwaukee Metabo, or Bosch 12v. Milwaukee have the best range in 12v.
  Only consider Festool drills if you are prepared to invest in the Centrotec system, otherwise there will be no real advantage to you in buying a Festool drill.
  Check out the price of the Centrotec accessories to see what will be usefull to you.
It is a smart systems with a lot of great accessories but none of it comes cheap and only you will know if you want to spend this much on a drill and all the extras.

 

[Holmz]

I would say, for your type of work, i'd go Milwaukee Metabo, or Bosch 12v. Milwaukee have the best range in 12v.
...

Have you used the Metabo?

The 12V (10.8?) is pretty sweet, it weighs SFA with the small battery and has as much torque as the old Bosch with the batteries that are hard to get. It is also small.

 

[rst]

I work on many varied tasks, I am a commercial locksmith, install automatic door operators...not garage doors...think supermarkets, handicapped etc., I do custom plastic fabrication, commercial steel and aluminum store front work and for fun I built my own house...everything from the framing to plumbing and electrical and cabinets.  I love my Milwaukee 12 and 18V systems.  I have a corded hammerdrill that has drilled literally tens of thousnds of holes in the 32 years I've owned it.  I will admit to not using Festool drills but I own practically every thing else they make excluding the Kapex.  I've been a jerk of all trades since 1971.  Worked in a custom kitchen factory after school, painted commercialy, ran a commercial cleaning service and have been doing the first mentioned since 1981.  I have a tough time thinking that the Festool drills are worth the premium price although I do acknowledge the worthiness of their other tools.  Just me.

 

[treesner]

I appreciate all the opinions, it seems like going with a more generic brand for my drill will be the best right now. I've been hearing a lot of good things about the milaukee m12 drill as well.

I did just discover that milaukee has a UK version of the drill that has the 3 head adapter much like the CXS. But that would be $230 + shipping to US + a US charger which begins to add up
http://www.powertoolsgb.co.uk/cgi-bin/ecom.cgi?Command=ShowProduct&db_pid=25995#.VeYOw3jfef9

 

[Brandon]

I was hesitant but I have a Festool drill, impact and assorted bits. They are very nice but really a financial commitment and really not worth the cost, in my opinion. I'd guess I have over $1500 invested. Having said that, the only other drill I'd buy is a Panasonic. I've had an impact and drill for a few years now and they are my shop beaters, no complaints, they just work.

 

[Mort]

I'm sorta in the same boat, I've been considering either a Milwaukee M12 drill (non Fuel) or CXS for light duty/around the house use. I've demoed both in stores, here's what I've come up with.

- Based purely on the product, I like the CXS better. It has the different chucks, its lightweight, quiet, apparently powerful enough although I haven't put it through its paces. Plus it comes in one of those really cool boxes.

- The M12 has one chuck, its heavier, and louder. None of these are deal breakers. I've never seen that NAINA M12 posted above, I'd get that one in a heartbeat if we could get it here. I'm not at all interested in importing one, however.

- I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want the Centrotec system. I've never found the old 1/4" hex system to be lacking, and the Centrotec bits are way too expensive. I don't believe the wheel needed re-inventing here.

- Although I haven't needed to use Milwaukee customer service, if their presence on social media is any indication, they are on par with Festool's. I've heard good stories from those who have had to use it.

The major points in the Milwaukee's favor, and what will probably determine my purchase, is price and versatility. Its $129 for the drill/driver kit, less than 1/2 of the CXS. And the M12 batteries run a lot of different things, the CXS batteries only run the CXS. I already have a charger that will work with M12 batteries, my M18 charger does both.

To sum up, if I'm to think logically, I'd get the M12 no questions asked. But I've been known to buy something just because I wanted it and no other reason, so there you have it.

 

[Cheese]

I have a CSX and a C 15, great drills, but if money is an issue, I'd go for the Milwaukee M18 or M12 system. I believe there are over 40 different tools available in the M12 platform and over 50 different tools available in the M18 platform. My biggest complaint with the Festool platform is that all they have to offer is 2 LED lights, a few drllls, a couple of circ saws and a couple of jig saws.

However, depending upon your needs, the redemption factor with Festool drills is the electronic torque function on the C/T 15/18 and the right angle adapter on the rest of their drills. I find I use the right angle adaptor an awfull lot, more than I thought I would, I used it 3 times today while gutting a bathroom.

Takeaway: if money is tight, it's better to save it for a track saw or Domino which are truly game changers.

 

[sae]

I would say, for your type of work, i'd go Milwaukee Metabo, or Bosch 12v. Milwaukee have the best range in 12v.
...

Have you used the Metabo?

The 12V (10.8?) is pretty sweet, it weighs SFA with the small battery and has as much torque as the old Bosch with the batteries that are hard to get. It is also small.

I think he's in the US, which makes getting the 10.8v Metabo stuff quite difficult.

The Metabo 18v brushless drills are excellent though, I wouldn't trade mine for anything double or triple the price. If you could imagine, it basically takes the power of the Milwaukee (10% more actually, double the power of the T18, 50% more than the PDC), crosses it with the features of the Festool (interchangeable chucks, electronic speed and torque control, etc.), and ends up being lighter and smaller than any of the listed. It comes in about $50 more than the Milwaukee, but still $225 less money than the PDC, or $150 less than the T18.

Made in Germany, 3 year warranty, etc. The battery ecosystem is much more diverse than Festool as well, with access to more general construction tools like sawzalls, jigsaws, miter saws, angle grinders, pneumatic hammer drills, impact wrenches, circ saws, hedge trimmers, etc. If you're a metal worker, you'll really appreciate the fillet grinders, burnishers, die grinders, band files, most of which no one else offers as cordless.

http://www.cpometabo.com/metabo-602241520-18v-5-2-ah-cordless-lithium-ion-brushless-1-2-in--drill-driver-kit/mtbn602241520,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=metabo-drill-drivers

I had about $2k in the latest (mostly brushless) Milwaukee cordless gear before swapping over, sold it all and the only thing I really miss is the sawzall.

 

[Cheese]

The Metabo 18v brushless drills are excellent though, I wouldn't trade mine for anything double or triple the price. If you could imagine, it basically takes the power of the Milwaukee (10% more actually, double the power of the T18, 50% more than the PDC), crosses it with the features of the Festool (interchangeable chucks, electronic speed and torque control, etc.), and ends up being lighter and smaller than any of the listed. It comes in about $50 more than the Milwaukee, but still $225 less money than the PDC, or $150 less than the T18.

Are you serious about being more powerfull than the the T 18 & the PDC?

I've got a bunch of Milwaukee M18 drills that I always considered to be significantly more powerfull than the Festool offerings, but I've always enjoyed, and used the right angle attachment on the Festools.