Festool Drills and Centrotec bits/drivers

[yetihunter]

re. the long Centrotec driver bits. mentioned by yeti... I don't do a whole lot of powered-screwdriving, so the Festool items would be a bit of a (pricey) option for me anyway, but if you're content to use a bit holder or stick the bit into the Festool's drive shaft, then the cheaper long PB Swiss drivers (you can get a version with a plain hex shank) are nice, albeit without Centrotec features.

I actually have a couple!  They work best in the locking bit holder.  Runout with the regular bit holder, and wobbily wobbily wobble when just using the hex portion of the shaft.    Unfortunately, in the USA, it's not a stock item for Toollady (those women are awesome) and Count on Tools can't be counted on, so it's an import item.  PB Swiss is my loveliest lovely love. 

I still use the centrotec driver bits all of the time; it's just, they need to have a stern talk with whoever makes them.  It's presumed that Wera makes the regular insert bits and impact rated bits.  I don't know if they make the centrotec ones, however.  Regardless, they're really soft.  The old ones were even worse. 

 

[yetihunter]

The root of the problem finding Centrotec sets (other than the Installers' Set) is that the Festool web site does not function well...

Peter

In terms of functionality, Festool did rather shoot themselves in the foot with the last facelift of the website (for the UK, at least). I seldom go there now as I find it near-unusable. Sorry and all that, but that's how I see it! Let's the brand down.

My local dealers use Toolnut's Festool Products website instead of the Festool USA website for informational purposes.  Especially as of recent with a catalog coming out weeks before new product rollouts (that aren't included in said catalog).  To be fair, many other power tool companies have infinitely inferior websites. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

Having just slagged off the Festool website so, I revisited it to see whether I was missing something in the way it's structured, and... whilst it looks smart, functionally it's actually rather worse than I remembered.

For such a relatively simple, but multi-levelled hierarchy of product groups it need a much quicker method of navigation - perhaps drop-down menus and fly-out lists.

Having alighted on the front page, I had to click through five more pages using a variety of methods - sometimes scrolling down to find the next link - to get to a drill bit, with little reassurance along the way that one is taking the correct route.

And the page headers/descriptors are inconsistent; for eg, accessories for 'corded drills' (I do own such a Festool item) appears to be a sub-page of a section on 'cordless drills' - and when you get there it appears that only screwdrivers bits are suitable for corded drills...

Their new website is simply horrible. They don't want you to know anymore what they sell. As a consequence, we don't buy it anymore but look for 3rd party products wherever possible.

 

[Fogy]

I believe that the Centrotec concept is brilliant as it provides a far more secure, and hence more accurate, seating for the attached bits. This is important as often those attached bits are drills or countersinks.

The root of the problem finding Centrotec sets (other than the Installers' Set) is that the Festool web site does not function well when you start to (forgive the pun) drill down to the detail of the accessories. All of the Festool badged Centrotec items that I have seen and used are really high quality and probably worth the slightly higher price.

Axminster now have a very extensive range of Centrotec compatible bits and pieces and I shown quite a few of these in various videos.

I cannot resist this opportunity to mention the CXS as it was mentioned by the OP....

The CXS is my "go to" drill driver as it can handle drills up to 20 mm (Forstner) and 12 mm (brad point) with ease. I use it for screws up to 50 mm x 4 mm but also 40 mm x 5 mm in softer material. It is light, easy to handle and is a joy to use. One of my professional woodworking friends has 3 or 4 CXSs and at least one TXS. I am just completing a video about the CXS and TXS (they are the same machine in a slightly different form factor) and hope to be able to release it in 2 days time. In the UK there is only one version and that has all the extras, in a Sys 1, and it is about £220.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Your video's are great, and looking forward to one on the TXS/CXS. It's maybe too late, however could you possibly show a demonstration of either drilling a small 5/6mm hole in a clay brick .. ie could it be used in an old house with internal clay bricks to put up a few pictures ??

Thanks
Peter

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Peter,

Your video's are great, and looking forward to one on the TXS/CXS. It's maybe too late, however could you possibly show a demonstration of either drilling a small 5/6mm hole in a clay brick .. ie could it be used in an old house with internal clay bricks to put up a few pictures ??

Thanks
Peter

Hi Peter

I am afraid that it is too late. All the filming is done and I will finish the remainder of the editing by the morning. However...

House bricks made of clay are usually easy to drill with a non impact drill and a masonry bit. If you find it a bit stubborn then release the pressure frequently. Watch that you do not overheat the tip of the drill. If you have to drill something rock hard, like a clay tile, then use a tile cutting drill. If necessary use water to keep the tip cool.

Peter

 

[yetihunter]

"Hi, Peter.  Thanks, Peter" sounds like one of those holiday themed trans-continental romantic comedies. It would probably
star Colin Firth or Jude Law and some random American tv model, pretending to be frumpy. 

 

[Sanderxpander]

I just kinda did both two days ago as I hung up a towel rack in the bathroom, except it was a ceramic tile and sandstone. I used my 12V/10.8V Bosch which seems very similar to the CXS and has slightly more torque going by the spec sheet. I got through the (thin) tile easily with a tile cutting bit (6mm and cutting slowly and carefully with water to cool) but the stone took me long enough that I got annoyed and took out my 14.4V Fein impact drill. I'm pretty sure sandstone is softer than brick too.

I would guess for the occasional hole you'd get by if you don't mind taking it slow but if you have a significant amount of stuff to do use something else, maybe a corded drill or an impact drill.

 

[Stone Message]

"Hi, Peter.  Thanks, Peter" sounds like one of those holiday themed trans-continental romantic comedies. It would probably
star Colin Firth or Jude Law and some random American tv model, pretending to be frumpy.

I suppose I will have to go with the frumpy model as I don't fancy Colin Firth or Jude Law !

Peter

 

[Jmacpherson]

Your video's are great, and looking forward to one on the TXS/CXS. It's maybe too late, however could you possibly show a demonstration of either drilling a small 5/6mm hole in a clay brick .. ie could it be used in an old house with internal clay bricks to put up a few pictures ??

[member=66607]Fogy[/member] I have used the CXS with Alpen multi-construction bits and drilled a couple of 6mm holes in clay brick walls.
Wasn't a problem and I was pleasantly surprised but I just did it as a test for fun, wouldn't rely on a CXS as my only "wall" drill even if they are only internal walls, never know what is inside them.