Festool drills, what am I missing?

[mike_aa]

I love my Ryobi garden tools. Well made and work just the way I want them too. I sold off most of my other Ryobi's when I standardized on Festool.  The problem I've had is with the batteries. I have a lot of them, but have had to throw away 25% of them in a ridiculously short period of time, and they are expensive to replace. Maybe one of my chargers is the culprit. I hadn't really considered that.

My favorite tool is the cordless leaf blower!  Makes blowing out the garage workshop a "breeze"!  Their hedge trimmer, 36V edge trimmer, power caulker, and hand vacuum all get regular use.  My most recent purchase is their new 1700PSI corded pressure washer. Much, MUCH better than the previous washer I had (Karcher). The thing sounds like a turbine engine when the trigger is pulled! Only $159 at HD.

I have no issue with Ryobi tools, except for their batteries, but maybe I'll do a little more research and find out if one of my chargers is causing the issue. The batteries that fail get the constant blinking red light on the chargers.

Cheers,
Frank

FWIW, I have a lot of the older Ryobis with NiCads and the black charger and I had the same issues with batteries that would not charge.  When I got hold of one of the newer green colored chargers that work with both chemistries, it seems to rejuvenate and charge even the NiCads that wouldn't charge on the old style chargers.  Some of them don't hold a charge as long as a newer battery, but at least I can charge them now.

I was lucky to get a number of Festool drills during the Refurb sale (and the cordless Carvex), but like you, I will keep some the Ryobis around for special uses.

Mike A.

 

[TheTrooper]

I've been wondering the same thing. I'm considering highly (since I have a huge pre-order in with shop festool.com).  I've been using the Dewalt 20 volt impact and premium hammer drill for about 3 years now (or when ever it was released).  Since day one I've used the Hammer drill for mixing Thinset mortar on almost a daily basis without fail.  I've also tossed the impact driver from a 3rd story balcony so my employee can put it back on the truck. Still no issues.
I have a order in for the C18 set, PDC set and just the BHC. I'm concerned that the PDC will not survive mixing mortar on a daily basis but I want the system. I want to have one charger on my truck and I also will be getting the TSC55 in the next order.  So can anyone confirm or comment on the PDC?

 

[SittingElf]

I've been wondering the same thing. I'm considering highly (since I have a huge pre-order in with shop festool.com).  I've been using the Dewalt 20 volt impact and premium hammer drill for about 3 years now (or when ever it was released).  Since day one I've used the Hammer drill for mixing Thinset mortar on almost a daily basis without fail.  I've also tossed the impact driver from a 3rd story balcony so my employee can put it back on the truck. Still no issues.
I have a order in for the C18 set, PDC set and just the BHC. I'm concerned that the PDC will not survive mixing mortar on a daily basis but I want the system. I want to have one charger on my truck and I also will be getting the TSC55 in the next order.  So can anyone confirm or comment on the PDC?

The PDC is a tank!  It has an immense amount of torque as my wrist has learned.  I doubt you will have any regrets whatsoever, and I think mixing mortar will be child's play for it.  You're gonna love the BHC as well. [tongue]  Hopefully, both will come in the attic systainers I got when I purchased mine last year in Germany.

Cheers,

Frank