Festool Grinder Conversion

[mark18PLL]

I have been looking at getting the Festool 18v grinder.  I am torn between the DSC AG FH and the AGC 18, I have a specific use for the FH version but would then like the option to convert to a regular grinder if needed, is this possible at all?  I have seen a YouTube from Festool Australia that shows it being done but can't find anything about it in the UK.

Cheers

 

[Frank-Jan]

If it is possible in Australia, why wouldn't it be in the UK?
I have not seen the video you mention, but it probably is a question of comparing ekat, and ordering the different parts.

 

[mark18PLL]

I was just wanting to see if anyone in UK had done it, you never know if there might be a slight change in machines.

 

[Frank-Jan]

I don't think the machines are different, since they are cordless, if they were corded, I believe they would only have the 220v variant in Australia.

Ekat is the electronic spare part catalog, you can find it by going to festool.co.uk, then service, then spare parts. (On my own PC this hasn't been working correctly for a while now, but I think that is a problem with my browser (I get a weird mobile version of the site on my pc)

 

[mark18PLL]

Great thank you and I will take a look.

 

[jonnyrocket]

[member=80052]mark18PLL[/member]  I have both of those units. What are the specifics of your questions?

 

[mark18PLL]

Hi, I have a job to cut porcelain tiles 50mm from a retaining wall, the DSC AGC 18 FH would be great for this as I can run a straight edge along the wall and keep a nice neat line.  Problem is I might not need it for the same use often, so I was wondering if it can be converted to use as a standard grinder or if you raise the front guard I can use it like the normal grinder anyway, hope that makes sense.

Cheers
Mark

 

[jonnyrocket]

[member=80052]mark18PLL[/member]
Here are a few pictures side by side.
I removed the unique guard from the DSC AG FH and loosely fitted the grinding shield onto the DSC AG FH and laid it out next to the AGC 18.

First and foremost you will notice that the bodies on the tools are rotated differently compared to one another. The AGC setup puts the on/off  switch next to the thumb when holding the body in your right hand for grinding.  If you orient the DSC in a grinding position the on/off switch is on the opposite side of the tool. I guess this would be great if you grind with your left hand.

The shield on the DSC is attached and requires a 5mm Hex key to remove it. The shield on the AGC 18 is attached by a spring loaded lever that allows the shield to be installed and removed without any tools and can also be rotated as needed just by pressing the locking lever. To use the AGC shield with the DSC, you would need to purchase the pieces of the locking lever as well as the grinding shield. I wouldn’t want to use the DSC AG FH as a grinder with its cutting shield attached. It’s just not designed for grinding.

[attachimg=1]

Comparison of the locking lever pieces of AGC vs the fixed guide piece of the DSC AG FH that would need to be removed to accommodate the AGC style grinding shields.
[attachimg=2][attachimg=3]

 

[mark18PLL]

That was super helpful, thank you for taking the time to do it.

 

[luvmytoolz]

First and foremost you will notice that the bodies on the tools are rotated differently compared to one another. The AGC setup puts the on/off  switch next to the thumb when holding the body in your right hand for grinding.  If you orient the DSC in a grinding position the on/off switch is on the opposite side of the tool. I guess this would be great if you grind with your left hand.

You could always unscrew the head housing and rotate it 180 degrees to fix the switch side issue.

 

[jonnyrocket]

You could always unscrew the head housing and rotate it 180 degrees to fix the switch side issue.

I have wondered if this is possible, but haven’t actually tried it.  Have you done this or have you seen someone do it?

 

[luvmytoolz]

You could always unscrew the head housing and rotate it 180 degrees to fix the switch side issue.

I have wondered if this is possible, but haven’t actually tried it.  Have you done this or have you seen someone do it?

I've opened up heaps of grinders among many other tools, and they're all the same basic design. And looking at the pics it looks pretty standard fare, the head is held by 4 screws, with the armature engaging the gears in the head. Seeing as the two tools are the same body so far as I can tell, and are mirror of each other, I'd be stunned if it was anything more complex than simply turning it 180 degrees. It would be very trivial to test anyway. The only thing to note would be if 2 of the screws are longer which is sometimes the case, in which case you just swap the 2 pairs around to suit.

 

[tsercitpo]

Heres a video from Festool Australia showing how to rotate the head:

youtu.be/_SlHlbcA19k

 

[Frank-Jan]

Link from post above:

link