Festool t18+3 to replace my dewalt

[Tfb]

Hi i currently have dewalts most recent drill driver and imapct driver set.
I have recently been converted to festool and am really impressed with the kit that i have but im slightly concerned that there drills could be slightly under powered for what i want.
some of the work i do is first fix andt the 18v dewalt impact driver is perfect for the job, now i notice that festool dont make an 18v impact driver so would the 14.4v have enough power?
The dewalt drill on the other hand has plenty of power but is a very big heavy drill so its not all that usefull for tidy second fix where you have to get into tight spaces. i know if i were to replace the drill i would be sacrificing the hammer action but its something i rarely use as thats what i have an sds drill for.
so what do people think would i be happy if i made the change?

 

[Bruno Banani]

I think most people on this board will agree that festool accu screwdrivers is not up to par with DeWalt or Makita. But then again it all depends on the job.
For cabinet adjustment and interior finishing all their accus are great, because of the centrotec system.
If you are building ceilings and walls I´d stick with what you got.

Look into the Protool brand, festools entrepeneur outdoor heavy duty line. They have kick ass accus, which should be compatible to the centrotec system. Not shure they have introduced this brand abroad.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I agree you should be looking into Protool drills and impacts.  While I think a Festool or Protool 18V drill can easily replace another brand drill.  It might be a tall order to replace an 18V impact with any drill.  BTW, the Protool drills and impacts are Centrotec compatible.   

 

[AlexThePalex]

Hi i currently have dewalts most recent drill driver and imapct driver set.
I have recently been converted to festool and am really impressed with the kit that i have but im slightly concerned that there drills could be slightly under powered for what i want.
some of the work i do is first fix andt the 18v dewalt impact driver is perfect for the job, now i notice that festool dont make an 18v impact driver so would the 14.4v have enough power?
The dewalt drill on the other hand has plenty of power but is a very big heavy drill so its not all that usefull for tidy second fix where you have to get into tight spaces. i know if i were to replace the drill i would be sacrificing the hammer action but its something i rarely use as thats what i have an sds drill for.
so what do people think would i be happy if i made the change?

First, please get your terminology straight. You're all over the place with the words Drill, Hammer drill and Impact driver. We can't give you good advice if we don't know exactly what you want to do.

1 - A drill is used for drilling in wood and metal.
2 - A hammer dril is used for drilling in stone.
3 - An impact driver is used for driving screws and perhaps bolts.

So I'd say for each type above:

1 - As for drills, the Festool 14.4 and 18 volt drills can compete with any other brand. They are very strong and excellent drills. I have the T15, best drill I ever owned.
2 - There's no Festool hammer drill. So that's an easy decision. Unless you do what Bruno suggests and go for Festool's sister brand Protool. They make an excellent cordless hammer drill the PDC 18-4 Tec Li. That thing will blow your DeWalt out of the water. It's very hard, if not impossible, to find a better one.
3 - Festool makes an impact driver, the 14,4v Ti15, but honestly, it's not really the bees knees. By far. This thing isn't in the same league as your DeWalt driver, or any other 18v impact driver.  

So if you want to drill only, get a Festool T15, C15 or T18.
If you want a hammer drill, get the Protool PDC 18-4 Tec Li.
If you want an impact, get a Panasonic.

 

[ScotF]

Alex summed it up nicely.  Hilti also makes excellent impacts and hammer drills.  I too have the T15 drill and it is a great drill and plenty powerful and very light weight.  The 18 volt is only a few ounces more and more torque.

Scot

 

[Iwood75]

I just got the Festool T15 drill and am very happy with it. It can do everything my 18v DeWalt can do AND it's smaller, lighter AND has the Right Angle, Eccentric and Centrotec chucks. With the Centrotec chuck you can "snap" between drilling and driving in a few seconds.

Joel

 

[Kev]

Everything Alex said, plus a comment on the Ti15 ... if you have a Festool 15v (T15 or C15) and don't need a brutal impact, the bare Ti15 can be a very useful tool. As a bare offering it can be back in the cost effective space and you get to leverage any of your Centrotec investment.

Just a thought.

Kev.

 

[green fever]

HI tfb and welcome to the forum , when you mention about the dewalt impact being heavy i guess you are on the older type nicad as l ion will make your drill lighter due to the weight of the battery, the Panasonic impact is a nice tool which i have used extensively but if you have large hands it may not be for you i preffer my dewalt due to size, i have many drills for all types of work and they all perform their relevant duties , i am currently in the process of switching to festool and pro tool drills,unless you have deep pockets i would say use your dewalts for as long as you can then get enough money together and dive into the world of festool and of course protool, they are not cheap but you get what you pay for , good luck you will not be disappointed, green.

 

[GregBradley]

Dewalt makes a number of different drills and impacts so we are simply guessing which one you have. I agree with Alex that your terminology is a bit confusing but I do understand that the names used in UK are different than US tool names. I have noticed on some manufacturers UK websites that they aren't even consistent in the naming of their own tools. I remember one manufacturer calling some models of their Hammer Drills (US terminology) a Hammer Drill and calling others Impact Drills.
I would add a #4 to Alex's list:

1 - A drill is used for drilling in wood and metal.
2 - A hammer dril is used for drilling in stone.
3 - An impact driver is used for driving screws and perhaps bolts.
4- A Rotary Hammer is similar to a hammer drill except it has more "hammer" and less "drill", it uses special chucks such as SDS.

I love my Festool T15 and it will replace a typical 18v Li drill for #1 EXCEPT that some of the 18v tools have a second handle that will attach. I don't quite see the point of the T18 as it has too much power to not have a second handle option. The Protool equivalent is not available in the US.

I continue to keep my 18v Hammer Drill to use when drilling with small masonary bits. I'm much more likely to get the Bosch 36v SDS+ Rotary Hammer if I'm doing more than one or two or if the holes are anything above small. I will sometimes use my Bosch 36v Hammer Drill to drill big holes in wood where the larger drill and handle give you more leverage to absorb the reaction in the tool from drilling big holes. I wouldn't spend the money to buy it but if you already have it.......

I keep my Makita 18v Brushless 3 speed Impact Driver and wouldn't have Festool's Ti15 Impact for one third the asking price. The only purpose I can figure out for the Ti15 is for people that do some drilling and some impact and have to have one tool. I hope they don't have to install lots of big fasteners! The advise to buy a Panasonic is sound as they were the first to have a brushless impact.