Festool T18 Driver

[Mahogany Man]

I got the new T 18 Set from Bob Marino a few weeks back,
All I can say is Holy @#$^ !!
My Dewalt 18V can't compare to this thing.
My son (15) drove 1000 (2 boxes) of Spax #8 x 2" screws into the newly installed attic floor
and the battery gauge still showed a light on!!
The screws went through 3/4" of  5 ply plywood and into Doug Fir 2 x 10's.
The torque is amazing on this driver! It will send the screw completely through if you let it!!
The weight and balance are excellent, very comfy to use.
I just thought someone considering it, might want to know.
Well worth the cash in my opinion.
John

 

[Timtool]

nice to know, i have been hesitating for in the future between the T18 and the TI15

 

[Kev]

I got hold of the early Oz spec T18 set (old systainer, no light ... came with collar plastic nasty light, 2 x 2.6 batteries). I was initially blown away by the T18's massive power to weight - but felt I really wanted the latest.

A couple of weeks after buying the T18 (and really only looking at it) I got the opportunity to swap my T18 for a C15 and a Ti15 set on a local promo deal with a really fair $'s changeover.

Now I'll just wait for the later spec T18 to land here and I'll get the latest edition.

I'm picking up my Ti15 this week ... can't wait.

Starting to think I should have gone with the battery CARVEX now instead of the main power one ... but when I got the jigsaw, it was alway at the back of my mind that it'll be plugged into the DC, so why not mains power? Hmmm ...

 

[UdayanB]

I just bought the Ti15 for installing Solar PV systems.  I hope I've not made a mistake as I feel at times I should have gone for the T18 or the Protool PDC 18.  Most of the work is fastening but I also do a quite a bit of drilling.  Has anyone had a chance to compare the T18 and Ti15 side-by-side?  Any suggestions?

 

[Kev]

I just bought the Ti15 for installing Solar PV systems.  I hope I've not made a mistake as I feel at times I should have gone for the T18 or the Protool PDC 18.  Most of the work is fastening but I also do a quite a bit of drilling.  Has anyone had a chance to compare the T18 and Ti15 side-by-side?  Any suggestions?

As a drill - T18 will eat the Ti15 - no question. IMO the Ti15 is an impact driver that "can" be used as a drill.

 

[UdayanB]

My work is 50% fastening and the rest drilling, i.e. when it comes to the cordless drill work.  Would you still prefer the T18?  And what about the Protool PDC 18?  Would that be even better?  Appreciate any input.

 

[AlexThePalex]

My work is 50% fastening and the rest drilling, i.e. when it comes to the cordless drill work.  Would you still prefer the T18?  And what about the Protool PDC 18?  Would that be even better?  Appreciate any input.

The Protool blows any other drill out of the water. Huge power, very fast rpm (3800!) and hammer option. Only downside is it is a bit heavier. Especially the high rpm is great, a screw is in sooo fast.

 

[UdayanB]

When I picked up the Ti15, I had the opportunity to try it out against the protool PDC 18V at the shop; the Ti15 was much stronger driving screws into hard wood...in fact on one occassion the Protool didn't even manage a screw which the Ti15 did.  However, the downside with the Ti15 (IMHO) is that it doesn't have the torque when drilling and further, if I want to switch from driving screws to drilling, I have to change the chuck...which is kind of inconvenient when you're up on a roof fixing 40 feet into the roof.  The advantage with the Protool's PDC and the Festool's T18 is that you can change the bit using the Centrochuck (sp?) much more conveniently (of course assuming you have the Festool/Protool drills).  This is why I'm wondering if I should just change the unit to a T18 or PDC 18.

 

[LDBecker]

Quoting the OP: My son (15) drove 1000 (2 boxes) of Spax #8 x 2" screws into the newly installed attic floor
and the battery gauge still showed a light on!!

Isn't that child abuse? What about child labor laws?  HAHA... I probably shouldn't tease on my first post... Sorry...

I just wanted to chime in on the T18-3 driver - I got it last week and have used it a few times, including drilling out some metal screws with some metal bits and today drilling out some hard maple with the Centrotec Wood Drill bit set. What a joy it is to use this drill!  Precise, no run out at all, powerful... I had purchased another brand 18V drill (red, starts with M) along with a matching right angle drill, and returned them both because of quality and run out issues. The T18 takes the place of both of them and then some, and is the quality I was looking for.

The Wood drill bit set is really great as well - very very sharp, well designed bits. Expensive, but really good.

Larry

 

[ajones]

Quoting the OP: My son (15) drove 1000 (2 boxes) of Spax #8 x 2" screws into the newly installed attic floor
and the battery gauge still showed a light on!!

Isn't that child abuse? What about child labor laws?  HAHA... I probably shouldn't tease on my first post... Sorry...

I just wanted to chime in on the T18-3 driver - I got it last week and have used it a few times, including drilling out some metal screws with some metal bits and today drilling out some hard maple with the Centrotec Wood Drill bit set. What a joy it is to use this drill!  Precise, no run out at all, powerful... I had purchased another brand 18V drill (red, starts with M) along with a matching right angle drill, and returned them both because of quality and run out issues. The T18 takes the place of both of them and then some, and is the quality I was looking for.

The Wood drill bit set is really great as well - very very sharp, well designed bits. Expensive, but really good.

Larry

Larry thats a good opening post I think we will file you alongside Ken nagrod [wink]

 

[peter halle]

Larry!

Welcome to the FOG!  Maybe one day I will get one of those T-18's but I already have three Festool drills and they fight amongst themselves to se which will get used each day!

Glad to see you here.

Peter

 

[LDBecker]

Thank you for the welcome!  

I've been reading the FOG for a while now as I've been rebuilding my workshop/skills. I discovered Festool a year or so ago when I needed a track saw to cut a desktop for my son's room. Enter the TS 75, and so the addiction begins. The quality and systematic way things work together is amazing.

My most recent additions are the MFT-3 table, Domino, OF1400 router, RO 90 DX sander, and lastly the T18-3 driver.  I'm hooked, aren't I? I knew I was in trouble when I paid $26 for the Festool tape measure - but I really like it!

Again, thanks for the welcome - I'll try to contribute when it seems helpful... I'm not a pro - just a long-time hobbiest, but I've picked up a thing or two along the way. Mostly here to learn.

Larry

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

I have a c15 but I hear you guys. I am especially happy that the drill "beeps" when overloaded.
Its funny that some see this as a weakness [tongue]. It assures the bit has grip and more importantly it assures the user of many, many happy years of bombproof
reliability. And Festool backs up their tools 101%!

That being said I am wondering how the new Milwaukee drills will compare. I know they are supposed to have the same features as the festools(brushless,power management, etc)
The new line is due out after winter and is called "FUEL".

I will never walkaway from Festool as they have never walked away from a repair, but its good that other companies will be stepping up their games as well.

 

[semenza]

Larry, welcome to the FOG! And please feel free to contribute whatever you come up with, the more ideas the better.

Eco,  I bet those new Milwaukees will be on show or for sale at JLC.

Seth

 

[LDBecker]

I think I won't go back to another line of tools either... the Milwaukee I had briefly had so much runout that it was almost unusable - I kept thinking I must have the bit in crooked, but no. The quality didn't seem to be there, and it doesn't matter how many features they add, if it isn't great quality, who cares?

Larry

 

[Zacharytanner]

JUST ordered my set from Bob Marino  [big grin]

Can't wait to get my new toy

 

[flair woodworks]

We were testing a T18 today and were able to use a 3/4" auger bit to drill through a pressure-treated 2x12.  That was impressive.

 

[semenza]

We were testing a T18 today and were able to use a 3/4" auger bit to drill through a pressure-treated 2x12.  That was impressive.

The 12" way ? 

Seth

 

[flair woodworks]

We were testing a T18 today and were able to use a 3/4" auger bit to drill through a pressure-treated 2x12.  That was impressive.

Yes, the 12" way.  And the hole came out centered on the other and and perpendicular to the edge.  IMPRESSIVE, to say the least, although that part can largely be attributed to the operator (not me).

The 12" way ? 

Seth

 

[Deansocial]

I just bought the Ti15 for installing Solar PV systems.  I hope I've not made a mistake as I feel at times I should have gone for the T18 or the Protool PDC 18.  Most of the work is fastening but I also do a quite a bit of drilling.  Has anyone had a chance to compare the T18 and Ti15 side-by-side?  Any suggestions?

if the fixings are large then you made the right decision, the t18 cant handle large fixings