Festool Ti-15 Impact driver, sorry gents but it's bad news

[Nathan Lee]

I do love a festool but unfortunately this impactor isn't worth the £550 there selling it for

First things first, as this review is a bit of a two sided coin

As with any review it's only revelant if you use it for the same tasks, I do everything from roofs to kitchen fitting

Of all your doing is driving screws all day long this impactor is the mutt's nuts, fits nice in your hand and it has a soft stop Mec
Witch I no is saving my driver tips, I normally break 2-3 driver tips per day, Ive had the festool for a week and broken one

So that's the good stuff out of the way, sorry

With regards to the 'drilling mode' the electric chuck wouldn't let me drill a 13mm spade bit through a 8x2 softwood beem, that's no good

The Jacobs chuck is a bulky thing almost twice the size of the one that comes on there other drills, why??

And to use the right angle chick to have to first clip on the interface chuck  Adding another 25mm of length, also I broke a 13mm spade bit in the angle chuck and the broken bit is stuck in the adaptor,

Sorry to disappoint gents for putti in screws it works a treat drips for drilling I'll stick to my lxt makita,

 

[jmbfestool]

The REASON why the Jacobs chuck is larger than the others because the adapter is built into the Jacobs chuck.  You know you have to stick the adpater on before sticking on the angle chuck   well as you know you dont have to with the Jacobs thats why.

Regarding the Soft stop! I thought that was crappy feature.  Im assuming your referring to the drill coming to a stop when you release the trigger?  I had a hold of one of the TI15 and it was the first thing I noticed was the drill carries on running for a bit after releasing the trigger!  I HATE HATE drills which dont stop instantly because it carries on driving the screw in even when you told it to stop.   NOW saying this I dont know if under load the drill slows down ALOT quicker and/or just runs down with no driving force. I didnt trying drilling a screw in so dont know!      

BUT assuming you are on about that  how does that feature prolong your driver bits?!?!    Most my bits break while im driving the screw in NOT when I come to a stop.  

I thought because the impact had a less aggressive impact action  and why the driver bits would last longer.

JMB

 

[joiner1970]

Im not keen on these all in one drills/impacts Ive seen this model demo'ed a couple of times now and both times the Festool guy was saying the same spiel about people not wanting to carry a drill and a screwdriver etc and that this solved the problem. To me thats rubbish most people I know like to have several drills set up with different drills etc , thats a much better way to work. I usually carry two makita li-ion drills and an impact driver in a sys 4 and sometimes I could still do with another one  [laughing].

The other thing is that Makita brought one of these all in one machines out a few years back and I've heard nothing but bad things about them and I think they might have even stopped selling them. Im sure Festool have much better engineering in their drills compared to Makita but still its a lot to expect from one machine

 

[Timtool]

I suspect the TI15 is only good in combination with another T15, i rather see it like another accessory to the T15 like the eccentric chuck or right angle. Thats why they sell a version in a sys 3 with only the bare drill and adapter and room for the regular T15 set. Should i ever need an impact then i can get that bare Ti15 for the price of a CXS, since i already have a T15.

 

[festooldude]

@timtool:

But then you just bought yourself a comboset that costs $1285!!!
To me, thats insane.. I bought a makita 14 rv LXT comboset recently and
thats $ 630.. So i can buy 2 sets for te price of the festool version..
I really cant justify that.. Makita also gives me 3 years warranty, i use
them everyday, like them alot, more then enough power, battery life etc!!

Gr Rick

 

[Deansocial]

im all for combi tools. i put a driver bit in the 5mm hex nut on my circular saw and drive screws with that, Just be careful with the kick back in corner mind you becuase i took the riving knife off

 

[neth27]

I just put screws in with a hammer  [big grin] you don't need to mess about with all this cordless rubbish......

John.....

 

[Deansocial]

well obviously, a screwdriver is for getting them back out

 

[Kev]

I find the Ti15 to be an excellent impact driver. I don't need to try and drill holes with it - yes I have all the accessories, but they work with my other Festool drills ... That's the nice thing, everthing's compatible.

A multifunction impact/drill has to be a compromise - engineered with a bias towards impact driving or drilling. There's no magic!

Expect the Ti15 to drill holes at a pinch - but if you want to drill holes, buy a drill.

Ironically the Festool drills are only about 20~25% dearer in Oz, compared to the more common 40% or higher relative to US. Though in the case of the drills they're the full blown products ... not 110v Festonstien mutants [smile] So to me the bare Ti15 is almost a bargain.

My guess is the Ti15 will hit the US market at a bargain price for the bare unit and it'll be appreciated for what it is, as a good impact driver, compatible with the rest of your Festools.

 

[promhandicam]

I agree with others that for a pro, having several drills i.e. one for pilot holes, one for a countersink and an impact for driving screws is the best solution rather than constantly having to change bits, so I intend sticking with my hilti cordless drills and 12v hilti impact driver. In my opinion, when it comes to drills I don't think you can beat hilti. One of the things I like best is that all their batteries, whatever voltage, fit the same charger so I only need to take one charger on site.

 

[Timtool]

@timtool:

But then you just bought yourself a comboset that costs $1285!!!
To me, thats insane.. I bought a makita 14 rv LXT comboset recently and
thats $ 630.. So i can buy 2 sets for te price of the festool version..
I really cant justify that.. Makita also gives me 3 years warranty, i use
them everyday, like them alot, more then enough power, battery life etc!!

Gr Rick

Makita makes decent drills, but they are just drills like there are many similar ones out there that do the same thing. In the few weeks i have used my T15 it has on numerous occasions left other classical drills on the pavement. like putting in screws in tight spots or close to obstacles. And then im not even mentioning the centrotec system which renders the heavy and cumbersome jacobs chuck obsolete.
The cost difference is something that adds perceived value and to me it's money placement that you will easily earn back once you sell it, so you can have that extra money sitting on your bank account and devaluating every year, or sitting in the drill and keeping it's value. that is if you take care of them, and don't sell them once they are dead!

 

[dbworkshop]

Who needs a special chuck to turn of the impact function?  I just saw an electrician using his dewalt impact with a drill bit. He told me it drilled faster...like a hammer drill.

[ Edited for language - Shane ]

 

[GhostFist]

I don't need an impact driver

 

[jmbfestool]

I don't need an impact driver

LoL. Okay. Thanks 4 that. 

 

[Vindingo]

I'd like to get my hands on one before I give it a final thumbs down, but so far it doesn't do anything for me.  It looks clumsy as hell with all the added chucks. 

They should have come out with a dedicated impact gun that was bada$$, instead of a compromised combo. 

OR Festool should have developed this thing... maybe with 3 heads!!!  [tongue]

 

[andvari]

I always have to wonder about compromises with these multifunction tools. If it's a dessert topping AND a floor wax, chances are that it is limited in one if not both applications.

 

[Acrobat]

I'm only a DIY round home bloke learning as I go, but I got one of these Ti15 Impact drivers just recently to upgrade my old drill and got it as I plan to have a roofing and deck job ahead, and after reading the first statement, was concerned about drill bits coming loose and falling out, so thought I'd give it a tryout, since we have the 30day right of return and all. My observation so far, all is well and good on that. Whew. In fact I tested an old 25mm spade drill bit and put it into the Ti15's standard jacobs chuck,  "locks" in place far better than my old c12 drill. (With that drill funnily enough I did have issues locking bits in and sometimes they came loose-similar to one of those videos on this sight where one falls out). I really like the feel of the bits being securely clamped in, a more positive feel for me with it. I dont feel its all that big a chuck, yes a bit longer than the c12s chuck but not a deal breaker for myself.
I tried drilling multiple holes in 50mm hardwood and the bit stayed put securely and tight in the Ti15. I then tried various sized drill bits and all locked in and stayed in place no problem even a 2mm bit. So on that score, I feel it is a major improvement on my C12 drill. Seems to have a heck of alot more power than the old c12 on the older style batteries). I haven't test it on anything thicker yet but think 50mm or less is most of the things I'm likely to do anyway.
Next I tried the centronic drill bits directly inserted and they also worked well so no complaints there from me.  I didnt try using the extra chucks though so I'll try that tonight. They do seem cumbersome in length when added to the "non-impact" attachment but at least gives the benefit of being able to use them as I have them from the c12 kit.
I've only used an impact driver on a couple of odd jobs on a friends house some time ago, but obviously since this drill can do impact drilling, it's really a new experience for me to get used to the noise and "impacting" whilst driving in screws. I see I'm gonna need some practice as I find it a little awkward holding the screw in place and then trying slowly to get the screw taking hold then letting go and giving it full power, bloody quick but I found drives not as straight as using a standard drill and pushing down. Seems I may push the drill at a slight angle so the heads are sitting proud on a angle. Maybe thats an experience thing and I'll get better with use. I hope so. Perhaps I should also have pre-drilled a pilot hole and even counter sunk for the tests? I was lazy and just thought I'd impact a few screws into timber to see how it works. So a little learning required for me I think.
Regarding power, I've used plenty of various drills from tiny to big heavy 18v and powered hammer drills. This Ti15 seems to drill damn fast and not have that annoying twisting of the wrist that some drills do when you start. I hate that! so again I'm happy it has plenty of power and not that twisting wrench. It does seem noisy when impacting screws and I wondered at first what the hell was that noise?-du-oh, but as I said, I'm not really familiar with what other impacters sound like so can't compare so I have to assume they all are noisy at least to some degree. Maybe I should have simply gotten a T15 or C15 but thought having the extra "impact" available gives me a more useful all-round drill that compliments the c12 I already have. And of course can share the various chucks and drills so thats sweet. I suppose it'll get a more thorough test out when I extend my deck soon, $ permitting. Be nice to have both drills at hand loaded, one for drilling and the other for driving screws, rather than only one and chopping and changing bits all the time-tedious. I'm looking forward to giving it a more thorough workout ahead. As I say, I'm not a contractor so don't know what to expect or what tests I should put it through, but find it drills really well, and drives with plenty of grunt. One thing I do dislike is a common design placement of the switch from forward to reverse, being left handed I knock this and sometimes set the damn thing in reverse! annoying but after years of using multiple drills with this layout you'd think I'd be more careful. Why cant the switch be on top? Curse of being a lefty.
Thanks for all the input on this site by-the-way, love it.

 

[Kev]

That is bad news, I've always had faith in anything Festool.  But anyway, appreciate the information on this.  Thanks again.

woodrouterreviewsman, wood router

It's only bad news if you expect it to be more than a premium priced impact driver from Festool, delivered in a Systainer, with a full Festool warranty on everything including the batteries ... that's also compatible with Cetrotec bits and all of Festool's chucks if you do want to drill holes in a pinch.

Bad news is relative to your expectations ... and I still believe the bare Ti15 option is a great way to go for a C15/T15 owner.

The Ti15 has the great ergonomics, electronics and battery technology as the T15.

 

[fdengel]

An impact driver is a really good screwdriver, but it is not a drill and should never be used as one.

 

[NHSP759]

Has anybody tried the soft stop while under load? I was at Woodcraft the other day and was looking at the tool and the first thing I noticed was that feature. I was trying it out (not under load) and when I released the trigger, the chuck and bit was still spinning. Is this just to keep stress off oft he mechanical components or is there still torque being delivered which will screw (pardon the pun) up my work? Of course the two guys working were completely inundated with customers so I didn't ask the guys there. Thanks  :-\