Impact driver

[sstch]

Hi all,

Looking to pick up a cordless impact driver but notice the Festool one doesn't seem to have the greatest of reviews from a pure impact driver perspective.

Currently looking at the Bosch blue GDR 18V and Dewalt DCF886M2.

Anyone have any thoughts or other recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[tjbier]

I have the Bosch with drills/sawzall/circ saw/radio-charger ect, and liked it. Then bought the new 4.0ah batteries and now love em. Impact and sawzall in particular made a massive difference. The dewalt may be a little faster on impact speed, but I think the Bosch has more torque.

 

[redbirdone]

Tough to beat Bosch.  I have an 18v Bosch and it feels and performs great.  But in reality any offering from the big boys will be fairly simila (Dewalt, Milwaukee, Bosch and even Ridgid). edit:forgot about Makita as well - very very very good drills and impacts!!!  And some of the Hitachi models are not too bad as well. 

I too have a set of 18v Bosch (impact, hammer drill, recip, circ, radio).  I bought mine when they had a promotion going on where you got two free slim pack batteries and the radio was a separate purchase so I got four slim packs along with the one that came with the set and a fat pack.  While the fat packs have more run time, I use the slim packs with the drills as it really does cut down on the weight and having five of them I never have to worry about not having one charged.  I save the fat packs for the battery draining recip and circ saws.

I have since bought an impact wrench (Bosch HTH181-01) that came with two fat packs.  Takes lug nuts on and off my trucks like they're toys.

 

[Throwback7r]

I have been thinking about this as well, I have a deck to build and have been really wanting to replace my Hitachi impact and hammer drill so far the ti15 festool does not get good reviews and I really wish they made a reciprocating saw" 18V" so I could really kick the rest of my Hitachi stuff out. I just might end up buying the ti15 and if I don't like it it will go back.

 

[Kev]

As an impact driver the Ti15 is fine.

Where the Ti15 probably doesn't shine is as a drill, it doesn't match the T15 or C15 as some thought it would or should.

I only use my Ti15 for impact work and I think if you have other Festool 15V gear, it's a smart choice ... maybe less so if you're not already invested in Festool 15V or Centrotec.

Up side it comes in a Systainer and enjoys Festool warranty and service! Plus 30 days to make your mind up if you're in the US.

I do like it's ergonomics and I've not found it lacking in power.

I'm likely to go METABO for cordless recipro and angle grinder shortly, plus a couple of other 18V skins not likely to find their way out of the Festool factory any time soon. I'm considering METABO because of their new 5.2Ah batteries.

I'd love to know what Festool have on the drawing board for 2015 release.

 

[NHSP759]

+1 Kev.  I love my Ti15 and although it's not the same powerhouse that my Milwaukee Fuel was, it is a powerful tool on it down. True about the drill feature too, I use my T15 for drilling and my Ti15 for shooting lags which it does just fine.

 

[Birdhunter]

I've got two Festool drills and the TI15. It is a very good impact driver and a fair drill.

One oddity is that the Centrotec 3/8" socket driver bit tends to not retain sockets very well. The sockets, Snap-On and Craftsman, will almost fall off if I shake the TI15. I tend to use a DeWalt driver bit instead of the Festool driver bit so the sockets stay with the TI15 instead of the lag bolts.

Other than the loose driver bit oddity, the TI15 is, like the other Festool products, a great tool.

 

[Walk On Wood]

+1 on the Ti15.. Love it

 

[Bob Wolfe]

Got a Ti 15 for Christmas, not a bad driver but it really sucked as a drill, no torque. My 10 year old Bosch 9 volt had more.  From my research, you cannot get high torque in a brushless, technology not just there yet.
Took it back and got a Makita set with a brushless driver and a brushed drill, one of the highest torques available with a 1/2 in chuck and a hammer as well. I needed high torque as I want to use the drill to power a ice auger. And I got the 12 volt drill and driver set also, mostly for bench work but really surprised at the zip in that little drive. All for less than $100 more than the TI 15.

For me, the ability to use the batteries in so many other tools was a big plus.

 

[wow]

I don't any Festool battery powered devices - yet.

For working on vehicles and other big tasks, I have the Ingersoll Rand W7150 1/2" impact. Amazing cordless with the strength and torque of their industry leading air impact, the IR 2135 QIMAXK.

For lesser jobs I have IR W5130 3/8" impact.

I also have every M12 Milwaukee impact that Milwaukee makes. They are my go-to impacts for everything woodworking related.

 

[Kev]

I don't any Festool battery powered devices - yet.

For working on vehicles and other big tasks, I have the Ingersoll Rand W7150 1/2" impact. Amazing cordless with the strength and torque of their industry leading air impact, the IR 2135 QIMAXK.

For lesser jobs I have IR W5130 3/8" impact.

I also have every M12 Milwaukee impact that Milwaukee makes. They are my go-to impacts for everything woodworking related.

I'd class your Ingersol as an "impact wrench" ... Festool have a Protool IWC18 that I'm hoping will go green and get the 4.2Ah's - it'd be sad if they don't bring it across.

Torque in impact mode 300Nm (doesn't touch the Ingersol beast!)

http://www.festool.com.au/IWC-18-Cordless-Impact-Wrench-18V

 

[wow]

I'd class your Ingersol as an "impact wrench" ... Festool have a Protool IWC18 that I'm hoping will go green and get the 4.2Ah's - it'd be sad if they don't bring it across.

Torque in impact mode 300Nm (doesn't touch the Ingersol beast!)

That Protool looks almost as large as my IR - and you're right about the torque. The IR 7150 that I mentioned has 1057 Nm torque. IR really hit a home run with thetr cordless impact wrench.

That said, my favorite 'automotive' impact is this guy:

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2454-20

It's truly less than 1/3 the size of my IR. Light, compact, and 159 Nm.

But my MOST-favorite-ist woodworking/assembly/disassembly all-around impact is this:

[attachimg=#]

One-handed bit insertion, standard 1/4" bits, 2.2 pounds with lithium-ion battery, and 126Nm. I love this little guy as much as I love my Festool stuff! And I paid less than a Benjamin ($100) for it on sale.

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/~/media/PDF/2453-22_Brochure.pdf

Edit: added picture and links

 

[FinishingCanuck]

You have to go with Milwaukee! I have used both Bosch and dewalt plus other cheaper brands, Milwaukee is clearly better. The batteries last way longer and the impact drives screws faster. Milwaukee also has the largest line of cordless tools and accessories even an adapter to turn an 18v battery into a USB charger! I have around a dozen or more Milwaukee cordless tools both 18 and 12 volt and will never turn back

Go with Milwaukee. You won't regret it

P.s. 5 year warranty

Mike

 

[Runhard]

Personally, as a hobbyist and DIYer, I have the Festool T18+3 and CXS set and the DeWALT 18v Drill/Driver and Impact set. I buy my maintenance crew at work Milwaukee M18 FUEL tools. The Festool drills are my favorite followed by the Milwaukee. So my suggestion would be to go with the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Impact.  

 

[serlokas]

+1 for Milwaukee M12CID. Own it and cant be happier. That 12v last a long enough, 30min recharge. Everyone who sees and tries loves it. Compact and lightweight, and really powerful. Recomended

 

[rst]

I use Milwaukee M12 and M18 volt system tools and love them.  I've used cordless since the dark ages when BD industrial started selling.  Went from them to Freud 14.4V, then Makita 9.6 and 14V.  When my daughter moved to Oregon I travel cross country with her to move her and ended up making an art studio for her using a Bosch 12V that I thought would be perfect for her to use and was incredibly impressed.  When Milwaukee brought out the M12s I retired my Makitas and have haven't looked back since.  I use seven of the 12V tools (seven batteries) and five of the 18V ( four batteries).  THe M18 led flood light is awesome, it's like turning on the sun.  It may seem like over kill, but I often work hours from our home shop.  I do commercial locksmithing, steel and aluminum entrances, and automatic door systems (not garage doors).

 

[Kev]

I've never bothered to walk down the Milwaukee isle ... The little Fuel 12 impact here is about $249 (tool, charger, case & 2 x batteries). I may take a peek.

Wouldn't life be good if all these makes standardised their battery mounts eh? ... Yeh, when hell freezes over [sad]