Impact Driver.

[sae]

Could I trouble one of you to explain to me what it was that was supposed to be so terrible about the Ti15? All the bad references I read never actually explain the reasons for its withdrawal.

It's not a terrible tool, in a vacuum...but compared to the rest of the market, it was underpowered, overpriced, and underdelivered as a result.

Will you be unhappy with it? Probably not...until you use any modern 18v impact driver...of which are doubling or tripling the rated output of the Ti15 nowadays.

 

[L.J]

The Ti's demise was because it wasn't outstanding in either of its 2 qualities for the price asked. Maybe had it been 18 volts could have helped it a bit. It was a good idea but not practical,those who own an impact probably own a drill also. An example of this is say you're pre-drilling for multiple lag bolts,would it be easier with 2 tools setup for the operation or one that you have to setup for each ?

 

[Kev]

... A tough tool to rival the others on the market.
...

Which is the one for FT to rival?
The Makita or another?

[member=40772]Holmz[/member] I think this is a situation where Festool need not to over think it and just introduce something that can run with the pack at a reasonable price REALLY SOON. Further, I believe Festool need to round out their cordless range with a few more commonly used tools or their time in the cordless world could be short lived.

If someone is investing in their second or third generation of cordless tools they fully realise that there's a lot of saving and benefit with common batteries, chargers, etc. Imagine what happens when Makita or Metabo or ... bring out a decent cordless tracksaw.

I would suggest that Festool need an impact driver, angle grinder and sabre saw in the cordless line up right now.

Regardless of your thoughts on the brand, Dewalt have a comprehensive range of offerings now, particularly with cordless framing and finish nailers. Just saying ...

I've got a further thought, but I'll start a new topic.

 

[GhostFist]

IMO the cordless market is too volitile for the high end
Power tool market. Festool will never match the output of the big box competitors and as such shouldn't invest in a losing race for best battery tool. They can't afford the set up tooling to keep up with the race. Hate to bring it up but mafell did it right by contacting their batteries to Bosch and metabolism, the metabos future is uncertain

 

[Staniam]

I don't see Festool releasing these "common" cordless tools. They don't seem to have any interest in running with the big box brands, nor should they. To release a tool for the sake of releasing a tool hasn't seemed to be their MO.

 

[GhostFist]

I'm just saying festool won't be able to jewel up with cordless top advancement like the larger companies do. Cordless fits festool market as portable high end yet I think they should stick to things like their excellent routers and corded tools. Their drills were ahead of the game yet I personally don't feel they hold that title. They'd have to do something radically different in order to keep face

 

[Staniam]

I'm just saying festool won't be able to jewel up with cordless top advancement like the larger companies do. Cordless fits festool market as portable high end yet I think they should stick to things like their excellent routers and corded tools. Their drills were ahead of the game yet I personally don't feel they hold that title. They'd have to do something radically different in order to keep face

Or find a way to shrink their drills yet keep or increase the performance. I think their drills still hold an edge with the accessories, but if they made them smaller and kept or improved the power maybe that'd entice more buyers. Idk. I think their drills are awesome, just brainstorming on how they could keep pace.

Also, with brushless technology being so pronounced right now and so many manufacturers using brushless motors, maybe a new brushless CXS/TXS would be a good idea for Festool.

Or just completely redesign their drills all together and add the impact driver so many people want. Heck, even aneed impact wrench. Maybe the people who use the RO sanders for automobile polishing would jump at a Festool impact wrench. Or just give their new impact driver a socket chuck like the PDC.

 

[Vondawg]

While impact driver noise is annoying, those of us that use them in commercial/industrial work would never go back.  I do commercial door and locksmithing and often find that I can remove hinge screws that have been in and rusting for thirty years.  In the bad old days I would use a hand hammer driven tool and still would have to drill out most every screw head in order to make repairs.  Now between my 18V and 12V Milwaukees I seldom drill more than one or two screws no matter how old or corroded.  The 12V will remove and install most screws without stripping and The 18V drives the self tapping 12-24 hinge screws with ease.

I couldn't agree more with you if I tried!

 

[Holmz]

I'm just saying festool won't be able to jewel up with cordless top advancement like the larger companies do. Cordless fits festool market as portable high end yet I think they should stick to things like their excellent routers and corded tools. Their drills were ahead of the game yet I personally don't feel they hold that title. They'd have to do something radically different in order to keep face

I doubt that they could do something radically different, because there are now many good platforms.

Unless one has a stack of batteries already then the only REAL difficulty is choosing which competitor's driver exceeds the non existent/IMAGINARY one.

 

[Kev]

Let's not forget that Festool had a much bigger rang of tools when they had Protool's full range. When it comes to new products they seem to have been more hampered taking 240V products to NA in 110V. This is not a problem for cordless in any way.

When I suggest that Festool "needs" to extend it's cordless range, it needs a way to stay relevant as the competing brands address niche areas. We can see was the flurry of new track saws, other brands are standing still.

Imagine what a radical change it would make if (lets say) European tool makers came up with a standardised cordless battery connection. All of a sudden Bosch, Metabo, Festool, Fein, Mafell, etc, etc would be smashing the big brands and pressuring them to conform.

I would love to see Festool kick off a battery compatibility initiative by building compatibility with Metabo - love their LiHD batteries (though the Hitachi merger may seriously inhibit Metabo from being a prospect).

Seeing this thread is about impact drivers ... I'd buy a Makita DTS141Z oil impulse impact tomorrow if it worked with any of my existing batteries. I'm not really a Makita fan, but you can understand why people would choose Makita as their base for cordless - the range of tools is massive including bicycles, coffee machines, etc [eek]

Now I'm not naive, obviously tool brands want you to be locked into their systems and go from buying an initial tool or tool set to continuing with the rest of their range in a "locked in" way.

 

[Holmz]

(Ideally batteries would be like a 9v battery, where they are all the same - but clearly there is a form factor...)

[member=13058]Kev[/member] and a DIM/ISO standard for rails...

Mafell is already teamed with Metabo, so there are a bunch cordless options that compete in quality with Festool.
If Festool, Metabo and Mafell were all on a standard battery platform it would certainly make life easier.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm using my TI impact 15V will get another 14.4 V battery for it and use it until it dies. The TI is easy and ergonomic in use, I would not buy an 18V impact to replace it as I don't do building work on a day to day basis. I recommend just getting one of the remaining TI impacts to festool users..

 

[Staniam]

I highly, highly doubt we will ever see a standardized battery platform. The point is to make money and outsell. Not work with your competitors and give away money.

 

[Kev]

I highly, highly doubt we will ever see a standardized battery platform. The point is to make money and outsell. Not work with your competitors and give away money.

Sadly realistic ... a third party disruptor is the best we could probably hope for. But then every tool brand would cry "warranty voided".

All of this market control with proprietary battery packs all housing the same handful of generic lithium cells is a pretty sad state of affairs when you think about it. A plastic box and a proprietary connector hiding the common truth!

 

[Stone Message]

There will never be battery compatibility between manufacturers - it has taken most of them a very long time to get some form of compatibility across the range of their own products. At least Festool has done quite well in this area.

As for the subject of this thread...

I will never forget a being told that impact drivers were too noisy and that is why Festool would not make one. I am sure that Festool have something up their sleeve but it better be something more than a hairy arm !

Peter

 

[Alec Buscemi]

Bump!  Get that tool made already!

 

[GarryMartin]

Festool have all but confirmed there will be an impact driver. Now, whether that will be a 2017 or 2018 release is really anyone's guess at this stage though.

 

[Stone Message]

Festool have all but confirmed there will be an impact driver. Now, whether that will be a 2017 or 2018 release is really anyone's guess at this stage though.

I agree with Garry - there have been no denials and it really is about time they got into this important part of the market.

Peter

 

[#Tee]

festool finally caught up to ryobi by implementing a battery gauge on their 18v line. its annoying enough when ppl keep tapping the trigger on a drill when the screw is almost to about to bottom out then to have them do this practice on a impact makes me want to die.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Festool have all but confirmed there will be an impact driver. Now, whether that will be a 2017 or 2018 release is really anyone's guess at this stage though.

I agree with Garry - there have been no denials and it really is about time they got into this important part of the market.

Peter

Yeah, about time. Had me another wrist snapping experience the other day.
Would not have happened with an impact. It does not have to be the best impact on the market. It would be nice if it was very very good.