Impact Driver

[stevieob]

I need to pick myself up an impact driver.  It's for personal use, would always find myself needing to driver a few screws home, but would be here and there not an everyday or anything near it requirement.

Having been converted to Festool a few years ago, I would rather stick with a brand I now know and trust.  However there doesn't seem to be good reports on the Ti15 model, and it looks like it is discontinued.

So 2 questions.

If I managed to pick up a second hand one, would it suffice for light ad hoc use here and there?  Or are they really crap?

Is there any sign of Festool coming out with one at some stage in the near future?

I'd rather pick one up sooner than later as I have some plans for later in the year, so don't mind holding off a bit if there will be a new Festool model coming out, but can't wait forever.

Any other recomendations failing that?

 

[GarryMartin]

I never had issues with my TI15 - it's fine as an impact driver. The ability to turn it into a drill is a little gimmicky and questionable as to how many people would ever make use of it, but it's there.

I have the T15 + TI15 Set, but to be honest, I don't use them at all now and can't remember the last time I got them out. For almost everything now, my go to drills/drivers are my PDC and CXS. I keep meaning to get them on eBay but never get round to it. Locksmiths are keen on the TI15 for some reason??

Festool haven't announced that they're working on an impact, or that one will be available soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's on their future roadmap.

 

[ear3]

You can search here on the FOG for info on t15 -- some good reviews, and some that it's underpowered and has a less than optimal setup for turning it into a standard drill. 

I know that there were reports last year that Festool was doing market research about the possibility of an 18V update of the impact, but I have no specific information on how far that research has gone and whether there is even a timeline.  We tend to get hints on the FOFG around 6 months in advance of something's release, and so far there has been nothing.

 

[bobfog]

I suspect Festool are working on a quieter tool like the Milwaukee SURGE, an oil driven driver that is significantly quieter than traditional impacts, but can't deliver the same peak torque for large fasteners..

The problem is it is difficult to get near the full power of traditional impacts with such technology. So I think Festool are probably at a plateau and can't up the power to the point where they are satisfied to bring the tool to market.

 

[semenza]

What Gary said ^

I have never had a problem with it for use as an impact. I don't use it a lot simply because I don't need an impact very often. But when I do want an impact it does everything I want it to. Definitely not crap. It might not be the one to get for building decks all day long .... but I don't know about that first hand. If you can get a second hand one or new old stock, go for it.

Seth

 

[Birdhunter]

I really like my TI15 as an impact driver. I've used it to drive 1/4" lag bolts into Ipe (predrilled holes) so it has all the power I need. In fact, I don't think I have ever used it as a drill.

 

[Kev]

I have a Ti15 and it's fine as an impact driver. If I need real power I switch to an impact wrench (mine are Metabo).

I've been tempted to look at the quieter impact driver options in other brands and would certainly make the leap if I had a lot of impact work to do ... I hate noise!

 

[greg mann]

I see Tom Silva still using his very often on TOH and I am sure he has had them for quite some time.

 

[mac sparrow]

I ended up buying a Makita impact, which is great.

I have 3 Festool drills and LOVE 2 of them.  The CXS and BHC are just marvels in design, weight and comfort.  Sadly I despise the PDC with a passion.  I want to love it, unfortunately I just hate the feel, I hate the noise, I hate the difficulty in attaching the 90 degree chuck; it seems to struggle to engage the notches, and I feel like chucking the drill at a wall when it starts beeping at me.  I have a Makita drill that is 12 years old, rusty now and yet I love the sound of it.

I use the CXS all the time for screws and pre drilling and the Makita for nuts and bolt socket applications.

 

[Kev]

I ended up buying a Makita impact, which is great.

I have 3 Festool drills and LOVE 2 of them.  The CXS and BHC are just marvels in design, weight and comfort.  Sadly I despise the PDC with a passion.  I want to love it, unfortunately I just hate the feel, I hate the noise, I hate the difficulty in attaching the 90 degree chuck; it seems to struggle to engage the notches, and I feel like chucking the drill at a wall when it starts beeping at me.  I have a Makita drill that is 12 years old, rusty now and yet I love the sound of it.

I use the CXS all the time for screws and pre drilling and the Makita for nuts and bolt socket applications.

[member=26410]mac sparrow[/member] I think the transition from orange to green with the PDC confused it's intended purpose. I'll always reach for the C18 if I want power with finesse ... the PDC is more at home with spade bits and hole saws - more for construction.

 

[Jon160290]

Use my festool impact daily in joinery shop, have never had a problem with it.  any lack of power is not noticable againts my colleagues impact drivers (bosch, dewalt and milwaukee) this may show on larger fixings but on 6x100 screws i can keep up all day. Never use drill conversion attachments, it is solely as an impact.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I used mine for fencing with some longer 80mm screws, was very smooth and relatively light. I have to 15v batteries for i 3 A and 5.2 ample for many hours of work.

 

[stevieob]

Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated.
For those of you who are using the CXS for driving screws, excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between that and an impact driver?  I presume it will have less power.  Would it really only be usefull for predrilled holes?
I'm planning to build a shed at some stage, small one as a kids playhouse, but really couldn't handle predrilling a load of holes, I want a driver that will run the screws straight in one go.  If it's a sucess, I will hopefully go one further and build myself a decent tool and bike shed as the one I currently have is to small.

I never had issues with my TI15 - it's fine as an impact driver. The ability to turn it into a drill is a little gimmicky and questionable as to how many people would ever make use of it, but it's there.

I have the T15 + TI15 Set, but to be honest, I don't use them at all now and can't remember the last time I got them out. For almost everything now, my go to drills/drivers are my PDC and CXS. I keep meaning to get them on eBay but never get round to it. Locksmiths are keen on the TI15 for some reason??

Festool haven't announced that they're working on an impact, or that one will be available soon, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's on their future roadmap.

Are you interested in selling the set?  I would really only be looking for the Ti15, but could be tempted

 

[GarryMartin]

For those of you who are using the CXS for driving screws, excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between that and an impact driver?  I presume it will have less power.  Would it really only be usefull for predrilled holes?

If you choose the right screws, you can get away without predrilling, but you almost certainly won't want to build a shed with the CXS!  [scared]

Are you interested in selling the set?  I would really only be looking for the Ti15, but could be tempted

Your post (and an eBay offer) prompted me to list them yesterday. The TI15, T15+3 Set and a DD-DC depth stop sold on eBay this morning for £490 I'm afraid. Well, I'm not afraid, but you know what I mean...  [wink]

 

[semenza]

The CXS is a compact drill driver, no impact action.  It  can  drive some pretty big screws. But for shed construction or other heavier type building jobs the impact will be a better choice for driving a lot of long / large screws.

You won't need to be predrilling with the TI15  for your shed build.

Seth

 

[toolfest.co.uk]

For those of you who are using the CXS for driving screws, excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between that and an impact driver?  I presume it will have less power.  Would it really only be usefull for predrilled holes?

If you choose the right screws, you can get away without predrilling, but you almost certainly won't want to build a shed with the CXS!  [scared]

Are you interested in selling the set?  I would really only be looking for the Ti15, but could be tempted

Your post (and an eBay offer) prompted me to list them yesterday. The TI15, T15+3 Set and a DD-DC depth stop sold on eBay this morning for £490 I'm afraid. Well, I'm not afraid, but you know what I mean...  [wink]

I've just listed our ex-display one (Basic version) on eBay if you are interested.

Best regards

Warren

 

[stevieob]

Cheers guys
Garry, that would have been outside my budget, but you were selling more than what i needed or indeed am looking for
Warren, no thanks, I want more than just the bare unit, so will keep my eyes and ears open for a while rather than just jumping in

 

[toolfest.co.uk]

Cheers guys
Garry, that would have been outside my budget, but you were selling more than what i needed or indeed am looking for
Warren, no thanks, I want more than just the bare unit, so will keep my eyes and ears open for a while rather than just jumping in

No Probs [member=37982]stevieob[/member] , it has sold already.

Best regards

Warren

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I can say I bought the TI impact with just the chuck converter in the Duo drill driver systainer it had no charger or battery. because I had the charger already and 1 15 volt battery, I've since upgraded to  an additional 15 v 5.2 amp battery and got a insert for the drill that fits in a T Loc Sys 1. So personally I think a bare unit is worth considering if you already have the charger. I won't be using the chuck converter as I already have two other drills. So I in effect bought it just for the bare unit and got a T loc sys 2 which I use for my sleeved hose.

 

[Birdhunter]

I use pre-drilling to avoid splitting the wood. I pre-drill almost every time I drive a screw with any tool, manual or electric. In some very hard wood, like Ipe and some very brittle wood like Ebony, pre-drilling is a necessity. I also wax every screw before inserting it into the wood.

The CSX/TSX are my most used drills, but using them to drive large bits or large screws constitutes abuse in my mind.