Is the TPC any good?

[JINRO]

I'm totally with you on M18 drill and impact. I almost turned my wrist using a drill with Forstner bit
I also have bosch drill but I don't use it as it's too heavy/bulky. 

I'm hoping TPC/TID is somewhere in middle which can handle enough power yet precise at the same time.  I have them in my cart, just need to check out lol

JIRNO - have you pulled the trigger on this yet? I can't find a single dealer within driving range where I can get my hands on the TPC after they start shipping tomorrow. I could order online but return shipping is getting expensive. I find it hard to believe there's no Festool mega dealer around here that stocks everything. I had high hopes for when Farm and Fleet started carrying Festool but all of their stock is aged and I doubt Festool will be there much longer.

Hi there, I haven't checked out yet I'm on the fence since I already have M12 Fuel and M18 Fuel line drills and impacts.  They serve me good and I can't justify myself to pull the trigger for TPC/TID combo.  I have them in cart online, Beaver tools.  I have local dealer here but they are good for granite or small accessories only.  I mainly order from Hartville, Beaver, or Woodcraft (all free shipping).  If you are not in rush, you can wait until Amazon (Prime) have them for purchase, that way it's much easier for returns.

 

[JINRO]

I'm totally with you on M18 drill and impact. I almost turned my wrist using a drill with Forstner bit
I also have bosch drill but I don't use it as it's too heavy/bulky. 

I'm hoping TPC/TID is somewhere in middle which can handle enough power yet precise at the same time.  I have them in my cart, just need to check out lol

JIRNO - have you pulled the trigger on this yet? I can't find a single dealer within driving range where I can get my hands on the TPC after they start shipping tomorrow. I could order online but return shipping is getting expensive. I find it hard to believe there's no Festool mega dealer around here that stocks everything. I had high hopes for when Farm and Fleet started carrying Festool but all of their stock is aged and I doubt Festool will be there much longer.

Hi there, I haven't checked out yet I'm on the fence since I already have M12 Fuel and M18 Fuel line drills and impacts.  They serve me good and I can't justify myself to pull the trigger for TPC/TID combo.  I have them in cart online, Beaver tools.  I have local dealer here but they are good for granite or small accessories only.  I mainly order from Hartville, Beaver, or Woodcraft (all free shipping).  If you are not in rush, you can wait until Amazon (Prime) have them for purchase, that way it's much easier for returns.

Guess what? I just ordered CXS instead lol
I went through some Youtube reviews and turns out I need smaller drill more than power drill.  I already have 3x18V drills and I decided to postpone my purchase of TPC. As for TID, looks like it's no different from other impact so much. So I'll stick with M12F+M18F+M18FSurge impacts

 

[tomktest]

Guess what? I just ordered CXS instead lol
I went through some Youtube reviews and turns out I need smaller drill more than power drill.  I already have 3x18V drills and I decided to postpone my purchase of TPC. As for TID, looks like it's no different from other impact so much. So I'll stick with M12F+M18F+M18FSurge impacts

I think you and I arrived at the same place at the same time. I was calling around yesterday to find places that even have T18/TID in stock. I must have watched half of youtube to try and get a sense for my needs and this is where I have arrived it.

* I am ready for Festool Drill/Drivers but Festool Drill/Drivers are not quite ready for me *

Here's what I mean by that statement.

• I really admire the refinement and precision of the Festool drill/drivers/impact.
• However, I tend to gravitate toward smaller tools that can still get the job done.
• Festool pioneered the small multi-head drill/driver category with the CXS/TXS and this is where I see the future is.
• Brushless has opened up the world of 12v tools that are small, lightweight, powerful, and efficient.
• Advances like stacked lithium will only add to the point above. This is where slide packs will have the advantage over packs inside handles like M12 or Bosch 12v.
• The flagship 18v impacts being released by DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Flex, etc are too powerful for most of what I do.
• The bare TID is light enough to be used daily but it really needs a lighter battery option. A 2.0 HO or stacked lithium battery would really make this tool shine. Most of the time I don't need a 4.0 ah battery that's almost 1.4 lbs.
• The TPC is a great option to handle the top-end of what I would need. Still would be much better with a lightweight 2.0 battery.
• The T18/C18 need one more revision to reduce the weight and size. Again, 2.0 battery would help.
• I want to like the CXS/TXS and while I'm sure it's very capable, it needs a refresh before I jump in. This is going to be tough for Festool because they don't have a 12v platform. The 10v battery needs to die and they should start building out a 12v platform. It needs to be made brushless, and should be capable of using the angle, offset, and depth stop attachments for the TPC. The trigger delay also needs to be fixed. The 2nd speed RPM should be increased to 1500.

So, in short if Festool came out with a 2.0 lightweight battery option and refreshed the TXS I'd jump on board. The mods to the T18 would be icing on the cake.

What am I going to do?

Since I'm already really happy with the DeWalt 12v line and plan on getting one of their lasers soon I will rock the DCD703 as my daily driver. It's probably not quite as refined as the TXS but it's still really nice. I will grab the 12v impact as a companion. The DCD850 is a beast and while it is small and light it is too powerful so it is going back to the store. All my Milwaukee is being sold right now so I won't have a heavy-duty option. I'll keep an eye on what Festool does over the next year or so before I make any more changes.

 

[elfick]

Guess what? I just ordered CXS instead lol
I went through some Youtube reviews and turns out I need smaller drill more than power drill.  I already have 3x18V drills and I decided to postpone my purchase of TPC. As for TID, looks like it's no different from other impact so much. So I'll stick with M12F+M18F+M18FSurge impacts

I think you and I arrived at the same place at the same time. I was calling around yesterday to find places that even have T18/TID in stock. I must have watched half of youtube to try and get a sense for my needs and this is where I have arrived it.

* I am ready for Festool Drill/Drivers but Festool Drill/Drivers are not quite ready for me *

Here's what I mean by that statement.

• I really admire the refinement and precision of the Festool drill/drivers/impact.
• However, I tend to gravitate toward smaller tools that can still get the job done.
• Festool pioneered the small multi-head drill/driver category with the CXS/TXS and this is where I see the future is.
• Brushless has opened up the world of 12v tools that are small, lightweight, powerful, and efficient.
• Advances like stacked lithium will only add to the point above. This is where slide packs will have the advantage over packs inside handles like M12 or Bosch 12v.
• The flagship 18v impacts being released by DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Flex, etc are too powerful for most of what I do.
• The bare TID is light enough to be used daily but it really needs a lighter battery option. A 2.0 HO or stacked lithium battery would really make this tool shine. Most of the time I don't need a 4.0 ah battery that's almost 1.4 lbs.
• The TPC is a great option to handle the top-end of what I would need. Still would be much better with a lightweight 2.0 battery.
• The T18/C18 need one more revision to reduce the weight and size. Again, 2.0 battery would help.
• I want to like the CXS/TXS and while I'm sure it's very capable, it needs a refresh before I jump in. This is going to be tough for Festool because they don't have a 12v platform. The 10v battery needs to die and they should start building out a 12v platform. It needs to be made brushless, and should be capable of using the angle, offset, and depth stop attachments for the TPC. The trigger delay also needs to be fixed. The 2nd speed RPM should be increased to 1500.

So, in short if Festool came out with a 2.0 lightweight battery option and refreshed the TXS I'd jump on board. The mods to the T18 would be icing on the cake.

What am I going to do?

Since I'm already really happy with the DeWalt 12v line and plan on getting one of their lasers soon I will rock the DCD703 as my daily driver. It's probably not quite as refined as the TXS but it's still really nice. I will grab the 12v impact as a companion. The DCD850 is a beast and while it is small and light it is too powerful so it is going back to the store. All my Milwaukee is being sold right now so I won't have a heavy-duty option. I'll keep an eye on what Festool does over the next year or so before I make any more changes.

While I don't really have a concern which way you go, your bullet points seem kind of off to me. It sounds like you want the CXS to be bigger, to support a larger battery and the TPC attachments, and you want the TPC to be smaller. This seems a bit non-sensical.

Also, your focus on voltage and brushless seem misplaced. The real pudding, so to speak, is whether the tool can do what you need it to do. I can tell you that the CXS will put together a whole kitchen worth of cabinets on a single battery. I'm not sure what more you could want out of it. Having it use the attachments of the larger drills is a non-starter because it would require that the CXS be made larger to accept them which defeats the purpose of having a small, light drill/driver.

That being said, I'd like to see Festool come out with a brushless version, but I wouldn't replace even one of my existing CXS if they did.

Also, this:https://toolguyd.com/12v-max-vs-10-8v-lithium-ion-battery-cordless-tool-platforms/

-Lee

 

[mino]

While I don't really have a concern which way you go, your bullet points seem kind of off to me. It sounds like you want the CXS to be bigger, to support a larger battery and the TPC attachments, and you want the TPC to be smaller. This seems a bit non-sensical.
...

Not really. Festool even sells this. They call it the C18.

And my opinion is known on this - the C18 is too big to do install driver tasks comfortably, but can do them well still. And too light/weak to do "big drill" tasks comfortably either. But can do them as well still. It is eventually a great secondary drill to go along a CXS and/or along the TPC, sharing the Centrotec system. But it is no replacement either. That is why Festool makes these three in parallel. I guess. Heh.

 

[tomktest]

While I don't really have a concern which way you go, your bullet points seem kind of off to me. It sounds like you want the CXS to be bigger, to support a larger battery and the TPC attachments, and you want the TPC to be smaller. This seems a bit non-sensical.

Also, your focus on voltage and brushless seem misplaced. The real pudding, so to speak, is whether the tool can do what you need it to do. I can tell you that the CXS will put together a whole kitchen worth of cabinets on a single battery. I'm not sure what more you could want out of it. Having it use the attachments of the larger drills is a non-starter because it would require that the CXS be made larger to accept them which defeats the purpose of having a small, light drill/driver.

That being said, I'd like to see Festool come out with a brushless version, but I wouldn't replace even one of my existing CXS if they did.

Also, this:https://toolguyd.com/12v-max-vs-10-8v-lithium-ion-battery-cordless-tool-platforms/

-Lee

No doubt the CXS is a very nice and very capable machine. I'd take one if someone gave me one. All I am saying is that for me, since I seem to be latching on to these smaller 12v tools more and more, if I jump on the TID/TPC/T18/TXS I think I'll be wanting for something a bit more powerful than the TXS but lighter than the T18. So a revised T18 that's lighter with a 2.0 battery might work but also a brushless TXS might work. neither of those exist right now so then I'd have to keep jumping between the two. I guess it's not really that big of a deal.

What I'm finding is with the DCD803 there's plenty of power to do just about everything I'll need on a daily basis at the same time being light and precise enough for the small things and tight places. A video is worth a thousand words so see what I mean below. That's a 3/4 spade, 1" auger, and tiny 3/4" screw. This is what brushless can do and I believe Festool can come up with the next TXS/CXS that can be better than this DeWalt. Festool if you are listening let's get after it!

MP4  Video
[attachurl=1]

 

[mino]

Tom, unfortunately the "lighter C/T18" concept does not really work.

I have the C12 - it is about 0.2kg lighter to a new C18/4.0. The 1.5Ah batteries are just 3-cell an at 200grams are like 40% the weight of tghe 5.2 18V ones. They lighter than the now-discontinued 5-cell 3.1Ah batteries.

I bought it used in a set (all chucks) for $350 last year and the main idea was "a bigger CXS that allows me to use the standard charges I use for 18V".

Well, I was wrong. The C12 is very, very gentle. It is smooth as butter too. It is also not that much heavier compared to a CSX. BUT. But it is STILL too unwieldy for install work. I also have the DRC, and an even stronger Ryobi foir rough work. So I just use the C12 as an installer driver plus a secondary drill - there is always a task for it. So happy with the value I got but not in a way I expected.

BUT. It is no "proper installer driver". it is simplly too big and unwieldy and also slightly heavier than I like. It is a good drill, no mistakes, but the original assumption when buying it - "a bit bigger CXS" was right. It really is a "bit bigger CXS". The problem being, this "a bit bigger" makes it unsuitable for the type of tasks I wanted it for.

So now have the CXS firmly on my purchase list one some critical stuff is sorted as got 4 drills already. Lesson learned. Take what you want from it.

 

[tomktest]

Tom, unfortunately the "lighter C/T18" concept does not really work.

I have the C12 - it is about 0.2kg lighter to a new C18/4.0. The 1.5Ah batteries are just 3-cell an at 200grams are like 40% the weight of tghe 5.2 18V ones. They lighter than the now-discontinued 5-cell 3.1Ah batteries.

I bought it used in a set (all chucks) for $350 last year and the main idea was "a bigger CXS that allows me to use the standard charges I use for 18V".

Well, I was wrong. The C12 is very, very gentle. It is smooth as butter too. It is also not that much heavier compared to a CSX. BUT. But it is STILL too unwieldy for install work. I also have the DRC, and an even stronger Ryobi foir rough work. So I just use the C12 as an installer driver plus a secondary drill - there is always a task for it. So happy with the value I got but not in a way I expected.

BUT. It is no "proper installer driver". it is simplly too big and unwieldy and also slightly heavier than I like. It is a good drill, no mistakes, but the original assumption when buying it - "a bit bigger CXS" was right. It really is a "bit bigger CXS". The problem being, this "a bit bigger" makes it unsuitable for the type of tasks I wanted it for.

So now have the CXS firmly on my purchase list one some critical stuff is sorted as got 4 drills already. Lesson learned. Take what you want from it.

Mino you are probably right about that. An install driver should really be no more than 1KG with battery and chuck. So even the new DeWalt 18v 1.7ah powerstacks are 0.31KG which doesn't leave much left for the drill. The T18 could still go on a small diet though and paired with a smaller battery it could be a slight quality of life improvement.

Other than brushless the CXS could really use the offset chuck. I used this on my Flexiclick so many times and I'm really happy to still have it with the DeWalt.

 

[mino]

I agree there on availability of lighter bats.

In Europe they still sell the 3.1 Ah batteries which are lighter than the 4.0 HP ones. For C/T series, the PSC and the OSC these are optimal in my view.

Unfortunately, the "more/bigger number is better" hit Festool too and from what I gather people saw them as "low value" with the competition providing 10-cell batteries as default. As thes cost not much less to make than 10-cell ones due to the Festool electronics. Plus there was the issue that 5-cell 18650 batteries just cannot do the currents needed for a TSC or the AGC which again concused the uninformed about voltages etc. etc. The current "small" 4.0Ah 5-cell 21700s are the smallest that can me made still providing the current for a TSC.

What I gather the ignoramus customer class /and procurement people who have no idea what difference a 0.2kg wight makes/ pushed Festool into not shipping the 5-cell 18650 batteries with tools now. The same idiocy I can see with Makita where there are no 3.0 Ah "1830" 5-cell ones and mainly the 1.5 (in 2022!) or the rare 2.0 BL1830N ones with the absurd (in 2022) 10-cell BL1830 being sold en masse. Guess we have to accept that idiocy rules this world. The smart can fight it only for so long and so much. No wonder the Chinese will run us over in a generation with the current non-STEM focus on education.

An offset chuck for the CSX/TSX would be great indeed.

 

[idratherplaytennis]

For what it's worth.. I picked up the TPC/TID set today at my local dealer. Turns out I didn't even know but they weren't released until today (or so I was told)! He just unboxed them this morning so my delays in getting to the store were all for the best. That said, I could give off some various impressions of it if anyone was still curious.

I didn't do any testing beyond the mandatory trigger squeezes to justify that I wanted it- I was busy finishing work and other things today, but I intend to try it out over the weekend on a few things around the garage covering most of what I would use it for- which is a bit of everything. I do remodeling/repair/woodwork/jack-of-most-trades kinda thing and I have a few different drills to compare to, plus a past history of a few other brands. Cabinet installs, rough-in kind of work, most facets of build/repair including more precise things where tolerances do matter to my OCD perfectionistic eyes (makes me a horrible rough-in person, I'll say that much.. :cough cough, doesn't need to be perfect!

I can say it appeared (MUCH) larger than expected and felt heavier too, but upon comparison with no battery or bits attached to my favorite T18+3, it's really about the same weight when comparing in my hands, just.. more rotund and a bit more burly feeling. I wouldn't have originally expected to use it in tight areas but upon feeling it's weight in my dominant hand not that different from the T18+3 in my opposite, I'm thinking it might work out just fine, and that worry has faded a bit. I'll pull out my Makita hammer drill to compare to this weekend. I mostly use the Makita for rough stuff or when I wanted more speed for drilling purposes (that T18 is sooo smooth but sooo slow).. So hopefully this is going to make up for the happy medium between my rugged Makita and the more precise T18.

One complaint? The case insert.. whoever designed it must have magic hands. I may be spoiled with the t18+3 case I have but everything comes in and out of it great, all the different accessory ends etc. This one... the side handle is stored on top of the battery charger, and if you don't keep the charger in, you've got a massive void for the handle fall into. The right angle accessory is so deep and snug, that it's taken me a good few minutes of finagling and I still didn't get it out yet to see what's "new" compared to my old version with the T18, and the drill chuck is stored underneath the impact that you need to remove to get access to (also wedged tightly into the foam). Maybe not a gigantic issue... but I do feel it could have been better designed, like with a stacked sort of area for the battery holder on the bottom with storage on top of it for accessories, with two separate inserts or something. This packaging may actually force me to look into those foam layouts so I can make it better, or at least carve it out so things aren't nearly as snug fitting.

 

[tomktest]

For what it's worth.. I picked up the TPC/TID set today at my local dealer. Turns out I didn't even know but they weren't released until today (or so I was told)! He just unboxed them this morning so my delays in getting to the store were all for the best. That said, I could give off some various impressions of it if anyone was still curious.

I didn't do any testing beyond the mandatory trigger squeezes to justify that I wanted it- I was busy finishing work and other things today, but I intend to try it out over the weekend on a few things around the garage covering most of what I would use it for- which is a bit of everything. I do remodeling/repair/woodwork/jack-of-most-trades kinda thing and I have a few different drills to compare to, plus a past history of a few other brands. Cabinet installs, rough-in kind of work, most facets of build/repair including more precise things where tolerances do matter to my OCD perfectionistic eyes (makes me a horrible rough-in person, I'll say that much.. :cough cough, doesn't need to be perfect!

I can say it appeared (MUCH) larger than expected and felt heavier too, but upon comparison with no battery or bits attached to my favorite T18+3, it's really about the same weight when comparing in my hands, just.. more rotund and a bit more burly feeling. I wouldn't have originally expected to use it in tight areas but upon feeling it's weight in my dominant hand not that different from the T18+3 in my opposite, I'm thinking it might work out just fine, and that worry has faded a bit. I'll pull out my Makita hammer drill to compare to this weekend. I mostly use the Makita for rough stuff or when I wanted more speed for drilling purposes (that T18 is sooo smooth but sooo slow).. So hopefully this is going to make up for the happy medium between my rugged Makita and the more precise T18.

One complaint? The case insert.. whoever designed it must have magic hands. I may be spoiled with the t18+3 case I have but everything comes in and out of it great, all the different accessory ends etc. This one... the side handle is stored on top of the battery charger, and if you don't keep the charger in, you've got a massive void for the handle fall into. The right angle accessory is so deep and snug, that it's taken me a good few minutes of finagling and I still didn't get it out yet to see what's "new" compared to my old version with the T18, and the drill chuck is stored underneath the impact that you need to remove to get access to (also wedged tightly into the foam). Maybe not a gigantic issue... but I do feel it could have been better designed, like with a stacked sort of area for the battery holder on the bottom with storage on top of it for accessories, with two separate inserts or something. This packaging may actually force me to look into those foam layouts so I can make it better, or at least carve it out so things aren't nearly as snug fitting.

Hey thanks for this - it would be great to hear more when you have had a bit of alone time with the new toy. What's the plan are you going to put your other large drills out to pasture? How often do you see yourself needing to step all the way up to the TPC? Which impact are you replacing with the TID?

I agree with the systainer issue... it would have been better to have separate boxes! I'd probably do the 5S foam as well.

 

[idratherplaytennis]

No current plans to replace any impact with the TID.. I rarely even use impacts just because I have enough drills and find the noise annoying. They have their place but my Makita's all outperform regardless. It was just a bonus to hold onto for the future or if I need it and don't have one of the others handy. As to the quality of the TPC, it's in the air. After an issue where it can't drill a 1" hole on gears 3 or 4 and my 2 gear T18 can out perform this.. I'm planning to take the drill back to my dealer when they're open Monday to for a check out to see if it needs to be swapped. The website says it should be fine with a similar style drill bit on gear 4 up to 1-3/8 and the fact that my cheaper T18 outperforms this leaves a lot to be desired. Could just be a defective drill, could be something to do with firmware, unclear at the current time. Going to look into the app and see if there's information there I should look into since the whole app thing they have apparently is pretty new to me.

 

[slavi.yordanov]

No current plans to replace any impact with the TID.. I rarely even use impacts just because I have enough drills and find the noise annoying. They have their place but my Makita's all outperform regardless. It was just a bonus to hold onto for the future or if I need it and don't have one of the others handy. As to the quality of the TPC, it's in the air. After an issue where it can't drill a 1" hole on gears 3 or 4 and my 2 gear T18 can out perform this.. I'm planning to take the drill back to my dealer when they're open Monday to for a check out to see if it needs to be swapped. The website says it should be fine with a similar style drill bit on gear 4 up to 1-3/8 and the fact that my cheaper T18 outperforms this leaves a lot to be desired. Could just be a defective drill, could be something to do with firmware, unclear at the current time. Going to look into the app and see if there's information there I should look into since the whole app thing they have apparently is pretty new to me.

There is no way this drill can push 1 3/8 drill bit n on 4th gear. I use mine extensively, but with hole saw type drill bits. It’s has no problem on 4th speed even with bigger sizes.

For Milwaukee 1 3/8 self feeding bit, I use 2nd gear.

 

[mino]

Reg. drill bits, what can easily happen is the safety over-torque protection will trigger when the bit gets temporarily stuck. While on a "normal" drill this would "jerk" the drill instead.

Not sure how Festool implemented it, if it has a gyro and detects handle jerking then it would mostly act post-event. I suspect they have a torque/current sensor and that can trigger ways sooner than one may expect.

From what I gather, normal drills have this thing called "hard" torque (when they are at a stop the motor applies a LOT of torque) and a "soft" torque (where they can keep up at speed). The injuries usually come from the hard torque coming to effect when the bit hits a snag, the drill will slow down and, simulataneously, the torque applied will increase a LOT.

From the reports, it would seem Festool has implemented a "no-hard-torque" configuration so when the drill hits a snag it cannot handle with the available soft-torque, it will simply stop. Forcing the use to go with a lower speed - where more "soft" torque is available to handle such "snags". That is actually the correct (aka healthy) way to use a drill, one should never force a drill to hit the hard-torque situation.

All this IMO confirms what I felt from the get go. The TPC was designed as "the generalist drill that can do it all" and NOT a power monster/raw power tool. It seems the additional motor torque available was "sacrificed" on the altar of safety and ergonomics so the TPC ends up no-stronger than a PDC is, just will be smoother/less jerky for the same jobs the PDC could handle. They may still tune it with firmware, as the torque-break is likely completely electronic. But it seems to have been a conscious choice on the Festool side.

 

[slavi.yordanov]

Reg. drill bits, what can easily happen is the safety over-torque protection will trigger when the bit gets temporarily stuck. While on a "normal" drill this would "jerk" the drill instead.

Not sure how Festool implemented it, if it has a gyro and detects handle jerking then it would mostly act post-event. I suspect they have a torque/current sensor and that can trigger ways sooner than one may expect.

From what I gather, normal drills have this thing called "hard" torque (when they are at a stop the motor applies a LOT of torque) and a "soft" torque (where they can keep up at speed). The injuries usually come from the hard torque coming to effect when the bit hits a snag, the drill will slow down and, simulataneously, the torque applied will increase a LOT.

From the reports, it would seem Festool has implemented a "no-hard-torque" configuration so when the drill hits a snag it cannot handle with the available soft-torque, it will simply stop. Forcing the use to go with a lower speed - where more "soft" torque is available to handle such "snags". That is actually the correct (aka healthy) way to use a drill, one should never force a drill to hit the hard-torque situation.

All this IMO confirms what I felt from the get go. The TPC was designed as "the generalist drill that can do it all" and NOT a power monster/raw power tool. It seems the additional motor torque available was "sacrificed" on the altar of safety and ergonomics so the TPC ends up no-stronger than a PDC is, just will be smoother/less jerky for the same jobs the PDC could handle. They may still tune it with firmware, as the torque-break is likely completely electronic. But it seems to have been a conscious choice on the Festool side.

Or they could have implemented a way to turn the anti kick-back feature off. Like an additional setting on the torque wheel, instead of turning the light off completely.

 

[mino]

Or they could have implemented a way to turn the anti kick-back feature off. Like an additional setting on the torque wheel, instead of turning the light off completely.

That would be a good choice.

 

[mawa89]

Or they could have implemented a way to turn the anti kick-back feature off. Like an additional setting on the torque wheel, instead of turning the light off completely.

Couldn't agree more. Their current configuration is nuts.

In general I have to say, that I am not happy with my TPC. I am using it already for a few months over here in Germany. I had a chance to buy one before they stopped delivery again. I had to send the TPC back to Festool for warranty claims already twice. First, the LED light was flashing up even when disabled by the control wheel. Second, the drill sometimes didn't start when pressing the trigger (even when no load was applied). As a result of the last issue, engine and electronics were completely exchanged by Festool.

But still, I am not happy with the configuration of the electronic control. Recently, I was removing some wood constructions screws in a vertical position. Very often, the TPC stopped ... probably detecting some kind of kickback. As I got annoyed by the very sensitive setting, I grabbed my old DRC and continued working with that. No issue at all.

 

[idratherplaytennis]

Or they could have implemented a way to turn the anti kick-back feature off. Like an additional setting on the torque wheel, instead of turning the light off completely.

Couldn't agree more. Their current configuration is nuts.

In general I have to say, that I am not happy with my TPC. I am using it already for a few months over here in Germany. I had a chance to buy one before they stopped delivery again. I had to send the TPC back to Festool for warranty claims already twice. First, the LED light was flashing up even when disabled by the control wheel. Second, the drill sometimes didn't start when pressing the trigger (even when no load was applied). As a result of the last issue, engine and electronics were completely exchanged by Festool.

But still, I am not happy with the configuration of the electronic control. Recently, I was removing some wood constructions screws in a vertical position. Very often, the TPC stopped ... probably detecting some kind of kickback. As I got annoyed by the very sensitive setting, I grabbed my old DRC and continued working with that. No issue at all.

In regards to how your TPC was shutting down when it shouldn't have- was the shut off the beep with no flashing lights or the beep with flashing lights? I'm just curious since I was trying my new one out and it was basically shutting itself down with an overload signal instead of the anti-kickback. I know there's a few countries with access to the Festool Work App that they can send out updates to update things on the drill, however for some really dumb reason, there's no app available in the US which is sort of bonkers to me. Then again, they have tons of awesome things available to Europe that they don't have here which also gets me stirred up  [embarassed].

I somehow missed like a dozen posts (fully acknowledging this) that were made in this post before starting my other posting about my own issues with the TPC and how it dislikes my stubby 1" (25mm) self-feed triple flute auger bit, and also my self feed paddle bits. I do like the fact that there are a lot of electronics available that could be seemingly, hopefully fixed with firmware updates, but at the same time, I still feel like some things could have been done better with this drill, they've had a LOT of time to update the PDC (DRC) and to just make it brushless with antikickback and lower the max rpm in addition to making it more sensitive seems a bit silly.. or maybe backwards?- in my (often misguided) opinion.

 

[tomktest]

This is all very interesting conversation.  [popcorn]

I'm sure the engineers thought long and hard about these design decisions and came up with the best configuration based on their priorities. The problem is we don't know what those priorities were and probably never will.

TPC appears to be larger than the M18 Fuel 2804 but has quite a bit less soft torque. Seems the extra space is being used for the quad gears, better percussive mode, and fastfix head. There's no doubt the TPC has a very well refined gearbox and motor. I think if anything should have changed it would be the 3rd gear ratio. I would have liked to see 500, 800, 2000, 3600. This way  gears 1 and 3 match up with most 2-speed drills and gears 2 and 4 are a bonus for additional applications. Based on what I'm seeing the TPC just doesn't have enough guts for a 2350 RPM 3rd gear.

That said, I think I'd still be happy with it for my needs. Specs say it can drill a 3/4 auger in gear 3 which is going to be about the most common auger for electrical work. I recently used my M18 Gen 3 drill to hog out a hole down the center of a box newel post with a long 1" auger + extension. Perhaps it could have done the job in high speed but there's NO way I would have even thought to try it - in applications like that control is better than raw speed. Now I'm just a hobbyist DIY'er and wookdworker so my needs are going to be different than a remodeler.

[attachimg=1]

P.S. I sure would like to see someone drill a hole in 4th gear with that 35mm forstner bit! If I end up getting the drill I'll do it and post a video.

 

[idratherplaytennis]

This is all very interesting conversation.  [popcorn]

I'm sure the engineers thought long and hard about these design decisions and came up with the best configuration based on their priorities. The problem is we don't know what those priorities were and probably never will.

TPC appears to be larger than the M18 Fuel 2804 but has quite a bit less soft torque. Seems the extra space is being used for the quad gears, better percussive mode, and fastfix head. There's no doubt the TPC has a very well refined gearbox and motor. I think if anything should have changed it would be the 3rd gear ratio. I would have liked to see 500, 800, 2000, 3600. This way  gears 1 and 3 match up with most 2-speed drills and gears 2 and 4 are a bonus for additional applications. Based on what I'm seeing the TPC just doesn't have enough guts for a 2350 RPM 3rd gear.

That said, I think I'd still be happy with it for my needs. Specs say it can drill a 3/4 auger in gear 3 which is going to be about the most common auger for electrical work. I recently used my M18 Gen 3 drill to hog out a hole down the center of a box newel post with a long 1" auger + extension. Perhaps it could have done the job in high speed but there's NO way I would have even thought to try it - in applications like that control is better than raw speed. Now I'm just a hobbyist DIY'er and wookdworker so my needs are going to be different than a remodeler.

[attachimg=1]

P.S. I sure would like to see someone drill a hole in 4th gear with that 35mm forstner bit! If I end up getting the drill I'll do it and post a video.

I truly need to learn to read front to back and actually intake what I am reading better. I totally glossed over the bit about up to 3/4 auger in gear 3. That said- I DID test with a 5/8 self feed 3-flute auger and it blasted through on 4, as well as a self feed 3/4 paddle bit.

Slight unrelated side question- let's say I once accidentally briefly switched gears while running the drill.. any cause to think that may have done damage assuming I let off the trigger immediately?