Let's talk drills/drivers

[smirak]

FOD is a big concern for us.

Then a setup where every part as a defined place so you can see that something is missing might work better than, so one can start to search and panic in case one space is empty at the end of the job.

Would make sense to have rhe sortainer holding the (variable amount) of spares back in the supply room.

Yeah, all of our tool cabinets are shadowboarded and all of our procedures require sign-off that the shadowboards are 100% inspected and accounted for before that operation can be stamped off.  Shadowboards are black foam with a contrasting blue plastic bottom.  I'm going to Kaizen Foam the sortainer drawers as well.

 

[leakyroof]

Thanks db...post wasn't meant to sound boastful, so apologies to anyone if it came across as that. I guess maybe the question is, do I continue to spend money on the other brands, or do I buy festool? Is the quality that much better? If I've gone through a couple different brands so far, and would have paid for a festool, would I have gone through a couple different festools as well? Or, would the quality of a festool have prevented me from buying another?

I echo your comment about being organized. Our plant is bringing production from Switzerland to America. We build space product. We are building our plant around a nice 5S environment. Perhaps some of my question may have had to do (unconsciously) with the fact that these tools come in systainers allowing us to be even more 5S compliant. Sure, I can buy a new Milwaukee and a Systainer with some foam inserts, but after that, I'm at the festool price? Maybe I was just internally justifying a festool?

Point of matter is that I need a few more drills, so that's what started this whole thread.

  Any reason why you want Cordless over say, Air Powered Drills?  At any rate, I too vote for the PDC if a 1" diameter hole is needed from time to time.

Valid question.  And one that I failed to answer.  The facility is already plumbed for air/electrical/etc.  Where I need this drill is not in that area.  I cannot run a compressor to that area to run an air powered tool.  Also, it would be cost prohibitive to plumb that area for compressed air.  Lastly, this drill/drills would be used for other tasks as well, not located in the area (first thing that comes to mind is hanging office signage for example).

. Ah, that makes total sense, especially with cost of adding compressed air piping.

 

[sancho57]

FOD is a big concern for us.

Then a setup where every part as a defined place so you can see that something is missing might work better than, so one can start to search and panic in case one space is empty at the end of the job.

Would make sense to have rhe sortainer holding the (variable amount) of spares back in the supply room.

Yeah, all of our tool cabinets are shadowboarded and all of our procedures require sign-off that the shadowboards are 100% inspected and accounted for before that operation can be stamped off.  Shadowboards are black foam with a contrasting blue plastic bottom.  I'm going to Kaizen Foam the sortainer drawers as well.

Im very familiar with FOD and FOD prevention which is why I mentioned it. Spent 14 as a Govt Inspector on the C 17 Program.

Man heaven forbid ya have a lost tool on a aircraft......

 

[smirak]

FOD is a big concern for us.

Then a setup where every part as a defined place so you can see that something is missing might work better than, so one can start to search and panic in case one space is empty at the end of the job.

Would make sense to have rhe sortainer holding the (variable amount) of spares back in the supply room.

Yeah, all of our tool cabinets are shadowboarded and all of our procedures require sign-off that the shadowboards are 100% inspected and accounted for before that operation can be stamped off.  Shadowboards are black foam with a contrasting blue plastic bottom.  I'm going to Kaizen Foam the sortainer drawers as well.

Im very familiar with FOD and FOD prevention which is why I mentioned it. Spent 14 as a Govt Inspector on the C 17 Program.

Man heaven forbid ya have a lost tool on a aircraft......

C17 is my favorite...I was in the army for nearly 13 years and the Air Force for another 6. Flown on all "modern" AF cargo planes and the 17 is my favorite...

 

[Scorpion]

For what it's worth - I used to own a manufacturing business though from the sounds of it mine was substantially smaller than OP's.  If I had found Festool drills I would have had them for my assembly stations because they're smoother running and tighter tolerances than my cheaper drills (Dewalt, Milwaukee, etc).  I would have loved having everything organized and contained in Systainers which would have been at each station and the ability to have complete spares on the shelf ready to go.

The offset and 90-degree head would have been really REALLY nice.  They would have enabled me to have designs that I'd not previously been able to consider because of access issues with a conventional driver.  Now that I think about it, I had a CNC lathe that the offset head should have come with.

I have many drills and drivers.  It took me a long time to buy a festool one because the price scared me a little.  When I had the business I, like the OP, eliminate the sticker shock and become more interested in the key factors of the purchase price sometimes isn't as much of a factor or its less of a factor than home and/or hobby  and/or one man business owner/user. 

(To the OP) What I would do is what I think you've settled on - buy some individual units.  Give them to one of the individuals that will use them on a daily basis and get feedback after 3 weeks.  At that time you can decide if they fit your model.  If not, return them within the 30 day trial period.  You may quickly find that items like the offset head itself is alone a game changer enough justify the purchase.  You may also find that the drill becomes useful in ways (or to individuals) you had not anticipated.

~Matt

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[sancho57]

FOD is a big concern for us.

Then a setup where every part as a defined place so you can see that something is missing might work better than, so one can start to search and panic in case one space is empty at the end of the job.

Would make sense to have rhe sortainer holding the (variable amount) of spares back in the supply room.

Yeah, all of our tool cabinets are shadowboarded and all of our procedures require sign-off that the shadowboards are 100% inspected and accounted for before that operation can be stamped off.  Shadowboards are black foam with a contrasting blue plastic bottom.  I'm going to Kaizen Foam the sortainer drawers as well.

Im very familiar with FOD and FOD prevention which is why I mentioned it. Spent 14 as a Govt Inspector on the C 17 Program.

Man heaven forbid ya have a lost tool on a aircraft......

C17 is my favorite...I was in the army for nearly 13 years and the Air Force for another 6. Flown on all "modern" AF cargo planes and the 17 is my favorite...

Mine to, sure beats the 141 and 130