Limited edition centrotec set

[Motor]

Is this worth the money?
https://www.feldercanada.com/collections/new-additions/products/festool-203815

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Only you can answer whether it is worth the money.

I have 2 larger Centrotec sets.  I appreciate having them.  I can't say I used all the pieces in them, but it's handy to have the bits and such stored in a box that I can either restock, carry with me, or keep separate from other things and look to when I have a particular drilling/driving problem.  They've saved me on numerous occasions.

I don't know that you can expect much cost savings in buying the kit over individual pieces here and there.  It's more about the convenience, in my opinion.

 

[pixelated]

I bought that set here a few weeks ago, mostly for the long centrotec bits which don't seem to be available otherwise.
But everything else, including the container, duplicates stuff I already have though my other collection of bits is not in a systainer.
IMO it was awfully dear at 120 USD, at 170 CN the cost may exceed the value, YMMV. I wish it came with the locking short bit adaptor rather than the plain one.

 

[Motor]

I bought that set here a few weeks ago, mostly for the long centrotec bits which don't seem to be available otherwise.
But everything else, including the container, duplicates stuff I already have though my other collection of bits is not in a systainer.
IMO it was awfully dear at 120 USD, at 170 CN the cost may exceed the value, YMMV. I wish it came with the locking short bit adaptor rather than the plain one.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is in a systainer that is a different size than all the tools - right?

Yes, that was my concern. I like the concept but wish it came with more long centrotec bits (3" and even longer) as I have a boat load of small bits that fit into the centrotec adapter.

I wish I could find a set with a bunch of centrotec bits, including counter sink, self-centering bits, and drill bits in a Systainer. Then I'd feel better about forking out the money.

 

[semenza]

I bought that set here a few weeks ago, mostly for the long centrotec bits which don't seem to be available otherwise.
But everything else, including the container, duplicates stuff I already have though my other collection of bits is not in a systainer.
IMO it was awfully dear at 120 USD, at 170 CN the cost may exceed the value, YMMV. I wish it came with the locking short bit adaptor rather than the plain one.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is in a systainer that is a different size than all the tools - right?

Yes, that was my concern. I like the concept but wish it came with more long centrotec bits (3" and even longer) as I have a boat load of small bits that fit into the centrotec adapter.

I wish I could find a set with a bunch of centrotec bits, including counter sink, self-centering bits, and drill bits in a Systainer. Then I'd feel better about forking out the money.

There have been several different big sets in a regular size Sys - I . They are always limited and appear randomly. Sometimes they show up for sale on the secondary market in FOG Classifieds or on Ebay. Those sets include more of what you want. This current Mini Sys set is the first set (at least in NA) regardless of size that has included 2" centrotec bits.

Seth

 

[pixelated]

The linked set is in a mini systainer, it can stack on the standard sized systainers (sideways) but cannot be locked to them.

 

[thudchkr]

I picked up one of these sets and like the clear top of the Mini-Sys.  What I don’t care for is the fact they don’t include any square drive bits with the set.

As stated earlier, it all depends on the individual as to whether it is worth the cost.

I actually purchased mine by mistake. I’d added to my cart at one point and was debating this same question as to whether to purchase or not. Hit purchase by mistake but decided after receipt that it was worth the purchase price. (Additionally, I didn’t really feel like returning it after having it in hand.)

As always, YMMV.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Not worth the money, only thing interesting in there are the 50 mm centrotec bits, the other bits you can buy for less and with better quality from other brands like Bosch or Wera. 25 mm bits have waaaayyy too much Torx, you're never going to use them.

 

[Coen]

Some people like Torx

The golden Festool bits were good. The gray ones are a shame for the brand

 

[P2P]

I picked up one of these sets and like the clear top of the Mini-Sys.  What I don’t care for is the fact they don’t include any square drive bits with the set.

Not sure if there were different sets released but mine has square # 2 bits included.

 

[thudchkr]

The set he linked to shows the same bits I received in mine. No square drives.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Some people like Torx

The golden Festool bits were good. The gray ones are a shame for the brand

I like torx too, I just said there's too much bits of them in this kit. I still don't see Torx that often, and when I do it's mostly T25 or T15. I never use the other sizes, and because of the shape and better grip of the bit, they don't seem to break so often as PZ, PH and slotted bits. 

Festool bits rust like crazy, they seem to break sooner than I am used to from other brands and they cost 3 times the price. Except for the long 100 mm bits, I'm not ever buying Festool bits again.

 

[Ben63]

Maybe torx is more popular in europe. I use Spax screws. Dont find anything but torx screws they make nowadays.

 

[P2P]

The set he linked to shows the same bits I received in mine. No square drives.

Interesting.  Looking closer at the pictures in the Felder Canada link in post # 1, if you zoom in on the photo of the Systainer, it shows PZ1, PZ2, and PZ3 bits.  Switch to the photo of just the tray insert and it shows PZ1, PZ2, and SQ2 bits which is the version I got.  Not sure why there is this small difference.  I would have thought that Canada would get the SQ2 bits and the U.S. the PZ3 bits.

So much for consistency.

 

[Dick Mahany]

The set he linked to shows the same bits I received in mine. No square drives.

Interesting that some sets don't have square bits.  The one I received had both long and short square bits.  I wonder if the different sets have different P/Ns?  The label on mine lists 203815.

[attachimg=1][attachimg=2]

 

[fshanno]

Faced with a decision this thread helped me decide.  Both of my CXS batteries are dying after years of good service.  New batteries are not too expensive but.....

There's the Bosch Flexiclick.  And it is standard 1/4" hex ball detent friendly.  The Bosch was on sale yesterday only for $102 - only a few bucks more than two new CXS batteries.  The $170 price tag for this bit set was the straw that broke the camel's back.  Centrotec buys me very little.  For those rare occasions where I need more rigidity than the standard ball detent bit affords I'll just chuck the bit.

Plus, I doubt I'll ever be able fork over the kind of money Festool asks for it's big drills or any other Festool 18v stuff.

I'll commit my CXS to the shop where I can keep a battery in the charger all the time and the weak batteries are of less concern.

 

[six-point socket II]

Maybe torx is more popular in europe. I use Spax screws. Dont find anything but torx screws they make nowadays.

May I ask where you reside? Spax still produces "universal" screws with PZ 1, 2, 3 drive ... Should be readily available from any source selling Spax products.

True is that wood construction grade screws like Hi. and In. Force (and other, mainly "specialities") are Torx/T-Star only.

--

Personally I highly appreciate Torx/T-Star for everything but very few situations/applications.

A couple of days I used concrete frame screws, I doubt one could drive those if they had a phillips or pozi drive head.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[jeh]

It is a major oversight to not include sizes 1-4 of the square drive bits. #2 covers a lot, but why not go all.

 

[Ben63]

Where I buy they sell only Spax/Torx. Or then some cheap stuff. I dont pay for it, its a project I took. I don’t think they sell much PZ bits here anymore. But of course I should have checked first.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

It is a major oversight to not include sizes 1-4 of the square drive bits. #2 covers a lot, but why not go all.

I've been vocal about this for years, but this special edition kit is one of the only times that square drive has been available from Festool. There have been all kinds of reasons, including "quality" that have been stated in the past about not supporting the format. I use the Centrotec square drive bits from Snappy. I do wish there were shorter versions sometimes, however.