Need a new18v drill etc Which ones?

[jools]

My Makita 18v drill/driver, SDS and impact are nearing the end of their useful life. So which Festool drills do I choose? I have a cxs so these replacements are for mostly first fix/ heavy duty fixing tasks.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions
Jools

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

The nicest one is the Festool T-18. The next best is the Hilti drill driver. In Europe, check the Festool PDC.  I would also look at the Hilti SDH and SID package.

 

[SittingElf]

You're in the UK. You might want to take a look at the PDC. (Not available in North America)

Cheers,

Frank

 

[jools]

Going to. Hands on demo of  pdc and bhc tomorrow but use an impact a lot for timber framing and form work. Festool only do the impact in 15v. Will I miss impact with the 18v drivers. I've seen some big fixings being driven with the 18 v but most of my stuff is 100mm (4inch) screws

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Going to. Hands on demo of  pdc and bhc tomorrow but use an impact a lot for timber framing and form work. Festool only do the impact in 15v. Will I miss impact with the 18v drivers. I've seen some big fixings being driven with the 18 v but most of my stuff is 100mm (4inch) screws

The Hilti 18v-SID impact driver is excellent.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Going to. Hands on demo of  pdc and bhc tomorrow but use an impact a lot for timber framing and form work. Festool only do the impact in 15v. Will I miss impact with the 18v drivers. I've seen some big fixings being driven with the 18 v but most of my stuff is 100mm (4inch) screws

If you use an impact a lot a normal drill is not going to satisfy your needs.

For an 18v drill Festool has two choices, de T18+3 and the PDC 18-4. The T18 is more geared towards precision in the workshop, and the PDC for rough power in the field. Both are very nice drills.

 

[Bigchasbroon]

I had a hilti sdh22 or something like that it was a good drill but really heavy and after using it a lot one day the tendon in my 3rd digit tightened right up and a I could straighten it. It was all to do with holding the heavy drill. I sold the hilti and bought a PDC 18 and it's brilliant. It feels just as powerful but is so light in comparison and the batteries last for ages. I've even used it on hammer into various brick, stone, etc. and while it can't compete with an sds it puts up a good fight.

 

[jools]

Went to the demo of the pdc18 and bhc18 yesterday and was very impressed by both. Very powerful but also controllable. I purchased the pdc18 set and took up the offer of a bhc18 bare with 2 free batteries. I will keep the makita 18v impact as it is the youngest of my old drills but the others will go. On the lack of impact drivers in the range I was told that impact drivers are very uncommon in Germany and not seen as an essential site tool. Is that true? With the new range of 4.2 batteries and machines just launched any future impact would most likely be 18v.

 

[Kev]

I'll be interested to see if the Protool Impact Wrench makes is out the door into green trim. That's a beastly jobbie I've been half considering.

 

[Stone Message]

Went to the demo of the pdc18 and bhc18 yesterday and was very impressed by both. Very powerful but also controllable. I purchased the pdc18 set and took up the offer of a bhc18 bare with 2 free batteries. I will keep the makita 18v impact as it is the youngest of my old drills but the others will go. On the lack of impact drivers in the range I was told that impact drivers are very uncommon in Germany and not seen as an essential site tool. Is that true? With the new range of 4.2 batteries and machines just launched any future impact would most likely be 18v.

Excellent decision. I was going to direct you to my two videos (PDC 18/4 and BHC 18) which are in this section as separate threads.

Peter

 

[jacko9]

I also have the CSX and when my DeWalt 14.4v battery died, I got the Festool T-18 kit.

Jack

 

[Mickfb]

I have just bought a CXS and the T18. Not used T18 much but it feels very robust and lovely to handle. As for the CXS it's a lovely drill.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm now also looking at getting the BHC and PDC kit with the four batteries instead of the PDC set XL as for a modest extra outlay I end up with two machines and 4 batteries, the angle and depth stop chucks I can purchase as the need arises..

(EDIT)I discovered that the above mentioned kit offer expired 31st of July 2014 so I'm going with the PDC alone now and investing in Centrotec bits etc instead..

 

[GhostFist]

it's going to be new drill time for me too. Would love to get a PDC but festool wont pull their finger out and release it over here. The new Fein's also look pretty darn sweet, they even have a centrotec chuck that works with standard ball detent bits, who would have ever thought?

 

[Frank-Jan]

..., they even have a centrotec chuck that works with standard ball detent bits, who would have ever thought?

From looking at a picture, I think it's like the one from metabo, just a bitholder fixed to a collar.

 

[Stone Message]

..., they even have a centrotec chuck that works with standard ball detent bits, who would have ever thought?

From looking at a picture, I think it's like the one from metabo, just a bitholder fixed to a collar.

It may look pretty ordinary but you do have to try it to appreciate how well it works. I was very sceptical about Centrotec until I tried it and now I am hooked. I am slowly converting to the Centrotec standard as funds allow.

Peter

 

[neeleman]

it's going to be new drill time for me too. Would love to get a PDC but festool wont pull their finger out and release it over here. The new Fein's also look pretty darn sweet, they even have a centrotec chuck that works with standard ball detent bits, who would have ever thought?

I don't think both Fein and Metabo have a Centrotec chuck, because it's patented by Festool and far superior to other designs.
I think the removable chucks by Fein and Metabo are a kind of FastFix chucks. No Centrotec!!
They can only hold a normal ball detent bit, but that's what most people use and know of.

The Centrotec system is of another league and only limited by the amount of bits and drills until now.
A few years ago I e-mailed some ideas to Festool Germany how to expand the Centrotec range.
Until now we have not seen any new bits.
It's also a pity that the machine head is not magnetic and the eccentric/angled chucks don't hold the bits and drills that well without the Centrotec Tool chuck. Festool should also improve that parts.

 

[Frank-Jan]

I'm already well invested in the centrotec system; when I got my protool pdc 18-4 in 2008, I got both the festool and the protool versions of the centrotec systainer, and added a few extras. (I also got the c12 when the li ion version came out)

When Metabo introduced their drills with the fast fix-like system they had also a centrotec-like head, which looked like it could take regular ball detent- accessories.
But when I saw it in person at a building fair, it turned out it was just a bitholder permanently attached to a centrotec like collar (like a centrotec with only the inner ring working)
So it didn't offer extra functionality over the centrotec with a bitholder. Looks like the fein version is the same.

 

[neeleman]

Hi Frank-Jan,

Two persons same conclusions.
Let's pray for more Centrotec bits & drills!

 

[TelcoRandy]

it's going to be new drill time for me too. Would love to get a PDC but festool wont pull their finger out and release it over here. The new Fein's also look pretty darn sweet, they even have a centrotec chuck that works with standard ball detent bits, who would have ever thought?

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/eta-for-new-product-introductions-in-na/

I think they plan to release it, but who knows when. For all I know it could be December 2015.