New CXS arrived today!

[pingvinlakrits]

Got a text from the local Fess-Pusher and had the new CXS to collect.

Everything was as expected - though the battery is wider at the base. The advantage is that the CXS stands better, the disadvantage is that the CXS becomes a bit wider, approx 63mm at the base. It is not often you need to squeeze the CXS through that tight a gap so no concern there really. I like that it is wider at the base, it is really like a mini C15/C12 now.

Battery gauge simple but stays on long enough to gauge the status, three dots if fully charged.

New drill chuck is nice - still very light small but takes a massive 10mm over the old one which held a puny 8mm.
10mm is quite enough for this machine.

Battery attachment/insertion points do seem a bit fragile  [blink] and the TXS/CXS battery does not extend into the C grip. It does not inspire confidence with the tiny latches but time will tell if it will hold up or not.

All in all, happy to have 2,6Ah batteries and expect a good run time with it. Also like the drill chuck.  All the rest sort of feels the same. A bit disappointed that it isn't brushless but the last one lasted four years and if this one does maybe they will have a brushless version by then. 

 

[Staniam]

Pictures please!

 

[pingvinlakrits]

In an hour or so, just got home from late work, need to eat and charge the battery up.

EDIT: fed and got the little camera out, snapshots without flash and dull light but here we go:

Here is the little wonder:

Note the wider base and the "small" 10mm chuck. Nice.
I am not to fond of the battery latches, which seem flimsy. I definitely will try my best not to drop this drill!

I don't have my old CXS at hand but this CXS "feels" larger. For some reason the grip seems a little bit thicker, it feels a bit "different" in hand.  Strange. Will have to borrow back my old one and compare the grip - it ought to be the same.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I think the grip is the same, hands are a little bruised up today and tender so everything feels awkward.

Honestly there is not that much to report - might drop back after I have put it to some extended use. I am curious to see how much longer run time the batteries will give me over the old batteries. I will fit a kitchen tomorrow and have plenty of small drilling to do. The CXS arrived in the nick of time.

Tomorrow I will hopefully be able to pick up the Bosch Flexiclick as well - it will be interesting to see how well Bosch has implemented the quick change system

 

[Staniam]

So if the battery no longer goes into the C handle, is it now a block battery that works on the newest Festool charger?

 

[mike_aa]

So if the battery no longer goes into the C handle, is it now a block battery that works on the newest Festool charger?

And will the new battery work with the old CXS?  Please excuse my ignorance if this was answered before.

Mike A.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

The charger is the same as before. The battery latches are the same as before.
The thing that differs is the "pillar" that is no longer there on the new batteries.

The new CXS handles the old batteries and the old CXS will take the new batteries. The TXS will not physically mount the old batteries though. So if anyone has a fairly new CXS that would speak against the TXS. I'd rather have two machines running the same battery than two "similar, yet different models" where one (the TXS) would not be able to use the other battery.

I wish I had kept one 1,5Ah battery. Slim is always nice. Having said that the 2,6Ah battery is remarkably small.

 

[Doug S]

Please tell me that on the new model cxs festool have improved the light so it stays on for a few seconds after you release the trigger?

Doug

 

[TelcoRandy]

Does the new 10mm chuck ratchet?

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Sorry but no, the light does not stay on.  [sad]
It would have been great to be able to use it as a light source with a small on/off switch.

The 10mm chuck does ratchet. It sounds a bit plasticky when tightening it up but it seemed to hold things snug. Drilled a few spotlight holes today and the chuck held up. So far so good.

 

[elfick]

I can press my trigger to a point where the light comes on but the motor doesn't run. Easily repeatable with a little practice.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

elfick; yes, but it doesn't help when you need both hands fitting something inside something where you need a little light. For a quick light it is better than nothing though.

 

[bryan1982]

Can the new batteries be charged on the old charger for the 18v tools

 

[TelcoRandy]

The 10mm chuck does ratchet. It sounds a bit plasticky when tightening it up but it seemed to hold things snug. Drilled a few spotlight holes today and the chuck held up. So far so good.

I need said chuck! I bet it's NAINA though.
It doesn't seem like Festool has any plans to introduce any new tools into North America so I figure I'll just go without. As of late they just seem to be selling knock offs of other tools (like their Fein - I MEAN Vecturo) or vacuum attachments (CT Wings).

 

[Saskataper]

Just get a chuck from one of the big drills. I have the C15 and use its chuck occasionally on my CXS

 

[mike_aa]

Just get a chuck from one of the big drills. I have the C15 and use its chuck occasionally on my CXS

Same here.  It's kind of big on the CXS, but it works fine.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I used my standard 13mm chuck on the new CXS, didn't even register in my mind that I took the wrong one until I took it off - works fine. Felt a little front heavy though.  [embarassed]

 

[TelcoRandy]

I know the bigger chuck works but it makes the drill feel unbalanced and clumsy...

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Yes, I was drilling holes for spotlights in a ceiling so the balance wasn't off but inbetween the holes I thought it "heavier than usual" but it was not until I unchucked it that I realised that I had gotten the "big" one from the box.

Normally I would not have used the CXS for this as it is a little weak for this type of task but it was the only drill at hand at the time.