New Protool drywall driver

[Nigel]

http://www.protool.de/duradrive/index.php?cc=fr&lc=fr
For those interested:a new  baterry powered drywall driver using brushless motor which shuts off electronically with each drive thus saving battery power.Sorry it's in French......hope the link works  [unsure]Nigel.

 

[dinkjs]

What does this have to do with Festool directly?

 

[Frank Pellow]

That looks really neat.  I really like the driver in combination with a "belt" of screws.

I think that Protool is a subsidiary of Festool.  Is that correct?

 

[jonny round boy]

I think that Protool is a subsidiary of Festool.  Is that correct.

Yes Frank, Protool are a sister company of Festool's, all under the TTS (Tool Technic Systems) umbrella. Whilst Festool focuses mainly on what in the UK would be classed as '2nd fix' applications (cabinets, trim, fine woodworking), Protool deals with the '1st fix' products, (building timber framed houses, drywalling etc.).

Protool is available in mainland Europe and Australia, but not in the UK or US.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

What does this have to do with Festool directly?

dinkjs,

Others have now briefed you on the relationship between Protool and Festool.

There is now the question of whether the subject of a new Protool item should be under the heading of  FESTOOL DISCUSSIONS > Festool Tools & Accessories rather than GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Other Tools & Accessories.

Since it seems that Protool has been discussed in both boards before; since there is a "special relationship" between Protool and Festool; and since generally members don't like their discussions being shuffled about the place(!), I think we'll leave it and all the other Protool threads where they are for the moment.

Forrest

 

[Frank Pellow]

Forrest, I agree with your reasoning that this thread belongs under Festool.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I agree too. For me, Protool and Festool is the same.

 

[justinmcf]

i agree also. having used the protool range of tools for over 10 years. i can confrim the festool and protool tools are one and the same.
by that i mean, the highest quality, very well designed and built and a pleasure to use every day.

i was just looking at the protool drywall drill last night on the german protool website.
i wish i knew someone in germany that could ship this to me, as it is not available down under yet.

regards, justin.

edit: i have just read the australian protool website. i see this will become available down under in early 2010.

 

[Frank-Jan]

I attended a protool/festool demonstration about a month ago where the collated screwgun was demonstrated. It had some very nice features, but also some drawbacks.
Major drawback was, that according to the protool rep doing the demonstration, it doesn't have the grunt to screw OSB/underlayment. (they will have a corded version out soon too, that will be suited for that).

Couple of things I saw that I liked about it were that it was very quiet in operation (especially compared to the makita corded version I use myself). And I really liked the belt hook. It has an angled, non-retractable belt-hook on one side, and on the other side it has a folding hook like the thing that is called a rafter-hook on some american tools (I saw it on pictures on nailers, worm-drive saws and reciprocating saws), with this hook you can hang it from a ladder, or scaffoldrailing.

The trigger is also quite special, when the tool is set to drive screws, it only works if there's pressure on the bit. (when it's set in reverse it doesn't need this pressure). It can also be set like the "bump-action" on a nailgun. This system makes it capable of driving more screws per charge than competing brands, allthough it's only a 10.8V battery and the machine runs at 4000rpm.

One of the other features is that the guide for the collated screws can be easily dissassembled without the use of tools into a few parts, one of which is a big spring, that's big enough not to get lost if it decides to jump somewhere. (This dissassembly is necessary, for easy cleaning of the thing, because drywall dust makes those things slow in bouncing back into position, and thus slowing the work down)

Conclusion for me after this demonstration is that they probably won't make a depth-set chuck for the protool quadrill-centrotec system as they have for the festool fast fix-centrotec drills. And that allthough I really liked it I'll stick to my corded makita (but finally going to order the attachment to be able to screw down flooring while standing up)

 

[imaginarynumber]

I too agree that Protool discussions should be allowed- especially given that some of the tools used to be branded as Festool.

For example I have the Festool Masonry renovator which is now rebadged as Protool- the up shot of this is that I cannot purchase consumables (or spares) for it in the UK any more!!! The tool is only about 4 years old- used once and currently unuseable as the consumables have worn down.

Thanks TTS

 

[AlexThePalex]

I too agree that Protool discussions should be allowed- especially given that some of the tools used to be branded as Festool.

For example I have the Festool Masonry renovator which is now rebadged as Protool- the up shot of this is that I cannot purchase consumables (or spares) for it in the UK any more!!! The tool is only about 4 years old- used once and currently unuseable as the consumables have worn down.

Thanks TTS

Imaginarynumber, there must be plenty of dealers in Europe who are willing to ship to the UK. The Dutch website Toolprof for instance. You can reach them at info@toolprof.nl . But in the UK there must also be some dealers who have left over stock.

 

[jonny round boy]

I too agree that Protool discussions should be allowed- especially given that some of the tools used to be branded as Festool.

For example I have the Festool Masonry renovator which is now rebadged as Protool- the up shot of this is that I cannot purchase consumables (or spares) for it in the UK any more!!! The tool is only about 4 years old- used once and currently unuseable as the consumables have worn down.

Thanks TTS

I understood that Festool's policy was to support any tools for at least 7 years after it was discontinued. That's definitely the case in the US as I read a post just a couple of days ago where they confirmed this.

Surely that can't just be a Festool USA policy - it must be a global policy in order for the spares to be available to the USA...

 

[imaginarynumber]

Thanks for the link Alex- I will have to email them at some point, unfortunately as a native English speaker I have little command of other languages.

Hi Johnny- the spares are doubtlessly still available but I and many others have been disadvantaged by the decision to reclassify some of the tools.

The increase in the number of Festool retailers and the move by Festool to no longer stock any supplies in the uk means that most retailers hold lower stock levels than previously. You have to hope that your supplier has fulfilled the minimum order level and then wait a couple of weeks for it to be shipped from Germany.

Many of the Festool retailers that I have spoken to wont hold a large range of accessories as they see the margins as being too low. There seems to be a problem of too many suppliers chasing a relatively small market.

I am pretty unorganised and if I run out of something (eg Titan abrasives) I might have to wait weeks before I can get some- whilst I accept a degree of culpability I think that this is unacceptable for a premium brand.

Both the UK and USA (and ireland) are denied access to Protools because of the 110v problem. I can understand that TTS dont want to release a whole range of 110v Protools but that is cold comfort for those of us that have 240v tools that have been rebranded as Protools.

I have been a Festool convert for years but all of the above act as a very big disincentive to paying premium prices for engineering excellence, tools that they cannot be used are dead money.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Thanks for the link Alex- I will have to email them at some point, unfortunately as a native English speaker I have little command of other languages.

Don't you worry about that. They'll understand English.

Many of the Festool retailers that I have spoken to wont hold a large range of accessories as they see the margins as being too low.

That's odd, that's the exact opposite of Festool dealers here. Part of the high prices for Festool comes from the fact that Festool gives their dealers a considerably higher profit margin than other brands do.

 

[jvsteenb]

Part of the high prices for Festool comes from the fact that Festool gives their dealers a considerably higher profit margin than other brands do.

I don't think that's true. I discussed this with a couple of dealers in my neighbourhood, and the single reason for them selling Festool is that they think the availability of a top-level brand in their line-up reflects positively on their image as tool-retailers - for shops catering to professionals, that's a no-brainer.
But especially the retailers that cater to Joe Public, aren't overly enthousiastic about the margins, and feel rather restricted by the strict policies Festool forces upon them.
The ones that do still sell them are very positive about the tools, but less then positive about the conditions OR the importer/local representative. Could be a regional thing - but TTS Tooltechnic Netherlands won't win any popularity contest with dealers over here....

Regards,

Job

 

[imaginarynumber]

Hi Alex and JVS

Do the Dutch retailers have to order directly from Festool Germany or not (regardless I guess that the same kind of time delays would not be applicable).

With regard to the earlier Festool suppliers in the UK, those that I have spoken to seem more aggrieved now than previously. I don't put this down (exclusively) to  sour grapes arising from increased competition. There has (and continues to be dissatisfaction with the setup and Minden (the UK distributors)- I cannot say if this is deserved or not.

BTW respect to the Dutch for having the highest percentage of English speakers as a second language- and perhaps equally as important some of the best beer in the world- sorry have just finished work and am in the pub.

 

[imaginarynumber]

With regard to profit margins I have no idea what they are- here in the UK Festool had a (possibly illegal) policy of not allowing price discounting- this lead suppliers to offer free consumables up to (on average) about 15% of the cost of the tool.

The increase in competition seems to have made the intial tool costs more competative.

The margins might well be higher than other brands but given that nearly all Festool retailers here are pretty small, selling a couple of premium priced products at a premium rate is not going to cover their overheads.  I have to agree with JVS here.