new workshop haul, best cordless drill/impact??

[Gerald Yang]

some background info, I am opening a wood workshop, long story, it's an accident, It wasn't planned, and I registered the business and opened a business account in one day without knowing anything about business and now I am the owner of a wood workshop LOL.
My friend referred me to a credit card welcome bonus offer, it's a business card, so I registered a business using his link so it's cost nothing to me to register.
after that, though, hmm, why don't just really open a wood workshop since I love woodworking.

anyway, here is my question, I was planning a big Festool haul before all these new business things, just for hobby upgrade, I sold almost everything(still keeping my m12 fuels, I love them). now I am about to go serious and really open a shop, so I need some advice and go with an even bigger haul.

1. cost is not that important but better worth it. I love fine tools and I don't mind it they will pay off, cuz I wasn't planning open a business. as a hobbyist, the cost is not the biggest thing I consider, the pleasure of using tools and doing woodworking is the biggest thing.

2.Just for the record, I watched a lot of videos during the years and have a cxs for 2 years, I love how festool works.

3. Just for the record, here is my planed list:
Domino df500, with the tenon set with cutters,btw, this is so expensive in Canada compared to uk.
TS55reqf(had the Dewalt track saw and just sold it, still keeping the Festool track though),
ETS EC 125 with an extra 150 hard pad and a case of sandpaper
OF 1400 or the new 1010
MIDI vac with a cleaning kit
the new tid-tpc looks nice too
what do you guys think I should add for a beginning woodworkshop? mainly table tops and cutting boards.

4. the tid-tpc , after some research, I don't think this set is that good, the power is not the best, and the tpc looks so heavy and huge. do you guys think I should go with one of that new hilti nuron? for the almost same price also with 2x4ah batteries and charger?

any help will be appreciated. including new business, new workshop tips, tool selection, etc...

 

[Spandex]

4. the tid-tpc , after some research, I don't think this set is that good, the power is not the best, and the tpc looks so heavy and huge. do you guys think I should go with one of that new hilti nuron? for the almost same price also with 2x4ah batteries and charger?

Without recommending any particular brand, I would just say that you should chose a drill based on whether it’s powerful enough for what you need it to do, not how powerful it is compared to other drills.

As long as you’re buying a decent drill from a good brand, I think you can forget about power. They’re all powerful enough for all but the most specialist jobs. Look at other factors like battery compatibility, reliability, comfort, weight, accessories, customer support, etc.

 

[Kpp80202]

I would echo the comment above about any of the major brands having offerings likely sufficient for your needs. What I found important was the ergonomics of the drill and driver, and the range of other tools that used the same batteries. I ended up with the Makita 18 V system for all of my cordless stuff except for my Festool CXS, which is rather unique. I ended up with a Dustbuster-type vacuum, a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, a second drill, a brad nailer, and other tools I’m sure I’m forgetting about at the moment. But the drill and impact driver I use on a daily basis.

 

[tomktest]

I am going through the same struggles with my drill/impact overhaul. What I am probably going to do is this...

- Get the TID/TPC set
- If the TPC is too bulky for regular use get a T18+3 basic but keep the TPC.
- Try a TXS and if I like it enough keep it to replace my DeWalt 12v Xtreme screwdriver

Even if I don't use the TPC much I still need to have a drill with a handle. It's more cost advantageous to get the TID/TPC set the buy the T18 separate instead of the TID/T18.

The most frustrating thing for me is that I'm always tending to gravitate to the smallest and lightest tool to get a job done which is why I love my DeWalt 12v Xtreme screwdriver and 3/8 drill. So what's going to happen is I'll drop all this cash on the nice Festools but hardly use them :/

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I would echo Kpp80202 pretty much exactly. Makita 18v drills and impact drivers are my main ones, with a CSX for its specialty capabilities. I use it for hardware and pocket screws almost exclusively.

 

[mino]

The main pro of a TPC /why I often pick my DRC it over C12 or other drills/ is the 3600rpm top speed.

That is its main value, all the other tasks, a Makita, Devault etc. will be as good a drill.

Festool summary:

A TPC is a "Drill" that can drive screws, can mix paint, etc.
- it is a better "main use" drill than most competition out there
- it is too heavy for use as daily screw driver /but still better at it than comparable competition/
- even being a drill first, it is still pretty gentle (I would feel bad abusing it with heavy masonry or max-torque use)

A C18/T18 are true "Drill-Drivers"
- they are OK-ish drills but their low top speed makes their use sub-optimal in some cases
- they are still heavy as install drivers, but pretty much OK for medium screws and can be pretty gentle
- in my view, not excellent drills, not excellend drivers, but pretty good in both, IF I could not have a CXS/TXS, I would get these for the gentle driving tasks

A CXS is a screw "Driver" that can drill (pretty well, up to a point)
- weight makes this "go-to" for any task it can handle
- they are OK-ish drills but its low top speed makes it limited
- these are probably the best gentle screw drivers our there, bar none

If I had to choose from scratch, I would get the CXS and some heavy (non-Festool) hammer drill in the "heavy torque" territory. Be it from Makita, Dewalt etc. etc.

Then, I would look at a "main/daily driver" drill and would go for weight/gentle in the T18 or for speed in the TPC. The T18 Easy may be an excellent cost/value option there to go along the CXS. Or a Makita etc., on the same platform as the "raw power" hammer drill. /skipping the Festool 18V platform/

 

[huntdupl]

CXS is one of my favorite tools, but an indoor cat.

My primary drill/drivers are Makita 18V.
I've had the TD148DZ impact from ebay going on 7 years - muddy crawlspaces and hot attics. Still works the day I bought it. More power than you'd need and good trigger finesse.

This I believe is the contemporary US version impact.

This is the drill I bought a year or so ago. Works great and having the power to run big hole saws or mixing compound was useful for me - I don't find it unyielding compared to a compact.

I did stray on this one, but its a fantastic tool. The hydraulic/oil-impact was a pleasant change.

 

[waho6o9]

Hilti is a premium brand as well and worthy of strong consideration.

I appreciate their 22V (?) platform in their drills and impacts. 

They offer a 12V or 14V (?) platform too. 

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Hilti is a premium brand as well and worthy of strong consideration.

I appreciate their 22V (?) platform in their drills and impacts. 

They offer a 12V or 14V (?) platform too.

Agreed. I’ve been using the 22-volt Hilti stuff on construction sites for 5 years now and I can’t fault it. Bombproof, and their customer service is absolutely stellar.

 

[Gerald Yang]

The main pro of a TPC /why I often pick my DRC it over C12 or other drills/ is the 3600rpm top speed.

That is its main value, all the other tasks, a Makita, Devault etc. will be as good a drill.

Festool summary:

A TPC is a "Drill" that can drive screws, can mix paint, etc.
- it is a better "main use" drill than most competition out there
- it is too heavy for use as daily screw driver /but still better at it than comparable competition/
- even being a drill first, it is still pretty gentle (I would feel bad abusing it with heavy masonry or max-torque use)

A C18/T18 are true "Drill-Drivers"
- they are OK-ish drills but their low top speed makes their use sub-optimal in some cases
- they are still heavy as install drivers, but pretty much OK for medium screws and can be pretty gentle
- in my view, not excellent drills, not excellend drivers, but pretty good in both, IF I could not have a CXS/TXS, I would get these for the gentle driving tasks

A CXS is a screw "Driver" that can drill (pretty well, up to a point)
- weight makes this "go-to" for any task it can handle
- they are OK-ish drills but its low top speed makes it limited
- these are probably the best gentle screw drivers our there, bar none

If I had to choose from scratch, I would get the CXS and some heavy (non-Festool) hammer drill in the "heavy torque" territory. Be it from Makita, Dewalt etc. etc.

Then, I would look at a "main/daily driver" drill and would go for weight/gentle in the T18 or for speed in the TPC. The T18 Easy may be an excellent cost/value option there to go along the CXS. Or a Makita etc., on the same platform as the "raw power" hammer drill. /skipping the Festool 18V platform/

after check in-person, btw this is my first time check them in-person. I did find out that t18 is not really that much smaller than tpc, they all on the bigger side, the cxs is one of my favorite tools(the other one is m12 surge I love it), the tpc looks like a good filling-the-gap to me. hammer drill is just out of my range lol.

thank you so much for your advice, sorry for the late reply, I did end up getting the TPC combo since the tsc55 is cheaper than the corded ts55 and I can use the two 4.0a batteries

 

[Gerald Yang]

I am going through the same struggles with my drill/impact overhaul. What I am probably going to do is this...

- Get the TID/TPC set
- If the TPC is too bulky for regular use get a T18+3 basic but keep the TPC.
- Try a TXS and if I like it enough keep it to replace my DeWalt 12v Xtreme screwdriver

Even if I don't use the TPC much I still need to have a drill with a handle. It's more cost advantageous to get the TID/TPC set the buy the T18 separate instead of the TID/T18.

The most frustrating thing for me is that I'm always tending to gravitate to the smallest and lightest tool to get a job done which is why I love my DeWalt 12v Xtreme screwdriver and 3/8 drill. So what's going to happen is I'll drop all this cash on the nice Festools but hardly use them :/

I have the cxs already, when i checked them today(my first time), I found that the t18 is not really that much smaller, still bigger than my dewalt which already not small compare to makita or Milwaukee. I ended up getting the tpc-tid cuz i can use the batteries for the cheaper tsc55 instead buying the ts55

thank you so much for your advice

 

[Gerald Yang]

Hilti is a premium brand as well and worthy of strong consideration.

I appreciate their 22V (?) platform in their drills and impacts. 

They offer a 12V or 14V (?) platform too.

I checked the hilti today, they are beautiful and powerful, especially compare to the bulky tpc, but I was thinking I can use the two 4ah batteries for the cheaper tsc55 saw, so I got the tpc combo, and I already have the cxs, I hope I didn't make a mistake.

thanks so much for your advice

 

[Gerald Yang]

I would echo the comment above about any of the major brands having offerings likely sufficient for your needs. What I found important was the ergonomics of the drill and driver, and the range of other tools that used the same batteries. I ended up with the Makita 18 V system for all of my cordless stuff except for my Festool CXS, which is rather unique. I ended up with a Dustbuster-type vacuum, a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, a second drill, a brad nailer, and other tools I’m sure I’m forgetting about at the moment. But the drill and impact driver I use on a daily basis.

thank you, I just thinking that having too many chargers is just annoying to a point I don't wanna any more of them

 

[waho6o9]

"I checked the hilti today, they are beautiful and powerful, especially compare to the bulky tpc, but I was thinking I can use the two 4ah batteries for the cheaper tsc55 saw, so I got the tpc combo, and I already have the cxs, I hope I didn't make a mistake.

thanks so much for your advice"

You're welcome.  Purchasing quality tools is rarely a mistake. 
May you have good fortune going forward and always trust your gut.