Now that the 4.0Ah and 5.0Ah batteries are the same price, which are you buying?

[COBill]

Now that Festool has priced them both the same ($86), which are you getting if you need batteries?

Note the 2x4.0 and 2x5.0 Energy Sets are also priced the same ($269.)

I don't care about the weight difference, so normally I'd just go with the 5.0Ah batteries - it seems like a no-brainer as they're the same price - except for practicality reasons: For any of tools that came in Systainers with 4.0Ah batteries, 5.0Ah batteries won't fit in the spaces in the foam tray.

Examples are the TPC 18/4 and TID 18 combo kit, the kits with each tool individually and the CXS 18 kit.

The foam trays for the Energy Set Systainers are sized to accommodate any of the 4.0, 5.0 or 8.0 Ah batteries.

 

[Cheese]

Be careful, the CTC SYS only accepts the 4.0 batteries.

 

[demographic]

In the time since I bought my first HKC I've always bought at least 5 amp hour batteries.

Currently I just couldn't care less about them fitting into a special box and before long I expect to buy an 8 am hour battery or two.

 

[grmaxx]

Be careful, the CTC SYS only accepts the 4.0 batteries.

Actually, that’s not true.

 

[Vondawg]

Please…expand

 

[mino]

Actually, that’s not true.

It is for our US friends. They do not have the 3.1 or the newer 3.0 packs.

 

[COBill]

It is for our US friends. They do not have the 3.1 or the newer 3.0 packs.

Nor the new tabless TBX batteries, for that matter.

 

[Cheese]

It is for our US friends. They do not have the 3.1 or the newer 3.0 packs.

I'm really bummed that the 3.0 batteries are not offered here. I purchased an OSC 18 that came with a 3.1 and it's the treat. So much run time on the light weight battery...amazing. Unfortunately, by the time I realized how nice that battery was...they were removed from Festool US inventories. It's the only 3.1/3.0 battery I have.

 

[COBill]

I don't get why people love the smaller batteries.

I'd run everything with an 8.0 attached if I could afford them; for now I am waiting for the TBX 8.0s to buy any 8.0s since Festool promised they would be the same price as the outgoing 8.0s.

My OSC18 came with 4.0s.

 

[Cheese]

Try running an OSC 18 with a 8.0 hanging off of the rear end...that won't be pleasant. Doable but not enjoyable.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I don't get why people love the smaller batteries.

I'd run everything with an 8.0 attached if I could afford them; for now I am waiting for the TBX 8.0s to buy any 8.0s since Festool promised they would be the same price as the outgoing 8.0s.

My OSC18 came with 4.0s.

I'm with you for the most part, I can't wait for the new tabless 8's to come out!

I will admit for fiddly jobs with the CSX the 4Ah is handy, but I do prefer the 8's for almost everything else.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Try running an OSC 18 with a 8.0 hanging off of the rear end...that won't be pleasant. Doable but not enjoyable.

I chopped down most of an old nectarine tree using 8's as the smaller ones ran flat so fast. It is heavy but the weight helps cut through I found.

I did also buy some TCT extended blades off Temu that made a massive difference in the speed and effort of cut though.

 

[Cheese]

I chopped down most of an old nectarine tree using 8's as the smaller ones ran flat so fast. It is heavy but the weight helps cut through I found.

I did also buy some TCT extended blades off Temu that made a massive difference in the speed and effort of cut though.

As always, the task is the ultimate litigant. Running an OSC overhead with a 8.0 for 30 minutes would not be fun. And the older we get the more pronounced the differences in continuous run-time manifests itself.

 

[luvmytoolz]

As always, the task is the ultimate litigant. Running an OSC overhead with a 8.0 for 30 minutes would not be fun. And the older we get the more pronounced the differences in continuous run-time manifest themselves.

Oh yeah, overhead's definitely no fun!

 

[Cheese]

I chopped down most of an old nectarine tree using 8's as the smaller ones ran flat so fast. It is heavy but the weight helps cut through I found.

Nectarine tree....very cool...did you save the off-cuts for smoking foods on the grill? If so, how would you characterize the flavor of the smoked food? I would assume the nectarine may add a sweet note which would pair well with fish and sea food.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Nectarine tree....very cool...did you save the off-cuts for smoking foods on the grill? If so, how would you characterize the flavor of the smoked food? I would assume the nectarine may add a sweet note which would pair well with fish and sea food.

Funnily enough I don't have a smoker just yet, but I've left most of the main trunk intact for this very purpose. From what I've seen though it may not be worth it compared to other timbers for smoking.

I did dry and machine some of it years ago, but it's pretty crappy looking timber unfortunately, so not worth saving for making things. Real shame as it's about 1.5 foot diameter at the lower section.

 

[COBill]

As always, the task is the ultimate litigant. Running an OSC overhead with a 8.0 for 30 minutes would not be fun. And the older we get the more pronounced the differences in continuous run-time manifests itself.

Well, I wonder whether the annoyance of using one overhead would be more or less than the annoyance of batteries going dead twice as often, meaning a rapid decline in power.

Fun things to ponder.

 

[Hawkeye0001]

I'm all for small batteries on hand tools like drills etc but I'd rather buy the older 3Ah batteries than those modern high power 4Ah ones. I've had a 100% failure rate on them after about 3 1/2 years each - right out of warranty. My 3Ah, 5Ah and the ones for my CXS are between 5 and 10 years old and work like a charm. Guess what they all have in common? They were not yet produced in China...

 

[mino]

I'm all for small batteries on hand tools like drills etc but I'd rather buy the older 3Ah batteries than those modern high power 4Ah ones. I've had a 100% failure rate on them after about 3 1/2 years each - right out of warranty. My 3Ah, 5Ah and the ones for my CXS are between 5 and 10 years old and work like a charm. Guess what they all have in common? They were not yet produced in China...

Place of pack production has little to do with it.

The 21700 cells production is not as mature as for the 18650 cells and they are being pushed further with unfortunate outcomes. Basically, the 2600 and 2500 mAh cells in the 5.2 and 5.0 packs are today way 'overbuilt' as compared to the 4.0 cells and it shows.

Hard to tell if the new tabless cells will se a repeat or an improvement on the initial batches of the 4.0 HP packs.
Some of the reasons tabless is more interesting for 21700 has to do with the increasing currents that push traditional tabbed cells to their limits .. decreasing reliability at higher power levels. This may see the TBX packs more reliable due to this inherent advantage or it may get temporarily worse if the cell manufacturers screw up. This seems to be also Festool thinking in replacing the tabbed 21700 packs. Lets hope it works out.

 

[COBill]

I don't have any tools that would work with those.

I've had zero failed 4.0 Ah batteries and have eight.