Obsoleting Centrotec Bits

[Cheese]

I needed to purchase a 10-pack of the shorty 5.5mm slot (493 310) bit and the Phillips #2 (490 502) bit. Woodcraft did not have them in stock so I asked to have them ordered in. Woodcraft informed me that they were obsolete and no longer available.  [eek]

I then noticed that all of the shorty replacement bits are no longer listed in the 2017 Festool catalog.

I'm curious [member=57769]TylerC[/member] if the bits below have actually all been obsoleted or have they just been given new part numbers?

Phillips:  490501, 490502, 490503
Pozidrive:  490481, 490482, 490483
Torx:  490504, 490505, 490506, 490507, 490508
Slot:  493309, 493310, 493311

 

[TylerC]

Yes, these have all been discontinued globally. You might be able to find a few remaining out there or get ahold of some used ones.

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], we have the slotted bits in stock.

You can browse our Festool driver bits here:http://www.festoolproducts.com/accessories/cordless-drills/driver-bits.html

 

[Frank-Jan]

Those bits aren't centrotec, so you can just aswell get  replacements from wiha, wera, witte, bosch,...

 

[AlexThePalex]

Those standard hex shank bits from Festool are really nothing special. Personally I find the Wera and Bosch equivalents much better quality. Harder and much better rust resistant.

 

[yetihunter]

Those standard hex shank bits from Festool are really nothing special. Personally I find the Wera and Bosch equivalents much better quality. Harder and much better rust resistant.

Bosch branded bits are not the same in the USA as in the Old World.
They vary, heavily, and come from just as varied locations.

About the Festool vs Wera insert bits..... Unless someone official
wants to dispute me on this, I'm looking at ones that say Festool, Protool
and Wera on them, and they all look like the same Wera bits to me.

I agree though, that fine-media tumbled looking finish they have keeps the rust at bay.  My Wiha bits are definitely spotty, in comparison. 

On a side note, I wish someone (aside from Atlas and Snappy Robertson drive)
would make some Centrotec driver bits that don't round over just from looking at them.......

 

[AlexThePalex]

Those standard hex shank bits from Festool are really nothing special. Personally I find the Wera and Bosch equivalents much better quality. Harder and much better rust resistant.

Bosch branded bits are not the same in the USA as in the Old World.
They vary, heavily, and come from just as varied locations.

About the Festool vs Wera insert bits..... Unless someone official
wants to dispute me on this, I'm looking at ones that say Festool, Protool
and Wera on them, and they all look like the same Wera bits to me.

I agree though, that fine-media tumbled looking finish they have keeps the rust at bay.  My Wiha bits are definitely spotty, in comparison. 

On a side note, I wish someone (aside from Atlas and Snappy Robertson drive)
would make some Centrotec driver bits that don't round over just from looking at them.......

I left these two bits by accident on a roof after a job and found them back a week later, after heavy rain. The top one is one of the golden coloured Festool bits, the bottom one is from Bosch. Funny enough it says USA on it. The Festool one is destroyed after one week, and the Bosch bit is spotless.

[attachimg=1]

 

[semenza]

On a side note, I wish someone (aside from Atlas and Snappy Robertson drive)
would make some Centrotec driver bits that don't round over just from looking at them.......

I don't know if it has made a difference but at least some of the 100mm Festool bits have been changed to what is supposed to be a more sturdy construction. New part numbers to go with them. Not sure when it happened and I haven't tried them yet.

Seth

 

[tony_sheehan]

"Obsoleted"- my new word of the day

 

[yetihunter]

On a side note, I wish someone (aside from Atlas and Snappy Robertson drive)
would make some Centrotec driver bits that don't round over just from looking at them.......

I don't know if it has made a difference but at least some of the 100mm Festool bits have been changed to what is supposed to be a more sturdy construction. New part numbers to go with them. Not sure when it happened and I haven't tried them yet.

Seth

I've tried a pair of new PH2 bits.  They were not as bad as the previous ones; but emphasis on "not as bad".  :O

 

[yetihunter]

Those standard hex shank bits from Festool are really nothing special. Personally I find the Wera and Bosch equivalents much better quality. Harder and much better rust resistant.

Bosch branded bits are not the same in the USA as in the Old World.
They vary, heavily, and come from just as varied locations.

About the Festool vs Wera insert bits..... Unless someone official
wants to dispute me on this, I'm looking at ones that say Festool, Protool
and Wera on them, and they all look like the same Wera bits to me.

I agree though, that fine-media tumbled looking finish they have keeps the rust at bay.  My Wiha bits are definitely spotty, in comparison. 

On a side note, I wish someone (aside from Atlas and Snappy Robertson drive)
would make some Centrotec driver bits that don't round over just from looking at them.......

I left these two bits by accident on a roof after a job and found them back a week later, after heavy rain. The top one is one of the golden coloured Festool bits, the bottom one is from Bosch. Funny enough it says USA on it. The Festool one is destroyed after one week, and the Bosch bit is spotless.

[attachimg=1]

Zirconium Nitride on a driver instead of a drill bit is already weird enough. 
But yeah, that's depressing.  Looks like my Facom pliers after I loaned them to my sister. :O
Those USA made Bosch bits have a rougher surface, logic would dictate that they'd rust the quickest.

 

 

[semenza]

On a side note, I wish someone (aside from Atlas and Snappy Robertson drive)
would make some Centrotec driver bits that don't round over just from looking at them.......

I don't know if it has made a difference but at least some of the 100mm Festool bits have been changed to what is supposed to be a more sturdy construction. New part numbers to go with them. Not sure when it happened and I haven't tried them yet.

Seth

I've tried a pair of new PH2 bits.  They were not as bad as the previous ones; but emphasis on "not as bad".  :O

Just to expand a bit ............  I have a new version of the Torx but I haven't needed it yet. I have been using the old Torx 15 for a few years. I am still on my first one of those after at least  a thousand pocket hole screws. It shows a little wear but that has not translated to any slipping yet.  With the rare exception, it  has only been used on pocket screws with a clutch setting. I have not used any of the other head types or bit lengths.

Seth