Ordered the CXS Set from Festoolrecon...

[JimB1]

My old 14v Dewalt was starting to have charging issues last year and new batteries are painfully expensive [mad]. My wife got me a PC cordless drill/impact drill set as it was on sale for about $80 around the holidays. It’s actually not a bad set. Definately some cheaper plastic and built to a lower price point but decent for most around the house things and the batteries work in a lot of different PC cordless tools, though I think most feel somewhat cheap so I haven’t bought any of them.

I have had a few instances where I needed to correct my design flaws or forgetfulness  : by changing screws in tight places or drilling holes where I forgot to so I have checked a few drill add ons and such but didn’t like a lot of them so I figured I’d need to find a small drill or maybe Dremel add on to get into tight places.

I liked the CXS when I tried it at Woodcraft a while ago but unfortunately Festool, which was always expensive, has gotten crazy expensive with the annual increases and I couldn’t justify $300 for a cordless drill. I got an email yesterday for a recon set with the right angle adapter for $228 so this is my first Festool tool purchase in a while (I was actually amazed it was available because I don’t stare at my email all day so usually by the time I check the recon emails out, the items are already sold.) I figured the systainer is $80 so I’m actually paying like $150 for the drill and accessories which is actually not bad for what it is. Most of the less expensive drills may come with a canvas bag or maybe a cheap plastic case at best so the systainer is a plus to me.

So this is my first Festool tool purchase in a while. Most reviews I have read say it is a really good drill for around the house and tight fitting areas that most drills can’t handle.

So the green tools continue to grow in my household, even with the really crazy pricing  [smile]
-Jim

 

[guitarchitect]

Awesome! I posted a long-winded post the other day about my love for my CXS... I just finished building a workshop and I used it for everything except hanging the drywall. Even used it for coring the studs to run my electrical (with the right angle chuck in some of the tighter spots). I have a corded drill for when I need an obscene amount of torque, but otherwise the CXS is all I've got and all I need.

Be careful though - I started with the CXS too. Now I have a CT26, TS55, ETS-EC 150. I should NOT have borrowed my friend's D500 because I'm not sure how I will be able to live without it.

 

[Sanderxpander]

For those of you who are unaware, Bosch makes something similar in both their 12V/10.8V and 18V range called FlexiClick.

I'd sure like a CXS but the Bosch costs less than half over here and also has a right angle adapter, excenter adapter, Jacobs chuck and locking hex chuck. It also has a very short form factor, even shorter when you use it without any chuck (there's a hex connector on the body).

I say this never having used a CXS, I'm sure it has more power and is built to a high standard. Just wanted to put it out there for those looking for a compact versatile driver.

 

[Michael Kellough]

For those of you who are unaware, Bosch makes something similar in both their 12V/10.8V and 18V range called FlexiClick.

I'd sure like a CXS but the Bosch costs less than half over here and also has a right angle adapter, excenter adapter, Jacobs chuck and locking hex chuck. It also has a very short form factor, even shorter when you use it without any chuck (there's a hex connector on the body).

I say this never having used a CXS, I'm sure it has more power and is built to a high standard. Just wanted to put it out there for those looking for a compact versatile driver.

It's true, like VW makes something similar to Porsche.

I bought the CXS well before that Bosch kit came out.
I love the CXS but if I had the choice at the time I'm not sure which would have been purchased.

 

[Sanderxpander]

You mean like how VW owns Porsche?  [wink]
Seriously though, I don't mean to diss the CXS, I've never used it. Happy with the Bosch though so just mentioning it for those who feel like such a driver would be useful but not at Festool prices. The Bosch still feels well made for me and switching adapters is quick and smooth.

PS I still put it in a systainer last week  [tongue]

 

[rst]

Over the last 47 years I've used B&D industrial, PC, Makita 9 & 14v, Freud 14v , and Milwaukee 12 & 18v drills.  I bought a CXS just for S&Gs, then bought a PDC because I got a steal for a new listed a used (only the drill chuck had anly marks, batteries and charger unused -$400) as I had just bought the HKC and figured I could use the extra batteries.  Like it so much I bought the C18.  Festool drills just have a much smoother user feel than anything else I've used over the years. 

 

[guitarchitect]

You mean like how VW owns Porsche?  [wink]
Seriously though, I don't mean to diss the CXS, I've never used it. Happy with the Bosch though so just mentioning it for those who feel like such a driver would be useful but not at Festool prices. The Bosch still feels well made for me and switching adapters is quick and smooth.

PS I still put it in a systainer last week  [tongue]

You should try it! I agree with rst... it just feels a lot smoother. It really feels like an extension of your hand when you use the C-grip. I don't have data to support it but it feels like the CXS keeps the torque constant across the entire range of speed, which is why a lot of people liken it to using a screwdriver... a lot of other drills "jump" to start or "clunk" to a stop. Where I am the Festool set is $150 more than the bosch - with a $100 systainer in the mix it's not a huge price difference. If I had never owned one I would have never bought a systainer for it, but now that I have one I have a hard time imagining life without it. If they were half the price I'd probably buy them for all of my tools!

I'm probably the same as Michael though, if the Flexiclick was on offer when I got mine I might have swayed the other way, depending on how it felt. But I had a GC for a store that carries festool and after spending hours with all of the drills it was pretty clear what the choice was. Overall it was the feel + ergonomics won out, which is probably more relevant for a drill than any other tool.

 

[Sanderxpander]

I'll definitely check it out next time I'm at the local dealership.

On a sidenote, I'm shocked systainers are 100 bucks over here. The regular ones are between 30 and 40 euros here. The sortainers and sys-combis are more but even those you can generally get for well under a hundred. I suppose the Euro/Dollar conversion plays into it too but it can't make up that much of a difference.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I also added a CSX a number of months ago from the Recon site and it's become my favorite drill/driver for general use...lightweight, but it has "oomph" for something so small. It joined my older 12v Festool T style drill/driver.

BTW, I also own the Dewalt 14.4v XRP drill/driver and found new batteries on "closeout" at Home Depot a week ago at $64 each. Two came home with me and it's back in service for when I need a little more power, such as the retaining wall I'm currently building.