Pdc 18/4 torque

[joiner1970]

Using my pdc drill today on a job and had to use a 32mm bit to drill through a front door. Set it to 2 thinking it would easily do it but the torque kicked in. Dropped to 1 and it went through no problem but as I put the drill away I noticed it didn't seem to be spinning as fast as it was. I upped the speed to 4 and it still didn't sound right. First thoughts were that I had overloaded it and it had gone into some sort of safety mode. I removed the battery and refitted it and still it sounded slow. Then I noticed the torque switch wasn't on the drill mode. As soon as switched the torque off it spun as per normal.

So that leads me to ask does the torque switch adjust the speed as well as setting the torque. I'm used to the usual drills by other brands where it's mechanical torque with the usual noise. These festool drills bleep .

I run the drill on several torque settings and free running it did look like it affected the speed.

 

[Doug S]

Yes the torque setting does adjust the speed, think the theory is if you have it set at a low torque you are probably putting in smaller screws so the speed is automatically reduced to give you more control.

 

[joiner1970]

Very clever not seen it on any other drill

 

[AlexThePalex]

All Festool drills with an electronic clutch have it.

 

[Stone Message]

The vast majority of us have been used to mechanical torque controls and the PDC 18/4 was my first experience with an electronic clutch. It seemed strange at first but then it started to grow on me and I like it. I am sure that it must be the way to go as it reduces noise, mechanical wear and the torque setting should be more precise.

Peter

 

[Doug S]

I have yet to be convinced by the whole electronic thing. I have a T15 on which the electronics have failed so the electric brake does not work which makes it useless as a screwdriver, happened out of warranty and was quoted £200 for new parts so can only use as a drill now. Also have the previous model TDK 15.6 with a mechanical clutch, over ten years old, had a new set of brushes and new battery but still works like new. I did take a punt on a new PDC in the eBay sale though, couldn't miss out on that  [big grin]

 

[Stone Message]

Doug

So you can get some screwdriver life out of your T15 try this...

With a little practice you can judge the torque by "feeling" the turning force on you wrist. Of course it is trickier at the lower end but for 3.5 mm diameter and upwards screws you can get it pretty good. I do it all the time without thinking. I did not set out to do it deliberately but just found it happened when switching between different materials (like MDF - softwood - oak).

Peter

 

[Davej]

I have always just left my cordless in dril mode , as Mr P says  you get a feel for it .Although this may change as my pdc in 4th gear is ridiculously fast .
Dave

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have yet to be convinced by the whole electronic thing. I have a T15 on which the electronics have failed so the electric brake does not work which makes it useless as a screwdriver, happened out of warranty and was quoted £200 for new parts so can only use as a drill now.

No way! I never set my T15 on screw mode, I am not a fan of the electronic clutch as I never seem to be able to get consistent results with it. I always do my screwing (lots of it) in drill mode. As Peter says, you get the feel for it, and the fact that the T15 is so very controllable at lower speeds helps a lot.

 

[Doug S]

Sorry maybe I did not explain it properly. It is not the clutch that is a problem but the brake does not work properly on the drill. When you take your finger off the trigger it runs on, sometimes longer then others so it either drives the screw too deep, twists your wrist or on occasions snaps the screw. I nearly always use my drills in drill mode and sink screws by feel but when the drill runs on its nigh on impossible. It is something that can happen when the battery is low (there is a thread on here about it somewhere) which is how it started but now it does it most of the time.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If the brake doesn't engage then that's a problem, yeah. In that case it makes no difference if you're in drill or screw mode because precise control is totally gone. It happens sometimes too with my T15 when the battery is really low, very annoying. Happens only rarely though with mine.

 

[Kristian]

Is there any disadvantage of always having the drill set to "drill" mode? Even for large screws?

Is the machine protected by the torque setting meaning if the electronic clutch sets in when you're in 1st. gear with torque set to "12" and your heavy-duty screw is only half way in, should you then select an impact drill for the task or is it safe enough to continue with the DRC set to "drill" mode if that will drive the screw the rest of the way? (mine is the DRC not PDC so the hammer mode is not an option).

Could this eventually put too much strain on the machine and damage the gears?

Thanks.

- Kristian

 

[SittingElf]

From [member=5277]Alex[/member] :

... I always do my screwing (lots of it) in drill mode.

I generally prefer a piston mode! [scared] [big grin] [big grin]  (Though I'm sure SHE would like drill mode.... just saying! [tongue])

I drilled a bunch of holes yesterday with my PDC for some casters, and I was shocked at the speed in drill mode with the trigger fully pulled.  Almost scary.

Frank

 

[AlexThePalex]

Tsk, tsk, naughty Frank!  I have no idea what you're talking about. [smile]

Is there any disadvantage of always having the drill set to "drill" mode? Even for large screws?

Is the machine protected by the torque setting meaning if the electronic clutch sets in when you're in 1st. gear with torque set to "12" and your heavy-duty screw is only half way in, should you then select an impact drill for the task or is it safe enough to continue with the DRC set to "drill" mode if that will drive the screw the rest of the way? (mine is the DRC not PDC so the hammer mode is not an option).

Could this eventually put too much strain on the machine and damage the gears?

Thanks.

- Kristian

Kristian, the drill is always protected, in either mode.

In most cases, the motor will burn out before you damage the gears. Festool's electronic protection should solve that problem, but it's definitely not 100% foolproof. 

 

[GhostFist]

Interesting to see the comments on electronic clutches. I've had my  t 15 for about 5 years now and it's still rocking. The electronic clutch I use all the time. There are a lot of variables governing how a screw will set in a given workpiece but I find you can set the clutch to within tolerance and flush the screw based on feel. Works a treat. Just bought a metabo brushless  and I has a fast overide via push button to bypass the clutch setting which I think will be really handy. I'm a fan of electronic clutches on my drills.

 

[jnug]

I have not really much cared for the whole combo drill thing to be honest about it. I gave up on being totally supportive of the whole cordless drill thing as well as the manufacturers just make buying replacement batteries too darned painful. So my 3/8" drill is now a corded Dewalt with a balance bubble at the back end. I don't think I would ever go back to a cordless for that particular tool. All that power at your fingertips is addictive is very satisfying and knowing you are always going to know exactly now much power is at your disposal at the trigger is worthwhile to me.

My 1/2" drill is also now corded and I think it is even more beneficial to have a corded version in 1/2" than in 3/8" assuming your drilling needs are within reach of a power outlet.

I just broke down and make a cordless purchase again for an impact driver as that is where I thought it would make the most sense to go back to a cordless and give these Li-on tool batteries a try since you can now get them with brushless motors.

I almost forgot, I do still have a cordless screwdriver that has been worthless as the day is long from the first day I bought it till today. Some cordless tools are just so underpowered from the first day of operation that you just don't even want to bother to take them out of their shell cases and that is exactly the case with my cordless screwdriver (paperweight). Really that was the beginning or the seed of discontent that drove me back to getting some corded drill tools. But I had plenty of help after that as soon as the batteries for the cordless drills I had that did function well started failing.