PDC Noise

[Birdhunter]

I've read several posts that say the PDC has an extremely loud noise while in the hammer mode? Is the noise present all the time the drill is in hammer mode or only at max torque?

 

[Davej]

All the time, just gets louder the higher the speed , and I mean hurts your ears LOUD.
Dave

 

[jimbouk]

Yeah its brutal noise.

 

[caveman carpenter]

Like normal hammer drill in speed 3 and under but loud like nothing else in speed 4 but gets the job done best drill i have ever used by a long way

 

[Davej]

Like normal hammer drill in speed 3 and under but loud like nothing else in speed 4 but gets the job done best drill i have ever used by a long way

I agree but I bought a bhc for drilling in brick etc , superb little sds drill , easy to use 1 handed
Dave

 

[Bigchasbroon]

I dunno what you guys are talking about. In hammer mode ye it's loud but in normal drilling or screw driving I've not noticed anything abnormal.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have a TI15 and it's not loud. I guess the PDC has a different system that is noisy.

 

[AlexThePalex]

PDC is horribly loud in percussion mode. Louder then my 220v corded percussion drill.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

I have a TI15 and it's not loud. I guess the PDC has a different system that is noisy.

Just to make sure you understand, the Ti15 is an impact driver, but the PDC is a hammer drill. They are not the same and do not serve the same purpose. An impact driver is for turning screws, but a hammer drill is for drilling holes in masonry.

 

[Birdhunter]

Rick,

Thanks for the clarification. That helps a lot.

Birdhunter

 

[Scott B.]

It is best to vaporize concrete with laser diode technology. While pricey, it lowers the db considerably.

 

[SurfNorway]

My understanding is that it's not a true hammer drill (a la SDS system), nor an impact drill (adding axial torque). There's basically a ribbed plate in the drive mechanism that creates forward backward movement, but nowhere near as much or as heavy as an SDS hammer drill. It seems to create more vibration (and noise) than a hammer movement. 70000+ pulses per minute is pretty quick!

I'm inclined to dismiss it as noisy but ultimately useless for drilling concrete, but am more than willing to learn that I'm wrong. Festool has gotten a lot of other stuff right, maybe they figured something out here that no one else realized...

Since I'm also considering picking up a PD 20/4 or DR 18/4, I'd like to know if the added function is really of any use.

 

[jonny round boy]

I find that with the centrotec masonry bits (which are excellent, btw) the PDC will drill most walls on speed 3 or 4 without having to put the hammer action on. It's a bit slower to make progress, but it will do it.

For harder stone/brick, or to just make it drill faster, the hammer mode is very noisy but gets the job done.

I also find that with, shall we say, not-quite-as-good masonry bits (in the standard chuck) the hammer mode is needed most of the time, as the bit doesn't work as hard. It's just a real shame that Festool don't offer longer centrotec masonry bits... [sad]

 

[Doug S]

If I have a few 6 or 7mm holes to drill into brick I use the PDC and it does it really well but if there are quite a few to drill the SDS comes out. At full speed the PDC does leave a ringing in your ears.

Doug

 

[AlexThePalex]

My understanding is that it's not a true hammer drill

It is a true hammer drill, because what it does is hammering. It is just that there are different mechanisms to achieve the hammering. This type of hammer drill is older than the more evolved and more powerful pneumatic hamer drill which uses a piston instead of two ribbed plates.

 

[Stephen B]

I find that with the centrotec masonry bits (which are excellent, btw) ..........

..............  a real shame that Festool don't offer longer centrotec masonry bits... [sad]

It's a shame that Festool don't offer any long Centrotec bits - wood, metal or masonry.  [sad]

[size=8pt] [member=1725]jonny round boy[/member]

It is best to vaporize concrete with laser diode technology. While pricey, it lowers the db considerably.

[big grin] [big grin]

[member=13337]Scott Burt[/member]

- - - - - - -
I have three non Festool drills with masonry settings - Metabo and Makita. Are we saying here that the PDC mechanism is that much more noisy than that of other quality brands? Noise is also a variance of the work environment -  size of room, inside or outside and material - stone, brick (old or modern fired), age/type of concrete, moisture etc.,.

I am sure it says somewhere in the manual to wear hearing protection.  [smile]

 

[sae]

Are we saying here that the PDC mechanism is that much more noisy than that of other quality brands?

If I had to guess, it's because you're buzzing at 4000 rpm instead of the standard 2000 rpm that most drills go to.

Think about it as 4 bees instead of 2, buzzing at you.

And yeah, I would never use the hammer function on a PDC or similar hammer drill if I didn't have to, pneumatic hammers gets the job done in 1/8th the time, with less noise and vibration. Hammer drills work in a pinch, but are never the right tool for the job.

 

[Throwback7r]

I found that the PDC in hammer mode in gear 4 does not work in old hard concrete, I sent mine back and this is the only Festool item that I have ever sent back. No one knows what is wrong at Festool either.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

My pdc works great in hammer mode in #4 speed.  The only thing that ive notice that could be an issue is that the drill gets very hot after drilling 7qnty 1/4 hole about 3 in deep in concrete. 

 

[semenza]

My understanding is that it's not a true hammer drill

It is a true hammer drill, because what it does is hammering. It is just that there are different mechanisms to achieve the hammering. This type of hammer drill is older than the more evolved and more powerful pneumatic hamer drill which uses a piston instead of two ribbed plates.

    When ever these conversations come it is good to keep in mind terminology differences around the world. In the USA hammer drill (though sometimes used collectively for both types)  generally refers to those that have a regular Jacobs style chuck and operate like the PDC. While the SDS type is called a rotary hammer or SDS drill.  A quick look at manufacturer nomenclature will show this.

Seth