Plug-It

[derekcohen]

When did Festool begin using Plug-it cables, and was this across the board for all tools once it was introduced?

I am considering an EHL 65E planer, which looks in new condition but appears to have a build date of 2001, and attached mains cable (no plug-it).

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Lincoln]

Not sure when they were introduced, but fairly certain the planer was only available as fixed until recently - last 5 or so years.
My first one was stolen and that was a fixed lead, didn't replace until about 2022 and it's Plug-It.
Down here in Aus, some tools used to have the option of plug-it or fixed.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Some tools they still supply only corded, the HK85 saw I got last year it think it was is corded.

 

[alltracman78]

Yeah, definitely not across the board. Most do though.

Neither my HK85 nor my OF2200 (both new) has plug it.

 

[hdv]

If I remember correctly there's a maximum rating for removable connections. Tools that draw more than than that will never have had a plug-it cord.

 

[Distinctive Interiors]

I have a Rotex 150E and a BS75 belt sander, both 240v and both made in 2002.
Neither of them had a Plugit cable fitted when they were manufactured.
I have since added a short female Plugit tail to the Rotex about 11 years ago with no detrimental effects.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I have a Rotex 150E and a BS75 belt sander, both 240v and both made in 2002.
Neither of them had a Plugit cable fitted when they were manufactured.
I have since added a short female Plugit tail to the Rotex about 11 years ago with no detrimental effects.

The new RO150 comes with a Plugit.

 

[mino]

When did Festool begin using Plug-it cables, and was this across the board for all tools once it was introduced?

I am considering an EHL 65E planer, which looks in new condition but appears to have a build date of 2001, and attached mains cable (no plug-it).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Check the parts in eKat ... it may be possible to rebuild/upgrade it to the newer PlugIt iteration with just a few parts. I did "migrate" my RS 2E into an RS 200 with a native plug it that way ... unfortunately for that one I had to replace the electronics (diferent shape/position) but otherwise it was not too hard.

 

[Frank-Jan]

I looked through a bunch of old paper festool catalogs, not all years were there. In the one named 2010/2011 the EHL65 did not have a plug-it yet, in the 2016 it did. (couldn't find catalogs in between those)

 

[neeleman]

In the past I replaced the fixed cord of the EHL65 E planer with the internal socket housing for a Plug-It connector.
I had to grind away some of the plastic on the location of the cord pull relief.
Although it worked it was not so nice as the later EQ version which comes standard with Plug-It cord.
Or maybe you can just buy both the plastic covers (#205211) of the EHL65 EQ and change them. They only cost €40.

 

[Cheese]

If I remember correctly there's a maximum rating for removable connections. Tools that draw more than that will never have had a plug-it cord.

Festool limits it to approximately a 13 amp draw while Milwaukee limits it to a 15 amp draw.

 

[Cheese]

I looked through a bunch of old paper festool catalogs, not all years were there. In the one named 2010/2011 the EHL65 did not have a plug-it yet, in the 2016 it did. (couldn't find catalogs in between those)

In 2013 it still had a conventional cord.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I think it depends upon when the tool was originally designed and whether they were popular enough to bother with updating. The RAS115 is an example of that. It was designed a long time ago, having a fixed cord. It was updated to a T-Loc Systainer, but not to Plug-it at that time, then discontinued sometime in late '19, early '20?
I don't know why, it's a fantastic tool, but apparently it didn't sell well enough? It was not a casualty of the pandemic slow-down though, it was discontinued well before that.

Another odd thing was the plug that was originally on the earlier extractors. The CT22 that we used to have had the true 20a plug, with the one horizontal prong. This was fine in the shop, but many job sites were not equipped with them. We had to use an adapter.
The newer models don't have that issue.

 

[derekcohen]

I picked up the EHL 65E planer yesterday. It looked like new, with little use. Built in 2001? I doubt it - I imagine that was when it was first produced. It has a fixed cable, which likely places the build before 2017, or there abouts. The cable is not an issue for me - I was really trying to gauge the build date.

I suppose another way might be to look at the style of the Systainer. The one the planer came in has the old style clips.

For those with one of these planers, are there different types of blades and, if so, what are their benefits?

Photos of the plane ..











Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[luvmytoolz]

That looks like 2001 is the build date Derek, the case backs that up by the look. I have the HL850 and it's superb so you'll love this one.

You'll cry though when you hit a nail with the shear cutter though. I bought a spiral insert cutterhead from CSP Tools for my HL850, extremely cheap and insanely good cutter. Might be worth reaching out to them to see if they can do an EHL65 spiral head?

 

[mino]

That looks like 2001 is the build date Derek, the case backs that up by the look. I have the HL850 and it's superb so you'll love this one.
...

Just for the record, the HL 65 and the HL 850 are completely different tools.

By my memory the HL 850 is one of the Holz-Her designs (a high end cabinetry/carpentry tool maker TTS bought in 1990s). It is like 40+ years old by now with no changes to the mechanics of it.

The HL 65 is a "native" Festool design of a small planer. It is younger by a decade or so.

Both are good tools, no question there. But other than the brand and both being planers, there is nothing common between them.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The Systainer style is not a 100% indicator either. The very last of the Vacuum clamp systems where still sold in the old flappy clip boxes.

That 2001 is a build date, not a first introduction date, so it is that old. Shouldn't hurt anything though.

 

[derekcohen]

I ran the planer yesterday on some rough sawn roof rafters. It cut well but ploughed deeper than I would have liked. Today I cleaned the planer, especially the housing for the blade, loaded up a new blade - the old one was really dull - and planed down a wide slab for a friend. It was possible to go from whisper shaving to deep. Not bad at all.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Coen]

Only one type of blades form Festool for the EHL.

I bought my first Festool in 2004; an OF-1010 and it has PlugIt.

The EHL was updated late. Later models sold in T-Loc do have PlugIt, earlier models don't. Mine doesn't and every time I use it, it annoys me.

There is a current limit. HK-85 and OF-2200 will never have PlugIt in the current form.