Recommendations for a first Festool driver/drill

[LeeGinAZ]

I am relatively new to the Festool world.  I am looking at getting a new driver drill and would like some input from someone who has hands on experience with he various models.

I currently have a Milwaukee M12 Fuel impact driver and drill that I use for smaller things, and an older Dewalt 18 set that I use for heavier fasteners.  I build mostly smaller cabinets, jewelry boxes, and the like, but I also do a fair amount of handyman type work.  How do the various models compare with what I have now?

I appreciate any feedback.
Lee

 

[Kev]

For small delicate work I'm doubting you hit the jobs with a impact ??

For small stuff, the CXS is extremely sweet ... doubt you'll hear a bad word on it.

The big end of town is interesting as the leading option from the Festool range for you will be the PDC18-4 (it's a beast and it still offers control refinement), but not yet available - just the T18 (that is also excellent btw).

[welcome] to the fog [smile]

 

[Mickfb]

+1 for CXS lovely little drill, I also have a T18

 

[RC]

+1 for CXS (get the set version for corner chuck & second battery) and my PDC 18-4 is a workhorse combo.

CXS for cabinet size stuff (it can drive the occasional 5x75 deck screw or run a 15mm Forstner drill if needed) and the PDC can do all the rest without breaking sweat.

 

[SittingElf]

ABSOLUTELY the CXS Set.  Hands down no-brainer for a first tool! (Reasonably priced too!)

WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!
The CXS is a gateway drug. It will lead you to the harder stuff!! Once hooked, your bank account WILL suffer!! [eek]


Cheers,

Frank

 

[Kev]

ABSOLUTELY the CXS Set.  Hands down no-brainer for a first tool! (Reasonably priced too!)

WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!    WARNING!!!
The CXS is a gateway drug. It will lead you to the harder stuff!! Once hooked, your bank account WILL suffer!! [eek]


Cheers,

Frank

You're not wrong ... they may as well put a check box on the tool registration form ...

"Would you like to convert your savings account to a line of credit account?    "

 

[carlb40]

Another vote here for the cxs. Had mine about a month or so now and it is now my go to drill over my makita impact.
Don't worry about lack of power, it has lots of it. I have used mine with the angle head to drive 6 inch screws without a pilot hole and it never complained once.

 

[Throwback7r]

CXS just don't wreck your life with buying it.. your better with out it.. " no serious, its great I love that thing and it is under 2 lbs so easy to hold even for Right and Left hand users

 

[shed9]

The CXS is definitely a worthwhile purchase, however not everyone is a total convert on the larger drills. Like any anything in the Festool stable, most of the product makes economical and logical sense when used with other aspects of the 'system', drills being no different with Centrotec.

They are a little pricey comparative to the competition and often a harder initial pill to swallow for some although I rarely hear of people regretting buying them (read that as never). Also, don't lose the perceived value in your current drills, if they still have life left in them keep them working even if they may the wrong side of black and green.

 

[Benjamin]

I know its almost double the price but I actually prefer the C12, the eccentric head on it is easily worth the extra money ( which the CXS doesn't have ) and theres a little more power to do more tasks plus the weight difference is negligible . just my thought.

 

[dltflt]

+1 on the C12

 

[Stoli]

Does the eccentric head not work on the CXS?  I thought it had the "FastFix", and the eccentric head (490294) claims to also be "FastFix".  I know it is not included in the CXS set, but thought they were compatible.

 

[fshanno]

My dealer is going out of business and I bought his demo CXS for $145.  Very lightly used.  Pretty good deal.

In the month that I've had it I've found that I drill holes that are closer to perpendicular than ever before.  The hand position works for me.  The C15 would provide the same benefit.

 

[Wenyce]

Does the eccentric head not work on the CXS?  I thought it had the "FastFix", and the eccentric head (490294) claims to also be "FastFix".  I know it is not included in the CXS set, but thought they were compatible.

I'd also like to know this...

 

[amt]

It does not.  Some will have you believe there is no need for it, as the csx is smaller, but I am not convinced yet.  I should know soon when I compare my T15 with eccentric head to my cxs which arrives shortly.

 

[Stoli]

It does not. 

So what does "FastFix" mean? 

On the C12 page it says "Thanks to Festool's innovative FastFix chuck system, the C-Series cordless drill is incredibly versatile and does the work of five drills in one. (1) The eccentric chuck is perfect for corners and against adjoining edges."

On the CXS page it says "FastFix enables the use of the Centrotec chuck, a keyless chuck and optional right angle attachment for gaining access to tight spaces"

I see that the eccentric chuck page does not list the CSX as being compatible, so Festool is laying it out there.  But to me it seems that if FastFix means different things for different drills, then it really means nothing at all.

(edited to add
I just checkout out the main page on FastFix. 

we offer five different chucks for our C-series and T-series cordless drills, three for our CXS-series cordless drills.

 

So it does mean different things for different drills.

 

[Stone Message]

I understand that Fastfix is a generic term, used by Festool, to indicate that a component (chuck, circular saw blade, jigsaw blade and so on) can be changed rapidly and without tools. There is no interoperability implied within "Fastfix" other than between Fastfix components amongst a group of the same tools (ie my Kapex 120 and your Kapex 120 can swap blades).

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

I believe Peter is correct about the term "Fastfix"being generic.  In the case of the CXS it has a different attachment for it's accessory right angle chuck than the full size drills do for their accessory chucks.  To be clear the eccentric, right angle and depth stop chucks for the C12, C15, T12, T15 and T18 will not fit the CXS (nor will the CXS right angle chuck fit the larger drills).  The Centrotec chuck and keyless chucks can be used between the CXS and larger drills.

It does not.  Some will have you believe there is no need for it, as the csx is smaller, but I am not convinced yet.  I should know soon when I compare my T15 with eccentric head to my cxs which arrives shortly.

I know others have measured the offset between the CXS and the eccentric head with the numbers being close.  Here's a quote from Shane in another thread on the topic.

With the Centrotec Eccentric chuck, you can get within about 1/4" of adjacent surfaces. With the CXS, even not having an eccentric chuck, it's only about 1/8" more. That's because the head and motor on the CXS are smaller than on the other drills.

       

 

[RC]

Similarly the PDC uses a different 'Fastfix' system to its angle chuck and the Ti15 impact can only digest the older attachmenta via the included impact disabling adapter.

So no, the Fastfix designation doesn't mean universal interoperability for add-on chucks.

I think it mainly refers to the existance of the Centrotec quick release knob/socket found on all of these drills that accepts the basic centrotec chuck.

 

[LeeGinAZ]

Thanks much for all the info.  I have a birthday coming up and the family wanted to know what to get me so now I can tell them.