Review of the Festool T15+3 cordless drill.

[roar]

I have used the T15+3 for building a fence and a garage as well instead of using a framing nailer. Since I am not a pro, it is sometimes ok to be able to re-do some of the work....Not that it happens so often, but it gives me the feel of more control.
Anyway, the T15+3 was more than strong enough to 90% of the screwdriving, but some of the bigger fastening screws i had to use was just too big. So I called my local Festool dealer and asked what he could offer me. And we soon agreed that either a Hilti SF22A (I think this in the US is called SF18A+?) or a Protool DRC18-4 Li would do the job. I decided to give the >Protool a chance, and I must say that this light 18V drill is very impressive. It weights only 1,8kg with battery and is also compatible with all of the accessories of Festool. So no need for me to replace this one with the more powerful (and much heavier Hilti). I have since my garage project (it is only 50 squaremeters) also used it to drill some 103mm (approx just above 4" holes?) holes with a hole saw through 2x6" wood. So yes I can say that a Festool T15+3 and a Protool DRC18-4 drill is a good combination for a builder I guess. I have no problems give it my best recommendations 

 

[RONWEN]

I have used the T15+3 for building a fence and a garage as well instead of using a framing nailer. Since I am not a pro, it is sometimes ok to be able to re-do some of the work....Not that it happens so often, but it gives me the feel of more control.
Anyway, the T15+3 was more than strong enough to 90% of the screwdriving, but some of the bigger fastening screws i had to use was just too big. So I called my local Festool dealer and asked what he could offer me. And we soon agreed that either a Hilti SF22A (I think this in the US is called SF18A+?) or a Protool DRC18-4 Li would do the job. I decided to give the >Protool a chance, and I must say that this light 18V drill is very impressive. It weights only 1,8kg with battery and is also compatible with all of the accessories of Festool. So no need for me to replace this one with the more powerful (and much heavier Hilti). I have since my garage project (it is only 50 squaremeters) also used it to drill some 103mm (approx just above 4" holes?) holes with a hole saw through 2x6" wood. So yes I can say that a Festool T15+3 and a Protool DRC18-4 drill is a good combination for a builder I guess. I have no problems give it my best recommendations 

Wow, that drill has a four speed gear box & will crank up to 3,800 RPM.  I don't find a spec for the T15 but I'm pretty sure it's much lower than that.

 

[Inner10]

I have used the T15+3 for building a fence and a garage as well instead of using a framing nailer.

That a slow expensive way to build. [eek]

If you need to drive big screws get an impact driver, you will never drive a screw with a drill again.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have used the T15+3 for building a fence and a garage as well instead of using a framing nailer.

That a slow expensive way to build. [eek]

If you need to drive big screws get an impact driver, you will never drive a screw with a drill again.

THey are soooo loud.  I run in 6"+ GRK RSS screws all the time with my little C12.

 

[Inner10]

At first the sound drove me nuts, same with my rotohammer, and cutting ABS with a chopsaw, and cutting strut on a cutoff.....now everything sounds like a dull roar. [big grin]

 

[jvsteenb]

I've used an impact - great for bolts, but I certainly don't like it for driving screws, not even the big ones.

I've had no problems driving 6 x 160mm screws with the T15+3.  In my book, these are big screws - YMMV.

Regards,

Job

 

[roar]

I so totally agree with you, they are big, but I just guess that I have been Festoolized and is now on the edge of being defined as a Festoholic...Hence I needed some odd reason to get a bigger Festool (Protool)  [big grin] I know, I am sick....very sick...

 

[spikfot]

I own the T15+3 and the 2008 syst. box of goodies and have been very pleased. also currently own Milwaukee 28v Li-ion, 12vNiCad and Makita 18vNicad. sets.
Like many, I began with a Makita 9.6v in the mid 80's then 12, then 14.4... etc,etc,

It blows me away to read how people stress out their batt. machines when they should be using corded drills for the tough jobs, ie. large dia. holesaws, augers, etc.  talk about trial by fire...  I've owned about every -large- size of Milwaukee and Makita drills made, 2-man Hole shooters, Rt. angle Hole Hawgs, magnums, 3x and 2x reduction gears. both in 110v. and 220v.

Pick the right tool for the right job and you and your distributor will be happy for decades to come. As in don't smoke a cordless trying to max it out to see what it CAN do. My collection of self feeds (up to 3,3/4") and ship augers will never sit in a small 1/2" drill, thats why they exceed 20 years old. I have pushed my 28v Milwaukee 1/2" on a number of occasions- the drill itself is a tank, lots of power, feels like it's made of lead, and the batteries are crap, but thats another story.
Getting off topic here, but not too far off. The T15+3 is in my exp. the best, most flexible cordless system available. Worth the price (including discount) in my country.
Happy tunneling,
Bill

 

[AlexThePalex]

I just had an excellent opportunity to test my new T15, disassembling a marijuana plantation some crooks set up in my father's former body shop. It's now owned by my uncle and he rented it out to some types who said they had a import company in clothes. Turned out that was only a cover and the real deal was growing marijuana. Well the neighbours started to smell something so the cops where called and the bad guys fled as fast as they could. 

Anyway, back to the T15. Besides the fact that I had to shovel a good 10 cubical meters of earth out of there, I also had to take apart all the contraptions they built to aid them and all the walls they made so seal it all from the public eye. They made everything out of plywood and OSB plates. All screwed together. I think I unscrewed close to a 1000 screws, most of them 4x45mm but also over 100 of 6x150mm. All on just 1,5 battery charges. I am amazed how much mileage these batteries give you. I could have never dreamed of doing so many screws, big screws, with the DeWalt I had before the T15. I was also very pleased with the speed it has. A screw comes out so fast. Much faster than on my older drill. I think I did it all in half the time I would have needed with my previous drill.
 
And then the big screws, the 6x150mm ones. There were also some remains of installations made by a furniture factory that rented the building before all this, and they used all these big screws to connect 100x100mm hardwood beams. Since we're getting rid of everything in this big clean up, I had to take this apart too. Started with a fresh battery, and I was amazed that the T15 just kept going and going and going. I really had to put in some force with these screw to get them loose, could feel that very well in my hands. Sometimes I just thought the T15 might break in two or something, but he didn't. At one moment I noticed it started beeping at me and refused to do the job anymore. Turns out I accidentally pushed it back in 2nd gear. Set it in 1st gear again and off it went again without problems. At the end I had 121 6x150mm screws in my hand. All on one battery. Amazing.

Only thing I didn't like so much is the left/right button. It's just too easy to accidentally touch and shift it. Happened all the time. This should require a bit more force. And what I really don't like, is the Festool bits. The grip is terrible. I bought me a box full of bits from Protool with the BH65 bit holder included, which are exactly the same as Festool. Having worked with Wera diamond coated bits for over 10 years, these Protool/Festool bits were a real disappointment. They kept on slipping very easily, ripping the head of the screw to shreds in the process. Back to Wera again.

 

[RONWEN]

I took a quick look the other day but I didn't find it listed right away -- what is the maximum RPM of the T15 drill?  Somebody must know.  [smile]

Thanks,

 

[AlexThePalex]

I took a quick look the other day but I didn't find it listed right away -- what is the maximum RPM of the T15 drill?  Somebody must know.  [smile]

RPM without load 1st/2nd gear 0-450/0-1500