Starting to make the switch to Festool

[ssticks2stones]

Good day,
I'm just starting to switch over to Festool products.
We got the track saw a couple of years ago and love it so as things wear down we are replacing the with festool product Getting ready to order a Kapex next week with a Fastcap stand.

Trying to decide on a impact....I'm a bit confused on the whole "driver" thing. Is that Festools way of saying impact? We do mostly custom cabinetry and as looking for new impact for screwing face frames together.
What would you recommend?

 

[Birdhunter]

I have a TI15 and find it is great for driving screws and lag bolts. Festool has discontinued the TI15, but you might be able to find one still out there in the dealer network.

The newest big drills from Festool are far more than what I need for my work so I am not up to speed on them. I am sure you will get lots of other input.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

    Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

    With the exception of getting a used Ti15 Impact Driver or maybe a finding a dealer that still has one, there is no impact driver in the current Festool line.  Several different drills , the PDC Hammer Drill, and the BHC Rotary Hammer.

Seth

 

[CumminsDiesel]

sticks2stones,

welcome to FOG!

Buy a Festool PDC 18/4,believe me this machine is so powerful,easily replace impact if needed,and much quieter.

 

[cue003]

The more power of the pdc... Couldn't that be seen as a bad thing vs an impact?  Especially when it comes to the torque being transfer to sometime feel like it is going to rip the drill out of your hand and wrist vs the somewhat effortless nature (yes noisy) of an impact.

 

[cue003]

The more power of the pdc... Couldn't that be seen as a bad thing vs an impact?  Especially when it comes to the torque being transfer to sometime feel like it is going to rip the drill out of your hand and wrist vs the somewhat effortless nature (yes noisy) of an impact.

I would love to see festool come out with a c18 type impact.  I will be first in line. 

 

[semenza]

    There are different terminologies in common use in different countries (and probably even in different regions) for these types of drills.

    EX - In general I never see (in print) or hear "percussion drill"  in the USA. Unless the source is from outside the USA. And if someone says "impact drill" I usually need to ask exactly which type they are talking about.

          Here, in my experience,  "hammer drill" is the non-SDS type, and "rotary hammer" is the SDS type. A quick perusal of manufacturers advertising and nomenclature will show this also.

          Some people use "hammer drill" to describe both SDS and non-SDS types collectively.

          And "impact driver" or just "impact" is the type specifically for driving fasteners. Or "impact wrench" being used in the automotive trade.

  So this type of terminology differentiation is something to keep in mind when discussing these tools.

Seth

 

[ssticks2stones]

Thanks for all the comments.
I'm afraid the the PCD 18 would be to much for screwing face frames together, though I do love the idea of all that power lol...

Any thoughts on a the C15 set and how that would work.

I can see I'm going to have to also get use to the cost $$$ for festool products.
The track saw has been well work it, hoping these others will be as well.

Do most of you use the vacs with your kapex.

 

[bkharman]

Thanks for all the comments.
I'm afraid the the PCD 18 would be to much for screwing face frames together, though I do love the idea of all that power lol...

Any thoughts on a the C15 set and how that would work.

I can see I'm going to have to also get use to the cost $$$ for festool products.
The track saw has been well work it, hoping these others will be as well.

Do most of you use the vacs with your kapex.

You would think that the PDC is "too much" until you try it. Head to a dealer and see how it works. I love mine.

I was using it to screw face frames together the other day. Worked very well. It also worked great for putting all that power behind the cabinet screws. I had a door that needed the cups drilled and it worked very well with my Blum eco drill. It then dialed it down to the delicate job of putting the screws in the cups and the screws to hold the hinges on the frames. It really can do it all.

Head to a dealer to try one out. I think you will fall in love with it. I haven't looked back after dumping my impact Milwaukee.

My ears have thanked me for it. 

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[Tayler_mann]

I think our local store still had quite a few of the T 15's. They don't push Festool that much as they should so they have a lot of stuff sit. Also we live in North Dakota and are the epitome of raised on the farm unfortunately. The store is called Acme Electric in Bismarck, ND.

 

[Holmz]

I saw that coyote and road runner cartoon, and the shipment from Acme...

However I thought the coyote was using a panasonic impact?

 

[Doug S]

In answer to your question yes I always use extractor with my Kapex, lots of dust around if you don't. Everyone will tell you to get a 1.5m long, 36mm diameter hose between extractor and kapex and make sure you use the correct cutting technique to keep the dust down.

Doug

 

[#Tee]

imo joining face frames together with an impact driver is pretty overkill. I find predrilling and presetting the torque setting on the cxs is plenty. I think a T12/cxs combo would be great for predrill and torque setup.

 

[Cheese]

I think our local store still had quite a few of the T 15's. They don't push Festool that much as they should so they have a lot of stuff sit. Also we live in North Dakota and are the epitome of raised on the farm unfortunately. The store is called Acme Electric in Bismarck, ND.

That's interesting, I believe they're the same company as Acme Tool in Minnesota, (formerly Tool Crib of the North). They have an extensive sales network and I would think that they would & could push their slow selling products into those areas where they can optimize their sales leverage. Their showroom in Plymouth Minnesota is huge and and is always busy.

 

[Tayler_mann]

I think our local store still had quite a few of the T 15's. They don't push Festool that much as they should so they have a lot of stuff sit. Also we live in North Dakota and are the epitome of raised on the farm unfortunately. The store is called Acme Electric in Bismarck, ND.

That's interesting, I believe they're the same company as Acme Tool in Minnesota, (formerly Tool Crib of the North). They have an extensive sales network and I would think that they would & could push their slow selling products into those areas where they can optimize their sales leverage. Their showroom in Plymouth Minnesota is huge and and is always busy.

That is exactly the store I am speaking of. I didn't realize you are so close to me [member=44099]Cheese[/member] ! I come that way quite a lot to go skydiving on weekends. The acme in our town had some of the worst employees and if you don't spend money there no one will help you except one guy named jerry. It's upsetting and they defi Italy know nothing about Festool. They don't even carry all the grits of granat paper. It is infuriating and have decided to buy my festool elsewhere. They sit on the same tools for years. They don't even have any of the new drills in stock that is how bad they are.

 

[johnleve]

I suggest checking out the CXS.  It is by far my favorite drill, fits nicely in the hand, doesn't weigh much, and has plenty of power.  The speed and clutch controls are great and it is of small stature which might be helpful in some circumstances.  I use mine all of the time for all sorts of things from the finesse work of putting on hinges to driving a 3.5" deck screw.  Okay, I only use it for deck screws if there are only a couple to do but the little guy can handle it which impresses me.  The only downside is that it is not a brushless motor.

If you want something with a ton of power that is well made, check this out, currently $170 from Shane: Fein ASCM
Not green but it really seems to be a super deal, so super that I may have ordered one and then decided to get a second...

 

[Darren1972]

Good day,
I'm just starting to switch over to Festool products.
We got the track saw a couple of years ago and love it so as things wear down we are replacing the with festool product Getting ready to order a Kapex next week with a Fastcap stand.

Trying to decide on a impact....I'm a bit confused on the whole "driver" thing. Is that Festools way of saying impact? We do mostly custom cabinetry and as looking for new impact for screwing face frames together.
What would you recommend?

festool dont make an impact driver the old ti 15 is discontinued

 

[Darren1972]

Buy the c18 set or t 18 set whatever you find more comfortable i prefer the c handle its has a lot of torx and decent speed for drilling the t 15 is getting fazed out for this model i have one and its fantastic heres a size and weight review of mine ps watever drill you buy be sure to buy the full set with all attatchements

 

[www.jbbinnenwerk.nl]

I want to bring forward the impact machine is very noisy.. You need earplugs, believe me!

 

[ssticks2stones]

Thanks so much for all the helpful comments.
looking at the C18 kit or T18 kit.....looked at both at woodcraft today.
Like the feel of the C handle, never used one like this before, want to make sure I can get it into tight places.
So with that said ill probable end up with the T18 kit.  [big grin]  [unsure]
So im going to order  a Kapex with a C26, FastCap Stand, T18 kit and a few Systainers.  That should be enough for 1 night  [smile]