T 18 nm torque

[Sparky]

I have been thinking about buying a t 18 set and am surprised it's rated with such lower torqued 30 /50 nm torque compared to makita and milwaukee brands torque levels. Would appreciate some feedback on this as I already own a lot of makita cordless tools and 8 battery's makes it hard to even think about changing cordless drills .

 

[Deansocial]

I use mine on 200mmx8mm screws.

 

[carlb40]

I don't think there is a set standard on how torque is measured/rated on drills. Pretty sure there was a thread on it last year.

But despite the lower rating the Festool drills are still powerful.  For instance i have used my CXS with 150mm / 6mm screws through 2 sections of softwood into a hardwood door head, without pre drilling. It had no problem at all doing that.  [smile]

 

[sae]

This is the only head to head test I've found with a Festool drill with actual data being collected. Keep in mind the T18 isn't as powerful as the DRC (rated 20-25% lower in max torque), so scale your expectations accordingly. You should use Chrome/Google translate if you don't speak German. I think the testing starts in part 2.

http://michael-hild.blogspot.de/2013/11/metabo-bs-18-ltx-bl-quick-vs-festool.html

Oh, and for reference, the brushless Metabo is rated about the same torque as the brushless Milwaukee (and probably DeWalt since they always test so close? DeWalt is obnoxious though, and hide their torque ratings and make up their own scale), nothing like the new brushless Makita that's a brute of a drill, but that's almost in a different class being 6 lbs.

 

[demographic]

I generally find that rattle guns (impact screwdrivers) are much better at avoiding cam out than drill drivers.
They let the bit go back into the screw recess between impacts.

This is the reason I have changed from using drill drivers alone to using a drill driver to drill pilot holes when needed (avoiding splitting) to using a rattle gun most of the time and if the woods might be prone to splitting I predrill with a drill driver and put the screws in with the rattle gun.

Personally I couldn't care less about about a machine that can do both, they both take different bits and I can't be done with changing bits all the time. Two tools is faster in my possibly not so humble opinion. I'm fairly sure the time and motion man will agree with me though.

 

[Sparky]

Yeah I have used impactors for years but still need drills for hole saws and handle drilling got cabinets and so forth. I just don't get how the torque rating is half of the hate to even say the competition.