T-Loc Systainer Catalog Now Available Online

Looking at the PDF and the website, here are some of my observations of the new T-Loc systainers.

1. The locking mechanism

When the first images of the T-Locs were leaked/released, I wondered how it worked. One knob on the front that locked the systainers together in all 4 corners? That must have some complicated mechanism in the lid part, taking up some room. Wrong. Behind the handle on the top there is a massive undercut in the moulding, and it appears to be reinforced. I'm guessing that there is a 'hook' along the bottom near the back edge, which engages with this undercut when the systainers are stacked. The T-Loc itself just latches onto a small peg at the bottom of the front. So, it doesn't latch at the four corners, just along the back edge, and one small spot in the centre of the front. If it fails at this point, then everything would come crashing down. How likely is this? They must have considered this & made it nice & strong, but it looks like the latch area is 25-50% that of the regular systainers.

All that is my guess, based on the pictures. I'd like to see what the bottom of the systainer looks like, that would confirm or deny my theory.

2. Space in the lid

When I figured there must be some mechanism involved, I figured it must take up room in the lid (as mentioned above), meaning 'attic' versions wouldn't be possible. Wrong. There is an attic version available. Edit: The attic version is only available for the size 2 (at least for the moment).

3. Labelling

I really like the fact that they've seriously thought about this! There are 2 roughly credit-card-sized 'pockets' at the front, so you can easily print your own labels and insert them.

4. Front handle

This seems to be a handle with hinges fitted to flat plates. These plates slide into the label slots described above. Personally, I don't think I'd have a use for this handle, but it is available (at the expense of not being able to use the slots for labels).

5. Inserts

Pretty much any insert available for the old systainers has a newer version for the T-Locs. That's good. I guess that also means that the existing inserts won't fit in the new systainers. Not so good.

6. Internal space

I haven't double-checked, but it looks like the internal dimensions haven't altered much. Having said that, the arrangement of reinforcement ribs is different (see above re inserts).

7. Opening whilst locked

You can open a T-Loc even when another systainer is latched to the top, meaning you no longer have to dismantle a stack to get to something! Great! Only downside is that you'll have to keep hold of it with one hand to support it, otherwise either the top will break off, or the stack will fall over!

8. No sortainer version

There aren't any new sortainers. Having said that, I don't think that would ever be an issue, since it makes sense to always have the sortainers at the bottom of a stack, with the systainers above.

They look good, and if all new Festool tools come with them that'd be fine by me,, but I don't see any reason to get rid of my existing systainers to change over to the T-Locs. The compatibility is there, so why bother?
 
jonny round boy said:
3. Labelling

I really like the fact that they've seriously thought about this! There are 2 roughly credit-card-sized 'pockets' at the front, so you can easily print your own labels and insert them.

4. Front handle

This seems to be a handle with hinges fitted to flat plates. These plates slide into the label slots described above. Personally, I don't think I'd have a use for this handle, but it is available (at the expense of not being able to use the slots for labels).

Great observations. 

To clarify, as far as I understand, labeling is available on the front (2 areas) as well as 1 spot on each side.

Front handle will be a HUGE seller in my opinion.  I think it's a great idea.
 
bobbobbob said:
Any idea when the other colors and inserts will be available?

Possibly xmas, but as of right now just anthracite and light grey in sys I thru III
 
Sean Ackerman said:
To clarify, as far as I understand, labeling is available on the front (2 areas) as well as 1 spot on each side.

Well spotted, I'd missed the ones on each side! Even better!

Sean Ackerman said:
Front handle will be a HUGE seller in my opinion.  I think it's a great idea.

I'm guessing that the front handle will only really be useful on the sys1, and possibly the sys2. It wouldn't be of any use on anything larger, or with multiple systainers latched together.

That's the reason why I can't see much use for it. Most woodworkers would need more than one sys1 to carry their tools in.
 
You could use the front handles to pull boxes out of a self made racking with not runners allowing you easily lift (front stop to stop it falling out while driving) and pull out your systainers out just a thought.

JMB
 
Also just a thought all the weight goes into the centre on the front on that one LUG but the handles are taking the weight on the sides of the lid just thinking if you had a few systainers attached the top systainer LID will be getting all the weight on the edge of the lid but only the centre is held down so wouldnt the lid bend up?!?!?

The systainers below will be fine because pulling force is still in the same place centre lug and its taking the wait not the lids accept the top one your trying to pull the lid open in theory but from the sides sorry repeated my self just explain to my self as well really lol

JMB
 
I know the latches on the current Systainers can be tough at time to open and these new T-Loc latches will solve that problem.  But, did anyone notice how difficult it looks to unlatch a current Systainer from below one of the new T-Locs?  Looks to me to be difficult to get your fingers behind the latch.

 
I hadn't noticed that, but it definitely seems to be a bit awkward... I routinely use my thumbs to open the latches, wouldn't know how to do that on the front latches in this setting.
Good eye!

Regards,

Job
 
Corwin said:
I know the latches on the current Systainers can be tought at time to open and these new T-Loc latches will solve that problem.  But, did anyone notice how difficult it looks to unlatch a current Systainer from below one of the new T=Locs?  Looks to me to be difficult to get your fingers behind the latch.

You are going to need fingers if iron or a screw driver... Lets hope Festool sort this out.
 
Chris Meggersee said:
You are going to need fingers if iron or a screw driver... Lets hope Festool sort this out.

I imagine that it's far too late in the game to sort this one out.  Had someone noticed this early in the development, they might have been able to move the front label holders up enough to allow one better finger access to older Systainer latches below -- but, now we will probably have to live with the result.   [mad]

I find it a shame that Tanos chose to update their Systainers without thinking this through any better than this.  Sure, the new T-Loc is likely to be much easier to unlatch.  But, unless they have a plan for the Sortainers, I think they are making a mistake.  To be fair, it is hard to know for sure without a new T-Loc Systainer in hand, but from what I can tell thus far, I'm not at all pleased with these new Systainers.  I hope I'm wrong, and these new T-Locs prove to be better than I think.  But, if it as bad as it looks, I hope that Festool will realize their mistake and reverse course -- they offer a nice 'system' now, wouldn't want to see them mess it up.
 
Corwin said:
Chris Meggersee said:
You are going to need fingers if iron or a screw driver... Lets hope Festool sort this out.

I imagine that it's far too late in the game to sort this one out.  Had someone noticed this early in the development, they might have been able to move the front label holders up enough to allow one better finger access to older Systainer latches below -- but, now we will probably have to live with the result.   [mad]

I find it a shame that Tanos chose to update their Systainers without thinking this through any better than this.  Sure, the new T-Loc is likely to be much easier to unlatch.  But, unless they have a plan for the Sortainers, I think they are making a mistake.  To be fair, it is hard to know for sure without a new T-Loc Systainer in hand, but from what I can tell thus far, I'm not at all pleased with these new Systainers.  I hope I'm wrong, and these new T-Locs prove to be better than I think.  But, if it as bad as it looks, I hope that Festool will realize their mistake and reverse course -- they offer a nice 'system' now, wouldn't want to see them mess it up.

I think the solution would be to unlatch the side ones first and then slide the systainer out backwards like what happens with the CT22. I am a bit concerned about having it latch to one or two of those little plastic protrusions that the t-loc's have but like you said we will have to wait and see what happens once they come out.

Just hope they don't stop support for the old systainers completely.
 
Chris Meggersee said:
I think the solution would be to unlatch the side ones first and then slide the systainer out backwards like what happens with the CT22. I am a bit concerned about having it latch to one or two of those little plastic protrusions that the t-loc's have but like you said we will have to wait and see what happens once they come out.

Just hope they don't stop support for the old systainers completely.

I'm sure that support for the soon-to-be-old Systainers will not be an issue for many years to come.
 
Corwin said:
Chris Meggersee said:
I think the solution would be to unlatch the side ones first and then slide the systainer out backwards like what happens with the CT22. I am a bit concerned about having it latch to one or two of those little plastic protrusions that the t-loc's have but like you said we will have to wait and see what happens once they come out.

Just hope they don't stop support for the old systainers completely.

I'm sure that support for the soon-to-be-old Systainers will not be an issue for many years to come.

Currently, there is no planned obsolescence for the classic line.
 
Tanos has full intentions to continue to manufacture and sell the "classic" (old style) systainers in addition to the new T-Loc.  Also, note that the photo shows a SYS 1 T-Loc which has limited space on the front. The photos of larger models have addition room for fingers and a rounded recess making it more accessible.  While Tanos made every effort to ensure backwards compatibility, this may just be one of those things that there was no better way to do it on the SYS 1 T-Locs.  That's assuming that this is a final production model in the photo.
 
I'm kind of concerned about the plan for all new tools to be put to market in the new T-locs.  I personally don't mind the (newly named) "classic".  (let's hope things don't go the way of "New Coke"!).
But I now have a triple pile of Festool and Systainers.  I like and appreciate that I can stack them and arrange them in *any* way I need, or just as the result of chaotic cleanup.  I don't necessarily welcome the concept that I *must* put the RO90 (future purchase!) at the top of a stack, since it cannot go in the middle, below a SysClassic.

Although I think the T-loc is pretty OK cool (especially the top and front handle), I would prefer the option of choosing a SysClassic, vs a T-loc, for a tool purchase.
I don't find the new labeling accomodation of interest, since I've already sunk a bit of time into creating new labels for the Systainers.  Since I have two hands it doesn't take much longer or more effort to undo two latches, versus one handle (since I can do both latches at the same time!). 

Anyway, just my  [2cents]
 
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