T15 over T18 ?

[wow]

Why would you choose the T15 over the T18?

I don't own any Festool cordless tools, but I keep looking at them. I think the advantages of the T15 are lost on me?

EDIT> for clarity

 

[roblg3]

WOW; to be honest i was seduced by the form, which isn't available in the 18. i was thinking it would be lighter and still have enough power for me.i've always bought the biggest and baddest drill i could. but always wind up regretting how damn heavy they are when i'm installing a deck day after day. besides, i still have my dewalt 18v drill/drive /hammer for when i need it.  and a pretty stout hitachi hammer for the real deal drilling.  i really suggest hands on before buying.  i can overpower the 15, but it will drill 3/4 hole in a PT 8x8 with a crappy old auger bit. I've done it.  theres a youtube video titled festool drill myth where a guy does a bunch of junk to festool drill and it never actually quits, it gets crap uin the trigger and battery contacts but keep going.  this included dunking in water and sand and an entire bucket of mixed drywall mud,  he's shocked it doesn't ruin it. I have to say, that the c15 is as balanced comfortable easy to use machine that i've ever put hands on.  and i've had tens of thousands of dollars in different tools over 2 decades.  It's like an extension of my hand.  All the really kick a** stuff festool makes, and I'm in love with a drill!?!?

 

[wow]

i've always bought the biggest and baddest drill i could. but always wind up regretting how darn heavy they are

Yep - have the same experience with my Dewalt XRP stuff. I switched to the Milwaukee M12 because I loved the weight and form factor. Very happy with that decision, and now have around twenty M12 tools.

I'm waiting for the PDC to become AINA with a free battery promo. Then I will be 'forced' to buy into the Festool Cordless line. Hopefully Festool is listening?

[big grin]

 

[wow]

I know it might not make a lot of sense, but can you use the 18V 4.2AH batteries on the C15?

 

[jonny round boy]

I know it might not make a lot of sense, but can you use the 18V 4.2AH batteries on the C15?

No, you can use lower voltage batteries, but not higher.

Are you looking at the T15, or the C15? You mention the T15 in your title and 1st post, but the C15 in your reply.

I would try to avoid the 15, and go with the 18, unless you're completely sold on the C form. I think all the cordless tools, in the near future at least, will be based on the 18V batteries.

Plus, the difference in weight between the two is pretty much negligible.

 

[wow]

roblg3 mentioned the C15, so I was asking about it. I assume the same situation of the C15 would be true for the T15?

And I agree with your statement "I think all the cordless tools, in the near future at least, will be based on the 18V batteries." *IF* I get a Festool Drill it will almost certainly be an 18-volt version.

 

[NHSP759]

WOW, I've got the T15 and the TI15 and absolutely love my T15. The thing has a ton of power in a light weight tool. I've used my 1" spade to power through pt without any lag. I am glad I went with the T15 but if money was no object at the time I bought it, I  probably would've gone with the T18. As far as the C models...I just cannot get used to the grip. I actually don't have any 18v drills but believe it or not my T15 does everything I need and coupled with my impact I cannot go wrong. I am in the market for a hammer and have a Dewalt 20v impact and an M18 battery and charger so just haven't figured out which one I will go with as of yet.

 

[Birdhunter]

Perhaps, the "big" drills will all be 18v, but I think the CSX will remain in the line up. My guess is the the C15 will be dropped in favor of a C18.

I have the CSX, C12, TI15, and T18. The C-drills and the T-drills all have different but excellent feel.

The ultimate solution is to buy them all.

 

[wow]

Perhaps, the "big" drills will all be 18v, but I think the CSX will remain in the line up. My guess is the the C15 will be dropped in favor of a C18.

I have the CSX, C12, TI15, and T18. The C-drills and the T-drills all have different but excellent feel.

The ultimate solution is to buy them all.

Yeah, thanks a bunch for that!

[big grin]

I'm not even sure that I want to buy ONE yet. I still have an issue with seeing the value of the drills from Festool compared to others out there like the M18 Fuel stuff. If they just had the PDC available here I might be tempted...

 

[AlexThePalex]

Must be an American thing, bigger is better. The 15 volt range is actually Festool's most popular range, and is not going to be replaced or dropped, ever. I love my T15. When it comes to the perfect balance of power, weight and cost, 15 volt, or 14.4 volt as other brands call it, is simply the most effective and therefor most popular.

 

[jbasen]

I have the T18 and love it.  I don't find it too heavy, it has tons of power, and the batteries seem to last forever.  The electronic clutch that senses the resistance and stops the drill with a simple beep instead of a series of ratchets is a great feature too.  Finally, the selection of replaceable chucks are awesome.  The right angle chuck and offset chuck are fantastic for getting you into tight places where other drills can't go.

The one disadvantage, at least to me, is that Festool doesn't make a TI18 so if you want an impact driver you need 2 sets of batteries.  Just an added expense

I bought the T18 when I kept having trouble with another brand drill, that will go nameless.  The batteries kept dying.  They were under warranty but the 2nd time it happened the manufacturer had changed their battery design slightly and I had to wait about a month for my battery to be repaired instead of getting an immediate replacement.  PITA

 

[Scott B.]

T15 rocks. I have been wearing it out for the past 2+ weeks, driving over 1000 fasteners, everything from 2 1/2" deck mates to 10" timber locks. Love.

[attachimg=1]

 

[iseebird]

Can anyone tell me if the t15 can bore holes for locksets through a 1 3/4" solid core door. I purchases the t18 but I miss my impact driver so I'm now looking at the t15/ti15 combination. Please let me know closing in on my 30 day money back guarantee.

 

[itchy]

I really like my T18 the power, runtime and weight are excellent. I haven't used the T15 so can't say for sure but I would choose runtime over slight weight savings any day of the week.

 

[Kev]

I really like my T18 the power, runtime and weight are excellent. I haven't used the T15 so can't say for sure but I would choose runtime over slight weight savings any day of the week.

T15 v's T18 isn't about a weight saving .. it's negligible anyway, it's about power. The T18 does have noticeable more grunt (and the PDC18-4 uses the same "grunt" even better with a 4 speed gearbox).

T15/C15 are the drills that will give you battery compatibility with the Ti15. My thinking ... if you really want a Ti15 and think you need a T18, just get the T18 set and a Ti15 skin plus 1x 15V battery - not perfect, but the 15V will also work in the T18 and all the other 18V Festools ... you just can't put an 18V battery into the Ti15. Using an 15V in an 18V tool gives you a little less power, but the world isn't a perfect place ... yet [wink]

Failing all this, grab a cheap impact and wait a bit for Festool to get their at together. You won't regret the T18.

 

[AlexThePalex]

T15 v's T18 isn't about a weight saving .. it's negligible anyway, it's about power. The T18 does have noticeable more grunt (and the PDC18-4 uses the same "grunt" even better with a 4 speed gearbox).

T15 and T18 weight difference is only 10%, and so is the difference in power. Both are negligible to me. You won't notice or have the need for that little bit of extra oomphf until you start driving the reeeeeally big screws. And if driving the really big screws is your main interest you shouldn't be anywhere near any of Festool's T drills.

You can't compare the T18 and the PDC, they are not in the same league. T15 and T18 are, but the PDC has A LOT more power than both of them and stands far apart.

You won't regret the T18.

Agreed, he won't. But people should stop making the difference between the T15 and T18 bigger than it is simply based on voltage.

 

[roblg3]

If you do alot of locksets on a daily basis the 15v is a little underpowered.  I use a C15 for locksets.  Easiest way for you to know is just drill a 2x4 with the hole saw.  That will give you the feel of ability. So you can know for yourself.

 

[wow]

You can't compare the T18 and the PDC, they are not in the same league. T15 and T18 are, but the PDC has A LOT more power than both of them and stands far apart.

I remain one of the biggest holdouts on the Festool cordless drills that there has ever been. THIS ^^^ is what - right now - keeps me from buying into the line. I am so frustrated with the whole NAINA mess that I could spit tacks. Yes, paint me green and call me the 'tacky spittex'...

[scared]

I NEED THE PDC TO REPLACE MY CURRENT 'BIG' CORDLESS DRILL, dammit. I sure wish they'd get off their backsides and offer it over here! But what do you think the chances of THAT are...in my lifetime?

 

[Kev]

You can't compare the T18 and the PDC, they are not in the same league. T15 and T18 are, but the PDC has A LOT more power than both of them and stands far apart.

I remain one of the biggest holdouts on the Festool cordless drills that there has ever been. THIS ^^^ is what - right now - keeps me from buying into the line. I am so frustrated with the whole NAINA mess that I could spit tacks. Yes, paint me green and call me the 'tacky spittex'...

[scared]

I NEED THE PDC TO REPLACE MY CURRENT 'BIG' CORDLESS DRILL, dammit. I sure wish they'd get off their backsides and offer it over here! But what do you think the chances of THAT are...in my lifetime?

I know the PDC18-4 is way more drill than the T18 ... I own a PDC after all, it's just my kind heart that didn't want to rub it in [smile]

Look at wow, he's almost a broken man over the entire PDCNAINA affair!

 

[wow]

You can't compare the T18 and the PDC, they are not in the same league. T15 and T18 are, but the PDC has A LOT more power than both of them and stands far apart.

I remain one of the biggest holdouts on the Festool cordless drills that there has ever been. THIS ^^^ is what - right now - keeps me from buying into the line. I am so frustrated with the whole NAINA mess that I could spit tacks. Yes, paint me green and call me the 'tacky spittex'...

[scared]

I NEED THE PDC TO REPLACE MY CURRENT 'BIG' CORDLESS DRILL, dammit. I sure wish they'd get off their backsides and offer it over here! But what do you think the chances of THAT are...in my lifetime?

I know the PDC18-4 is way more drill than the T18 ... I own a PDC after all, it's just my kind heart that didn't want to rub it in [smile]

Look at wow, he's almost a broken man over the entire PDCNAINA affair!

Whaddaya mean *ALMOST* broken? I'm a WRECK!  [scared]

I have two older Milwaukee M28 drills that together weigh more than Queen Elizabeth (the Monarch, not the ship) that I desperately need to replace. I keep putting off buying my first piece of Milwaukee M18 Fuel stuff because I'd REALLY like to have the Festool PDC, but it is fast coming to the point that I won't have a choice. If either of the drills actually DIE, my drill money is GONE to the red and the green loses! And yes, I'm certain that that tidbit will NOT keep the Festool executives up at night!

[sad]

But c'mon, Festool - PLEASE put me out of my misery! Pretty Please? With a PDC on top?! Heck, I'd even promise to give it a thorough review in anticipation of building demand here in the USA. How could they turn THAT down?

[wink]

And FWIW - I'd considered ordering a PDC from one of my many new NAINA friends, but:

1. It's difficult (nearly impossible?) for an individual to ship Lithium Batteries internationally
2. There wouldn't be any warranty.
3. It is not even clear that Festool USA would repair a problem on an OUT of warranty basis?!
4. Costs are even MORE insane (based on comparisons to -say - the T18 drills here and there), and then to add international shipping and the associated hassles on top of it...well, it's just a drill.

Right. It's just a drill.

No big deal.

But I WANT one!  [crying] [crying] [crying]