Uk T15+3 Kit now with LED (Pics now posted)

[Rob-GB]

Just collected my new T15+3 set ( order no. 564236) and it came with the LED lamp in the sys 1. (No head band attachment with it though) It was a surprise to find it as I thought they were only coming with the new releases later in the year which also have a belt clip facility.
The moulded insert  that everything snuggles into has a place for the lamp but not for the drywall chuck, an oversight I think, as I will get one fairly soon (not as important as the EHL65E that I also picked up to replace  my old Elu, ssshhh!!! I haven't told it yet ;D
I have stated on another thread that I am not too fussed about lights on drills, I have a headlamp that more than suffices when required, however, I have played with this one and like the way it can be positioned above or below the chuck and is slightly angled towards the end of the driver point. The next good point is that it can be switched on and off from either side. The downside is that it cannot be used in conjunction with any other chuck than the WH-CE centrotec chuck, so my headlamp will not be retiring anytime soon!
Anyway just thought I'd post the details if anyone is about to get one, just have to resolve the holster issue now, am thinking of making my own leather one [eek] wet forming the leather over the drill (wrapped in copious amounts of cling-film) is the latest idea [scared].
Rob.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Pictures, please!! Also, does it come with the new ratcheting keyless chuck?

 

[Rob-GB]

Sorry Brice, camera was left at work in rush to pick up the goodies [embarassed] No ratcheting chuck either. Will post pics asap which means around this time tomorrow ;D
Rob.

 

[jmbfestool]

I never use the torch with mine because you often swith the light bi accident and then your batterie is dead soon as you know.  I often swith it on off when moving the light into a different position on the top or bottom or side so on a  Bright day you dont realise you have turned it on. Like you said you can only use it with the quick release bit. Personly I never use it.  I have the head band and I have used it a couple of times on my head but I already have a brighter head LED torch.  I wish festool had just built it onto the drill.

 

[speed]

the aftermarket light is ?25 seperate iirc and runs on its own battery??

 

[AlexThePalex]

the aftermarket light is ?25 seperate iirc and runs on its own battery??

Yups. It costs 30 euros here. For that ridiculous amount of money, I'm sure I'm never gonna need it. The Chinese can make this at the same quality for 50 cents.

 

[Holzhacker]

I know a guy who loves his LED. Wears it on his head daily when working. For me, its so-so. For $20 it's ok as a backup light and drill light. It's not one of the Festool acc that I would highly recommend. The switch is really a dumb design and a PITA.

 

[jvsteenb]

The moulded insert  that everything snuggles into has a place for the lamp but not for the drywall chuck, an oversight I think, as I will get one fairly soon

I do have one, and actually it fits - well, sort of. You can store the drill in the Euro-style Sys-1 systainer if you simply leave/put  the drywall chuck on the drill, and store the Centrotec head in the supplied hole in the insert.
It is a bit of a hassle, since the standard action of the drill is Centrotec use, in my case. It's only a couple of seconds, but still. I'm gonna get the Protool Sys-2 with attic lid ( I can get a good deal on that one ) to store the T15+3,  there should be plenty of room for the drywall chuck  with the original mould in place, and some room in the lid as well to store the Centrotec drillsets - those sets are starting to reveal themselves as the real hidden gem of the Centrotec system.

I think the LED is OK, but the usability is limited. It's a nice gimmick, but its main virtue is it fits the Quick-Fix collar, and in up or down position. It does get in the way now and then, but I tend to use a headlamp anyway, so I don't really have much use for it. They should have included the headband with the drill, that would have made it a lot more usefull.

There is a nice alternative to the drywall chuck: The Protool DuraDrive DWC 12-4000 DEC LI. It comes in two configurations - with or without a strip screw attachment. It's SWEET ! But alas - I couldn't afford it and went with the drywall chuck instead. It works OK but the T15's max RPM is a bit too low to show it's value in metalstuds - You should be aware of that. In wood it's A-OK, and on par with dedicated drywall screwing machines used for drywall on wooden framing.

Regards,

Job

 

[Rob-GB]

[big grin] Well I've had time to play with it and yes Brice I got photo's now too! jvsteenb had not thought of that idea mate, as long as I can get in there thats okay.
First the systainer and label.

Next over view of contents, the led light is top left.

Light up close.

To Brice, I found that the 3 jaw chuck clicks when it is tight so it cannot be overtightened, is that what you meant by a ratcheting chuck? I had imagined a chuck that tightens as you would use a socket set ratchet [embarassed].
Rob.

 

[jmbfestool]

So when you tighten the chuck it does a few clicks?  Click click click?  Thats a ratchet chuck then!! which holds your bits in tight. The current festool chuck tool makes no sound and I find my bits can fall out.   Look at the Festool T15  review topic watch the video and you can see my auger bit falls out twice.

 

[Rob-GB]

Looks like I got the ratchet chuck too then JMB! I wish Festool Uk would update their site with some decent facts about the tools,
sometimes I think they are 18 months behind  [unsure]. They still don't show the systainer in Brice's review of the T15 with the attic storage.
Rob.

 

[jmbfestool]

Looks like I got the ratchet chuck too then JMB! I wish Festool Uk would update their site with some decent facts about the tools,
sometimes I think they are 18 months behind  [unsure]. They still don't show the systainer in Brice's review of the T15 with the attic storage.
Rob.

The UK Festool website is rubbish I just go on the Dutch one that seems the be updated to most and looks the smartest  are UK looks old fashioned!  I lived in Holland for 10 years so I can read it you see.

 

[frehouseremdlin]

I bought my t-15 a month or two ago, I love it by the way! I bought the light aftermarket and use it frequently, and mine does have the rachet chuck. Is that an upgrade or something,i figured it was standard. i love it, i never have bits coming loose. Just curious since you mentioned it Brice.

Brett

 

[Brice Burrell]

I bought my t-15 a month or two ago, I love it by the way! I bought the light aftermarket and use it frequently, and mine does have the rachet chuck. Is that an upgrade or something,i figured it was standard. i love it, i never have bits coming loose. Just curious since you mentioned it Brice.

Brett

Brett, this is surprising, I didn't know they would be out so soon. Glad to see some of the Protool features making their way to the Festool line. (The Protool drills had the ratcheting chucks first.)

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Hmm, ratcheting chuck?

About time, my main complaint with the C12 is that the chuck is not gripping things properly. On my Hitachi and on many other machines there is a high quality German chuck, Rohm,  and I was surprised to see it on Hitachi drills. I have seen it on many other brands as well (Milwaukee to name one I am sure of) and I hope Festool are wise enough to implement a working solution like the Rohm drill chuck.  It is after all, German and high quality and a perfect marriage to Festools screwdrivers/drills. 

I am eagerly waiting for the C15 and I will check the chuck for sure, hope it is the new one.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Hmm, ratcheting chuck?

About time, my main complaint with the C12 is that the chuck is not gripping things properly.

I have the exact same feeling with the chuck of the T15. I was used to tighten the chuck of my old DeWalt drill to a certain point and then it was tight. When I did this on my new T15 to the same point the drill bit often came loose. So I got into the habit of tightening the chuck extra strong, with more force then really feels good, but then it was not such a problem but still a bore. When I got to play around with my nephew's new Protool 18v drill I noticed the chuck was much smoother and at the end clicked into place. This was much nicer. I immediately thought about buying a separate Protool chuck for my T15. Glad they made one for the Festool now too. Gonna get one as soon as it's available.

I do think Festool should have the decency of offering this new chuck to existing T12/T15 owners with a discount. We pay huge sums of money for their tools on the promise of getting the best of the best. This older chuck clearly wasn't the best of the best as even my DeWalt drill's chuck at 1/3th of the price was better. The older chuck was clearly of inferior quality, but hey, everybody is allowed to make mistakes, as long as you make a decent effort to clean them up.

 

[Rob-GB]

Hmm, ratcheting chuck?

About time, my main complaint with the C12 is that the chuck is not gripping things properly. On my Hitachi and on many other machines there is a high quality German chuck, Rohm,  and I was surprised to see it on Hitachi drills. I have seen it on many other brands as well (Milwaukee to name one I am sure of) and I hope Festool are wise enough to implement a working solution like the Rohm drill chuck.  It is after all, German and high quality and a perfect marriage to Festools screwdrivers/drills. 

I am eagerly waiting for the C15 and I will check the chuck for sure, hope it is the new one.

Yes Rohm chucks are good, I still have one of the two donated by delinquent Bosch hammer drills fitted to a morse taper for one lathe, the other sadly could not withstand being used attached to an SDS hammer drill when an employee decided to use it for such [oops] it was intended only for drilling large diameter holes with holesaws in wood not banging 16mm holes in granite [big grin].
The new chuck, a happy bonus for me as I had not heard about it 'til Brice mentioned it, seems to work really well. Can you not get one to upgrade your current set up?

Rob.

 

[agarwalsa]

I bought a T15+3 drill set a week ago but mine did not come with the ratcheting chuck.... unless I cant figure out that it is ratcheting!

 

[jmbfestool]

I bought a T15+3 drill set a week ago but mine did not come with the ratcheting chuck.... unless I cant figure out that it is ratcheting!

Your in the USA so you properly don't have them in the USA yet. Europe only.

 

[Redfox]

Hi all,
I just sold my tdk12 (the set) and bought a t15+3 with the modified chuck and the diode light.
Those two things are quite helpfull, but the t15 in itself is so much better than my otherwise new tdk, that I really think it's worth switching. The motor runs so smooth and the instand stop with no Grrrrrrr from a mechanical clutch plus the audible beep when the chosen Nm is reached is a magnificent thing.
Arh, I feel good standing on a ladder, screwing a lot of wooden cielings up, with lesser fatigue in my arm
And finally the added motordrive when going slowly is absolutely perfect when assembeling my new garden furnitures with their small soft brass screws.
All in all I really like this machine, and won't look back, or in other directions as a matter of fact. The absolutely most superb machine on the market presently. I don't reach out anymore for my already very good GSR14,4VE-2 prof. Hmmm, I'll put it up for sale I think. It's just sitting there.
The only thing I would like to get is the new systainer with the propper 2 layer inserts for more bits and the lid compartments. Anyone know how to get it (or rather where? (I am in Denmark).
My wife thinks I am nuts about festool, but after she  tried this one, I think it's safe to say I can trust her using it too with a good result  [big grin]

Verdict: Superb machine both handling wise and how it functions. I've never tried anything better.

Cheers,
Redfox.