Thread: Metabo Duo problems

I got the Duo back early last week. Repair/cleaning was done at no charge so full marks to Metabo for service (although I doubt it would have happened if I hadn't directed them to this thread). However I seriously doubt I will ever buy another Metabo tool again - ever. I own probably in excess of a hundred power tools and there are some brands that have been very reliable but on percentages Metabo has been the worst. Admittedly I've only owned three but 66.6% of them have been unreliable.

To be fair to Metabo I believe that the quality of most manufacturers has been declining. As the likes of GMC have entered the marketplace and taken a large share of the DIY market they've also driven down the prices of the established manufacturers (at least that's how I read it, maybe it's stuff like exchange rates that's responsible). Makita, Bosch, Hitachi etc have all gotten more affordable over the last few years and maybe they've let quality drop in order to keep their profit margins.

At any rate as most of my work now is on large stationery machinery I'll be rethinking my portable power tool buying philosophy. Some tools will continue to be from the better brands, drop saw and jig saw for instance but many tools will be seen as "disposable" like grinders, small drills, sanders etc. I would happily buy top notch and top price tools if I knew that the investment would pay off in reliability and long life but it appears that this is no longer so.

Mick

Due to lousy warranty response I have vowed never to purchase a Metabo tool or an Electra Beckum machine again, ever. Things can go wrong. Everybody accepts this, but when the warrantor starts ducking for cover and accusing the user of misuse occasioning the problem, well my solution is find another supplier. I actually don't even think the problems were Metabo's, rather probably a sub-contractor to Metabo...but still Metabo spent effort and hot air avoiding the liability, they actually made me send a machine to Melbourne for warranty repair 'cos they said thier local best repair agent 'wasn't up to the assessment of the claim' ! .My response...I changed over to Festool. Never even had a a darn warranty claim, so I can't really evaluate their attitude.
I also hate it when a German (Metabo/EB) maker has stuff made in China and attempts to pull the wool by insinuating 'made in ...Germany' or wherever. And charging German prices !

Thanks for the tip fellas.

I was about to buy a Metabo Duo orbital sander, now i'll look elsewhere.

I too have had trouble with this sander, the button got stuck in, and as it was out of warranty, I pulled it apart myself, damaged the mechanism in the process, and have been using it on the large orbit ever since. I suppose its a bit of a letdown, as the reason I bought this product over the opposition, was because of the duo function, but I still get good results using it. will need to replace the velcro pad soon as its getting pretty tattered around the edges

Although I love Metabo - I guess I've got around 30 of their machines - I'm not blind to its faults. A few facts:

• If it says 'Made in Germany', it's made in Germany.
• If it says something like 'Nürtingen, Germany' or just 'Germany', it wasn't made in Germany.

This is the same as Makita. 'Japan', means it was made somewhere else.

Anyone looking for the schematics for this machine can click here then right click and save as... (full-sized it's pretty big)

Attachment 23544

I've never had to pull one of these down but there aren't many parts... Any tool that produces fine dust is susceptible to failure, especially moving parts such as bearings and levers.

I don't know about the service in Oz but the people I talk to in Nürtingen are a great bunch. Polite, helpfull, friendly. They send me the manuals in English for free when I pick up something like a sawbench on eBay. The fact that I speak fluent German and live only a few hundred kays away probably helps a bit...

Speaking of eBay, I see tools from the best brands over here up for auction because somethin's busted. Hilti, Festo, Elu - the latter of which never actually produced a tool themselves. For every person who's had a bad experience, there's 10 who've had nothing but good ones.

Thing that annoys me most about your situation is the fact that you were dicked around by Metabo's service. Had they simply said, 'Yeh Mate. Sorry about that. It's a bit prone to jamming up. Send her in. If we see she's been looked after like ya reckon, well soon get her sorted out under warranty. Gunna have ta hit ya up for the postage though...', you'd probably be looking at Metabo in a completely different light. Silly buggers!

Damien

I have experienced a similar problem with my Duo (I posted it but the post was "moderated", I am not sure why because it contained no foul language and was a factual account of my experience with an acknowledgement that the Duo is a solid workhorse). Anyway, Metabo replaced the machine and I had the same problem with the repalcement and so I just use it in one setting now and accept the problem. When they replaced mine Metabo said that the machining of the housing of the red button was a little under-done so that it jambed when pressed in. You might be able to argue that this is not warranty matter in that something has malfunctioned but that it is a design fault which can cause a problem at any stage in the life of the tool. Keep at them, they must be aware of the problem.

Nice to hear things got sorted out for you Mick.


Your story kinda confirms the feelings I got from Metabo / Electra Beckum when I was there.

Reluctant to say too much more, as they prolly know me there.

Originally Posted by damienhazo

Thing that annoys me most about your situation is the fact that you were dicked around by Metabo's service. Had they simply said, 'Yeh Mate. Sorry about that. It's a bit prone to jamming up. Send her in. If we see she's been looked after like ya reckon, well soon get her sorted out under warranty. Gunna have ta hit ya up for the postage though...', you'd probably be looking at Metabo in a completely different light. Silly buggers!

Damien

A good post, Damien. My sentiments exactly. Thanks.

On the subject of Metabo, not long ago I bought my first Metabo tool, a 13mm drill that retails for around $450.00. I've been a Makita buyer so far but I'm tired of looking for "Made in Japan". The drill is great, but I was very disappointed with the keyless chuck. Typical of these, under duress the drill bit spins in them, and I can't tighten the damn thing any more without using stilsons! If Metabo hasn't made one that works as well as a keyed chuck, has anyone?

One of the work drills used to have a Rohm chuck in it, all steel and that thing worked brilliantly. Can't recall it ever slipping, and it was hanging off a rotary hammer with an SDS adapter up it's tail.

The Rohm chucks in my AEG drills have all been pretty good, no real complaints out of any of them. Not talking bargain basement stuff here though, you could prolly buy two GMC drills for what the chucks go for, and get no change from the deal.

Certainly better than most of the Jacob's chucks I have used, and better again than all the no names.

Originally Posted by Rossluck

If Metabo hasn't made one that works as well as a keyed chuck, has anyone?

I've got a Metabo Futuro in the small drill press and it's bloody brilliant! You have to turn and hold the top collet to turn her backwards which can be a pain but the fact that it never slips more than makes up for it. I drive 35 mm hinge borers into hardwood all the time with no complaints.

Attachment 23618

Before you go out buying another chuck, you might consider SNAPPY or similar. These are 1/4 inch hex shank bits so your chuck will be gripping 3 flat surfaces instead of a cylinder.

Attachment 23619


Hope this helps!

Damien

Originally Posted by Rossluck

A good post, Damien. My sentiments exactly. Thanks.

On the subject of Metabo, not long ago I bought my first Metabo tool, a 13mm drill that retails for around $450.00. I've been a Makita buyer so far but I'm tired of looking for "Made in Japan". The drill is great, but I was very disappointed with the keyless chuck. Typical of these, under duress the drill bit spins in them, and I can't tighten the damn thing any more without using stilsons! If Metabo hasn't made one that works as well as a keyed chuck, has anyone?

The Milwaukee unit on their cordless drills isn't bad, but the pick of those I've used is the one that Panasonic used to use. I can't comment on the current one as I don't have a new Panasonic drill. In 4 years of very heavy use, it only let go the once, although that was to allow a 25mm beaver bit with 4 snap-on extension shafts to drop into a wall cavity :eek:. Luckily the customer was deaf.

Originally Posted by damienhazo

.......

Before you go out buying another chuck, you might consider SNAPPY or similar. These are 1/4 inch hex shank bits so your chuck will be gripping 3 flat surfaces instead of a cylinder.

Attachment 23619
Damien

Damien, any more details on the SNAPPY drills? I'm guessing you use them?

thanks
Wendy
Hope this helps!

Hi Wendy,

I don't use Snappy but I've heard that it's pretty good. I only thought of it because of my Metabo battery drills. When you screw off the chucks, they all have 1/4 inch hex shank sockets inside the spindle. I picked up a Metabo box of 1/4 inch hex shank bits cheap on Ebay over here, which are similar. I also have a Wisent set. I have a lot of battery drills so I keep a PZ2 bit in one of them - covers 99% of my screwing. Has the advantage of shortening up the drill (good for inside drawers and cabinets) and reducing the weight (removed chuck).

Attachment 23639 Attachment 23640

Damien

Thanks Damien!

Cheers
Wendy