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  1. #1
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    Default 18v festool cordless tools

    i have had the cordless track saw for few months, its great for small jobs and trimming panels to size but nothing beats the 240v version,

    now I have multiple 18v batteries and chargers I am looking for feedback on other 18v tools, I would be swapping from 18v Makita & 36V borsch,but may need to keep the Makita gear as they have skins festool has not.

    whos got what?

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  3. #2
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    Default Love festo but wish I did not have to pay so much for it.....

    I work as a cabinet maker and when I started I invested in Panasonic. Down the track I bought some Milwaukee gear. Eventually I got rid of the Panasonic drill and driver along with some of the Milwaukee stuff and now have mostly festo. I have the 240 v planer (the smaller model), the cordless 420 jigsaw, the cordless 15 v driver, and an 18v cordless drill. I like the planer because it's quite light in the hand. Nothing worse than trying to hold up a heavy cordless planer if it's not on a flat horizontal plane. The jigsaw is by far the best jigsaw I have used. I was not at all impressed with the Milwaukee jigsaw. Might be ok for a carpenter who has a few mm to play with but I don't have that luxury unfortunately. I also like the guide system as I can use both the circular saw (mate at work has the circ saw) and the jigsaw and planes super accurately. I just wish they had a few more "discounts" occasionally as its damn expensive. Mind you it's a classic example of getting what you pay. I think it's absolutey top quality gear. We also have the festo sanders and routers at work so have used those too. Just wish I had more cash to buy more of it lol.
    thats my 2 cents worth anyway.
    cheers

  4. #3
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    Default

    I've got the T18+3 drill, TI15 impact driver (unfortunately it's discontinued and it's 14.4v anyway), PSBC400 18v jigsaw (last gen, current model is 420) and Protool 18v Quadrive hammer drill/driver.
    The drill and driver are used pretty much daily, jigsaw gets pulled out occasionally and I just got the hammer drill because it was crazy cheap (used it a couple of times and it works very well). The attachments for the drill are awesome, but I've seen Bosch have recently come out with the same system for much less money.

  5. #4
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    we already have a full 240V festool set up but I was thinking more along lines of swapping out the Makita / boshce gear that is cordless to festool too,

    I currently don't have cordless jigsaw so that might be starting point as the festool is only 150 bucks more than the Makita LXT skin

  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gaza View Post
    we already have a full 240V festool set up but I was thinking more along lines of swapping out the Makita / boshce gear that is cordless to festool too,

    I currently don't have cordless jigsaw so that might be starting point as the festool is only 150 bucks more than the Makita LXT skin
    The PSC 420 jigsaw skin is currently on special for $459 with 20 free blades (4mm pitch so pretty coarse).

    Note that Bosch blades (made in Switzerland) will fit. Bosch make blades to fit most saws, and the FT jigsaw take the single lug type.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    The PSC 420 jigsaw skin is currently on special for $459 with 20 free blades (4mm pitch so pretty coarse).

    Note that Bosch blades (made in Switzerland) will fit. Bosch make blades to fit most saws, and the FT jigsaw take the single lug type.

    that's the one I was thinking off,

    we have used festool jigsaw blade for years in multiple brand jigsaw

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gaza View Post
    i have had the cordless track saw for few months, its great for small jobs and trimming panels to size but nothing beats the 240v version,

    now I have multiple 18v batteries and chargers I am looking for feedback on other 18v tools, I would be swapping from 18v Makita & 36V borsch,but may need to keep the Makita gear as they have skins festool has not.

    whos got what?


    Gaza, firstly a small correction: Festo actually do market cordless "skins". It's just that the range is extremely limited, and as has been previously mentioned, lamentably expensive. Their dealers are strictly required to apply the company's minimum retail price policy which prevents any price negotiation or package deals.

    As for whether they're appropriate replacements for your current gear, it really depends on your own personal needs & expectations. Gregory Machinery are currently selling a Protool basic "quadrill" 4 speed hammer for a pretty good price: $249. It's just about the most versatile drill on the market. Whilst it can't match your Bosch for outright torque & drilling capacity, its going to be much lighter, and with a top speed of 3800 rpm much better than any other cordless drill for sheet metalwork. The current Festool equivalent skin is $409 in comparison, but features their quick change chuck system and a fairly unnecessary side handle. The only cordless drill I've ever felt the need for a side handle on are the Bosch 36v range, but maybe in the lowest gear driving big augers in hardwood studs & joists it might be advantageous.

    There's also an 18v SDS drill skin ($479) that actually looks to be pretty well designed in regard to its (one handed) ergonomics. It's capacities, weight & ergonomics are similar to the Bosch 18v SDS equivalent too, meaning that it will be similarly useless at chiselling and chasing I suspect. You really need a corded tool of 900w + for this type of task. I've not used the Festo version, but I've had a couple of Bosch versions over the past few years (I wore the first one out with an estimated 2km of holes bored) and hold this little tool in particularly high regard for drilling fixings.

    Which leaves the jigsaw. I've always been pretty dubious about Festo's jigsaws. I have a Trion corded version which I utterly detest, especially the naff blade guide adjusters. I just feel that your money would probably be better spent elsewhere. Makita in particular have a much more capable new English-made (Telford factory) cordless jigsaw that is highly regarded in the trade. At $629 for the skin ($459 from Sydney Tools), the Festo is even more expensive when you consider that you have to spend an additional $150 (currently on special) for a tilting base! It will fit your rail system, however, although why you'd want to is beyond me (it's a JIGSAW for chrissake, for cutting curves). You already own a cordless railsaw for the straight bits!

    That's just about it for Festool. No grinders, not that Makita's version is anything to write home about, no rattlers nor any of the more esoteric types of tool that the "big boys" like Makita, Hitachi Koki and Milwaukee offer. There's a new cordless drywall screwgun on the way, which is is great if you're a plasterer & can afford one, and a new cordless circular (i.e. not plunge) saw coming too. But as you've already stated, and I fully agree, "nothing beats the 240v version".

    Personally, I'd thing twice before disposing of your Makita tools. Some tool snobs might sneer at them, but they're still the standard trade tool used the world over: by which any other aspiring trade tool manufacturer must compare.
    Sycophant to nobody!

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ratbag View Post
    Gregory Machinery are currently selling a Protool basic "quadrill" 4 speed hammer for a pretty good price: $249. It's just about the most versatile drill on the market.
    That is a thoroughly awesome drill IMHO. It looks, feels, sound and performs like absolute top quality. I can't believe how quiet they are. Can't comment on their power at the top end because I've not called on it, but I am extremely impressed by it. My other 18v drill is a Japanese made Makita which, whilst good, now appears to be significantly lesser quality .
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    That is a thoroughly awesome drill IMHO. It looks, feels, sound and performs like absolute top quality. I can't believe how quiet they are. Can't comment on their power at the top end because I've not called on it, but I am extremely impressed by it. My other 18v drill is a Japanese made Makita which, whilst good, now appears to be significantly lesser quality .
    Yep. Only used the hammer setting once for some star plugs, but stick it in 4th gear and it just chews through brick.

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ratbag View Post
    ... Their dealers are strictly required to apply the company's minimum retail price policy which prevents any price negotiation or package deals...
    Under Australian consumer law this is illegal without an exemption from the ACCC. It is illegal to specify a minimum selling price and it is also illegal to refuse to wholesale to a seller based on the pricing policy of the reseller. There are some exemptions but as I see the general exemptions do not apply in this case but a specific exemption has been granted in the case of Festool. I know that Shihl also do this but without the ACCC exemption.

    Here is the announcement from the ACCC.

    https://www.accc.gov.au/media-releas...ol-power-tools

    I would love to know what these pre/after sale services are. Whenever I go to a reseller to look at Festool products I get exactly the same service as if I buy your Chinese knock off.

  12. #11
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    er, no you don't....

    Your local purveyor of Asian knockoffs at least has the opportunity to offer you some sort of package deal or discount for your purchases. You also might actually have the opportunity to have said knockoffs serviced & repaired locally too. Now only a pipe dream for Festo product (at least in my neighborhood anyway).
    Sycophant to nobody!

  13. #12
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    Both my and work's Festool gear has been repaired locally. Drop it off, wait for phone call a few days later and pick it up. No hassles, no fuss.

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    Both my and work's Festool gear has been repaired locally. Drop it off, wait for phone call a few days later and pick it up. No hassles, no fuss.
    By TTS or someone else?
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    By TTS or someone else?
    Took mine to Just Tools on Clarendon St, I think the work stuff just gets taken to a generic tool repair shop.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ratbag View Post
    Gregory Machinery are currently selling a Protool basic "quadrill" 4 speed hammer for a pretty good price: $249. It's just about the most versatile drill on the market.
    I bought the non- hammer version of this (full kit in a systainer) from Festool when it was a run out special a while ago and always regretted not buying one of each after I found it was lighter and about the same size as my C12 Festool. They have now disappeared from the Festool's website so I ordered from Gregory's after I saw the above link. Long story cut short I decided to ring Festool this morning and they still have some of the full kits in a systainer with batteries and charger for the same price as Gregory's are offering the skin for. I don't think they have many and they have one less after my phone call so get in quick. One heads up on this, the drill does not have the removeable chuck system but I never use it on my Festool so that does not bother me.
    CHRIS

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