Festool has come out with a new “limited edition” mechanics tool set – a ratchet and socket set – that’s fitted in a blue Systainer.
Thank you to everyone who wrote in about this!
Festool is not known for their hand tools, but they tend to release things like this on occasion.
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The Festool limited edition socket set, model 577135, appears to be in stock at every Festool online retailer and dealer that I checked. But, as it’s a limited edition, the set isn’t a regularly carried product and won’t be around forever.
Festool describes this as a comprehensive set consisting of ratchets, sockets, and bits in different sizes.
The tool set comes with both SAE and metric sockets, with 1/4″ and 1/2″ drive tools. Sorry, there’s no 3/8″.
But, you do get a full range of socket sizes, and so there’s some truth to Festool’s claims of the set being comprehensive.
Here’s what you get:
- 1/4″ and 1/2″ ratchets (72T for 5° swing arc)
- Metric sockets 5 to 22mm
- 1/4″ – 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 mm
- 1/2″ – 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 mm
- SAE sockets 5/32″ to 1″
- 1/4″ – 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 13/32, 1/2 inch
- 1/2″ – 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1 inch
- 1/4″ 75 and 150mm extensions
- 1/2″ 100 and 250mm extensions
- 1/2″ universal wobble joint
- 1/4″ reversible bit ratchet
- 1/4″ adapter for sockets
- Stubby screwdriver with bit holder
- (20) 1-inch 1/4″ hex insert screwdriver bits
- PH 1, PH 2, PH 3, PZ 1, PZ 2, PZ 3, TX 10, TX 15, TX 20, TX 25, TX 30, TX 40, SQ 1, SQ 2, SQ 3, HEX 4 mm, HEX 5 mm, HEX 6 mm, Slot 0.8 mm, Slot 1.2 mm
- Custom foam insert
- Blue Systainer3 tool case
Hmm, it looks like the set’s not as comprehensive as it could be. You get 13/32″, but no 7/16″, which is a standard wrench and socket size for 1/4″-threaded nuts and bolts.
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Looking at closeup images of the set contents, it really does seem to be lacking 7/16″.
You get all 6pt sockets, and the drive tools look reasonable. The ratchets have screwdriver-style handles, and the sockets and extensions all have knurling for easier hand-turning.
When you take into account everything that you get, and the neatly organized Systainer tool box, the set seems to be a decent value.
I’d be more inclined to go with something different, such as Wera’s excellent drive size-specific inch or metric socket sets, but I do see some appeal in this Festool offering.
If you’re on the fence, take some time to think about it. This is a limited edition product, which usually take a bit of time for Festool to sell through, but there’s no way to tell how long it will be available for.
If you bought a set, what do you think about it?
Price: $249
Mike McFalls
Recognizing and setting aside that it is Festool, I think some of the larger mechanic sets from Dewalt or even the referenced Wera sets are a better value. Unless I missed it, these aren’t even impact rated. Plus the omission of the 7/16 is odd.
Speaking of socket sets, I’m surprised no one has improved on the design/concept of ‘gator grip’ to the point where it’s usable everyday and with impacts. Twenty years and it’s still just a lightweight use – universal socket. I’d spend $100 on a redesigned impact rated version that could survive everyday use versus constantly finding the right socket while also losing them constantly.
Rog
Not that I was going to purchase, but skipping 3/8 is a non-starter.
MM
Same. I’ve built up my sockets and ratchets over the years so I already have all my needs covered. But yes, lack of 3/8 drive is a non-starter, 3/8 is what I use the most often. Lack of a 7/16″ socket is also a non-starter. 7/16″ fits 1/4 inch bolts and nuts, it doesn’t get much more common than that. Like 10 and 12mm, I find that 7/16″ sockets are some of the first to grow legs and run off.
I’m also not a big fan of large handles on 1/4 drive ratchets. Often times the 1/4 drive is needed to fit into tight spaces, and that ratchet–with it’s big fat plastic handle and lack of a flex joint–does not look like it would do that well.
MM
Oh, I just noticed that they did include a 1/4″ hex to 1/4″ square drive adapter…at least that’s what it looks like. If so, that was a smart move, since you can use the compact 1/4″ hex ratchet with the 1/4″ sockets, largely mitigating my complaint about the handle on the 1/4 ratchet. That was a smart move.
Ball_bearing
Plus you get to use the stubby bit driver as a nut driver.
Koko The Talking Ape
Yep, though I guess you could buy one separately and throw out one of the 32nd’s sockets.
MM
We’re complaining that it’s missing 3/8 inch DRIVE tools….as in a ratchet handle, extensions, swivel, and a bunch of sockets. It does have a 3/8″ size 1/4 drive socket.
Now the missing 7/16″ size is easily fixed, in fact you could probably remove that bizarre 13/32 and stick a 7/16″ in its hole in the foam.
J. Newell
I admit to having bought one of these – what I did about the 7/16″ 1/4″ drive was to drop it into one of the other sockets. I also added a 1/4″ hex to 1/4″ square female/female adapter and stored it the same way.
928'er
Including SAE sizes is a non-starter for me. Haven’t touched my SAE stuff in about 20 years.
Jared
Kind of interesting to see a kit like this from Festool. Hopefully the quality is good – Festool has a reputation, so I presume they wouldn’t tarnish it with substandard hand tools.
I consider the case and foam organizer to add value – really that seems like the only reason to choose this kit over the many good options in this price range. That or because you’re a Festool fan.
I was thinking you could probably add a single 7/16″ socket with a careful cut in the foam, but it’s actually packed pretty tight. Maybe cut the lid side?
J. Newell
It’s all CR-V, or at least all the square-drive driving parts are. Can’t vouch for the 1/4″ hex bits or the ratchets.
As mentioned above, I dropped a 7/16″ 1/4″ drive socket into one of the larger ones. I actually did the same for a few of the other x/32″ sizes (the set comes with a 13/32″ socket), although I think the only 32nd inch size I see much is 11/32″.
Robert
Thanks for pointing out the omissions. I was considering buying. I’ll check out Wera as you said.
Yadda
Really cool looking set. I hope it challenges and inspires other manufacturers to follow suit.
Yadda
I can’t afford promotional sets, but decades from now, these items will be the rare sets collectors will seek.
Jim Felt
And most likely many will languish in almost mint condition awaiting that eventuality…
Davethetool
Collector investment perhaps but Festool missed the boat with this socket set. Also it being a one time set what happens if you lose or break a piece and need a replacement? Truly this set doesn’t make sense other than to bump up sales for the tool company. I wonder who makes this set for them and where it’s made?
Nathan
Yeah the ommissions make this a very questionable setup.
Now I like to focus on the metric sizes if only becasue most everything today is metric – which again I find odd here for a EU/German vendor.
so lack of 3/8 which is the most commonly used drive size for nearly everything short of diesel service. waste of time IMO. and I use 3/8 drive in construction and woodworking too. (lag bolts etc etc.)
That said if they did it right those pieces come from Hazet, or Stahlwille from the looks of things. I would say if they used either of the EU handtool makers they would be quality pieces. I’ve never had an issue with any of them and I use Stahlwille now.
But the gaps and missing items – I would get ANY OTHER KIT. Tekton socket rails are pretty awesome for storage by the way.
J. Newell
Stahlwille, I believe. IIRC the sockets are marked “Stahl,” “CR-V” and the size.
theoldhenk
Stahlwille sockets, in a $250 set? Maybe there’s more value in there than I initially thought.
As a comparison, Wera 05160785001 is a similar, but much less exhaustive set. It includes 1/4″ & 1/2″ Zyklops ratchets, a stubby/precision multi-bit driver with detachable Rapidaptor, 21 metric, non-impact sockets, 16 1/4″ bits (power tool insert length), and two extensions.
The above Wera is available today on Amazon for 368 USD, and includes a very nice – but nowhere near as useful – blow molded plastic case with tightly toleranced foam cutouts.
Eschewing the ubiquitous, American hand tool standard chrome look for a wonderful satin finish, Wera tools, IMO, appear higher end than Festool, and the clear price difference is certainly corroborative.
Interestingly, at least in America, Wera tools are substantially less expensive than either Hazet, Stahlwille or Gedore. I’m not sure about the overall quality difference, but equivalent sets from the latter three would surely sell for well above $500 USD, and I’m not even sure a four figure price would really shock me.
So the inclusion of Stahlwille sockets is somewhat surprising, at least at a glance, and I’m curious whether Festool is purposefully pricing the set as a loss leader. Of course, I have no idea why they would, especially as they’ve yet to even mention the inclusion of Stahlwille sockets, but who knows?
Maybe they’re about to expand their hand tool selection beyond the Centrotec brand (or is it Centrodrive?), and want to create some early excitement?
James C
I like to try to guess the price on things like this before I read the post. I was thinking $199.
Jim Felt
Begs the question “did they do any North American common tool usage research”? Kinda like buying a new vehicle with no Bluetooth connectivity.
T
7/16 and 11mm are the same size. They can be used interchangeably. What’s odd is they knew that, but still include both a 3/4 and 19mm, which is far more commonly known as a sizes that overlap.
Stuart
The difference is slight, but enough where 11mm won’t always fit 7/16”.
T
Interesting! When I built my toolkit I left out the 11mm and kept 7/16. Didn’t realize that was actually the best orientation. With that in mind, it IS odd then that there isn’t a 7/16 included.
TomD
Is 20mm just not used?
I wonder who actually made this, I doubt Festool spun up an entire line just to make a limited-time set.
MM
20mm is a rare size and is quite often absent from sets so I’m not surprised to see that one missing. But it’s really strange to see the 7/16″ missing and a 13/32 present. 13/32 is incredibly rare, at least in North America.
I’ve noticed that other Euro tool sets sometimes have fractional size sockets or wrenches that are oddball sizes, at least from a North American perspective. Perhaps they were used for old British Whitworth fasteners? For example, I have a large assortment of Stahlwille 20a series doubled-ended offset box end wrenches, and it includes strange sizes like 19/32, 21/32, and 25/32.
Nathan
a number of those odd X/32 sizes I think are actually metric sizes that are “close enough” per ANSI and other tolerance allowance.
and no 20MM isn’t common where 19 and 21 are. Likewise a 1/2 drive set that stops below 30mm or 1 1/4 inch is a bit odd too.
RCWARD
What a shock huh, Festool trying to sell overpriced tools now.
Hon Cho
The 1/4″ and 1/2″ drive, skipping 3/8″ drive, seems to be a European thing. Except that for the USA (and perhaps the world), 3/8″ drive is the most commonly used drive size. 1/4″ drive will cover up to 16mm (5/8″ fractional) and 1/2″ drive will easily go down to 8mm (5/16″ fractional) so plenty of overlap. Plus, using 1/4″ drive tools on smaller fasteners discourages excessive torque. Using 1/4″ and 1/2″ drive exclusively is probably a rational choice if you have no 3/8″ drive tools, but since 3/8″ drive is very common so it looks like a serious omission by Festool to lots of folks omitting 3/8″ drive.
Didn’t see any mention on country of origin of the tools.
As an aside, I was in a local LIDL, which is a German retailer, similar to Aldi and they had a metric socket set covering 4mm to 32mm with 1/4″ and 1/2″ drive sockets, no 3/8″ drive. This was just a set of sockets without any drive tools. Plus, they didn’t separately offer any drive tools (ratchets, breaker bars, etc.) in any size! The COO of the set was China, but I’m guessing chosen by German product managers.
Hon Cho
11mm and 7/16 inch are functionally equivalent (about 4/1000″ difference in size) as are 8mm and 5/16, 19mm and 3/4.
John
Sets like these are really just for the Festool diehards. They do small short run sets of random tools, some useful, some not. Regardless they will sell all of these, but I would guess most sets will see little real world use in the U.S.
Tojen1981
Looks nice but what crackhead put these size selections in on the 1/4″? All these x/32″ sizes that are rarely (if ever) used and no 7/16″? Also, all the 1/2″ sizes are easily obtainable in 3/8″ drive so why even bother doing 1/2″? No deep sockets? Allen wrenches? A flex-head 1/4″ ratchet would also remove the need for a 1/4″ driver. For the money, you could build a better kit that has the actual stuff you would use.
Stuart
I use 11/32” a lot, and so I tend to figure others might use sizes I rarely or never need.
7/16”, though, that’s usually one of the sizes I buy when trying a new or unfamiliar line of wrenches or sockets. It’s not just a must-have for *me*, it’s always included.
Dustin
I am willing to bet that this set was made by Felo. I am seeing a lot of similarities to the ergo line
W00dy
Felo handles! No doubt about it. The rest probably is Felo as well sure looks like it. Pretty good stuff not the cheaper Asian stuff. But not the best either.
Charles
Who is the OEM? Surely they didn’t make all them tools.
Dustin
Looks to be a rebrand of the Felo ergo line
J. Newell
You seem to be right. I saw “Stahl” on the sockets and guessed Stahlwille, but the Felo sockets are a nearly exact match.
Josh Burkard
Skipping 3/8” seems like a good way to conserve space. I recently bought the 172 piece Gedore Red set that has 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2” drive, with shallow and deep sockets. I really like the set, and chose it because it was comprehensive yet metric only. Gedore makes another set without the 3/8” drive and deep sockets, and that allows them to fit a wrench set, pliers set, and hammer in there.
J. Newell
I agree – in real life, though it wouldn’t be my first choice, I think I could do quite well with 1/4″ and 1/2″. Although similarly, an enormous percentage of what I actually need sockets for, as opposed to things that I use them because they’re convenient to use, could be done with 3/8″, and I often do.
You want to make sure you’ve got quality ratchets if you start going big or applying a lot of torque, but I’ve got S-K and Snap-On tools I bought 50 years ago that are still going strong and some of them could make a few revolutions of the Sun if you strung out all the revs they’ve made.
TJ
Yawn.
You can get better sets much cheaper.
I’m a Festool user, but this is just a vanity set.