Festool is launching a new line of premium cordless power tools in North America, with availability starting in July 2020.
Festool describes their new line of 18V cordless power tools as being engineered to exacting standards of excellence, with features and pricing aimed at woodworkers, DIY hobbyists, and craftsmen of all [skill] levels.
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The new Festool cordless power tools will be powered by a new compact 4.0Ah battery pack that has Bluetooth connectivity as a standard built-in feature. The Bluetooth tech enables communication with (compatible or retrofit) mobile dust extractors, enabling them to start automatically when the tools are switched on.
The new line of tools will start off with a cordless drill/driver, T 18 Easy, and impact driver, TID 18.
The Festool T 18 Easy cordless drill driver, above, features a keyless chuck, 2-speed gearbox, and stepless speed control. It also features built-in bit storage, a removable belt clip, and an EC TEC brushless motor.
Festool T Easy Cordless Drill Features & Specs
- 1/2″ keyless chuck
- 239 in-lbs max soft joint torque
- 398 in-lbs max hard joint torque
- 0-450/0-1500 RPM
Price: $199 for the bare tool, $299 for the kit
Both the kit and bare tool come with Systainer tool boxes.
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Festool Products
Buy Now: Kit via Festool Products
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ETA: July 2020
The TID 18 impact driver features a brushless motor, 1/4″ hex quick-release chuck, and 3 + T mode gearbox. There are 3 speed and torque settings, and the additional T mode detects the transition between sheet metal and wood and automatically adapts the speed.
Festool TID 18 Cordless Impact Driver Features & Specs
- 1/4″ hex chuck
- 1593 in-lbs max torque
- 3+T speed modes
- 0-1200 RPM
- 0-2000 RPM
- 0-3200 RPM
- T-Mode: 750-3200 RPM
- Weighs 2.12 lbs
The new Festool impact driver features magnetic bit storage and comes with a removable belt clip.
Price: $199 for the bare tool, $349 for the kit
Both the kit and bare tool come with Systainer tool boxes. The kit comes with (2) battery packs and a TCL 6 rapid charger.
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Festool Products
Buy Now: Kit via Festool Products
Buy Now via Tool Nut
(Festool Products is a Tool Nut Company)
ETA: July 2020
Here’s Where Things Get Interesting – Festool Cordless Combo Kits
Coinciding with the launch of the new cordless power tools, Festool is also launching new cordless power tool bundles and kit options.
This is partly why I see the new line as a new breed for Festool. I am a little surprised by the more basic nature of the new cordless drill, but sometimes that can be good, most notably when it comes to cost savings. The new impact driver looks reasonably competitive, and with its multiple speed modes it has the makings of a flagship model.
Both the drill and impact driver kits are bundled with Festool 18V 4.0Ah compact bluetooth batteries as standard, which will make them very attractive to new and existing Festool users, especially those with one of their Bluetooth-equipped dust extractors – or plans to buy one.
Festool’s Bluetooth remote control retrofit module, for their standard CT vacs, remains incredibly affordable ($80 via Amazon) – both in competitive regards and in the context of typical Festool add-on and accessory pricing. They also have new smaller vacs with built-in Bluetooth controls.
While not inexpensive, Festool’s new cordless power tool combo kits do look to offer a bundle discount. For example, there’s a new kit that bundles the new TID 18 impact driver with Festool’s HKC 55 cordless guide rail circular saw. A close-resembling saw-only kit is priced at $699, and the combo kit looks to add in the $199 bare tool kit for a $875 bundle price.
Here are the combo kits that are launching with the new drill, impact driver, or both:
- TID 18 Impact Driver + PDC 18 Set 576490 – $599.00
- Impact Driver + Hammer Drill Kit
- TID 18 Impact Driver + T 18+3 576494 – $549
- Impact Driver + Multi-Chuck Drill Kit
- TID 18 Impact Driver + PSC 205603 – $699
- Impact Driver + Carvex Jig Saw
- TID 18 Impact Driver + TSC 55 205601 – $875
- Impact Driver + Cordless Track Saw
- TID 18 Impact Driver + HKC 55 205602 – $875
- Impact Driver + Cordless Circular Saw with Track
- PRO Finish Pack 205604 – $1499
- Impact Driver
- Multi-Chuck Drill
- Track Saw
- Carvex Jig Saw
- (2) Compact and (2) High Capacity Batteries
- PRO Remodeler Pack 205605 – $1799
- Impact Driver
- Hammer Drill
- Circular Saw with Track
- Vecturo Oscillating Multi-Tool
- (2) Compact and (2) High Capacity Batteries
Some of the kits also include a slew of starter accessories. All include a selection of Systainer tool boxes as well.
Buy Now via Festool Products
Buy Now via Tool Nut
ETA: July 2020
Additional Discussion
At the surface, it looks like Festool has simply come out with a new no-frills brushless drill/driver and competitively featured and spec’ed brushless impact driver. They say this is all part of a new cordless power tool line, and there seems to be a lot more to this launch than just a new drill and impact driver. Things seem a lot bigger than I initially consisdered.
Festool has a couple of cordless power tools, and this looks to be a new strategic effort at strengthening their appeal.
I own a couple of Festool tools, and have tried out a couple of others over the years. While I have generally been favoring cordless power tools, I have not upgraded my Festool tools, nor have I expressed much interest in doing so. My next Festool purchase will likely be for another corded sander, despite Festool launching hybrid dual-powered sanders 2-1/2 years ago.
Their new cordless power tool combo kits are still priced at “whoa, that’s a LOT of money” levels, but these new combo kits look to bring things together. Festool has offered tool plus dust extractor savings in the past, but I don’t think I’ve seen their cordless power tools bundled together like this before.
Bluetooth-equipped tools that automatically start their new compatible vacs or accessorized larger CT vacs? Compact 4Ah batteries? Money-saving kit bundles?
I think that a lot more people are going to pay closer attention to Festool’s cordless line.
As for the prices, even the $199 bare tools come with a Systainer. Personally, I really like the modular nature of Systainer tool boxes for individual power tools, but that does result in higher pricing. It’s not as big a deal when you’re talking about say a $700 tool, but the relative component cost is going to be a lot higher at $199 to $349.
It will definitely be interesting to see how well these new tools perform, and how the Festool 18V cordless power tool system evolves from here. I don’t think I’ve said those words before – “Festool 18V cordless power tool system.” This certainly does look to be the start of something new.
Rog
I know Festool is top-tier premium but, man, why do their tools look like cheap store brands?
Mike
I tried the cordless jigsaw and that was the first thing that came to my mind it look and felt cheap and wasn’t impressed with its performance I think the Dewalt cordless is way better
Andrew
Some tools I just do not know where there is much room for dramitic improvement, a jigsaw being one of them. Dust collection is not going to really happen, how much more can ergonomics improve over say the DeWalt? Having never used Festool they seem to be “worth it” in dust collection for tools like the kapex and tracksaw. Are their drills “worth it,” probably not, but a screwdriver at wallmart will turn a screw for the common homeowner just as well as an expensive one.
Rob
Amongst the fancy pants tool polishers like myself, that jigsaw is seen as one of their worser offerings.
Mike
Hi Mike – I concur. I have Festool sanders and the Domino and but am not impressed with their cordless drills and Carvex; I sold it for almost what I paid and bought the corded Bosch JS572B and the new brushless Dewalt 18V jigsaw for portability, for what I paid for the. Arbex In my opinion, the guides on the Bosch and performance of Bosch. Both jigsaws have a much more robust feel and actually really impressed with that Dewalt.
Joseph C
I’m also a giant Festool fan. I bought my first tracksaw 15 years ago and STILL geek out whenever I use it. I also appreciate being able the build quality and durability of their units, and that spare parts are available to sustain one ‘s investment. e.g. I have two of their dust extractors that have seen daily use for over 12 years each.
But that’s an ugly drill. Dang.
Since the baselines for drill functionality are fairly low as well as consistent, Festool s advantage was always their interchangeable heads.
Practically, and from a marketing standpoint, I am shocked they would come out with a drill like this that is priced 50% more than their competitors and offers none of their specific Innovations.
Jim Felt
Why, yes, they certainly do. And at least Hilti has factory stores in metropolitan areas to support even their smallest items.
Both, however, seem I believe to most hobbyists and smaller contractors too fussy and hard to service nationally.
Change my mind?
fred
I wonder if Festool is manufacturing these new tools themselves in the EU?
Or have they contracted out with a different OEM – possibly in Asia?
Like Stuart – my Festool tools are all corded (Track Saw, Sanders, Dust Extractor and Domino XL Machine – all made in Germany – and all performing well for my needs.
Jim Felt
fred.
Yes. And like Fein I hope they’ll continue that behavior.
fred
My Fein tools are also of the corded variety. My old Fein “Dalek-Looking” dust extractor is still going strong as is my old Multimaster.
In one business we used some Fein grinders and polishers – a few that seemed rather unique. In the jobsite businesses we used both Multimasters and Supercuts – and had a Jancy (now part of Fein) mag drill press. I never heard any major complaints about any of the Fein tools. I can’t say that about some other tools that we bought from some other manufacturers.
Planegrain
Do you think they will ever make a cordless Domino? Or perhaps a inshop tool doesn’t need to be cordless.
Diplomatic Immunity
Honestly it’s kinda weird that they haven’t made a cordless Domino yet. I would think that would be one of the tools that would benefit not having a cord attached to it to get into tighter spots. I haven’t ever used one but I would have thought it a no-brainer to make a cordless version.
Stuart
I don’t really see how a cordless Domino would be very beneficial.
Remember, a lot of these tools often have dust collector hoses attached and are more frequently used in workshops.
I think we’d see a cordless trim router sooner than a Domino.
Jason M
So the batteries transmit the Bluetooth signal and not the tools themselves?
Stuart
That’s my understanding, that the batteries transmit the signal when it senses the tool is on.
SteveW
Yes, the battery sends the signal when it senses current flow. This makes all the tools that use the battery a remote for the Festool dust collector.
Travis
They are making a huge deal out of one new tool…an impact driver. And then pairing it with an up date 21700 celled battery and existing tools claiming new breed. It is just new kits, Nothing innovative going on here.
Randy
And, I will assume their impact driver uses their proprietary 1/4” hex chuck. So, industry standard non-Festool hex bits will not lock into the church properly. With the continuing improvement in hex bit design and innovation, being coupled to a proprietary design is a deal breaker for me. Then, try to find Festool hex bits. …Festool dealer or online, if they are in stock.
Then, there are the metric sized circular saw blades, and no inexpensive ones for rough work, and the proprietary jig saw blades with a special machined back to “ensure proper alignment and tracking” of the saw’s blade guide. Again, more limitations. No thank you!
I have a lot of Festo/Festool tools. My track saw, router and jig saw are pre-Festool Festo in the blue color scheme and machine systainers. BTW. My tracksaw is nearly identical in appearance, but much better feel and built with more magnesium and metal parts. 3 vacs, 3 sanders (Rotex 150 most used) , Domino (Mafell duo doweller much better), Kapex (OK, prefer my Makita 12” slider), 12v Drill with multi chuck (rarely used).
Overall impression. OK. Cost of ownership too high due to proprietary accessories and expendables. Poor value.
fred
The Domino might have a slight advantage over the Mafell Duo Doweller at the small end (4 mm vs. 3/16) but loses it at the other end of the spectrum maxing out at 10mm dominoes vs 5/8 dowels. I bought my Domino XL machine in 2013 previously having tried a Freud duo doweller (FDW710K V0) about 4 or 5 years before. The Freud machine was so sloppy as to be worthless. I’m not sure when the Mafell version was introduced – but the bad experience with the Freud may have put me off the idea of buying another dowelling machine. Anyway – now just puttering around in my home shop the Domino machine – plus some add-ons from Seneca Woodworking – seem to suit most of my needs. I can’t recall when I last used my tablesaw tenoning jig my drill-press mortising chisels or my dowelling jig.
Were I to do it over again – maybe Mafell would have gotten my money. They certainly seem to make some fine tools.
fred
A senior moment must have gotten me again – max domino cutter is 14mm not 10mm – still a bit thinner than a 5/8 dowel
SteveW
Only on the 700, the 500 uses up to 10mm. They overlap the 8 and 10mm sizes, but the big difference is the plunge depth, 28mm for the 500 and 70mm for the 700.
fred
Good observations.
I believe that Festool would likely suggest that you purchase both machines: The 500 if you need the 4,5 or 6mm dominos and the 700 if you need the 12 or 14mm dominos – with the 8 and 10 mm in the overlap as you say.
But aftermarket cutters (re-machined Festool cutters) and an adapter from Seneca – allow the 700 to use 4, 5 and 6mm cutters. Seneca also has added 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch cutters.
When I bought the 700 – my first application was for rebuilding some large exterior doors. In the past I would have used splines – and done all the work on the tablesaw.
Instead I used 14mm dominoes. Since then – I’ve used the Seneca cutters for applications better suited to smaller dominoes. I don’t know if Festool would approve (I don’t expect to file any warranty claims) – but the Seneca cutters have worked well for me. They also make an adapter that threads onto the 700 allowing the use of 500 series cutters – but depth of cut is then limited to the length of the 500 cutter.
https://www.senecawoodworking.com/
Rob
I had Mafell’s previous duo doweller that preceded the one that came out last year. It’s a great machine if you choose to try it out. Just mind that it is just about the exact opposite of a biscuit joiner. Your cuts need to be dead on. Their is no wiggle room.
fred
The Freud machine seemed to have the opposite problem. It would not make exact repetitive cuts. Even when I made a jig to align it in place the holes might be off by a 1/32 or more . The indexing pins on mine were not precisely with the co-linear with the fence. Overall it was OK if you wanted to use undersized dowels in mismatched holes side to side and then trim and/or plane the glue up true. Maybe I had a bad machine – but it seems that Freud quickly withdrew it from the market – so maybe I was not alone in my struggles with it.
Rob
The Freud was not as bad as the Triton machine but it certainly was not the Mafell (which I believe was also sold as a Hoffman) machines.
It’s one of those things like when nobody wanted to build a better biscuit joiner than Lamello, just a cheaper biscuit joiner. And recently, everybody wants to make an OMT but none of them are half as good as a Fein multi master. TBH though, the Domino XL is awesome and if it does everything you need it to do, then you’re pretty much all set. I recommend the XL over the DF500 when it can be afforded.
fred
I agree with you about the XL (DF700) – it just feels right in my hands – and with the Seneca adapters it can pretty much handle the whole range of dominos from 4 to 14mm. The smaller domino machine (DF 500) might be a better fit for some – but I like the ergonomics of the bigger machine.
I’ll also stay with my older Fein Multimaster.
The issue about power tools sometimes boils down to what fits well in your hands and suits he work you want to accomplish. The size and heft that I like may not be for everyone. My wife – with smaller hands – as an example – prefers tool grips with slimmer profiles.
Rob
The impact driver uses ball detent bits like every other impact driver on the market. And to clarify, Festool has never locked customers into having to use their centrotec bits. They give you a bit holder that takes INDUSTRY STANDARD wire detent bits and a 1/2” three jaw chuck that takes whatever you want. You are misinformed.
Rob
Their jigsaws take standard t-shank blades, ie the Bosch once’s you can buy everywhere. Their blades are standard tshank blades that fit every other make of jigsaw. They do have one extra thick blade, as does Bosch (multiple) and Mafell (a really thick one) and those don’t fit most jigsaws.
Circular saw wise, they currently make a Mafell copy cross cut saw that’s pretty unimpressive, two sizes of track saw and a sliding compound miter saw. They resell Leitz blades and I often buy Festool branded saw blades even though I don’t own a single Festool saw. However, if you want to be a bum about it, oh yes, there are dozens of different quality (and priced) aftermarket blades for their most popular tracksaw and their scms Literally everyone makes a blade for the TS55. Everyone.
Really, the only thing stopping anyone from buying a Festool saw is that there are better options out there.
SteveW
Other than the Mafell, which I have no experience with and is not widely available, what do you consider a “better option”?
Scar
I want to know this too. I really like the idea of the cross cut saw with miter track, but other than the Mafell, are there any other options?
Diplomatic Immunity
Are you talking specifically about the Mafell Erika push/pull saw? I haven’t seen anyone else make a pull saw like that. Even the newest Festool table saw I don’t believe has a pull option where you can pull the blade towards you. IF someone else makes something similar it’s probably in Europe somewhere
Stephen
The impact driver uses the standard 1/4 chuck. A friend was given a sample to test and review. He did confirm that its a standard 1/4 and not a centrotec
Mike (the other one)
I feel like the Bluetooth feature is pure gimmick.
Stuart
I connect my corded tools to my dust extractor, and the vac turns on automatically when sawdust is being generated.
A hose-end Bluetooth remote is convenient, but sometimes I forget to turn on the vacuum. Other times, the on-off button-presses are annoying and I just leave the vac on.
A Bluetooth battery is pretty much the easiest way to transition a user like me from corded tool preference to cordless, at least as far as tools that create copious amounts of dust are concerned.
Rob
They have a Bluetooth power switch you put on the end of the hose that renders the bluetooth batteries redundant.
RKA
For the track saw and circular saw it can be useful. I’ve forgotten to turn on the dust collector and you’re quickly reminded how good it is as soon as you get into the cut. The jigsaw dust collection is somewhat hopeless, but it does help and the jigsaws have no blower, so it’s somewhat helpful keeping the cut line clear. Drills and impact, usually it won’t be a benefit. The Bluetooth switch on the end of the hose can be a substitute, but I would pay a few bucks for these higher output batteries with Bluetooth (in addition to the switch).
Frank D
As much as I love the idea of systainers, everything in its dedicated space, etc … there is just no WAF when it comes Festool premium tools and their containers … when it can be done with mainstream brands, in kit or bare tool, for so much less.
Diego
This looks a little to late. In my eyes festool has always been a brand that relies on of the user and word of mouth rather than marketed heavily like Milwaukee and Dewalt. And while that keeps them in a premium category it also hurts them when appealing to an entry level or mid level user. Secondly, the amount the cordless tools market has been saturated in the last 8-10 years has positioned users to already buy into a large brand and not necessarily seek out a different platform. Just my 0.02 cents
Frank D
I agree, had they made this push 10-15 years ago, with some aggressive pricing and starter kits, I could have seen myself picking up some items; but like most people, I have heavily invested in another tool platform or two … and budgeting for premium niche brands, is just not in the cards. If you just have a $100 drill and driver kit, want to take the plunge and switch, no big deal; once you have $500-$1k and more in one or two brand(s)’s cordless tools … who is going to switch?
And if anything, I’m cautious with premium brands and niche items. I have gotten burned a few times with discontinued series and / or brands that went out of business.
Robert Adkins
Yes, many people are more deeply invested in batteries and chargers than the tools. I guess I have a bit over 1K worth of “tool only” cordless tools, and probably $1200 worth of batteries and chargers. The tail wags the dog. If there were universal fit batteries, I would buy whatever brand that strikes my fancy.
RCWARD
Festool is an over priced hype. That’s what you all are trying to say in a nice way. I agree 100 %.
blocky
I think Festool knows their market. They might carry a higher price-tag up front, but as far as sanders and dominoes, for people who are using these tools daily as part of their production workflow, the price point, weighing performance, is very economical.
I doubt they expect to their base to dump old tools for the latest, but rather expect as businesses wear out old tools, many will move forward with these incremental upgrades.
The blue-tooth battery as a means of auto-start makes a lot of sense to me. I picked up 3 corded festool sanders last year so I’m good for awhile, but I probably would have bought the cordless sander if this was an option.
Chrisk1970
I’m liking the compact 4.0s. Ofcourse I’m down to myC15 and syslite for Festool cordless. I don’t care what anyone says, they make solid cordless and corded tools. My shop is running a lot of Dewalt, some Bosch and some Milwaukee but my mainstay tools are my TS, Kapex, OF1400 and OF2200 and Sanders and vacs. I ended up getting rid of most of my cordless tools a while back before they started expanding their cordless lineup but to reiterate, the cordless tools of old that use the centrotec chuck don’t accept 1/4” bits as the system is FAR better than a standard 1/4 chuck and use more of the shaft for more solid bit retention and torque. Needless to say you an use any 1/4 bit in a centrotec bit holder and they ain’t that much money. Most of my cordless lineup is Dewalt nowadays and have even expanded into the Metabo HPT lineup for the circular saw and sliding miter. I’d try these out but I’ll pass as I don’t want to get anymore guns! I’m FESTooned with drill and impacts!
MrBill
I invested pretty heavily in Festool around 10 years ago as a hobbyist. When it became almost impossible to find batteries for my old Centrotec, I turned to Milwaukee for drivers and drilling. Festool was one of the first to bring rail saws to the market and I needed an alternative to having a cabinet saw. Now that nearly everybody has a rail solution, I would not go with Festool if I had to do it again. Bags for the CT-22 are getting hard to find and relatively pricey. I do like that I can get third-party blades for the TS55 and TS75 (albeit not as good as FT). I just replaced the backing plate on my RO-150 for the second time. As a sanding solution, they are one of the top in my book. Everything else (except Domino maybe — I don’t have one) is meh at wow pricing.
Robert Adkins
Well, they sure look better and more conventional. If only DeWalt batteries would fit them, I might try one. 🙂
Terence
Tom Silva and the guys on TOH seem to all use Festool products. Understandably, they get some perks from the arrangement, but they could’ve chosen any company so I think it speaks to Festool’s quality. As a hobbyist with a sweet tooth for nice tools, I’ll have to lump this stuff into a tier with SawStop, SnapOn, and other brands that charge a premium for products meant to be used daily. I’ll keep my eye on their products for sure!
Brad
I’m just a home user, a few woodworking projects a year and even though I can afford Festool I’ve never seen them as worth the price at home.
I’m actually thinking about this drill (no I really don’t need it). The price for the bare tool is good $199 but a single battery is $130 does it come with a charger or is that another $75 ?
RKA
No, that’s just the battery. The charger would be extra. If you don’t have batteries, it’s best to get the kit which includes the charger.
SteveW
TOH is sponsored by Festool. They don’t get some perks, they get it all free, and Festool gets free advertising.
Brad
I have no idea what you’re attempting to say.
All I asked is does the battery come with a charger?
That’s pretty much a yes or no if you know the answer.
SteveW
Brad: My reply was to Terence, this forum’s reply button doesn’t automatically note who a reply is aimed at.
Frank D
Festool and Home Depot and GMC (and who knows who else, don’t revall in a split sec) are sponsors of the TOH show, so who would not use Festool products provided for free to be featured on the show? If it was a different brand, you would not be seeing Festool prominently, with readable labels. Other brands, outside of sponsorship, get their brand labels taped over. Not complaining. Just yhe nature of product placement, sponsorship, endorsements, …
Corey Moore
I think his point was that TOH likely could have chosen any major brand to request a sponsorship, which I believe. Partnering with Festool was probably their decision, and should therefore speak to their opinion of the brands tools.
Planegrain
Platform, platform, platform! I think you will stick to your platform tools. Rather than buying batteries & Charger. Unless it’s an over the top product than your company doesn’t have.
blocky
Btw, do these look long in the body for brushless to anyone else? Particularly the drill.
RKA
The body is slender and the chuck is a normal Jacobs style chuck. But the current Festool drill with Jacobs chuck is 1/2” or a smidge more longer than my 2nd gen M18 with a Rohm chuck. Festool could have made the drill more compact, but it looks like they recycled the existing body for the removable chuck drill and just fixed a Jacobs on it, which doesn’t lend itself to a well balanced drill. I guess they didn’t want to spend any money optimizing the tool, instead just looking to offer something using their existing parts and molds.
Mike Ramsey
I’m definitely not in Festools target market. If I was a high end trim carpenter or remodeler I wouldn’t have anything but Festool though mostly for the dust collection ability of all of their tools. That has to save a ton of time in the cleanup at the end of a job.
That being said I really want a domino for my furniture projects. That would really speed up the mortise and tenon jobs.
Nathan
Look like Festool is starting to move mainstream. That drill might as well be yellow, red, blue, or green. As would the impact driver. While I would say Festool started the tracksaw movement I’m not so sure their track saw is top dog today. and it’s been cloned enough there are affordable knockoffs with as good a results.
Are the new festool products still made in Germany?
I do like the domino idea it’s the answer to a problem of time. I’m a touch amazed there hasn’t been a competing product. and no I don”t mean a doweling jig.
Figured someone would make up a mortiser jig that uses say a trim router or whatever. Maybe there is one. I’ve tried their sander and I don’t find it that much better than the bosch to be honest. but I see the appeal to some.
It’s certainly marketed to a specific idea. I know people I work with that drool over festool products because if nothing else they must be better. Made in Germany, costs lots more than those plebeian tools the uneducated use.
I’ve never seen a true side by side comparison in their products other than their miter saw – which usually looses out to others in a side by side. If I could use one of their other products in a side by side in a store I might be easier swayed but I doubt I’d buy any of their stuff other than the domino machine.
fred
Until the Festool patents run out on the Domino machine – we are unlikely to see competition appear. It was sort of like Fein’s Multimaster – once it was off-patent lots of alternatives hit the market. That may be less of a thing with the Domino Machine – because unlike the Multimaster OMT – dominos have a narrower range of applicability.
BTW – Porter Cable once made a jig the called Mor-Ten – to be used with a router to make mortises and matching loose tenons (aka dominos). I thought that it was a bit cumbersome – and is long since out of production:
https://www.partswarehouse.com/Porter-Cable-5009-Morten-Jig-Mortise-and-Tenon-Joints-Jig-s/170756.htm
Also being an early adopter has its pluses and minuses. I bought a Festool TS55 track saw as an early adopter – and have gotten lots of use out of it. But I find it a bit underpowered – and pricey. Doing it over – if I wanted to spend big bucks – maybe I’d buy a Mafell – or if my wallet were slimmer – maybe the Makita would do.
Diplomatic Immunity
The price isn’t completely terrible but then again it is just a cordless drill and a cordless impact, both of which plenty of other companies make that are probably just as good if not better for a cheaper price. I applaud them at least for keeping the prices in the ballpark of mortals and not marketing a cordless drill as a posh/premium tool. That said if they’re ever going to lure users to their cordless platform they have a long way to go as there are a lot of players in the game with massive cordless tool lineups that people would rather be “locked” into.
Matt F
Someone at Festool finally realized there are a lot of customers who won’t come their way because they are on another cordless platform. The big names know that a drill/driver are the entry path and retention mechanisms for most user. Everyone buys $100-$200 drill/driver kits and then proceeds to spend multiples of that on other items in the platform. The big names have also made strides into some of Festool’s niche spaces with track saws, installation drivers, dust collection etc.
Festool really screwed up by not offering a stable cordless platform earlier. The drill at driver seem perfectly serviceable. Not sure if it enough for someone to stop carrying another brand of batteries, which is what they need to happen.
Rx9
At that price point, it would behoove them to build tools with metal bodies. That wouldn’t have an impact on performance, but it would differentiate the product in a meaningful way.
fred
The advantage of the plastic-bodied tool is that it provides the user some degree of electrical insulation. My old corded Porter-Cable metal-bodied tools came with a 3-prong plug to provide grounding for the case. Naturally you were perhaps more worried about the case being energized from an internal short than from some outside contact. Then when double-insulated (some part plastic part metal) were introduced – they did away with the 3-wire cord with ground. A selling point was that they were safer – even providing some protection from electrical shock from external sources. Fast forward a lot of years – and if you happen (your negligence or that of others) to drive a drill bit or drywall screw into a bit of live circuitry – your plastic drill/driver handle will not be energized.
Oleg K
I like festool but their prices are just nuts! Not a single professional contractor I know uses Festool because of how much they cost.
Also, on more than one occasion, I’ve seen people who did use Festool complain about the lack of power, especially in their drills and I can see that the same is true for the current top of the line drills as well!
Stuart
Festool tools are solutions to problems that not everyone shares.
Like any brand, some tools are good, some are great, and others are best for very specific user needs or wants.