Is the Festool CXS worth $131 more than the Milwaukee M12 Fuel Drill Driver?
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- A profesional point of view on whether it's worth it to spend the extra money on the Festool CXS as compared to the Milwaukee M12 Fuel Drill Driver Kit.
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FESTOOL KAPEX MITRE SAW
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DEWALT 10" PORTABLE TABLE SAW WITH STAND
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MAKITA 18V TRACK SAW
-This is a game changer when it comes to breaking down sheet good and making precise cuts!
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MILWAUKEE M12 OSCILLATING MULTI TOOL
The brand new version and the old one are both 1st class all the way!
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NAIL GUNS:
DEWALT 18G BRAD NAILER
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GREX 23G PIN NAILER
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DRILLS:
MAKITA SUBCOMPACT SET
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Festool CXS
-The most precise drill in the world and my favourite tool!
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LASERS:
DEWALT LINE LASER
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LEICA DISTO D2 MEASURE DEVICE
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VACUUMS:
MAKITA 18V CORDLESS VACUUM
-This is my 3rd Favourite tool. Sucks surprisingly well and the portability is soon handy!
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FESTOOL CT MINI
-A great portable vacuum for a mitre saw or any other hand held tool.
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TOOL STORAGE:
FESTOOL SYSTAINER
-A great integrated system that all locks together, and can be used as a works bench as well.
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FESTOOL ROLLING CART
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1. Festool comes with a magnetic bit holder that accepts normal bits.
2. Festool invented excentric chuck, but CXS/TXS angled chuck is slim and can go very close, so no need for excentric-chuck that is used with T12/15/18/C12/15/18 and another one for DRC/PDC.
3. CXS is wey underpowered even in speed 1, can't screw flush every time 4mm x 30mm in chipboard, I have this tool and is crap, very slow in speed 1 and not enough torque for mundane and casual usual stuff like 4x30mm and 4x50mm flush in chipboard. Also the magnet in the cxs angled head came off with very light and very rare use.
4. Festool T12 @ 2.6 Ah compact ( or C12 but I don't accept front heavy) is a nice drill driver, has 20 Nm soft torque in speed1, and is good enough even in speed 2, and with the compact 2,6 Ah with only 3 cell is light, but not in production anymore...
5. Bosch 12V-15 FC is heavy duty, has 15Nm soft torque in speed1 and 30 hard on hard stop in speed2, and is good enough even in speed 2 for screwing, but the angled chuck is stupid bulky. It has an excentric chuck. There is also the new brushless GSR 12V-35 FC, 20 Nm soft, 35 hard, but noisyer. I don't like the bulky angled head so I made my oun from a bit holder head, longer screws, a Dewalt angled adaptor shortened in lenght, and a custom flange.
6. There is also Hilti SFE 2 A12 @ 4Ah with one row of 21700, brushless but less noisy compared to other Makita-Bosch brushless that are absurdly noisy. There are some things I don't like about it. It has an excentric head, but the angled one is made thicker in sides like to force the excentric one... SFE with no battery and no charger, cost like GSR 12V-15 FC full set in lboxx with 2 x 2Ah and 3A charger. It has a 13mm chuck with metal shroud, but is front heavy, the metal can damage wood and stuff, and 13mm is not needed because all drills bits, even very large, are available reduced for 9-10mm... Is also bigger compared to GSR or CXT, and the grip is more straight compared to SF A12, and I like more angled grips because when pushing the force is in line with the hand and stress less the hand joint. Also, altrough is fast and has torque for normal screws, is spect only for up to 14mm drill in wood, weird 'cos GSR 12V-15 with 5 Nm less is spect up to 25mm in wood and can do even 35 - an abuse I don' t recomand, but still...
On that chuck after you tighten it all the way down you should turn it a eight of a turn the other way to lock it
jl boone dude, that’s a great tip- I did not know that.
I just got a cxs drill and I also have the Milwaukee. There’s seems to be a considerable amount of wobble in the chuck. I checked the bits and compared to the Milwaukee it wobbles a lot. My Milwaukee is a lot smoother. Do I have a lemon? Does your cxs spin true or does it wobble as well?
@@Joseph-ej4og Take your Festool back. You have a 3 year warranty. Your CXS should outperform the Milwaukee in every situation. Simply a superior tool. If it doesn't, you have an issue. Fortunately it's covered by that industry leading warranty. Plus, no other tool brand on earth holds its value like Festool. You can always get your money back out of their tools if you need to do so. O just updated my drill and impact. I picked up the new TID18/PDC18 kit. It's great. The PDC has all the same capabilities of this Milwaukee, but you're getting them in a top of the line 18v Hammer drill. The C18 also has the Centrotec chuck system. And I haven't found a better drill to use one handed. I guess it just comes down to what you want to do with it. If you're fixing a few things around the house on Sunday afternoon, then get the Milwaukee M12. If you're using it to build cabinets or furniture , then I'd get the Festool
Nice to see someone do a review that includes honesty other than more power is better or it’s just expensive.... great job
Thank you- it's important to me to try and provide some information as to how a particular tool functions in the real world! Power can be a nice feature, but in my opinion ergonomics is more important. Thanks for checking out the channel.
Actually , the price, platform and power is more important when the tools feel almost identical in the hand!!😁
I smell Festool koolaid on your breath
How do you figure? He was VERY honest through the whole video.
100%. I'm so sick of these reviews from bull-in-a-china-shop reviewers talking about power and money alone...like, what are using to install cabinets? the same thing you use to drill into concrete? It's a screwdriver for Christ's sake.
I bought this nail gun as we were planning to renew all the fencing in our back garden. As this involved 19 double slatted fence panels, 10 of which needed to be cut down in size, we knew there would be a need for a great ruclips.net/user/postUgkxHQsUrwNr5GQrnx9V4xDdUr56qxwuiBHt deal of re-stapling the wooden slats to the wooden framework. Each alteration required the re-stapling of 62 wooden slats with double staples. Prior to starting the work we ordered sufficient additional staples as per the instructions with the gun.The gun performed fantastically throughout the entire project with no jams of misfires. The adjustable power was excellent allowing the staples to be fired into the 8mm slats to the correct depth. For the price paid this was a bargain and it proved itself to be so reliable and versatile making an arduous task much quicker and professional. I cannot recommend this product highly enough and it will be used on many other projects in the future.
That offset chuck is a huge bonus. I didn't realize it would be, but I find it is the most useful part of the Milwaukee.
Great review! Appreciate the thorough review and comparison between both 👍
@ 7:59 Just that beautiful forward and reverse clicking sound seals the deal for me. It’s like that thump noise a BMW or a Benz makes when you close the door. Those who know…know.
Great comparison.
Excellent review, thank you. As far as the Milwaukee forward and reverse switch, it reminds me what my dad used to say.
“Every idiotic design decision was somebody’s fantastic idea…”
It seems like sometimes they build these tools and completely skip the part where you actually test the tools in the field.
I wonder if they had to make some things different in order to avoid lawsuits.
I will steal that quote!!! :)
thx for the honest, i respect that as much as you wanted the Milwaukee to take its place it didn't.... We all HOPE that the Milwaukee engineers watch this and makes the revisions in the next release....
Without watching a single second of this video, the answer is “ YES”.
I own both and the festool wins ever single time.
My festool is mostly used around the house or finish work, while my Milwaukee is mostly used at my job sites.
Love both!
Lol -preach!
Ain't you think that Festool is kinda enormously expensive, in regard of it's poor characteristics, for home tool? Metabo is way better choice, if you need something precise, reliable and underpowered drill for light- to mid-duty work, I would definately go with Metabo bs 12 bl q, cheaper, better, standardized and overally greater tool for the money.
R. I. P. Festool.
Wow! Excellent, thoroughly detailed, and most importantly, honest review! Great job.
Much appreciated!
Thanks for the videos i bought the CXS recently and also have the m12 and by far the CXS is my favourite too .
It's funny. That was my first reaction.
I liked the "double vision" comparison a lot. :)
This was my first video from this channel.
Than I noticed the name.
The Funny Carpenter.
Keep up the great work! Very natural, easy going style.
Straightforward good points. No gimmicks or lousy sales pitches.
Honest review from a professional person.
Two thumbs up. Subscribed.
Thanks for checking out the channel, I appreciate the support!
I don't want or need one of these tools, but I'm going to watch the video and LOVE it! Cheers! Great content.
So far the best trigger on a screw driver i've used is on a $10 6v HF one. It's a rocker switch with forward at the top and reverse at the bottom. Thing's absolutely gutless for wood screws, but works great for electrical terminals.
Festool is the Ferrari, smooth and precise. Milwaukee is the Hemi, brute force. Your explanation for why Festool hasn't upgraded its power is best I've heard. It's for precise finish work. When I played with it at Rockler, with the soft start, smooth and silky. Festool knows their demographics/ market. Nice review.
A little more juice on the csx would be nice.
It’s a Ford Mustang vs Audi Quattro
@@Jhoekstra and who is Quattro here? I would say tthst Milwaukee is Audi RS and Festool is like VW Golf.
@@DimitrosSJ You are a funny carpenter. Just use what you like most.
@@Jhoekstra not really carpenter, but for this purposes I like Metabo(it is also a bit underpowered), very handy, ballanced, accurate. Oh and it can use any common bits and drills right away.
haha what a turnaround halfway, i thought this was going to somehow blow the cover off Festools price tag and hype, well played!.
multirevelator haha thanks for picking up on that! Was hoping it would make it more interesting.
A very good review!
I used the CXS a lot, but i never owned one myself. The ergonomics are unmatched, and the lack of power has never been an issue for me. It‘s the best small drill to actually work with.
Still, im unsure if i should buy one right now for myself. Its quite expensive compared to the competitors, and i would expect an update in the near future. Its more than 10 years old..
I am a Festool owner and a big Milwaukee owner/fan. It's nice to see a review with someone who has a rainbow of tool colors behind them. Thanks for the straight up review! If I cheap out and go Milwaukee, at least I know what I'm in for. And going Festool, I'll be ready for customized bits. The festool drills are the only tools I've refused to buy. I just couldn't imagine how they could be worth so much more than big box drills. But since I do have a plethora of Festool, I knew there was probably something I was missing. Thanks again!
If you can get used to the F/R switch the Milwaukee is tremendous.
Best tool review iv watched. Entertaining and informative. Great job
Thanks a lot Jared, I'm glad you enjoyed the review
Thank you. I was on the fence about these drills.
The best review I have seen , thank you !
Phenomenal reviewer
Really down to earth and honest 🥰
Keep them coming
Thanks checking out the Channel Mohammed, appreciate it!
Thank you for your wonderful channel sir
thank you for the good review, you told me exactly what i want know.. wobbling
Maybe the best in-depth review of carpentry drills ever! The quality of many tools is not the numbers they can bring up, or the pure power - it's the functionality.
Thanks Jot
Thanks for the review, finally a cordless drill that fits your hand.
I bought the CXS after watching this review. The most amazing thing I find about the tool is, it seems to know exactly how deep the screw should be sent in the wood. With my impact drivers, screws are often set too deep. The CXS has this magical power of anticipating where the screw head is going to sit flush with the surface, and it gives you the proper sound and tactile feedback too. Truly amazing tool.
You mean it starts grunting and yells "STOP". or just smell the burning, or watch for smoke. Many ways it alerts you.
Totally agree ! I am a bedroom
Installer and my Festool puts literally hundreds of precise small screws in very awkward spaces. Could not work without it now and would buy another instantly if and when it does stop working
For that type of work the CXS is 1000% perfect.
The Festool CSX was my "gateway" tool to the Festool world. It is built so well and feels perfectly built for precision driving. I definitely know how you feel about trusting the tool for that brass installation. Every time I need / want a new tool I give Festool serious consideration. I now have several Festool tools in my workshop and a cordless track saw on order. If Festool ever comes out with a cordless trim router I will pre-order one on the first day possible.
The csx is a nice way to check out what Festool is all about.
Fully agree. I Like your review and the relaxed way you present !
Thank you
Thanks for the review. Very helpful. I’ve used the M12 platform and have become frustrated by the drill’s power and difficulty controlling the speed. That said, based on your practica review, I’ll be picking up the CSX.
Well explained and I have to agree & still would go with festool ! Had my 1st’ generation CXS for several years and this drill is extremely compact and smooth in use. Tag seams to be pricey but believe me it’s the best purchase you can have!
I was Milwaukee fan for several years but notice they have drop there standard in tools they produce. Performance get better but quality and design haven’t move forward.
If you a person who looking for precision in your work that’s the one I would recommend to choose would be a long term satisfaction and joy with using it.
Cheerio
Very astute observations.
Milwaukee dropped the ball with the forward and reverse - I didn’t buy it because of that, takes an installation driver and makes it useless one handed 🤪
Hopefully version 2.0 improves a few things!
I don't like it either but I use it everyday and your thumb can reach the button one-handed. I dont have huge hands. I hope the next gen doesn't have that.
Yup. I have the Milwaukee and hate the reversing switch.
Forward /reverse and that it doesn't stand up at all with the larger battery are huge disappointments.
@@gizmo9987 Bigger batt burns it out?
Didn't even feel like I was watching a review/comparison. This really is how this should be done
Thanks George
This is one of the best tool reviews mate
Thanks buddy, thanks for checking out the channel!
Thank you for talking about the cheap plastic. Every time I've encountered a Festool I've been surprised at how cheap the plastic feels.
I have been wanting to get the 12v milwalkee combo drill. The battery is big for me I was but not debating anymore. I wish I could get the hilt combo drill. Awesome vid. Keep up the good work.
You never regret getting a better tool. I’ve been remodeling homes for 38 years, and Festool is a game changer. I’ve replaced most of my tools with Festool. The ease and perception of Festool is worth the money.
Thanks for the video.
makita is best of both worlds in my opinion
As someone who installs all day long, those little differences you mentioned add up to big ones. I can tell from your comparison picture which one you use the most. I have been waiting years for my Dewalt 12volt to die but the darn thing is so stubborn! Will buy the Festool when it does.
I've got the Festool - it's a nice little lightweight drill /driver, just right for working on 35mm cabinet hinges and small finishing screws. Of course I'm not going to use it with a 2" holesaw - that would be for my 18v Fein . It's Horses for courses ain't it - or as Scotty used to say " Ya got to use the right tool for the right job". Thanks for making the effort with your video.
Thanks Peter!
Great review man. Seems the Milwaukee is good enough for me. On the rare occasion I have to attach brass trim to a $5000.00 hood I’ll use a screwdriver I guess :).
Festools price revolves around the 36 month warranty - the fact that your tool is covered against theft is brilliant.
Wilwaukee has a 5 yr lol
I have since been using my Milwaukee installation tool daily. I will admit I am totally in love. Im a huge fan boy of this tool. It rides shotgun with me in my truck.
Mark Fitzer I hope you’re using the seltbelt!
I watch a fair amount of tool-review videos on RUclips. This was very well done. I could live WITHOUT the background music while you are speaking. I have not purchased either, but your video gave me a lot to think about.
Thanks for the feed back, I sometimes wonder if the background music is annoying. Some like it some don't. Thanks for checking out the channel.
Very nice review! I had the two Milwaukee m12 for a year and the switched back to tht little festool as well. Exactly for the reasons you give. And the left and right switch on the Milwaukee is the worst!
You pulled a forward and a reverse midway through the video, which really helped "drive" the point home.
I was literally bowing up, cracking my knuckles at the start of this video, and going to call your credentials into question, lol. So many people who don’t understand Festools are about and only compare torque specs and run time and think that’s all there is to a tool.
:) Keep watching the other videos, I'm sure we can argue about something in the future! Thanks for checking out the video.
It seems that in that tool category, the best one is the new Hilti, with a half inch mandrin. Would be curious to try it.
One thing I notice with bit changes using the centrotec chuck is that it gets stuck halfway through quite a bit. Happens because the hex pattern doesn’t always match up when trying to engage the underlying quick change chuck. Kind of a bother since you have to twist and fiddle with it to get it seated in this scenario.
I remember seeing Tommy from This Old House use the Festool track circular saw, and their sanders. I was sold ever since
Great video. Thank you. So, do you use primarily Festool? I comparing, and thinking of trying some out. But, I like what you said about the battery. I like a set that is comparable with each other.
About a month ago I bought the GEN2 brushless Bosch Flexiclick as a site back-up to my CSX. Like you, I love my CSX but the Bosch has become my go to. The Bosch has the power of the Milwaukee but it is so small and lightweight, and you can adjust the heads without removing them, it is by far the best.
Very interested to try this one!
Nice review. I miss my cxs. I'll have to buy another one soon but I'm hoping festool might come out with and improved version.
An upgrade would be tremendous! Hope that happens soon.
Great comparison review!!
Well that's my first video of yours. You nailed it, as you are a funny carpenter. Dis the tool, but love it! 😂😂😂
I hated that Milwaukee, but love my surge 12v impact by Milwaukee. I returned that Milwaukee within a week of owning it.
With the build quality lacking in recent years, I want to get away from Milwaukee, but I'm nervous the 12v won't be my everyday go-to driver.
Whether I'm doing cabinets, decks, or running the occasion 3" #10 screw the Milwaukee surge impact works. Then there's the issue of the festool 12v battery not crossing over to any other tools.
Loved your video, still has me on the fence
I got both drills as well. Gotta say, festool is my go to 😀
Awesome review! I have been eyeing the M12 installation tool as I'm deep into Big Red (both platforms). I have some Festool, but no cordless. One question: I have the brushed version of the M12 screwdriver. It is probably my most used Milwaukee tool. How do you think it (or the Fuel version) would compare against the Festool? I know it's not exactly apples to apples, but your comment about the brass bars on the vent made me think how I'd use my M12 screwdriver for that job. Thanks again! - Joe
I own both and fully agree with your comments especially about it the electrical reverse and falling when you reach for the Milwaukee. I will say the Milwaukee does bounce well and does get to do my more of my exterior work.
Thanks for checking out the channel Gary
Wow awesome review. Thanks for sharing
You know one of these days I’ll treat myself to that fest tool always wanted one but never could justify it because how much I’m going to use it great review by the way
Thanks for checking out the channel:)
Nice review. It actually talked me out of the Milwaukee for now - only because of the forward/reverse switch. If they ever redesign that, then it's a definite buy.
bought the milwaukee on ebay for 119 worth every penny
I have the Milwaukee love it other then the collate wobble on all the attachments on mine got it the day it was released
Thanks for the comparison! I grabbed the milwaukee on sale for $179 for the kit and I'm happy with it for what I paid. It's a nice little driver.
Definitely a great price for what you get. It’s very nice to have the various attachments!
Your video made me decide to buy the Festool CXS and after using it for a year now, I totally agree on everything you day about it.
It is not the most powerful but man, the ergonomics of it is out of this world.
Interestingly I bought the C18 after the CXS, due to the C handle, but man that handle is way to big for my small hands. The TPC18 (or Makitas drill drivers which I have used for many years) fits my hands way better.
Best review ive seen in a long time
Thanks Dan, I really appreciate that:)
Good tool review. 👍🏻👍🏻
Happy chubby chucks.
Great review, I own both and they both have their strengths and weaknesses. Both tools are nice tools but here is where Festool needs to update the CXS. First, brushless motor which translates to power and torque, Centrotec accessories are very expensive!!! The new Festool finally went to the standard 1/4 in accessories and finally this might sound minor but The light needs to stay on after you release the trigger. And the MIlwaukee m12 line is expansive !! Hopefully the next generation of the CXS will address those shortcomings, I use both and love both!! Just my .02, thanks
Excellent points! With a more powerful brushless motor this thing could be magical! I haven’t used the new 1/4” Festool chucks- I wonder if they hold the bits as precisely as the centrotec?
I'm seriously tempted to dip my toe into the 12v market. My 18v is all DeWalt but the range of Milwaukee stuff looks fantastic.
One other 12v drill/screwdriver is the DeWalt. I have owned one for 10 years now, use it almost every day. Same form factor as the TXS. Same power issues but really you nailed it with the comment that these are precision tools, not 1/2in impact drivers for lug nuts on cars. Same light weight and natural feel in the hand. The one advantage of the CXS is that you only need one tool for both drilling and screwing. Just change the accessory front end out. I have both the screwdriver and the drill and usually end up carrying both around for cabinet work. The one advantage of the DeWalt is that the 1/4in bits push in and click automatically with one hand. You don't have to slide anything to set the bit in the holder. I own the Festool Domino 500, two sanders and a dust extractor. What I find about Festool is that they take a systems approach to tool design that virtually no one else in the industry even comes close. There are some tools that need improvement, and they are expensive, but I find them far less irritating and fiddly than the competition. I am not irritated to start out with just picking up the tool. Woodworking can be irritating enough as it is for me without the tools constantly getting in the way.
That little Dewalt 12V is a nice unit. I hear you on the tool irritation, I have a few that need replacing!
Great job explaining why the festool is so nice. Too bad we cant get more power out of it. Ive got both. Definitely prefer the festool in my hand but when it comes to hanging cabinets you definitely need that extra power
More power would be a huge bonus for the CXS!
This was a really great review. I thought it was going to be a biased festool bash, but you did a great job explaining the pros and cons of each. Can’t really judge festool based on foot lbs. or volts. It’s a different animal. And it’s perfectly fair to point out where you might be happier with one or the other. I think I’m getting the makita track saw when my festool gives out. I’ve used both, and don’t like the festool enough to pay 2x the price, especially because I’m already in the makita universe. I’m happy to know the tracks and tools will play nice, so my festool router will still work on the same track.
Thanks a lot! I have the Makita Track saw and really like it. It’s a bit simpler to use than the Festool in my opinion. Thanks for checking out the channel.
@@TheFunnyCarpenter totally.
Great review. I wanted the Milwaukee to be better. So thanks for the honest appraisal.
Thanks for checking out the channel. If you don’t mind the forward reverse button the Milwaukee is a great little drill.
I'll wait for Gen 2 or 3 version of the M12. I do not need or want another battery platform.
I know I'm converting to milwaukee and i'm just a house owner goober. Before I had a ryobi charger for my trimmer and hedger, I bosch charger for my drill and a dewalt charger for cordless 7.2 volt screwdriver, and an ego charger for my mower. I'll be happy if I can get down to just two chargers after converting to milwaukee, wish they had a mower. I do have 3 festool sanders, but they're corded, they are simply awesome at sanding and dust control.
good review. thanks
I agree on your points, but the fesstool I would only use to put hinges on a kitchen unit doors nice and light. If I required power I would use a more powerful cordles drill.
The forward/reverse switch on the Milwaukee made me take it off my list when I was looking to buy one of these switchable drills. I didn't mind the handle size. The festool's bit setup and price took it off the list too. I eventually bought the Bosch brushless Flexiclick setup at a great price. Very nice, IMHO.
I’ve never understood this style of driver. Is the point that it has the Interchangeable heads? What’s the point of the piece in front of the grip vs a regular drill/driver? Just bit storage?
Great video man. For months now I’ve been trying to decide on wether I should get the Milwaukee since it cost less and I already owned a few M12 tools. However I always wanted the Festool like forever now and I think your video just made my decision for me. Festool it is. Thanks. 😊
Be careful with that! Sometimes the csx can lead to more green tools😬
@@TheFunnyCarpenter - Yeah I know it’s very addictive. I’m already on the “ bandwagon “ 😂 Oh, and btw I really hate that forward/reverse button on the Milwaukee too.
@@TheFunnyCarpenter but you ll never regret it. ;-) buying the green.
i mucked around with other brands regretable, Went green and especially for fine finishing and ease of use, festool simply just works. And works very very well
Agreed! I have both. The reverse on the Milwaukee absolutely blows. The festool is that comfortable pillow you never get rid of.
Ok for me the real negative will be the reverse 🔄 bottom.
I alway place my drill back in my Atlas46 Vest with the included clip.
Other than that is amazing and I always use those M12 batteries 🔋
I have the Milwaukee installation driver along with several other Milwaukee drills and I’ve come to the conclusion that Milwaukee’s sole focus is raw power. I got it to install pocket screws but went right back to using my 15yo Ryobi for that because it’s clutch is much more adjustable.
Very true in a lot of cases. Sometimes Milwaukee tools lack the refinement that others offer.
I have the Milwaukee and love the tool. I bought it specifically for the offset driver attachment. I recently did a trailer build out for my fire department to convert an enclosed, empty trailer into a drone response command post and ended up using this driver for most of the work and was really happy. The only thing that I was not happy with was the horrible direction button. I have invested into the M12 line of tools so this was kind of a no brainer. Unfortunately I don't have the extra cash flow or else I would love to buy some of the Festool products but I have to decide between spending money on tools or better materials to build with. Plus I don't have the time I would want to create more things so I am not going to use the tools enough to warrant spending the heftier cost. I take pride in my work and take my time to ensure a quality finish so for now I will just have to make due with the tools I have until I can afford the luxury brands. I like your honesty and what you provide to the RUclips woodworking community. This community is one of the best on RUclips and really provide guys like me with a lot of information and ideas to better my end product. Thank you.
Thanks for the awesome comment Chris! It's always nice to dream of better tools, but at the end of the day they all do pretty much the same thing:) That being said that switch is annoying! I was using the drill last night to fix my garage door and it difficult to see what's happening with the switch when its over your head.
the hex chuck on my M12 locked onto a bit and would not release it. Milwaukee rep indicated this was a common problem, and they sent me a replacement chuck at no cost. Also, the clutch settings on mine are pretty much worthless; anything less than maximum torque will leave the screw short of a full depth drive.
I love value in tools. But sometimes I'll splurge for a nicer feeling tool, that gives me joy whenever I take it out to use it.
Festool has the C 18 which seems to be an upgrade in power to the CXS and the battery matches all of their new cordless tools, even more money but might be worth looking at
The C18 is considerably bigger- looks like an awesome drill but you may not want to carry it around all day.
Great video. The foward/reverse button is a deal breaker.
Hey man i build a lot of control pannels and i wonder if this drill could be nice or if I should stay with my impact ?
In my humble view the best cordless tool to buy is the one that fits the batteries you already own
Its defenitely the "little prince" of drills! Just love it for exactly the same reasons.
I agree I hate the digital push button forward and reverse also
Wow the lack of physical switch for forward/reverse is a deal beaker IMO. A shame as the Milwaukee looks good otherwise :(
I gave my sister my CXS a few years ago. I kind of miss it.
The CXS has been my go to drill/driver since 2011 and still on the same batteries and charger. Looks like Festool has made some changes to the CXS since I purchased mine. Liked the comparison. JimE
It’s definitely the drill I reach for 90% of the time.
Man this is a great review.
Thank you!
Nice review. All valid points.
I wish you would have gone into detail about why you couldn't use the M12 for that high end job. I could be wrong, but it just seems you are just more comfortable with old reliable that you've been using for years, which is perfectly understandable.
Milwaukee recently dropped the price on the installation driver kit to $179. Could be just a temporary price reduction, but Milwaukee price drops often indicate the "new and improved" next generation is just around the corner.
I have the current version and like it. The damn F/R button was a bad idea, but once you get used to it, it's not a serious issue. But I have large hands. M12 grips fit my hand perfectly. I grip this tool with my index finger straight along the side and my middle finger as the trigger finger. It's now second nature to simply move my index finger to the top to change rotation. I'd still like to see the standard switch for the reasons you mentioned. Looking at the tool, it appears to have saved them about 1/4 inch of height. In its current shell, I think there would be a lot of complaints that the slide switch digs into your hand in use with lots of accidental reversing.
Now to start the firestorm.....haha!
Festool has a fanatical, almost cult-like following. I know several Festool owners who constantly rave about them, but at the same time most of them have had to have serious repairs to their tools, multiple times. The conversation will go on about how amazing the tool is then a subtle mention about how they are on their third motor replacement(admittedly almost all of these are with circular/track/miter saws). And getting them repaired isn't cheap or fast. I guess it's like owning a Maserati. Premium price and high rates of maintenance issues. Comments wecomed, let the flame fest begin.
Excellent Points. With regards to putting those small screws into the hood fan- The CXS has a lot better trigger modulation and control. The top speed is a little slower and I find it a lot easier for precise work. I have the Festool Kapex, RAS 115, and CXS. Using them for about 5 years- The switch on RAS needed to be repaired under warranty, It took about 1 month. As a tradesman I always have back up tools, so I just used my little Ryobi belt sander. Actually a very nice little unit.
Will you be getting the "NEW" Festool CXS12 just released on Sep. 6th 2023. If you do, I'd like to know your thoughts on it compared to the old one. Keep up the great content
the reasons you just mentioned here is why i love my CXS. i never thought that it would be such a game changer when I purchased it. i hated the Centro chuck in the beginning because none of my old stuff fits right with it...now i have more Centro stuff than i care to admit (I hope my wife won't read this comment!)...I have a T-15 which i use for more heavy-duty stuff or impact driving, but to be honest i don't really feel the need to do so...its ergonomics (or any T-style drills for that matter) feels so clunky to me that i don't pry it out of its box unless i really need it. i may end up getting a C-18 for more heavy duty stuff that doesn't require impact driving.
Good to hear Dexter! It’s definitely the drill I grab for 90% of tasks.
The offset chuck is one of the main selling points!
It really is a game changer at times.
I agree completely. My CSX is my favourite. I am lucky that I have festool n Makita, one sub contractor has DeWalt n another has Milwaukee so we all get to play with each others toys. After using others I appreciate how precision is written all over the CSX and is only tool I use for final fix, like you said it has the right power and control for just that. If I want to slap a deck together then I pick up the impactdriver. I agree that having its own battery/charger even if you own other festool is a bit annoying but after using on final fix only you will forgive it and I find battery last all day using in that environment as I use a second larger drill for all the drilling Jobs.
The CXS is quite expensive and not very powerful, but it's all about ergonomics. It's so nice to use and just an extension of your hands. I recently bought a second one.
Excellent review. Ergonomics are so under rated. I use a makita impact driver and my buddy has milwaukee... I'd rather pick up a rattle snake than the milwaukee.
I know! ergonomics are the most important thing to me, and are mostly overlooked in most tool reviews. For drills I have always love Makita, but the Festool drills are pretty nice as well.