Review: Festool TXS 18
Festool cordless drills get even better
Festool TXS 18: $500 for full kit; $250 for bare tool
FESTOOL IMPROVED ITS HIGHLY RATED cordless drills in 2023, so we decided to give its most popular model a try. With power equal to past 18-volt models, according to Festool, the TXS 18 is both lighter weight and more compact, and adds a work light and a belt clip (which mounts on either side of the tool).
The compact design is almost 2 in. shorter than my 18-volt Milwaukee, and a pound lighter. Despite its smaller stature, however, the TXS 18 was able to drive a huge box of 365 21⁄2-in.-long screws into pine, with enough battery power left to back out 205 of them, while the Milwaukee battery cut out after driving 313 screws.
Festool’s clever three-chuck system also makes the TXS 18 more versatile than standard cordless drills. There’s a standard chuck that accepts round bits, a quick-release chuck for hex-shank bits, and a right-angle chuck that fits into tight spaces. All three attach quickly and positively to the drill.
There is one slight drawback. Standard North American hex-shank bits are just a tiny bit too large to lock into Festool’s quick-release chuck, so you’ll probably wind up buying a set of Festool’s hex-shank bits. However, you’ll find that standard hexshank bits do fit into the magnetic bit holder, so you can use that in a pinch.
The full TXS 18 kit comes with two batteries and all three chucks. For half the price you can buy the bare tool (TXS 18-Basic), which includes the standard chuck and no batteries.
—Austin Heitzman is a professional furniture maker in Portland, Ore.
Photos: Asa Christiana
From Fine Woodworking #310.
Festool TXS 18
Comments
The fact the TSX 18 does not except standard North American hex shank bits is not a slight problem. It’s a major problem. Many of us have big collections of these bits and it would add major cost to convert over to the Festool sized bits. It’s already super expensive, this only makes it more so. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t make it fit our existing bits. I’ll pass on this tool.
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