Professional Builder’s Tibby Singh gets to grips with the Festool Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill KHC 18
Festool is a brand that needs no introduction. Its distinctive colour stands out and you know straight away it’s Festool without seeing the name. The manufacturer has developed a reputation for innovative technology and quality. Following in that tradition is the Festool Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill KHC 18. It’s a class of tool that I regularly need and use daily so I was keen to put this to the test to see if this cordless can hack some of the toughest jobs I need to undertake.
When it comes to using tools that require a lot of power, I am sometimes reluctant to use cordless tools because I feel like I’d need to change the batteries regularly. However, this Festool hammer drill packs a punch and effortlessly drills into the surfaces with ease. Not only is it great for drilling but you can flick between hammer and drilling only. I also managed to put these two to the test as I needed to clean some reclaimed bricks that had old mortar on them. It was so much easier and efficient than using the old school method of a hammer and bolster. The drilling mode is ideal when you don’t require the hammer action. When, for example, core drilling into a wall or using larger wooden drills bits to drill into chunky timber.
When carrying out this kind of work, I’ve had it in the past where the drill suddenly gets caught and, instead of stopping, it’s twisted my arm – which can cause serious injury. Festool, however, are always thinking about safety, and this machine has an electronic KickbackStop feature which minimises the risk of injury if the drill suddenly gets caught. This provides peace of mind because, when I needed to drill a core hole at a height on the ladders, I felt much safer knowing this drill has that feature. When I needed to take a break, it also has a swivel hook so it can be hooked onto something and will remain close to hand.
The Slotted Drive System – also known as SDS – allows you to interchange the bits quickly, locking it into place without any tools being required. This is a standard feature which I’d expect it to have. However, if you haven’t got the SDS bits the drill has a keyless chuck attachment which can be placed onto the machine without using tools and clamped and unlocked by hand. This is very convenient as it means you don’t need another drill to do the job at hand.
It does have a depth stop feature, which is standard, and was something I made use of when drilling into a thin wall in a shower room. The last thing I wanted was for it to go all the way through and creating a an unnecessary hole. I also wanted to keep the dust down and I would usually hold a dust extractor under the drill or dustpan to collect the dust. Festool has impressed again with its dust extraction device that attaches to the end of the drill, which can then be fitted to the Festool extraction system and, if it’s connected via Bluetooth, it will automatically turn on when drilling. This frees up both hands so you can hold the drill properly and feel more in control. And if you’re drilling into the ceiling, you don’t need to worry about eating the dust.
Just when I though it can’t have any more features, I noticed it has a vibration cushion near the handle, which reduces vibration effectively, and the other handy function is an LED light which increases visibility. In fact, this Festool Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill KHC18 has many bright features that stand out. Hammer drilling and chiselling is a job that isn’t that enjoyable, but Festool have managed to make it just that.
For further information on the Festool Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill KHC 18 visit Festool Cordless rotary hammer drill KHC 18 5,0 EBI-Plus online.
Tibby Singh – www.TibbySingh.com
