Selecting the Right Power Drill

A power drill is the cornerstone of every tool kit, but a drill is no longer "just a drill." When you're facing a lot of options, the terminology alone can be confusing: Impact Drivers, Hammer Drills, Rotary Hammers, Drill Drivers. Using the wrong tool for the job doesn't just lead to frustration; it wastes time, burns through materials, and can even be unsafe.

Choosing the right tool means understanding how it works. Is it for drilling a clean, precise hole in a cabinet? Driving a 100mm batten screw into hardwood? Or punching a 10mm anchor bolt into a concrete slab?

This page will demystify the Festool drilling range, explaining what each tool does, how it works, and exactly when you should use it. From precision joinery to heavy-duty construction, we'll help you find the perfect tool for your task, built on the shared power of the Festool 18V cordless platform.

The Foundation: The Festool 18V Cordless System
 

Before we look at specific tools, let's talk about the engine that drives them all. The Festool 18V cordless system is the most common option used in the range, designed to provide corded power in a flexible cordless package. The tools mentioned here are part of this platform, meaning one battery can power your 18v drill, your saw, your 18v sander, and more.

This system integration is built on two key technologies:

The EC-TEC Brushless Motor: This is the Festool difference. Unlike older brushed motors, our EC-TEC brushless motors have no physical contacts to wear out. This means they run more efficiently, generate less heat, and adapt their power output to the task. The result is a lighter, more compact tool that delivers maximum power, dramatically longer runtimes per charge, and a service life that's virtually unlimited.
 
Li-Ion Battery Technology: Our 18V batteries, combined with AIRSTREAM charging, provide the stamina for the toughest jobs. They are compact, lightweight, and with the EC-TEC motor they deliver the optimum level of power.
 
When you choose a Festool drill, you're not just buying a single tool; you're investing in a system that grows with you.

Drill Drivers (The Precision All-Rounder)

Festool Models: TDC 18V - Featured (C18v, CXS 12v, CXS 18v, TXS 18v are other options)

What is it? This is what most people picture when they think of a "drill." A Drill Driver is your precision all-rounder, designed for two primary tasks: drilling clean, accurate holes and driving screws with precision.

How does it work? A Drill Driver uses pure rotational force. Its key feature is a mechanical clutch, which is the adjustable "torque-selector" ring behind the chuck. This clutch is designed to slip at a pre-set torque, which stops the screw from being driven too deep. This protects delicate materials like laminates and prevents you from snapping screw heads.

Our TDC 18V feature a full-metal 4-speed gearbox, giving you ultimate control:

High-Speed Gears (3 & 4): Perfect for drilling small, clean holes in wood, metal, and plastic.
High-Torque Gears (1 & 2): Ideal for driving screws and drilling with larger-diameter bits.

What is it used for? This is your go-to tool for joinery, cabinetmaking, assembly, and general fit-out.

Best for:

Assembling flat-pack and custom cabinetry.
Drilling precise holes for shelving, dowels, or hardware.
Driving screws in furniture.
Installing hinges and drawer runners.

Impact Drivers (The High-Torque Fastener)

Festool Model: TID 18 Cordless Impact Driver

What is it? An Impact Driver is a specialist tool designed for one job: driving fasteners with extreme speed and power. It looks like a drill but works in a fundamentally different way.

How does it work? While a Drill Driver delivers constant rotational force, an Impact Driver introduces a third mechanism: rotational (or tangential) impact.

When the tool senses resistance like when a screw starts to get tight, an internal hammer and anvil mechanism engages. This "hammer" strikes the "anvil" thousands of times per minute in the direction of rotation. This delivers massive, sudden bursts of torque that power the screw forward.

Crucially, this force is applied to the screw, not back to your wrist. This means you can drive long, large-diameter screws (like batten screws or structural screws) with one hand and almost no "kickback" or wrist-twisting.

What is it used for? This is the tool for high-volume, heavy-duty fastening.

Best for:

Decking and flooring.
Timber framing.
Roofing screws.
Driving long coach bolts or batten screws.
Any repetitive, high-torque screw-driving task.
Important Note: An Impact Driver is not a precision drill. It has a 1/4" hex collet, not a 3-jaw chuck, and is not designed for drilling clean holes.

Hammer Drills (The Versatile All-in-One)

Festool Model: TPC 18/4 QUADRIVE Cordless Percussion Drill 

What is it? This is the true all-in-one for builders and renovators. A Hammer Drill (or "Percussion Drill") does everything a Drill Driver can do, with the added ability to drill into light masonry.

How does it work? The TPC 18/4 QUADRIVE adds a "percussion" mode. This engages two mechanical "notch discs" inside the gearbox. As the drill rotates, these discs "click" or "slide" past each other, creating a high-speed, low-energy vibration that is transferred down the drill bit.

This mechanism, which works in an axial (forward) direction, helps to chip away at brittle materials like brick and mortar as the drill bit rotates. It's this "vibration" that separates it from an Impact Driver's "rotational" impact.

What is it used for? The TPC 18/4 is the ultimate workhorse. Its 4-speed gearbox makes it a master of all trades:

Mode 1: High-torque screwing.
Mode 2: Standard screwing and drilling.
Mode 3: High-speed drilling in wood and metal.
Mode 4 (with Percussion): Drilling into brick, pavers, mortar, and aerated concrete.
Festool Advantage: The QUADRIVE features our intelligent KickbackStop. If the drill bit suddenly jams in the material (a common risk when working with masonry), an electronic sensor stops the motor instantly, protecting your wrist from a violent twist.

Rotary Hammer Drills (The Concrete Specialist)

BHC 18 Cordless Rotary Hammer Drill

What is it? If a Hammer Drill "vibrates," a Rotary Hammer "pounds." This is a specialist tool designed specifically for drilling into hard, dense materials like concrete and stone.

How does it work? A Rotary Hammer uses a completely different mechanism: pneumatic hammering. Inside the tool, a motor-driven piston and ram create a "cushion" of air that accelerates a "flyweight." This flyweight strikes the back of the drill bit, creating a low-speed but incredibly high-energy pounding action.

It's this powerful, pulverising force that allows it to drill into reinforced concrete with ease, where a percussion drill would just spin. This tool also uses a special SDS-Plus chuck, which allows the bit to slide back and forth, ensuring all the hammer's energy is transferred directly to the tip.

What is it used for? This is your go-to tool for concrete and hard masonry.

Best for:

Drilling holes for anchors (DynaBolts, AnkaScrews) in concrete slabs and walls.
Drilling into reinforced concrete or natural stone.
Important Note: The BHC 18 is a dedicated specialist. You would not use this tool to drive screws or drill a clean hole in timber. It is a powerful construction tool.

Chiselling & Chipping (The Hammer Only Function)

Festool Model: KHC 18 Cordless Rotary Hammer

What is it? This is a key mode found on advanced rotary hammers like the KHC 18. The "chiselling" or "hammer-only" function completely disengages the rotation of the drill bit. This transforms the tool from a drill into a powerful, compact chipping hammer for light demolition and removal tasks.

How does it work? When chiselling mode is selected, the tool stops spinning the chuck. Instead, it directs 100% of its power from the brushless EC-TEC motor and pneumatic hammer mechanism into pure, forward-striking blows. The KHC 18 delivers a powerful 2.6 joules of impact energy with each strike, providing a high material removal rate to quickly break up concrete and masonry.

What is it used for? This mode is used exclusively for light demolition and material removal where you need to chip, break, or knock off material, not drill a clean hole.

Best for:

Knocking off old wall and floor tiles.

Chipping away plaster, render, or old fillers.

Creating small channels (chases) in brickwork or softer masonry.

Light correction work and breaking up concrete or masonry.

Auto Feed Screwdrivers (The High-Speed Specialist)

Festool Model: DWC 18 DURADRIVE Cordless Collated Screwgun

What is it? This tool is the definition of a high-speed specialist. Designed for one job and one job only: attaching plasterboard to timber or metal studs.

How does it work? The DWC 18 DURADRIVE uses collated (belted) screws that feed automatically into the tool. The key features are its precision depth stop and its "push and go" function.

The EC-TEC motor is on-demand: it only engages when you apply pressure to the screw. This "push and go" function means you can work at incredible speed with one hand, without having to press the trigger for every screw. The depth-stop ensures every single screw is driven to the exact same depth, perfectly countersunk without tearing the paper face of the plasterboard.

What is it used for? This is the essential tool for interior fit-out professionals.

Best for:

Hanging plasterboard (drywall).
Fixing subfloors, decking, or cladding where high-speed, repetitive screwing is needed.

Experience the Festool Drilling System with a Free Demo

Still unsure about purchasing a Drilling system and which to buy? See the solution in action. Festool is committed to helping businesses and tradies get hands on with tools and make sure they are set up for sucess. The best way to understand the power and efficiency of our systems is to experience them firsthand.

What to Expect from Your On-site Demo:

A Tailored Solution: A dedicated Festool Technical Sales Consultant will come to your worksite to demonstrate the drilling tools & accessories.
Hands-on Experience: Get a feel for the tools yourself.
Expert Advice: Ask questions and get professional guidance on everything from optimal setup to maintenance, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.
No Obligation: The demo is completely free, with no pressure to buy. We simply want to show you how Festool can transform your worksite.
Click the button below to book your free, no-obligation demo and take the first step toward higher quality, quicker, drilling