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Post by aas on Apr 22, 2022 4:30:17 GMT -5
Managed to get hold of one of these; very nice drill, comfortable in the hands, more so than the Metabo equivalent; smoother trigger it seems, the Metabo is still a bit off in 2nd speed, sometimes doesn't start, then starts full speed with no speed control. I like the belt clip more, also bit holders either side, the Metabo is just one side; rubber all over the drill, so no plastic mold joins across the hand. Comes with Systainer, charger (for CAS 12v and 18v batts), 2x 4,0ah (43wh) Li-Hd batts, 10mm chuck (this is the newer version that Metabo are using, not the old A10 style), 1x angle attachment. No bit holder supplied (but OK I already have 2), also no screwdriver bit - no big deal.
The A10M will go, maybe the Festool CXS and Fein 12v/18v too. I won't update the A18M as I'm very pleased with it, and as I already have too many drills, it's like new...
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Apr 23, 2022 0:15:17 GMT -5
Very cool. How does the trigger compare to the Festool does? To me that has always been a FT strength.
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Post by aas on Apr 24, 2022 5:08:06 GMT -5
The only FT drill I have is a CXS, which does have a nice trigger - I've not used the A12 enough to really say, but would say it compares well at this point... see what I say in 6 months.
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Post by henrun on Jun 10, 2022 2:15:55 GMT -5
Just took the plunge on the Mafell A12, I am curious to see how it does. Delivery times from Mafell are slow, but they apparently had some in stock at Axminsters so hopefully it will ship shortly.
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Post by aas on Jun 10, 2022 12:31:33 GMT -5
Delivery times for everything are slow!..
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Post by henrun on Jun 25, 2022 7:34:17 GMT -5
Got my A12 from Axminsters, they had in stock. My local vendor could not source one up and after three four weeks we agreed to cancel the order since it had yet to be shipped from Mafell.
The A12 is very light. So much so it doesn't inspire confidence. After a few days of use building a wall for an closet extension I think it is a great little machine. It is strong enough for me to serve as a go-to everyday drill and driver. Feels great in hand and is overall a very nice machine.
No deal breaking quirks as of yet. But in second gear / high speed it does not creep as well as a Festool T12/T18. It does it well with smaller fasteners but with bigger screws (4,5x70, predrilled pilot holes in this case) and with plaster board screws it was not as good as with the larger Festools. Better than the CXS in second gear though.
In first gear however, it was very well controlled for flushing screw heads to the material. And drives 6x120 through studs into OSB walls no problem.
For me it can readily replace the CXS. The Mafell A12 is stronger, drills better and accepts Centrotec gear, so all my countersink gear works just as well as with Festool. I actually use the Centrotec chuck with it alongside the Mafell bitholder chuck. But, the CXS is very nice as a side kick, regardless of what else I use and I like the long belt clip. So, I sold off one CXS to a colleague and decided to keep one at the shop.
Should I feel I want to pack very light for an assembly job I feel confident the Mafell A12 can do very well on its own though.
Dream machine would for me be Mafell A12 performance in the CXS format. But the Mafell A12 is a great addition to the kit. Makes my Festool T12 feel chunky and my T18 morbidly obese.
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Post by Knight Woodworks on Jun 26, 2022 11:23:26 GMT -5
Congrats on your new drill. Sounds like a winner.
John
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Post by henrun on Jul 2, 2022 13:05:45 GMT -5
Update: still happy with the A12. Had one instance when the drill did not activate when the trigger was pulled. Nothing. Battery full. Released trigger and back in action.
Apart from that hickup it works well, deceptively light and make my Festool T12+3 feel heavy. I do like the T12+3 though! Mafell A12 is stronger than it looks and very agile. Hard not to like it. I still use it with Centrotec gear, including the Festool drill chuck.
Would have liked to have a little better control in second gear. However for delicate work first gear "creep" is excellent so no real problems there.
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Post by traveller on Jul 16, 2022 8:03:56 GMT -5
Had the opportunity to visit the wood craft fair Nuremberg. Of course, was also previewed at Mafell. I was very excited about the new screwdrivers. Unfortunately, they have disappointed me. Both the large and the small felt really sticky in the hand. They said they had used an extra soft plastic. The worst was the bit holder. The concentricity(Rundlauf) of the bit holder was catastrophic. The large screwdriver was also felt much larger than the predecessor I know. There was the new rip fence for the Erika70/85 to see. I was also told that next year the cordless jigsaw is coming. Also next year comes a new small router.
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Post by Knight Woodworks on Jul 16, 2022 10:32:14 GMT -5
New Erika rip fence? Cordless jigsaw?
Sounds great. Thanks for the news.
John
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Post by aas on Jul 16, 2022 15:03:47 GMT -5
I'd guess a lot of tools at trade shows are sticky in the hands - judging by the number of people walking around stuffing sandwiches in their mouths - it was probably just 3 days of mayonnaise... being serious though, these soft touch finishes tend to accumulate a thin layer of dust so no stickiness.
I find the A12 super comfortable. It's a much better drill than the A10M. The motor in the A10M literally went up in smoke just under 3 years old, Mafell replaced the motor for me. Not really used it since - grabbed it the other day for a few medium size screws - starts getting hot and smelling - finished off with a hand screwdriver, it really wasn't that hard, but the A10M couldn't cope.
If the bit holder was out, I would guess it had been dropped. I have a few a few of these and they're all OK. Quality is much better than the Metabo equivalent that is not concentric.
Mafell have been talking about a cordless P1 for a long time - maybe one day!
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Post by aas on Aug 13, 2022 1:44:47 GMT -5
I've been using the A12 a lot this last week, alongside it's Metabo cousin. The A12 is more comfortable in the hand then the Metabo thanks to it's rubber soft touch grip... but the A12 has the same trigger glitch as the Metabo - it's not often, but occasionally I pull the trigger and nothing happens, then it starts up at full speed - obviously if this happens at a crucial moment when doing detail work, what is being done can be ruined (bit jumping out the screw head, screw being pulled in too far, etc.)
So OK for general screw driving work, drilling etc., but at this point in time, no trust in the trigger control - great shame.
I'd be keen to hear if anyone else has had this issue.
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Post by aas on Oct 15, 2022 6:41:31 GMT -5
A quick update on the A12. I have been using the A12 and Metabo version quite a bit - both have this very annoying trigger problem. Sometimes you can pull the trigger 2 or 3 times and nothing happens, then they start at full speed.
I could not honestly recommend them to anyone.
Back to using the Makita CXT 10,8v / 12v, it has super trigger control, very light, very small... seriously a 100 euro drill is better than a 300 euro drill.
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Post by carver on Nov 14, 2022 4:49:26 GMT -5
It is interesting to read your comments regarding the trigger on the A12 I'm in the market for a 12v 'install' driver but am torn between the Festool CXS and the A12 I'd like to stick with Mafell eventhough it's a little more expensive here in the UK, but the trigger issue concerns me. Even if it's only occasionally, I can't justify buying the most expensive drill just for the brand.
What are peoples general view / recommendations in this area.
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Post by aas on Nov 14, 2022 23:56:33 GMT -5
I have a CXS too - a couple of annoying quirks, but great trigger, ( unique batteries so another charger for one tool; belt clip is held in by battery - so you think you can unclip the battery to charge while it is hanging off you belt, but you end up with a belt clip on your jean pocket and a CXS on the floor; centrotec - it is good and bad in equal measure )
It depends what you are doing with the A12 on whether it is an issue or not. A couple of example 'incidents' with it - 1st, no response from the trigger then full speed start up - the bit jumped out of the screw head and scratched the surround on a 2000€ oven... 2nd, gently feathering the trigger to get a screw head flush, almost there then suddenly goes full speed and sinks the head way into the panel - not quite out the other side, I was lucky.
When I said I do not recommend it, it is because I have two - the A12 and identical Metabo, they both do the same thing. Not to mention stood there like an idiot pulling the trigger 10 times - once it has finished having a nap - full speed ahead!.. it is almost the perfect small drill.
But please buy one, I would love to read that I just had the bad luck to buy the two dodgy ones! As an asides, I did have a new style 12v slide battery brushed Metabo ( 90 euro with 2x Lihd batteries - kept the batteries and gave away the drill ) - it did not have the same problem - so more likely the brushless controller circuitry that is the problem.
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