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Festool has announced their first-ever cordless reciprocating saw, model RSC 18.
The new Festool cordless reciprocating saw is advertised as being “really powerful,” “really fast,” “extremely robust,” and “for heavy duty sawing.”
Festool USA has not provided press materials, and it is unclear if or when the new reciprocating saw will launch in here.
The Festool RSC 18 is described as being “made for the toughest day-to-day applications at construction sites.”
It features a brushless motor, variable speed trigger, and LED light. Festool says the saw’s anti-vibration system “reduces machine vibration by 40%.”
Features & Specs
- 32mm stroke length (1-1/4″)
- 0-3000 SPM
- Weighs 4.10 kg (9 lbs)
The saw is kitted with 2x 5.0Ah batteries, a charger, Systainer tool box, dust extractor attachment, and reciprocating saw blade.
As Festool is known for their attention to dust collection, it’s not surprising that the saw will ship with a vacuum adapter (RSC-AV).
These batteries will NOT fit the new Festool CTC Sys 18V cordless vacuum, or the brand’s cordless sanders. They should work with the brand’s new cordless table saw, as well as their other 18V cordless power tools.
Price: £589.82 excluding VAT (~$630 at the time of this posting)
Festool is also launching a line of bi-metal reciprocating saw blades. The blades will be color-coded yellow for cutting wood, and blue for cutting metal.
They say:
The Festool saw blade range has the right saw blade for any application, be it wood, metal or particularly abrasive and hard materials.
There will also be carbide saw blades for “extreme demolition work in all kinds of construction material.” These blades have a red finish.
The saw and blades will be launching in Europe in May 2023.
Discussion
Festool says that their new recip saw is “extremely robust” and “for the toughest construction sites.”
It’s interesting to see Festool enter new product categories.
Nearly 3 years ago, Festool launched their first cordless power tool combo kits, which was the first time I considered their 18V products as part of a system, rather than a collection of individual solutions.
I described Festool’s 18V impact driver as being perfectly unexceptional. To put it plainly, I felt it was an average tool. In my opinion, a tool like that exists almost exclusively for Festool 18V tool users, which isn’t a bad thing, as opposed to the type of tool that can pull more users towards the brand. Might the same be true here?
Does this new reciprocating saw fill a hole in Festool’s 18V cordless power tool system? Yes. Will the saw deliver on Festool’s promise of being “really powerful,” “really fast,” and “for the toughest construction sites?” Will it be exceptional and competitive, or simply average?
I can’t say that “Festool” and “extreme demolition work” go together, at least in my mind. But, we’re living in a world where Milwaukee has become one of the biggest hand tool and mobile storage brands, and Harbor Freight’s professional hand and power tools, Icon and Hercules, have been gaining popularity.
This could be convenient for Festool 18V cordless power tool users – at the least. The more tools one can use with fewer types of batteries and chargers, the better – right? At best, are there any qualities that might pull tool users towards Festool’s cordless lineup?
There’s also the question about price. At the time of this posting, the UK launch price converts to around $630 for the two-battery kit with 5Ah batteries.
Can Festool’s first-ever cordless reciprocating saw win over demanding users, including existing Festool fans, given the competition from pro cordless power tool brands’ latest, greatest, and most powerful saws?
Would you choose a Festool reciprocating saw over Dewalt FlexVolt, Milwaukee M18 Fuel, Makita XGT, Hilti Nuron, Bosch Profactor, Flex, or other brands?
