PRODUCT REVIEW
Other important considerations are the ‘cast electronics’ and the encased and sealed EC motor. EC motors are maintenance-free and long-lasting, so will be well protected from the dust that would usually destroy the commutator and bearings of a brushed motor. Ironically, brushed motors have fans that pull in cooling air – and the grinding dust – at the same time.
I have not heard about ‘cast electronics’ in power tools before, but it seems like a great idea for protecting potentially delicate items from damage and dust.
Safety features The modern electronics that the Festool engineers have applied via the EC motor gives the opportunity for several sophisticated safety features like soft start, a motor brake, constant speed maintenance when working and restart protection. It is great to have a whirling cutting disc stop in a second or two. It beats having to wait for it to stop before you can put the machine down.
We are sort of used to constant speed controls in many power tools these days but restart protection is another great safety feature. Motor electronics will cut the motor after a cutter jam, but the user will have to consciously restart the motor via the switch to get it going again.
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No tools needed – Well, maybe a pin wrench Toolless operation is a must-have these days so the AGC 18 has a spring-loaded lever for adjusting the cutter guard and a quick action clamping nut that enables tool-free disc changes. Should you need extra tightening on a disc a pin wrench is supplied…
Great to use I was worried that my small hands might make for uncomfortable use of the grinder, but somehow, when the motor starts and the grinding disc is whirling about, the mind is concentrated and handling becomes instinctive. The battery and the gear head balance each other out so, in use, it feels neutral – not tipping to the front or back. I found that the addition of the vibration-resistant auxiliary handle helped the handling of the grinder a great deal, providing balance and security that one-handed use couldn’t give me. There is also no reason why two hands couldn’t be used on the main body – there is enough room.
Setting the correct speed for the work to be done is a necessity, as is choosing the right disc for the right job. I did cutting, grinding and polishing with a mix of generally high-quality discs and the AGC 18 felt like the thoroughbred that its designers no doubt intended. Festool fans
will take the purchase of the AGC 18 as a natural step, but I think there are enough reasons to have a hands-on with it at a tool show near you to see what you think.
www.festool.co.uk
This grinder is not a delicate flower – it has a robust weight and size – 2.7 kgs and 355mm long.
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