Festool Combi Drills
Festool combi drills are for days you're swapping between timber fixings and the odd bit of masonry without changing tools every five minutes.
On fit-out, second fix, and maintenance work, a solid Festool 18V combi drill saves time and keeps holes and fixings clean. If you're eyeing a Festool PDC 18, you're buying for control, balance, and repeatable results, not just brute force.
What Jobs Are Festool Combi Drills Best At?
- Driving long screws into studs, joists, and kitchen carcasses all day without cooking the tool or rounding heads when you hit a knot.
- Drilling clean pilot holes and clearance holes in timber and sheet goods when you need accuracy for hinges, ironmongery, and fixings that have to line up first time.
- Knocking in occasional masonry holes for plugs and frame fixings where a full SDS is overkill, using the hammer setting to get through block and brick without fighting it.
- Working in occupied refurbs and snagging where you need a compact Festool cordless drill that stays controllable in tight corners, cupboards, and overhead work.
Choosing the Right Festool Combi Drill
Match the drill to what you do most days, not the one-off job you might see once a month.
1. Combi drill vs dedicated SDS for masonry
If you're only drilling a handful of plug holes in brick and block, a Festool combi drill will keep you moving. If you're drilling masonry all day or going into hard concrete, stop kidding yourself and run an SDS, it is faster, easier on the wrists, and less wear on the combi.
2. Size and balance for overhead and tight work
If you're fitting kitchens, working in cupboards, or drilling above shoulder height, prioritise a drill that feels compact and controllable. If you're mainly on structural timber and bigger fixings, you can justify a larger body that gives you more leverage and stability.
3. Torque control for fixings that must not strip
If you're doing hinges, hardware, and finished joinery, you need predictable clutch control so you are not chewing out heads or over-driving into face materials. If you're mostly on construction screws and rough first fix, you can lean more on power, but control still saves rework.
Who Uses Festool Combi Drills?
- Chippies and kitchen fitters who want a Festool 18V combi drill that drives fixings smoothly and drills accurately without the tool feeling nose-heavy.
- Joiners and shopfitters doing second fix where clean holes, controlled torque, and repeatability matter more than raw hammering power.
- Maintenance teams and site supervisors who need one Festool hammer drill to cover timber, metal drilling, and the odd plug hole without carrying three machines.
The Basics: Understanding Combi Drills
A combi drill is basically a drill driver with an added hammer setting, so one tool can cover fixings, drilling, and light masonry work. Here's what matters on site.
1. Drill mode vs hammer mode
Use drill mode for timber, metal, and clean controlled holes. Flick to hammer mode only when you are drilling into brick or block for plugs, because the hammer action helps the bit bite instead of polishing the hole.
2. Clutch settings are for repeatable fixing
The clutch is what stops you over-driving screws and splitting timber, especially in carcasses and second fix. Set it properly and you get consistent depth without constantly feathering the trigger.
3. 18V cordless is about staying productive
Festool cordless drills in 18V are built around quick, mobile work across a room or a plot. The real win is not dragging leads, not hunting sockets, and being able to jump from drilling to driving without breaking rhythm.
Shop Festool Combi Drills at ITS
Whether you need a compact Festool 18V combi drill for fit-out work or a tougher option for bigger fixings and regular masonry holes, we stock the full Festool combi drills range in one place. It's all held in our own warehouse, ready for next day delivery so you can get back on the tools without waiting around.
Festool Combi Drill FAQs
Is a Festool combi drill worth it?
If you're on the tools regularly and care about clean, controlled drilling and driving, yes, it earns its keep. You're paying for a drill that feels balanced in the hand, holds settings predictably, and stays consistent across repeat work, which is exactly what stops rework on fit-out and second fix.
What is the best Festool drill for masonry?
For light masonry like plugs in brick and block, a Festool hammer drill in the combi range is the sensible choice. If you're doing lots of holes, larger diameters, or hard concrete, the "best" answer is usually an SDS rather than pushing a combi drill past what it is built for.
Will a Festool 18V combi drill replace my impact driver?
It will cover a lot of driving, especially where you want control, but it is not a like-for-like swap for high-volume fixing. If you're running hundreds of long screws or coach screws, an impact is still the quicker, lower-effort tool, and you keep the combi for drilling and controlled driving.
Is a combi drill OK for drilling lots of holes in blockwork?
A few holes, yes, that is exactly the point of a combi. For lots of holes, it gets slow and tiring, and you will feel it in your wrists and forearms. For repetitive blockwork drilling, an SDS will do the job cleaner and faster with less strain and less heat in the tool.
What should I look for if I'm considering a Festool PDC 18?
Buy it if you're regularly on bigger fixings and need a drill that stays stable and controllable under load. If most of your work is light second fix and small pilot holes, you may be better off with a more compact drill that is easier to live with in tight spaces.
