Sometimes tiny 12v tools can feel awkward, so this is a good move staying on a single battery platform. I’m not a fan of DeWalt’s Atomic or Ridgid’s subcompact plastic chucks, glad Flex stayed with metal. Flex listened, made their tools less chunky, so I’m fine with a slight power loss. Looking forward to seeing more videos.

Really digging the size and look. Especially the drill man. Glad to see your the 1st to review these brother. I was eager to see how these compacts perform. I appreciate you taking the time to get these and get this content out to us interested. Have a great weekend Taylor. My best to the fam brother

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks man! I was surprised like to you see see that the they hadn’t been reviewed. Thanks for watching and best to you and your family as well.

Thank you. First one on KZread I saw to review these new compact.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Hope it was helpful. Thanks for watching.

Nice initial review + test. I had been wondering about these new Flex tools, especially the compact drill/driver. I am a sucker for compact drills. I prefer the 12V drills due to the much smaller batteries, but this new Flex drill definitely has me interested. Looking forward to your follow-up testing videos.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I was surprised at how similar the size of the tool was to the M12 I showed in the video. I’m interested to see how they perform against others as well.

Just wanted to say love the channel and your reviews. Thank you for bringing great tool content and feeding the addiction lol.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. I appreciate the support.

Great first look and I look forward to getting my hands on the kit. I completely agree on the quick insert collet. Frankly it should be industry standard like the keyless chuck. Any driver I use without one almost immediately feels cheaper to me. It’s that important to me. Can’t wait to see what others you put it up against.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. And I agree on the Chuck! I feel that way every time I pick up the triple hammer from Metabo HPT.

@tinkerwithtools you do a great job on your reviews brother. I understand your comments just fine.keep up the great work!

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. I appreciate the support!

I swear every single brand has been trying to create their own dcd800 over the last year it seems! Looks great!

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Everyone has to try to dethrone the best. But to be fair I view this as more competitive to 12v and subcompacts (like the atomic drill) than making a run at that.

Flex makes a nice tool and I'm glad to see them continuing to improve their line. Compact tools are a very welcome addition.

@e.z.e.932

Жыл бұрын

I spy a Kobalt Next Gen drill in the background. Any review coming on that tool and possibly the impact?

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I agree.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

As for the Kobalt, I did a review of the drill along with some other $99 drills during the holiday season. It will be featured in another video of $99 drills at some point this weekend.

@e.z.e.932

Жыл бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools thanks for pointing that out, I found it and quite impressive drill. Watched the new one today as well with the Bosch, makita, and flex. Another good review.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

I bought the kit. Love it! All the power ya need.

@TinkerWithTools

8 ай бұрын

It's pretty nice especially given how much smaller they made it.

Nice first look / review mate. I wish flex tools were available in the U.K. they seem like a good brand at good prices.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

your statement is correct, i have both compact flex 24v & milwaukee 12v fuel both are great tools no question but after my testing i found flex to be much better & smooth & power & 24v at a compact size as a ELECTRICIAN it fit my need very well. WE all know great tools like the smooth makita 40v & 18v in which i love as well the great milwaukee fuel system / key factor buy the one that fit your need and you will have a winner in hand.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Well said!

@MadLadsAnonymous

Жыл бұрын

You felt the Flex compact to have a really smooth trigger? That's good news!

Agree like the smaller size especially for that brand. The 2.5 AH battery was a good move. The chuck not being a quick insert especially for the compact size is a failure. Honest review again.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Greg!

Wow, they managed to make it smaller than the M12. I'm surprised. Good on them. I thought the flex batteries were all huge. Not that one though!

I am surprised they didn't just release an installation driver with multiple attachments. Hoping that's coming soon.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

That would be cool to have that in a 18/24v platform. I wish DEWALT and Milwaukee would do the same too.

@MadLadsAnonymous

Жыл бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools Doresoom posted a Milwaukee patent showing an M18 installation driver but no ETA. Tools and Stuff posted a Makita patent for an LXT installation driver but no ETA.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Yep. Would love for them to come to fruition. I’m curious if the upcoming 18v CXS replacement from Festool will give them a nudge to release. I also have the flexiclick 18v from Bosch and it’s not bad.

Nice one brother Very very nice

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@MrNfury8

Жыл бұрын

Please include the Dcd800 in your Vs test please please please.thanks Mr Tinker

I just bought one after returning dewalt and ryobi. My flex drills screws straight into a 4x4 way faster then this video is showing. A must buy if you need a good quality tool for less expensive.

Something tells me the Flex subcompact drill will be a match in performance / speed to the $99 drills you tested. I would like to see that. And the regular Flex compared to the DCD800

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

You are probably right. I think it will be interesting long term to see if both the compact and the regular brushless stay in the line up or if regular brushless goes away.

Hopefully, Flex will make the next generation collet quick insert. I think it could easily replace my Dewalt set if they do.

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

This was the second generation of tool releases and they didn’t do it here. The quick eject is the best version of the non quick insert collet in my opinion but that is only available on the top impact driver.

@DiligentDave1966

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools I just realized that I posted similar comments on two of your videos lol.

Should test them with stack lithium battery

I wish manufacturers would standardize the lights. The Ridgid Octane hammer drill had one of the best lights. I also wish all hammer drills had the separate drill/hammer mode selector like the Ridgid Octane and the Bosch.

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

I never tried that drill but I do appreciate good lighting on tools. as for the selector I think that it gets combined for space saving reasons. I do like it but I would rather have a more compact drill over that.

@DiligentDave1966

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools The Octane had a light ring that was part of the chuck. As for compactness, I think it was about the same size as the new Ridgid high torque hammer drill, the DCD998 and DCD999.

I agree with the battery platform comment. Flex and Ridgid keep their compact and full size tools on the same platform, which means you don’t necessarily have to buy a bunch of batteries.

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

Even Milwaukee is not offering a compact option for M18 tools. I like having options.

@DiligentDave1966

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools Yeah, I saw that on the Tools and Tactics livestream.

Hey, anyway you could do a video, with battery charge times? Across a couple brands? Charge time is very important, and no one else does it

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I’ll put in my queue. There are brands I could do it easier with then others. Milwaukee for example I have an easy way to drain the batteries with a big light but I don’t have that with all the tool brands. I’ll see what I can come up with.

These or Dewalt 18v 805 and 850? I’m certainly questioning the point 12v tools with these new Flex and Dewalt offerings on their main battery platforms. The stacked lithium batteries help reduce the size and weight even more.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I understand that feeling. The stacked lithium 3.5 battery isn't all that small but for the power it puts out, its impressive. DeWalt really is set up nicely with the compact because of the 1.7ah Power Stack battery. That paired with their smaller tools is impressive.

I really wish Milwaukee would find a way to make their 12v tools have batteries similar to the Dewalt 12v tools.

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

I have grown comfortable with the M12 ergonomics but I can I understand why some want it changed. But given how big the M12 lineup is I doubt it would happen any time soon.

@DiligentDave1966

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools I’m okay with the ergonomics of the older brushed models, but the new fuel feels slick and less grippy.

I couldn't tell from the video, but is the Milwaukee the M12 Surge?

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

No. That was the Gen 3 standard M12 impact driver.

I hope this little drill has some TORQUE!!!

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

If you have used the previous non-turbo drill they have, it's not quite as powerful, but pretty close. It's rated 100 in-lbs lower but it seems to do a lot of the same things, just not as fast.

What's it like size wise compared to the rodgid subcompact line?

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I’ll get some comparisons in the next video. My gut says the drill is comparable but the impact isn’t as stubby.

Run the compact impact Driver vs the DEWALT ATOMIC 850 and or the DCF 840 and the compact drill driver against the comparable DeWalt I think the 800 or 805

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

On paper it's a match for the 840 spec wise but as we have learned, the 840 is an understated powerhouse. The impact didn't feel that powerful or fast. But rest assured, those were some of the ideas that I had

A faster charger is a must have.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

It’s nice that all of their kits come with it.

How about a size comparison with the MAKITA sub compact

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I don't have the Makita Sub Compact to show side by side but the Makita is showing as 5 7/8" for the drill. The flex is 5.9". So I would say the makita is likely fractionally smaller but very similar. The Makita is 5.1" and the Flex is 5". Once again quite similar. Where the biggest difference will be is the power output. The Flex drill is almost 2x more power than the makita and the impact has 400 in-lbs more torque than the makita. The thing that Makita has going for it is that it does have much more compact batteries so while the tools are smaller... the overall weight of the combined package on the flex will be heavier.

How is the trigger response on the compact version compared to the full size?

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

If you have used the turbo model it’s Very similar.

@DiligentDave1966

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools Impact Nation said the trigger on the compact is more responsive.

better than the Makita subcompact by a long shot.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Some people have asked to test against those but at this point they are old and honestly not super competitive.

@ProxyFinal

Жыл бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools don’t even bother. Even the latest or gen 2 of Makita subcompact are roughly the same specs when compared to the first gen

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, where i don't own them, they won't get featured, and I'm not buying them at this point. I wrestling back and forth about the new Metabo HPT compact at this point and the sub-compact set from Ridgid. Those seem like the best 18v comps that I don't have. At least those two are newer.

@ProxyFinal

Жыл бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools I just got mine over the mail and man are they the definition of compact as they are even tinier than the Makita subcompact. So far, I like the feel and they are an improvement over the basic models of Flex in terms of balance. you can't beat an all metal chuck for the drill driver (kinda considering on the hammer drill). Now, you just mentioned the Metabo HPT next gen compact series and let me tell you that their hammer drill is really tiny. I did have the compact impact driver, but I ended up returning that one because I prefer the triple hammer over it.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Most of the compact kits seen to have one two that rocks and one that is so so. There are so many small impact drivers that I don’t feel subcompact is as important there. I’ve been going back and forth on wanting to get the newest Ridgid subcompact kit for testing or the Metabo HPT kit for testing. Can’t decide so I have just done nothing.

I am sorry but I have watched so many of your videos, made comments, you have been kind enough to reply and I am not subscribed. I AM NOW! If you read this then remember to subscribe, i am terrible for that. This channel is awesome and should have more subscribers.

@TinkerWithTools

8 ай бұрын

Well thank you for the kind words and the sub now. I appreciate the support.

Have you had any issues with your Flex batteries leaking?

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

Zero issues.

@DiligentDave1966

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools I’ve seen several videos of the battery leaking, but I think it’s mostly the 2.3 amp. The 2.5 amp gets hotter under load, so it might explain things.

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

I have either 5 2.5 ah batteries and haven’t had issues. Oldest ones are about 2 years old at this point. Newer ones are from early this year.

@DiligentDave1966

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools That’s reassuring.

What's the overall length of the drill?

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

5.9". That's for the drill driver. I don't have the hammer drill version.

@PrimasXD123

11 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools awesome thank you so much for taking the time to reply every time

@TinkerWithTools

11 ай бұрын

No problem!

Bought this Flex pack out a few months ago. Used on three projects. The latches between the top box and the middle box kept hanging up or not locking. Soooo, tried to call company service to get a fix. Wasn't asking for anything but a tech to walk me through the fix(maybe a replacement latch?). First, good luck getting through, they DON"T answer their phones. After a half hour hold the message comes on offering a call back. No choice gotta grow old on the phone or give up. No call back, so the next day I try again, same deal, but this time I get a call back. Pleasant young lady hears the problem and takes all my info and says they are sending a new replacement unit!! Of course nothing took place, NO Replacement Unit, No Latches, NO NOTHING!!!! The product seems to be well made except for these few minor issues, however I would never recommend buying a Flex product. They have no customer loyalty.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear it's not working out for you. I do appreciate you sharing your experience.

Is this actually out on the shelves?

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I got it at my local Lowe’s.

@rickyperkins232

Жыл бұрын

​@@TinkerWithTools what's the kit number, I will go and pick it up now

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Fxm205-2a. They are showing in stock with a lot of my local Lowe’s.

@rickyperkins232

Жыл бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools I went to get it nothing yet here

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Sorry man! I wasn’t expecting it yet but my store has like 5 of the kit and 5 of the drill driver in stock last I checked.

It would be better to do these tests by drilling in harder wood. greetings

As a Flex tools owner I love the tools and have been very satisfied but honestly think Lowes does a terrible job at advertising Flex and making people want to buy them.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I think Flex in general is poorly advertised whether it's in store or online. Flex Stack Pack has all but disappeared at stores for example and I have to watch by 40' of craftsman in my local lowes to even get anywhere near it.

Makes no sense that the M12 drove the screw just as fast when the Flex is a 24v tool. In theory it should be twice as fast.

@TinkerWithTools

5 ай бұрын

Voltage won't determine how fast a tool drives a screw. It will have to do more with the combination of power and RPM's over the motor. The voltage will come in from being able to supply enough power to drive the motor to those levels. Milwaukees top M12 really push what a 12v is thought of and they routinely will hang with the lower end of the 18/24v.

@B-Hez

5 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools so what you’re saying is, the M12 motor is designed to be faster and use more of its total voltage, as opposed to the Flex motor not being designed to use most of that max voltage when it comes to speed?

@TinkerWithTools

5 ай бұрын

Voltage doesn’t always mean faster. Tools are optimized to run at certain levels. For example the 40v XGT isn’t any faster at driving than the LXT models.

@B-Hez

5 ай бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools so higher voltage=more power, not more speed?

@TinkerWithTools

5 ай бұрын

High voltage gives you more potential energy but something like an impact driver will be limited as much the 1/4” hex drive and the motor housing/anvil size as anything. Higher voltage thrives for higher draw tools like big saws.

Lack of quick insert is a deal breaker.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

I suspect that will be for some. The fact that they don’t have a true quick insert in any of their impacts is something that I wish they would change.

Can't wait for them to make a compact brushless circular saw

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

That would be nice.

please compare size of tools .i want my small tools to be small . the power isn't an so valuable if the size of tool gets bigger

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

In the full comparisons to other tools I’ll focus on that more. But if you have m12 tools or are familiar with them, they are that size or smaller.

@josephmerz2666

Жыл бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools agreed but slower generally . also limited to smaller batteries .though mostly i am finding the little 18v/20v batteries might not add that much to size yet increase performance greatly . as in makita 12v vrs there 18v compact . then again dewalt 840 with a power stack vers there 12v impact . thankyou for your reviews ,they are helpful and i enjoy them

It so stupid when tool companies pretty much stay the same instead of upgrading. If u think about it they may have added a couple new features but took away the old good features.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Curious what features they took away. This isn't a replacement for the flex turbo hammer drill so if anything the only thing they took away was a little bit of power when they made it smaller. The impact driver actually gained features.

@weldonpinder7295

Жыл бұрын

​@Tinker With Tools sry this comment was for the gen 4 hammer drill video

Unfortunately the batteries are still huge

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

The 2.5 fits well on this but I agree they are on the bigger side.

You make a lot of excuses for these compact tools. Please compare this Flex impact driver to the compact Ridgid impact driver.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

It’s one I have been considering. Help me understand, what excuses am I making for them?

@3vil3lvis

Жыл бұрын

@@TinkerWithTools @7:37 "I don't think this tool is going to offer blazing fast performance, but that is not what this tool is about." and again @9:38 "I don't think its necessarily going to be the top performance, but I think that performance is sufficient that not going to be wishing that you had a different tool." basically you are saying its good enough for you because I said so, and in a way apologizing for the short comings of the tool. On paper the Ridgid stomps this Flex (but its twice the price) and doing it with 4 volts less: Flex Model fx1331 3000RPM 1700 in/lbs Ridgid 4 mode Model R862312k 3400 RPM 2400 in/lbs.

@TinkerWithTools

Жыл бұрын

Fair points. My intent on making those comments was more along the lines of saying that you shouldn't expect Milwaukee Fuel/Flex quick eject performance out of this impact but it's not a top tier offering, it's compact offering that cuts back on performance for the sake of size savings. With respect to the ridgid, I think the sub compact impact is the better comp for this tool. The impact number are still better than that of the Flex on paper, so I think it would still win, but comparing it to the top impact driver in the ridgid line up isn't apples to apples in my opinion.

Not as powerful or small as my Makita XDT17 IMPACT DRIVER WHAT GOT 1895 IPT