Re: Tool stores in Germany

Not familiar with stores since online lang ako... There is a website not kung saan yung store.. DMTools and is online.
Guad, be careful lang that the rating is 60htz and not 50. Would love to have a tracksaw from there since Bosch is available there. Festool and Mafell are also good names to consider.

Re: Tool stores in Germany

Hi timber, thanks for the pointers. On 50 vs. 60 Hz, got this statement from TTS Tooltechnic GB (Festool UK, holding company) some time ago:

We can confirm the following on our 240v machines:

240 volts is available in North America ... when 120volt circuits of opposite phase are tied together. Our larger machines and appliances usually are made for 240 volt power, but a normal house would have wiring directly to the site of that appliance only and not throughout the house. A competent home owner or qualified electrician could very easily run 240v lines into a shop area from the power circuit breaker panel. The power plug configuration is different and the molded plugs on the European tools would need to be cut off and changed, or adapters such as the Wonpro WA-18 could be used between the 2 dissimilar plug types. For portable use, where there is no convenient source of 240 volt power, a step-up transformer can be used. There is no apparent difference in performance in all of the Festool machines when running on 60 hz vs 50 hz AC current. The motors are series wired brush type universal motors. theoretically they could even run on direct current if they did not have a speed control module between the power source and the motor.

The messages on the user forums are also consistent with this. So it looks like in general, frequency is not an issue when a universal motor is used, though there might be a concern with the behavior of the electronics, so best to confirm with the particular manufacturer.

If anyone has similar or contradictory statements from other manufacturers or reliable sources, would be interested to hear...

Re: Tool stores in Germany

As for equivalent of Home Depot or Lowe's, supposedly there are several and OBI is the largest. Even the color scheme is the same as Home Depot:

Inside, looks and feels like Home Depot as well, except that everything is in German and prices are in euro. Quality of items similar. Selection seems not as extensive as in US, but this could be because this was a store in a smaller city (Leipzig). In power tools, there was some Metabo, green Bosch, an odd Black and Decker/Skil or two, and the house/entry level brand. House brands (in hand tools as well) made in China ... so Germany not immune to this condition.

Re: Tool stores in Germany

One thing they have, not present in Home Depot, is Fischer hardware. Bigger selection than in Ace, and available in bulk as opposed to the small packages in Ace. Got some plugs that are either not available in Ace, or had interesting prices compared to Ace (at about $1.33/Euro, P60/Euro):

Packaging says 'Made in Germany' whereas the ones at Ace say 'Germany'.

S 6 x 30 mm -- euro 2.89 / 100-pk
S 8 x 46 mm -- euro 3.89 / 100-pk

SX 6 x 50 mm -- euro 2.59 / 10-pk
SX 8 x 40 mm -- euro 2.59 / 20-pk
SX 8 x 65 mm -- euro 2.59 / 10-pk

Re: Tool stores in Germany

Didn't have much time for tool hunting, but one of the stores above waited for us after closing time, and I got this, Festool OFK 700:

Nameplate confirms that it will work on 50/60 Hz. Unlike US, voltage is correct. So it looks like Europe (in particular Germany or UK) is the place to get power tools. The only issues are shipping and the extra steps to get a VAT refund.

Re: Tool stores in Germany

Metabo..., Festool..:drool::jawdrop::faint:

Hang gaganda at mura naman nyan!

Re: Tool stores in Germany

You would have a field day. 🙂 I avoided looking at Metabo prices too closely ... for fear of coming to the same conclusion. Festool, on the other hand, requires ... is also cheap when considered under ... mental anesthesia. :outcold: