36mm vs. 27mm hose

[HowardH]

I currently use a 27mm new style hose on all my tools.  I was watching Sedge demonstrate on episode 86 of Festool Live! how the 36mm presumably picks up more dust.  However, when he was "demonstrating" how much better it worked, he cheated when he realized it wasn't picking up any more dust than the 27mm and quickly backed up over a stopped dado to make it appear the larger hose worked better.  I'm sure it was something he did in the heat of the moment but unfortunately it was a really bad look and a lot of people picked up on it.  I was thinking about getting the 3.5m 36mm hose but I want to verify it actually works better. 

 

[ChuckM]

I didn't watch the episode you referred to, but that sure wouldn't be the first or only time he "cheated."  [tongue]

Now and then in a demo, he'd cut or mill something and brag about how perfect it was, but in fact the video (close-up or if you care to study a screenshot) showed a different story. More than once, he used the DF500 and proclaimed a perfect joint afterwards when surely it wasn't. Since it was "live" or done real time, I didn't mind him pretending the result was perfect as the aim of the clip might be to introduce certain technique or tool. What annoys me more is that he says "perfect." but the "cameraman" isn't shooting properly to show it at all. As a woodworker, I trust my own eyes (or better yet running my fingers over the object or joint), not just what another woodworker says how perfect it is.

 

[thudchkr]

I have both but prefer to use the 27mm the majority of the time.  The 36mm gets the nod when I'm picking up bigger items which tend to clog the smaller opening of the 27.  And I totally detest trying to use the 27mm hose end with the steel tubes of the cleaning set.  I am using the newer flexible hose and the "locking" hose end connector is near impossible to keep inserted into either the curved tube or extension tube.  The larger connector on the 36mm hose goes over the outside of the tube connectors and works much better. 

I definitely wouldn't be without the 36mm hose, but primarily for the reasons mentioned above as I rarely use these hoses for tool dust collection.  I have a couple of the Festool hose/power cord assemblies that have the outer sleeve, that are used then.

 

[usernumber1]

What tools do you have actually? For me it's not about the performance just what the fit is and if it's reasonable to adapt a large hose to a small outlet at all. The hose could be less flexible and more work to handle

Kapex, larger volume works better but I use a dedicated hose anyway

Domino you need the smaller one and I dont think adapting the large one would make a difference

same goes for mirka sanders

you need the larger one for the 850 planer, says so in the manual

and for vacuuming floors some random long slivers that might clog

So what do you have that you think might benefit from larger hose?

 

[semenza]

The D36 is definitely better on the routers and planer and Kapex. It is noticeably better  on the track saw when ripping with the Panther blade.  I find it only a little bit better on the track saws with fine blade.

Dadoes almost always need to go back over them to get the dust out of the groove / dado.  I usually just unplunge the router and back it up. I still find it better with the D36. D36 when edge routing is waaay better.

Seth

 

[NiteWalkerGR]

I recently got the cleaning kit with the 36mm hose and it's my primary hose now. I made a whip out of the d27/32 hose that came with my ct midi I. The d27/32 tapers from 27mm on the tool end to 32mm at the vac end; I cut the hose where the taper reaches the 32mm size, then just reattached the vac end fitting. I think I ended up with a whip hose that's 53" from end to end. And since the vac end of the 27/32 fits into the tool end of the d36 hose, no additional fittings are needed.

It was unnerving to cut an expensive hose like that at first, but I'm glad I did. Like I said, the 36mm hose gets most of my use now, but for tools that can't use the 36mm tool end, like sanders, I just attach the whip.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

I’m 100% in agreement with [member=68525]usernumber1[/member] on this. I have both - and each has its place;

27mm = Mirka sander, Makita RP1100C router, Makita LS0714 mitre saw, Makita PJ7000/2 biscuit jointer, Mafell P1CC jigsaw, Hilti AG125 grinder/diamond cutter.

36mm = Festool OF2200 + TS55 + TS60, DeWalt 780 mitre saw, Hilti DD150U diamond core drill, Makita 9403 belt sander, plus shop/site floor cleanup. It’s also useful as an ‘at source’ hose, laid on top of a kitchen countertop to suck away material whilst I’m drilling cutout corners using a Forstner bit - stuff like that.

My bigger machinery (Mafell chain mortiser, Wadkin spindle moulder + planer/thicknesser + tenoner, Axminster bandsaw etc.) are dealt with via a proper shop extraction system.

The larger hose is slightly more cumbersome and less flexible, but the increased airflow and reduced tendency to clog has somewhat changed the game for me - and I too bought it after taking the same advice on here.

Kevin

 

[mino]

...
36mm = Festool OF2200 + TS55 + TS60, DeWalt 780 mitre saw, Hilti DD150U diamond core drill, Makita 9403 belt sander, plus shop/site floor cleanup. It’s also useful as an ‘at source’ hose, laid on top of a kitchen countertop to suck away material whilst I’m drilling cutout corners using a Forstner bit - stuff like that.
...

I would add that from above, the TS 55 and TS 60 - the main use case for many here - are absolutely fine with the air volume a D27 hose provides.

The only reason, e.g., -I- do not use the D27 with my TSC 55 is because I have it rigged with PlugIt. It bothers me hanging about, not plugged to anything. Heh.

How I know D27 is definitely OK? I often forget my CTM 36 in the low-suction mode from sanding and go ahead and cut some sheets with it. There is little difference with the TSC 55 to the point I once forgot to pair the vac, and noticed only after the second cut when the hose clogged ...  [embarassed]

Now, using a non-Festool saw - like the Makita SP6000 - I would *definitely* want the D36 hose. The non-FT saws tend to be very wasteful with suction air in comparison to the TS 55/60 series. That changes the equation of what hose is optimal for the tools.

Point being, if you have a corded TS 55 and a small shop, it is MUCH better to just permanently rig D27 hose with PlugIt and use it for both sanding and cutting instead of swapping the hoses all the time.

If you use the TSC in a shop, I would go with my setup - a D27 rigged with PlugIt, possibly on an arm, and a D36 without for use with the TSC. There are just not that many *Festool* tools which ask for more air volume than the D27 hose provides.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Along with what most of the guys have said, I use both too. The D27 for the sanders, DF500, OF1010, MFK700, TS55, PS420, and Zeta. The D36 comes out for the router table, OF1400, and TS75.
The higher volume of chips produced just need more airflow to keep from clogging.
It just so happens that the smaller lighter tools, which work fine with the smaller hose, also benefit from the flexibility of the D27 too.
When I get out the TS75, it is for thicker solid wood. It can produce and throw off a lot of chips/dust, the D36 copes with this a lot better. The fact that the hose fits over the fitting, rather than inside it makes a huge difference. Same for the OF1400, it gets the bigger bits/chip production.