gostauffergo said:
I'm a house flipper and remodeler, and very soon I'll be purchasing a CT26. I'll be using it for jobsite cleanup (dust, woodchips, garbage staples, etc.) 95% of the time.
Which hose should I be using for this? I'm thinking I need it to be non-antistatic, because I need it to not be fussy or hard to handle. I can tell I'll need to upgrade to a 36mm or 50mm, which one would be better for this application? Will the 36mm be plenty big enough for typical cleanups (vacuuming out stud bays, cleaning out corners after demo)?
Also, I definitely want to be able to fit the hose inside of the hose garage on top of the vac. Is the 8.25' length hose the largest 50mm hose I can completely fit in the hose garage?
Will an 8.25' be long enough to be easy to use for cleanups, or should I stick with an 11.5' 36mm hose?
Thanks for any advice
John
First of all, John, [welcome] to The FOG,
How to gently break the news? Only the 11.5' 27mm hose which comes with the CT26 will fit in the hose garage. Many of us find that storing even that hose in the garage or a Systainer kinks the hose. Keep the kink of the hose in mind when considering the convenience of transportation. I've always transported my own hoses in a loose coil held together with a couple of Velcro-style cable ties.
When I first receive a new hose I stretch it out in a warm place and even run warm air through it with a heat gun turned down low. I'm nearly bald so I do not own a conventional hair drier. Once the original shipping kink of the hose is relaxed by the warmth and stretching, I let it find its natural curl. I use the same approach for extension cords and TV camera cables.
The idea is to reduce kink so you are not fighting that while using the hose, cord or cable.
Page 12 of the 2013 Festool USA catalog lists various cleaning sets.
The Industrial Cleaning Set (cat 454 770) includes a 50mm Non-AS 8.5' (2.5m) hose and really large extension tubes, plus large attachments. This set does not include a Systainer. It comes in a cardboard box.These are the cleaning sets I use to clean my shop, which has concrete floors. When I buy these from my dealer who lets me upgrade the hose to the 4m x 50mm AS hose which is standard for me. I live and work in a dry climate so I need the AS hose and have learned to deal with the AS hose not being as flexible. Festool USA also sells the 4m x 50mm Non-AS hose. Personally I find cleaning is easier with the 4m (13') long hose.
Festool also sells other cleaning sets which include 36mm hoses. The Universal Cleaning Set (cat 497 702) is general purpose and is all plastic. It is priced with a 3.5m (11.5') Non-AS hose. I prefer this set when cleaning up in clients offices or homes, because if dropped the plastic extension tubes are far less likely to mar polished floors. Since you intend to flip the houses you are sprucing-up, you might well prefer the plastic tubes. I pay extra for the AS 36mm x 7m (23') hose which is my standard. Only the 3.5m hose fits in the included Systainer 5.
For my condo, which is carpeted, I use the Tradesperson/Installer Cleaning Set (cat 497 700) which is priced including a 36mm x 3.5m (11.5') AS hose and stainless metal tubes. That was the first cleaning set I purchased because I wanted a 36mm AS hose for my TS55 and OF2200 router. Way back when I did work on client's sites I used to to clean up those, until the time I dropped a stainless tube on a freshly installed hardwood floor. It took forever to sand out the ding. That was when I bought the Universal Cleaning set for use on sites.
An accessory vital to me is the Plastic Turbo Suction Brush (cat 450 644) which has 4 casters and a beater bar. I does require a 36mm hose to provide enough suction. This is the carpet brush I use at home routinely. Another is packed in the Systainer with the Universal kit I send to client's sites.
I do not know anyone using the Industrial set on client's sites, but during rough construction stages where there are few consequences from dropping a tube and there are large chips and pieces to vacuum up, this might be a more efficient set. Only these tubes and accessories work directly with a 50mm hose. Even in my large shop I prefer to not extend the 50mm hose because I find it convenient to have my CT22 close to me. The newer CT26 works slightly better.
