About to Buy a TS 55 with a Fein Turbo II

[jturner421]

Hello,

This is my first post to the FOG.  I've been lurking for a bout a month now and I am ready to purchase a TS55 REQ.  So why buy a Fein you may ask?  I have a gift card for Amazon for my birthday that brings my price for portable dust collection down to under $100. That's just too good to pass up and frees up my budget to also purchase the OF1010 router and MFT/3.  Keep in mind that I am a hobbyist and I will be using this only in my garage workshop.

I've been researching the threads and I want to make sure that I can hook up the Fein properly.  My understanding is that in order to use the TS55 with the Fein, I need to either buy:

A) An adaptor -Fein Adapter for Festool or,
B) a Festool non-antistatic hose for $90.00 that provides a direct connection or,
C) a Bosch hose - Bosch Vac 005 for $38.00 that provides the same functionality as the Festool hose.

I'm inclined to go the Bosch route and install a Crafstman HEPA filter to get most of the functionality of the CT 26. Am I missing something or will this setup worK?

Thanks in advance,

--Joel

 

[jturner421]

I've already compared prices.  It's a $400.00 difference between the Fein with my discount and the Festool CT 26 even after you factor in the 10% Festool discount as part of a package. 

I think it's a better deal to buy the TS 55 with the MFT/3.  The discount pays for the difference between the MFT/3 and the MFT basic.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Hello,

This is my first post to the FOG.  I've been lurking for a bout a month now and I am ready to purchase a TS55 REQ.  So why buy a Fein you may ask?  I have a gift card for Amazon for my birthday that brings my price for portable dust collection down to under $100. That's just too good to pass up and frees up my budget to also purchase the OF1010 router and MFT/3.  Keep in mind that I am a hobbyist and I will be using this only in my garage workshop.

I've been researching the threads and I want to make sure that I can hook up the Fein properly.  My understanding is that in order to use the TS55 with the Fein, I need to either buy:

A) An adaptor -Fein Adapter for Festool or,
B) a Festool non-antistatic hose for $90.00 that provides a direct connection or,
C) a Bosch hose - Bosch Vac 005 for $38.00 that provides the same functionality as the Festool hose.

I'm inclined to go the Bosch route and install a Crafstman HEPA filter to get most of the functionality of the CT 26. Am I missing something or will this setup worK?

Thanks in advance,

--Joel

First of all   [welcome] to The FOG, Joel,

I own and make good money using a lot of woodworking equipment. Before I ever purchased my first Festool I was comfortable with several dust collection systems and shop vacs.

In the over 7 years I have used the TS55 many times each week I have learned it collects dust best when combined with a 36mm AS hose and with the dust extractor going full blast. Simply put, you do not need to limit the available suction. So long as a vac can accept a 36mm hose and pulls 147 cu ft per minute, all is good. In my Southern California climate most of the time I depend on the anti-static properties of the hose, which requires that the vac make appropriate electrical grounding connection to the hose. Are you absolutely sure this is true of the non-Festool dust extractor?

Again, the Festool OF1010 is an absolutely marvelous plunge router. I own several of them and use one most work days drilling shelf-pin holes. The OF1010 is designed to use the 27mm AS hose. Attempting to reduce a larger hose close to the OF1010 makes an awkward situation and really reduces the effectiveness of the router. The good thing is that having excess suction capacity is no problem for the OF1010 in most tasks, but you will need a minimum of 127 cu ft per minute. That is provided even by the older Festool CTs.

Now, when you start to use modern sanders designed to extract dust by virtue of holes in the abrasive, it is vital to be able to adjust the suction easily and precisely. This is a major feature of the Festool CTs and they all work well with 27mm hose, needed by Festool sanders. Are you sure this is true for non-Festool dust extractors.

 

[semenza]

Hi Joel,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Looks like you've got the pricing figured, but I came up with a difference of $225 ??  That is still significant of course. There are Festool dealers that sell through Amazon and I think you might still be able to use your gift card for a CT26 package.

Package $1120

TS55REQ $585 + Fein Turbo II $280 + adapter $5 + filter $25 (?) = $895

If the filter costs more or you go the hose  route the difference will be a little less than $225.

As far as workability goes it is just a matter of choosing the connection method you prefer  for the Fein.

Since you have been researching for a while I am sure you have already  thought about the other differences --  flat top for Systainers and tool rest, antistatic, compatibility with other Festool accessories,  etc.

The price difference would certainly go a long ways towards another tool ................................   tough choice.

Seth

 

[jturner421]

First of all   [welcome] to The FOG, Joel,

I own and make good money using a lot of woodworking equipment. Before I ever purchased my first Festool I was comfortable with several dust collection systems and shop vacs.

In the over 7 years I have used the TS55 many times each week I have learned it collects dust best when combined with a 36mm AS hose and with the dust extractor going full blast. Simply put, you do not need to limit the available suction. So long as a vac can accept a 36mm hose and pulls 147 cu ft per minute, all is good. In my Southern California climate most of the time I depend on the anti-static properties of the hose, which requires that the vac make appropriate electrical grounding connection to the hose. Are you absolutely sure this is true of the non-Festool dust extractor?

Again, the Festool OF1010 is an absolutely marvelous plunge router. I own several of them and use one most work days drilling shelf-pin holes. The OF1010 is designed to use the 27mm AS hose. Attempting to reduce a larger hose close to the OF1010 makes an awkward situation and really reduces the effectiveness of the router. The good thing is that having excess suction capacity is no problem for the OF1010 in most tasks, but you will need a minimum of 127 cu ft per minute. That is provided even by the older Festool CTs.

Now, when you start to use modern sanders designed to extract dust by virtue of holes in the abrasive, it is vital to be able to adjust the suction easily and precisely. This is a major feature of the Festool CTs and they all work well with 27mm hose, needed by Festool sanders. Are you sure this is true for non-Festool dust extractors.

These are good points. 

The Fein will not have anti-static capability and it's rated at 116CFM.  It's unclear to me how important this will be in Wisconsin as opposed to CA.

The newer Turbo II models have the ability to  adjust suction which I think addresses the sander issue.

 

[bullieblue]

Something that you may want to think about too is buying pre-owned and save a little that way. Not sure where you live but there is someone (not me) that posted just yesterday on craigslist located in orange county CA, a CT22 with the  d36 hw-rs-plus cleaning attachments and 36mm hose. He said make an offer - my guess would be around $250.

If you went that route you could get more for the money - just a thought

 

[jturner421]

Hi Joel,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Looks like you've got the pricing figured, but I came up with a difference of $225 ??  That is still significant of course. There are Festool dealers that sell through Amazon and I think you might still be able to use your gift card for a CT26 package.

Package $1120

TS55REQ $585 + Fein Turbo II $280 + adapter $5 + filter $25 (?) = $895

If the filter costs more or you go the hose  route the difference will be a little less than $225.

As far as workability goes it is just a matter of choosing the connection method you prefer  for the Fein.

Since you have been researching for a while I am sure you have already  thought about the other differences --  flat top for Systainers and tool rest, antistatic, compatibility with other Festool accessories,  etc.

The price difference would certainly go a long ways towards another tool ................................   tough choice.

Seth

Hi Seth,

On first glance it does look like my math is off but I'm not paying full price for the Fein.  My gift card brings it down to about $100.  So it's TS55REQ $585 + Fein Turbo II $100 + adapter $5 + filter $35 + 36mm Festool hose = $815 vs $1210 for the CT-26 plus 36mm hose—that's a $395.00 difference.

Having said that, considering I'm not a professional, it's quite possible that the MIDI will serve my needs. If I back out the gift certificate and use it for other things (I'm starting from scratch and need to buy everything),  the difference between the Festool and Fein is 10% or only $108.00.  When I factor in the other intangibles you mentioned, I'm leaning much more to the Festool MIDI.

--Joel

 

[JayStPeter]

I use a Fein with a Festool non-AS hose and it works well.  I had the Fein before Festool came to the US, and haven't found it necessary to replace it.  If it ever breaks, I'll probably replace it with a Festool though.

I use a cleanstream filter on the Fein and a Dust Deputy to keep from having to clean it out regularly.

 

[Kev]

[welcome]

I see the Fein Turbo II 9 gallon is heavily discounted on Amazon at the moment.

I comprehend the desire to save money, but it is incredibly important to consider the complete system nature of Festool - not just the individual parts. Investing in Festool for me started with their sanders and DC's, the effectiveness of the combination sent me down the path of buying more and more Festool gear.

Little things like a cumbersome coupling at the tool end, static charge build up, not being able to incorporate a boom arm, etc won't be noticed unless you experience the difference ... which is why people are trying to sway you.

Another thing worth looking into with the Fein is whether the design and bag combination give you full suction as the bag approaches full ... these are aspects that Festool have gone to great lengths to engineer properly.

Good luck.

 

[semenza]

Hi Joel,

Welcome to the FOG!  [smile]

Looks like you've got the pricing figured, but I came up with a difference of $225 ??  That is still significant of course. There are Festool dealers that sell through Amazon and I think you might still be able to use your gift card for a CT26 package.

Package $1120

TS55REQ $585 + Fein Turbo II $280 + adapter $5 + filter $25 (?) = $895

If the filter costs more or you go the hose  route the difference will be a little less than $225.

As far as workability goes it is just a matter of choosing the connection method you prefer  for the Fein.

Since you have been researching for a while I am sure you have already  thought about the other differences --  flat top for Systainers and tool rest, antistatic, compatibility with other Festool accessories,  etc.

The price difference would certainly go a long ways towards another tool ................................   tough choice.

Seth

Hi Seth,

On first glance it does look like my math is off but I'm not paying full price for the Fein.  My gift card brings it down to about $100.  So it's TS55REQ $585 + Fein Turbo II $100 + adapter $5 + filter $35 + 36mm Festool hose = $815 vs $1210 for the CT-26 plus 36mm hose—that's a $395.00 difference.

Having said that, considering I'm not a professional, it's quite possible that the MIDI will serve my needs. If I back out the gift certificate and use it for other things (I'm starting from scratch and need to buy everything),  the difference between the Festool and Fein is 10% or only $108.00.  When I factor in the other intangibles you mentioned, I'm leaning much more to the Festool MIDI.

--Joel

I didn't know you were getting a Festool D36 hose.  Doesn't the Fein come with a hose that the adapter will make work with the TS55?   I take it that the gift card can only be used on the Fein purchase , not the Festool purchase?

I'm probably just confused  ???

Seth

 

[Tinker]

My personal feeling is that you should seriously consider getting the package of TS 55 REQ and the Midi. (that seems closer to your range) You can get several different cyclone type systems to place between the tool and the vac to increase capacity between empties.  I have the Rockler Dust Right Separator (very inexpensive)that captures all of the solids.  A lot of the fine dust does go into the vac bags (CT 22 & 33) but I run my ATF 55, OF 1000, OF 1400 mounted in my CMS and all of my sanders with no difficulties.  I have tried hooking up some of my other toys to the Festoy hoses and believe me, it has proven, in most cases to be a big PITA.  Ports fit if you can call it that, but not for long. 

Kev mentioned about wondering if the Fein will keep sucking up dust when it is "almost full."  I don't have an answer to that.  I do have an answer to whether the CT 22/& 33 (and I am sure it is same with newer Festoy vacs, and probably better) can keep pulling dust when almost full.  My answer is YES.  On a couple of occasions, I have noticed suction falling off with my CT 33 has not been catching all of the chipping from my routers and/or ATF 55.  Upon investigation, the bag was literally packed, and I do mean "packed" with dust.  the dust was packed hard.  I could not believe it.  With my old Milwaukee shop vac, it quit pulling dust when it was about 3/4 full.  That is the only vac I have to compare to.

Are there other tools you can get with your gift certificate?  Are you limited to Fein?  I have an old Fein MultiMaster that gets used maybe once or twice a year.  That doesn't sound like very useful, but every time I have used it, I have had no other tool that could have taken its place for what I had used it for.  The newer MM's are even better.  Mine, the blade keeps slipping but I still would not be without it.  The newer models have improvement and i understand the blades do not slip.  There are other tools such as hand tools that will be indispensible as you go on.  Some are quite expensive and if you can get them via "gift", you would be way ahead of the game. 

Just some thoughts.  Maybe your gift won't cover , but hopefully, you work it out. Good luck
Tinker

 

[Crox G]

My first Festool purchase was a CT Midi to replace the SECOND Fein Turbo vac that crapped out after starting to scream  .  I didn't have the $$ to get the CT26.  Now I would never go back to Fein. 

I don't have a problem with the Midi's lower capacity, because I do most of the big-chip stuff in my shop where I have a trash can with a cyclone lid (Lee Valley).  It's a simple matter to run the CT hose into the cyclone to pick up the big stuff.

 

[jturner421]

[quote author=SRSemenza ]

I didn't know you were getting a Festool D36 hose.  Doesn't the Fein come with a hose that the adapter will make work with the TS55?   I take it that the gift card can only be used on the Fein purchase , not the Festool purchase?

I'm probably just confused  ???

Seth
[/quote]

No it's probably me that's confused. 

It's my understanding that the adapter will help the Fein hose fit a Festool port. The thought of getting the hose was to provide plug and play for the Festool tools.  I have no idea the size of the standard Fein hose.

The gift card is from Amazon and can only be used there.

 

[jturner421]

You've all given me a lot to think over.  The MIDI seems to be a good fit for me especially if I add a cyclone unit to chip collection.  One thing that gives me pause is that the MIDI does not accept the 36MM house.  Is this really an issue with the TS55 for dust collection or will the standard hose on the MIDI suffice? Are there are tools that might be affected by this?

Sorry for all the newbie questions, but there not all of this is self-evident from the Festoool website.

 

[woodie]

The Midi does work with a 36mm hose, it just sticks straight up so you can't stack a systainer on top while in use.  I have both the CT26 and the newer Midi, and I definitely favor the Midi.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Joel,

In many previous topic discussions we have talked about many reasons for using the 36mm AS hose with the TS saws beside an improvement in dust collection. If you need more information about this from me just send me a PM.

 

[ScotF]

Another option to consider is getting one of the reconditioned CT's for savings -- there are a number of them to choose from and you can save money and get all the benefits of a Festool vac.  You can then combine the saw with the MFT/3 and have all your bases covered. 

Welcome to the FOG!! 

Scot

 

[georvali]

Stick with your original plan and get the Fein turbo vac.  I have two and have used them for four years without a hiccup.  Whether you opt for a Hepa filter ( available at Lowes  --- what size I don't recall) or not you can either order, with the money you saved, the non static hose or the static one from Festool.  One of my machines stays outside in all weather and has been used to suck up water and dust.  If you lust for a variable speed, order a 15 amp router speed control.  Once you get up a running I highly recommend a Dust Deputy setup to reduce the cost of frequent bag changes. 

 

[semenza]

Joel,

 I was questioning the gift card  usage because if it is for Amazon as opposed to just Fein then  you can apply it to anything you buy through Amazon including Festool. So the gift card should reduce the cost by however much regardless of what you buy.

 The D27 hose that comes with all Festool vacs will fit all  of the Festool tools. Some tools benefit from the larger D36 hose. The TS55 does benefit  , but not by a lot in my experience. The D27 does a good job.   So if you go with a Festool vac you will dispense with  the need ( at least immediately) for the D36 hose and won't need to fuss with adapters.

D36 hose is most beneficial on OF1400, OF2200, Kapex,  Planers.

   Don't worry about newbie questions , there is a lot to figure out.  [thumbs up]

Seth

 

[polarsea1]

Stick with your original plan and get the Fein turbo vac.  I have two and have used them for four years without a hiccup.  Whether you opt for a Hepa filter ( available at Lowes  --- what size I don't recall) or not you can either order, with the money you saved, the non static hose or the static one from Festool.   One of my machines stays outside in all weather and has been used to suck up water and dust.  If you lust for a variable speed, order a 15 amp router speed control.  Once you get up a running I highly recommend a Dust Deputy setup to reduce the cost of frequent bag changes. 

All the new Feins have 5 speeds, I use mine with a Festool non-antistatic hose with no problem. This is one place where I think a little economy doesn't cost you much.