Are Festool Dust Extraxtors quieter than Fein?

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Hi,
In addition to hobby woodworking I participate in a club that was formed for the enthusiasm of paleontology. The club has a long association with official science organizations, and as such we are loaned, and permitted to prepare fossils in service of the associations that mentor the activity.

The club wants to upgrade from basic shop vac status so I brought my CT26 to the prep lab so they could observe the wonders of combining HEPA filtration with high suction capacity.

We do not have the budget to go all out with an industrial style duct system and an big collector placed where no one can see or hear it.

The dust created is minimal in volume, we are working with a tiny needle like air chisel to dislodge the mineral matrix surrounding the bones, so the CT26 collected everything and the HEPA filter was considered a huge upgrade.

The idea of using a modern marvel HEPA dust collector inside the lab has been regarded as an appealing upgrade to the present system.

With the practical needs taken care of, attention turned to how quiet the CT26 was compared to expectations or apprehensions. The low noise was greatly appreciated.

The club seems interested in buying two dust extraction systems and has asked me to learn what products might meet the needs of extraction and filtration while being exceptionally quiet.

I am wondering if the CT series is the quietest or if some of the close competitors might be quieter. For example; Are the CT extractors quieter than the Fein extractors.

I was surprised that I could not find any dB specs for any of the small workshop dust extractors that I looked in to.

We understand that using the extractor is usually coincident with the use of a noisy tool, so we are not especially concerned about the operator of the tool, who will know when to use hearing protection etc. but our lab is located in a museum facility and we would like to be helpful and cooperative in terms of minimizing disruption to the people we share the building with.

Has anyone had an opportunity to compare these extractors in terms of noise?

Thank you!

 

[Birdhunter]

I have the MIDI Festool units and an old Fein. The Festool vac seems marginally quieter than the Fein. I prefer the Festool unit because I can control the suction level. I don’t know if the new Fein vacs have that feature. My local store has ceased carrying he Fein vacs. Not sure why.

 

[kevinculle]

The noise level of a vacuum like the CT26 will depend on the speed it's running at and the restriction imposed by whatever tool is on the inlet (brush, crevice tool, etc.) as well as by how full and restrictive the dust bag is, so a one size fits all noise spec is not of much value.  I have both a CT26 and a Nilfisk Aero 21 and their overall noise levels are quite comparable but the Nilfisk is a somewhat higher pitched noise signature making it more noticeable to me.  They're both HEPA rated but the Nilfisk lacks the CT26's variable speed and bluetooth control.  It costs less than half as much as the CT26 with accessories.

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Thank you to both for sharing comments.

We will probably use the basic round hose opening with a sort of positioning arm and bracket to place the inlet near the work and elevated in free space.

I anticipate that the extractor will run at full capability.

I would hope that any comparison I can find would account for restrictions contributed by the amount of refuse already stuffed in the collection bags.

My gut feeling is that the Festool is the best all around balance of real life capabilities, but I am responsible to the club to inquire about options.

Thank you!

 

[Cheese]

Like Birdhunter, I own a Fein Turbo II and 3 Festool vacs. I think at maximum suction all the vacuums are about the same noise level. The Festool vacs have variable suction while the Fein does not. However, for what you're doing I'm not sure you need the vac to be set at maximum suction, you may have just as good of results at a lower setting, thus also generating a LOT LESS noise.

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Thank you for your input.

FWIW, I just found this web page, which does actually include noise levels.
https://www.festoolusa.com/knowledge/hepa-dust-extractors#ERARRPCompliance

 

[jarbroen]

I don't have a Fein, but have two CT dust collectors - the newer Midi and a CT26.
Subjectively speaking, the CT26 seems quieter than the Midi at full suction.  Not by much, but it has a different pitch to the sound which gives the impression of reduced loudness.
Could be the larger housing or the larger hose.

The nice thing about Festool is that you can buy it and try it.  If you pickup another model and it's louder than you'd like you can return it within 30 days.

 

[HarveyWildes]

I owned an older Fein which I liked quite well.  My son is using it now, and I have moved on to a Festool.  My take is that noise depends on how you have the suction set, and what you have it connected to.  My Fein did not have variable suction, and I think you have to get a higher priced Fein to get it.  My overall sanding package comparison is that DeWalt sander with Fein vacuum was louder than Festool sander and vacuum, but that was primarily the sander.

Another thing to consider if you are picking up larger bits is a cyclone to separate out the big stuff.  If you use a bag and a cyclone, your bags will last a long time and your filters will last practically forever.  On the other hand, if you are picking up a lot of fine dust (ala drywall sanding), a cyclone is not going to help you as much.  Either way, I think you want HEPA filtration if it's going to be used in a museum, and the Festool is HEPA as a complete vacuum package, rather than just a HEPA filter.  I'm not sure how the Fein compares on that score.

I've had no reliability issues with either the Fein (25 years) or the Festool (6 years now) used primarily for woodworking.

 

[ChuckM]

https://soundproofnation.com/quiet-shop-vac/

According to that site, 59db is the lowest noise level from a Makita.

I've not tried it, but some say a muffler can reduce the noise level of some shop vacs.  I have one of those Ridgid loud-as-a-plane-taking-off shop vacs. I box it with sound dampen materials inside, significantly bringing down its noise.

I did a quick comparison with my CT15 and "airplane engine." The sound level meter may not be accurate, but the comparison data are valid.

The CT15 sound level (the slowest setting) at the workbench is comparable to the boxed Ridgid shop vac (no variable speeds). I always wear ear protection whenever any of the shop vacs, dust extractor or dust collector is in use. The air filtration system (converted from a furnace squirrel fan) is a lot quieter in comparison. 

 

[thudchkr]

I have, (and use), a Festool CT 22 & Festool CT 26, as well as Fein Turbo 1, Turbo 2 & Turbo 3. As others have said they are relatively comparable as to noise levels. All of my Fein vacuums are the older style with variable suction, so it’s possible things may have changed.  I’d be confident that the Fein vacs would still be relatively quiet however.

Biggest reason I’d choose Festool at this point is the Bluetooth remote that they have available. I added it to my CT 26 and that addition has turned the CT 26 into my go-to vacuum. FWIW, I use remotes to start and stop my Fein vacs as well, but that often leaves one searching for the appropriate remote while the Festool one remains attached to the end of the vacuum hose.

 

[rst]

Like Thudchkr, I also have three older Feins with suction control and also have a Metabo.  I have a Midi, 26 and 35AC and do not find much difference is sound.  Certainly quieter than the half dozen Craftsman vacs I killed over the years.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I anticipate that the extractor will run at full capability.

The first thing that I thought of was that you will never need to run the vac at full speed. Cheese already mentioned it also. Given the nature of your work with fossils and the care you have to take you will only generate a very small amount of dust in a given time, while these extractors are made to process a considerable volume made by very dirty people like me.

I think you will be fine running the vac at it lowest speed. I do not find the Festool vacs very quiet at full speed, but they become a whisper if you turn their speed all the way down.

 

[Peter_C]

Toolbox Buzz will give you all the info you should need to decide which dust extractor might be best suited.https://www.toolboxbuzz.com/head-to-head/best-dust-extractors-head-to-head/

There is a video covering the above information. The graphs shown in the article above pretty much answer every question needed though.

Decibel graph for reference.

 

[ChuckM]

Based on this Buzz review, the Makita sounds like a winner to me, esp. if cost was given due consideration. My CT15 running at the highest setting is LOUD, and, if used with the DF500, VERY LOUD. It doesn't bother me though as my ears are protected whenever the machines are running.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Attached is a pdf combining manufacturer's specs for the various Festool HEPA vacs and the Fein Turbo II X HEPA.

Festool rates all their vacs except CT Sys as 62 dB low suction, 71-72 dB high suction.
Fein rates this vac as "sound pressure level" 70 dB.

I tried finding EU regulations regarding allowable dB levels but was not able to.

 

[Woody Knotsensplintahs]

Thank you to everyone for sharing the helpful info.

Thank you!

 

[Peter_C]

What will be the easiest way to turn the dust collector on?

Tool triggered meaning if the scaler you are using can plug into the dust collector it could turn it on.

One other thought is Bluetooth. Festool's got it, and non of the others that I know of. Once a person uses Bluetooth it is hard not to count on it, especially on longer hoses. The remote could just be set on the work table and pushed on/off when needed.

Also how do you plan on holding the hose in place? Building some kind of small
dust intake box might be the best solution.

 

[Coen]

Based on this Buzz review, the Makita sounds like a winner to me, esp. if cost was given due consideration. My CT15 running at the highest setting is LOUD, and, if used with the DF500, VERY LOUD. It doesn't bother me though as my ears are protected whenever the machines are running.

If I remember right the Makita scored worst at airflow and pressure... so fair comparison would be with the Festool at lower speed.

 

[ChuckM]

If I remember right the Makita scored worst at airflow and pressure... so fair comparison would be with the Festool at lower speed.
[/quote]

Worst? I didn't watch the video, but that is not how the text or chart put it.

 

[Peter_C]

The Makita was the winner when it came to running on a plugged filter/bag, which in my world is common. When clean it ranked 4th, which is just above average. Looks like Makita also updated with a new model since Toolbox Buzz ran their tests, which appears like it will fit under a bench better. Although they have Bluetooth for tool triggering Makita does not offer a simple on/off remote. https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/VC4210L