Are Festool Dust Extraxtors quieter than Fein?

[squall_line]

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.

What strikes me is that both the Festool and Makita, with dirty bags, out-draw three of the other units with CLEAN bags...

And the differential on the DeWalt is a bit staggering.  [blink]

 

[Coen]

Seems I remembered wrong  :-[

But at least Festool has a decent standard with dust extraction connections on the tools. Makita doesn't.

 

[Peter_C]

Seems I remembered wrong  :-[

But at least Festool has a decent standard with dust extraction connections on the tools. Makita doesn't.

Makita has stepped up dust collection on a majority of their tools. Instead of the batteries connecting via Bluetooth though they use a module in the tool that is an accessory, so even the older batteries still work. This year after over a decade or two Makita just released a new different battery that is no longer compatible with older tools. If only Milwaukee had more dust collection on their tool lineup. All of my cordless tools are either Makita or Milwaukee, with the M12 lineup well stocked in my tool boxes. The two brands seem to take turns being first to market.

 

[bertv]

I think that Makita vac is an OEM Nilfisk, and it looks like the Metabo is a Starmix clone. I wish someone would do a *real* comparison based on the innards of vacs, instead of the colours of the hulls and the logos pasted on them.

 

[Coen]

My brother bought a Makita concrete planer. It had some weird connection and it seemed impossible to find the right adapter.... of which Makita has a ton. Seller didn't know either. So on my advice he returned it and got the Festool Renofix and lo and behold... the hose fits without a problem.

 

[Andrew Sikana]

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!

The Festool 583492 CT 26 has sound levels of 62 decibels which is quieter than the  Fein Turbo whose sound levels are rated at 67 deibels. If there is anyone in here who knows something that is quieter than this please let me know. The sound levels  I have mentioned, came fromhttps://tumfweko.com/quiet-shop-vac/
i hope you will find this useful in one way or another

 

[Holzhacker]

A couple thoughts. As others I also have an older Fein turbo II and multiple Festool vacs. As far as I know the newer Fein's have adjustable suction.
I would put both vacs at about the same noise level with the Fein maybe being a bit louder. However, pitch, amplitude, sound range (I'm not a sound engineer so probably not using proper terminology) of the Fein annoys me less than the Festool ct's. I find the sound from the ct's a bit more annoying.
Buy one of each, try them out and then buy more later of the one you like

 

[ChuckM]

The Festool 583492 CT 26 has sound levels of 62 decibels which is quieter than the  Fein Turbo whose sound levels are rated at 67 deibels. If there is anyone in here who knows something that is quieter than this please let me know. The sound levels  I have mentioned, came fromhttps://tumfweko.com/quiet-shop-vac/
i hope you will find this useful in one way or another

Trust me. By the time you put on some decent ear protection (mine is NNR 31dB) and use the dust extractor with a machine, you won't be able to tell the difference between the two. I can't tell mine (CT26, CT 15, Ridgid shop vac, Sears Shop Vac, dust collector etc.) in terms of difference when operating the SawStop, Kapex or others.

 

[afish]

If noise level is super critical I would build a sound proofing box for it.  They are pretty simple box usually lined with egg crate type foam you will need to make sure there is a ventilation port which is typically a shaft with either some baffles or multiple turns.  Such a box would probably reduce any good dust extractor to less than the ambient noise.  A google search for sound proofing box will help visualize.

On another note the Makita extractor is hard to beat but after going back and forth I ended up with the Festool for one reason and that was the hose garage on top.  I hated the hose organization of the makita it felt like a after thought.  I have dealt with similar situations in the past and trying to move or transport a vac with the hose constantly coming undone and dragging behind, tripping over it etc. was enough to sway me.  Perhaps its some OCD but I love being able to neatly and securely put away the hose when not in use or transporting.  If thats not a concern then the Makita is worth a hard look.

 

[tomktest]

Can't speak for other extractors by my MIDI i is much quieter than my old Ridgid.

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