Boom arm question

aprikh1

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2011
Messages
35
I am thinking of getting the boom arm for my CT36. I was planning to have a 36mm and 27mm hoses attached to the arm simultaneously to handle different tools. With that in mind, how would I go about vacuuming? With the hoses attached to the boom arm, and without a third hose, do I have to dismount one of my hoses off the boom arm so I can vacuum? If so, how difficult is that to do? Should I consider getting a third hose in the future, using it strictly for vacuuming, and keeping that hose in the hose garage?

Thanks in advance!
 
Using the extension tubes and a nozzle from the cleaning set, there is more than sufficient length to reach the floor. You can also cover a wide area- maybe a radius of 8 feet- because the boom arm swivels.

So no, you don't need an extra hose under normal circumstances.
 
aprikh1 said:
I am thinking of getting the boom arm for my CT36. I was planning to have a 36mm and 27mm hoses attached to the arm simultaneously to handle different tools. With that in mind, how would I go about vacuuming? With the hoses attached to the boom arm, and without a third hose, do I have to dismount one of my hoses off the boom arm so I can vacuum? If so, how difficult is that to do? Should I consider getting a third hose in the future, using it strictly for vacuuming, and keeping that hose in the hose garage?

Thanks in advance!

The Festool Boom Arm includes a short length of 50mm anti-static hose which is often held onto the boom upright tube just below the sweep curve of the arm. Many FOG members have shown methods of mounting both 36mm and 27mm hose to the boom arm simultaneously. Commonly they connect one hose at a time to the 50mm hose which runs to the CT.

That was the approach I took way back. I am not sure if the Boom Arm was not available, or if I just wanted to build my own. I used cable ties to hold both the 36mm and 27mm hoses to the arm, with a full 3.5m x 50mm hose so the CT22 could set out of the way. Along the arm I ran both the high amp capacity Plug-It and an ordinary 15a 120v extension cable for those tools not using the Plug-It. Both of the electric cables were plugged a three-way spreader which lived in the CT's receptacle.

When I bought a second CT22 I bought a Festool Boom Arm for it. I intended that for a sanding only station, so it only has a 27mm AS hose, but both the high capacity Plug-It and an ordinary extension cable, for those sanders without Plug-It.

My own experience is it takes a lot of time to remove a hose from a boom arm. In my case the cable times are ruined during the removal, and those are not free. Although you can use 36mm AS hose for cleaning, that is not necessary.

Assuming your own time is worth something to you, then my suggestion is to buy a dedicated 36mm hose for the cleaning. However, I strongly suggest never storing hose in the garage. That keeps turning the hose into a mean coiled snake. Less elegant, but far more practical, is to drape the spare hose over something high on a wall. Study photos of the Henderson, NV Training Center and in some you will see a First Aid cabinet on a wall festooned with some spare AS hoses so they have minimum mean-snake habits once put to use. In my shop there is a 2' wide gap between lumber racks under an 18' ceiling. On a rafter we have several small pulleys with 1/8" sash or trick line. We loop one end around the 50mm end of a hose, and pull it up to the rafter so the hose hangs free. At waist level there are several lash cleats screwed to a batten on the wall to hold the hoses in the up position.
 
If you're concerned about length, get the 5M 36mm hose.  Use the 36mm hose for cleaning and dust collection on most tools.   Then use a short 36mm to 27mm hose adapter for those tools which require the smaller hose.   That's what I do.  Works great.

Regards,

Dan.
 
My solution to this is called a CT Mini. Maybe not a suggestion you're looking for - but it's my way.  [wink]
 
I hang both the D27 and D36 hoses from my boom arm.  You can only mount one hose within the boom arm's hose brackets, so the second hose must be attached via another method.  I use large-sized rubber bands that loop around the second hose and attach to the cord clips on either side of each of the hose brackets -- quick and simple to install and remove.  I recommend mounting the smaller D27 hose within the hose brackets as it is easy to install and remove from these brackets, while the larger D36 hose is rather difficult to install in the brackets.  And having the larger D36 hose mounted to the outside of the brackets with rubber bands or ties will make it quick and simple to remove whenever you want to have more loose hose available for vacuuming...

You don't have to remove the hose from the boom arm to vacuum, but doing so will provide a little more 'loose' hose so that you don't have to relocate the vacuum so much.
 
Thanks for the responses folks!

Based on everyone’s suggestions my plan of attack will be to mount the 27mm hose in the hose brackets. The 36mm hose will be attached to the 27mm hose via Velcro strips, so if I have to remove the 36m hose, it will be relatively simple to do.

It also sounds like the boom arm provides enough free hose and range of motion for me to simply attach the tradesman cleaning kit to one of the hoses on the boom arm, and go from there. Great info. Now to spend some hard earned money and order this bad boy…

… and the Festool collection grows…
 
put the 27mm in the clips and hang the 36mm on the side. i use cable ties and key ring rings. the rings go over the little bit for holding the cable. might be a bit easier than the opening the velcro
 
You can also mount the D36mm hose on the boom arm. Then order 2 extra end pieces for the D27 hose, (they fit perfectly inside the D36 hose). Then
just cut a 50 cm piece of your D27 hose, fit both D27 end pieces, and voilá!! u just got urself a multifunctional hose.. you can use it for all your festools..

Btw, I saw this handy feature in a paul marcel video.. if it works for him, it works for all!!

thanks for reading,

Rick
 
So

extra end pieces for the D27 hose

seem to be a useful item.

Question - how can one get these in North America?

 
aprikh1 said:
Thanks for the responses folks!

Based on everyone’s suggestions my plan of attack will be to mount the 27mm hose in the hose brackets. The 36mm hose will be attached to the 27mm hose via Velcro strips, so if I have to remove the 36m hose, it will be relatively simple to do.

It also sounds like the boom arm provides enough free hose and range of motion for me to simply attach the tradesman cleaning kit to one of the hoses on the boom arm, and go from there. Great info. Now to spend some hard earned money and order this bad boy…

… and the Festool collection grows…

I mounted mine based on Corwin's advice:

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]
 
Like Rick mentioned, I use a stub of D27 hose with 2 tool connectors on the end to turn the D36 on the boom arm into a D27 when I need it.

I didn't have an extra D27 hose at the time to cut, but Tom Bellemere and Bob both sell that stub with the connectors on it.  If I remember correctly, Tom's is longer than Bob's.  Okay, that didn't come out right...  [embarassed]
 
In my reply above, I mentioned "short 36mm to 27mm hose adapter".  It's actually a short adapter hose like those mentioned above.  I did a quick tutorial on how to make one: http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/festool-library/1939-festool-adapters-other-accessories.html .

I tried Corwin's approach but found the weight on the boom arm to be too heavy for my taste.  My CT was too top heavy and more difficult to move without tipping.  Each approach has it's merits and downsides.  Both work.

Regards,

Dan.

p.s. If I were to do it over, I'd make it closer to 24 inches as Tom suggests.

p.p.s. Since I have a Mirka Ceros, I think an adapter like this for the Ceros would make it more user-friendly.  It would be just like the adapter shown above except that one end would be without the soft rubber nose and would be permanently mounted in the Ceros dust port.  For use, the other end would be inserted into the D36 hose mounted on the Boom Arm. 
 
RonWen said:
aprikh1 said:
Thanks for the responses folks!

Based on everyone’s suggestions my plan of attack will be to mount the 27mm hose in the hose brackets. The 36mm hose will be attached to the 27mm hose via Velcro strips, so if I have to remove the 36m hose, it will be relatively simple to do.

It also sounds like the boom arm provides enough free hose and range of motion for me to simply attach the tradesman cleaning kit to one of the hoses on the boom arm, and go from there. Great info. Now to spend some hard earned money and order this bad boy…

… and the Festool collection grows…

I mounted mine based on Corwin's advice:

[attachimg=#]

[attachimg=#]

We'll see that again in a new Doctor Who episode I'm sure  [scared]
 
Kev said:
RonWen said:
aprikh1 said:
Thanks for the responses folks!

Based on everyone’s suggestions my plan of attack will be to mount the 27mm hose in the hose brackets. The 36mm hose will be attached to the 27mm hose via Velcro strips, so if I have to remove the 36m hose, it will be relatively simple to do.

It also sounds like the boom arm provides enough free hose and range of motion for me to simply attach the tradesman cleaning kit to one of the hoses on the boom arm, and go from there. Great info. Now to spend some hard earned money and order this bad boy…

… and the Festool collection grows…

I mounted mine based on Corwin's advice:

We'll see that again in a new Doctor Who episode I'm sure  [scared]

[eek]  [scared]  [big grin]  [big grin]  [big grin]
 
Dan Clark said:
In my reply above, I mentioned "short 36mm to 27mm hose adapter".   It's actually a short adapter hose like those mentioned above.  I did a quick tutorial on how to make one: http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/festool-library/1939-festool-adapters-other-accessories.html .

I tried Corwin's approach but found the weight on the boom arm to be too heavy for my taste.  My CT was too top heavy and more difficult to move without tipping.   Each approach has it's merits and downsides.  Both work.

Regards,

Dan.

p.s. If I were to do it over, I'd make it closer to 24 inches as Tom suggests.

p.p.s. Since I have a Mirka Ceros, I think an adapter like this for the Ceros would make it more user-friendly.  It would be just like the adapter shown above except that one end would be without the soft rubber nose and would be permanently mounted in the Ceros dust port.   For use, the other end would be inserted into the D36 hose mounted on the Boom Arm.   

Dan,

When using a 36mm hose with a 27mm adapter, did you run into any problems with having too much suction, even at the lowest CT setting, when sanding?

Thanks, Alex
 
PaulMarcel said:
Like Rick mentioned, I use a stub of D27 hose with 2 tool connectors on the end to turn the D36 on the boom arm into a D27 when I need it.

I didn't have an extra D27 hose at the time to cut, but Tom Bellemere and Bob both sell that stub with the connectors on it.  If I remember correctly, Tom's is longer than Bob's.  Okay, that didn't come out right...  [embarassed]

I'm glad to see that you and many others have adopted my idea, which I shared with Bob Marino and others on FOG.

Dave R.
 
Back
Top