I have been strongly considering the boom arm, but as I look around and do some research I have noticed that many of you have built your own. I am not crazy about the outriggers for the boom arm as I don't have a lot of space in my shop and I believe it will be a pain. I have a 2x6 running across my garage 7 ft off the ground. I am thinking if simply attaching a hook and hooking a 50mm hose. I can easily move the hook around and it should accomplish the same thing? Anyone see any problem with this or any potential issues? Thanks
Boom arm vs overhead support
- Thread starter fifo28
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If I hadn't found one on sale from a dealer going out of business, I might not have picked one up. But that said, it's really pretty nice not to have the hose/cord dragging across the rail all the time.
I didn't use the outriggers. I did nearly topple the entire thing once, but otherwise I didn't see the use for me. I move mine from room to room, or outside, so they'd be less than fun to take apart all the time.
If you are staying in one spot, you can build your own. Eiji Fuller (I think) had a neat one that tracked along the ceiling. But if you need to move about, it's really nice to take it all with you. And not that difficult, either. A bit of creative ducking can get it into the next room, and it takes no time to remove the bolt holding the boom together, move the two pieces and put them back together.
I didn't use the outriggers. I did nearly topple the entire thing once, but otherwise I didn't see the use for me. I move mine from room to room, or outside, so they'd be less than fun to take apart all the time.
If you are staying in one spot, you can build your own. Eiji Fuller (I think) had a neat one that tracked along the ceiling. But if you need to move about, it's really nice to take it all with you. And not that difficult, either. A bit of creative ducking can get it into the next room, and it takes no time to remove the bolt holding the boom together, move the two pieces and put them back together.
I only have one vac which I use in and away from the shop - so I too don't really want to have a boom arm attached to it. I was thinking of hanging a couple of these:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100337057/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
from the ceiling with bungee. One above the back of the table and one above the center. I think the carabiner will allow the whole system to be disassembled quickly. The length of the bungee will allow the hose to swing a little instead of being fixed to the ceiling.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100337057/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
from the ceiling with bungee. One above the back of the table and one above the center. I think the carabiner will allow the whole system to be disassembled quickly. The length of the bungee will allow the hose to swing a little instead of being fixed to the ceiling.
Jesse Cloud
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Sounds like a good idea, but I would be a little wary of the bungee. Some of the Festools (sanders, domino) are fairly light and the tension on a bungee could send them scurrying across your bench and causing all kinds of damage.
BTW, I took the outriggers off and have never had a problem with tipping.
When I need to go outside with the kit, I just slip off the arm and replace it when I get to the new location.
BTW, I took the outriggers off and have never had a problem with tipping.
When I need to go outside with the kit, I just slip off the arm and replace it when I get to the new location.
GPowers
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At first I thought it was ridicules to spend money on the boom arm and did not like the outriggers. I also thought I would rig up some kind of over head support.
Instead I took a leap of faith and purchased the boom arm. I was tearing up the dust extractor hose dragging it over the MFT/3 and other stuff. I was also tired of tripping and stepping on the hose.
I can not believe the convenience of having the hose up off the floor and out of the way. It is much easer to make long 8' cuts with the hose managed by the boom. I have also found it is nice to be able to move the boom arm around the garage and place it where ever I need it when working. If i had some kind of over head support I would be stuck in one place. Being mobile is a BIG advantage.
I'am not using the outriggers and have not had a problem tipping the unit over, at lease not yet.
Instead I took a leap of faith and purchased the boom arm. I was tearing up the dust extractor hose dragging it over the MFT/3 and other stuff. I was also tired of tripping and stepping on the hose.
I can not believe the convenience of having the hose up off the floor and out of the way. It is much easer to make long 8' cuts with the hose managed by the boom. I have also found it is nice to be able to move the boom arm around the garage and place it where ever I need it when working. If i had some kind of over head support I would be stuck in one place. Being mobile is a BIG advantage.
I'am not using the outriggers and have not had a problem tipping the unit over, at lease not yet.
i do have the boom arm for my ct 22 . i took it off (completly) because it was a pain to move around to and from sites and takes up a lot of space . i plan on bolting it to the wall so that it can act the same as attached , i will just role the ct up to it and conect it up. i havent done this yet as the shop layout is about to be changed drematically soon.
one option i was thinking of was to get some of the track that has the little wheeled carts inside and attach one end to a pivit point and the other end to the other track that is perpendicular to it , this will form a t shape where the fist track can rotate over and back to give more scope of movement. the hose could attach to a few of the wheel cart things and roll along to where is needed.
i know not explaned very well, just ask if you dont understand
one option i was thinking of was to get some of the track that has the little wheeled carts inside and attach one end to a pivit point and the other end to the other track that is perpendicular to it , this will form a t shape where the fist track can rotate over and back to give more scope of movement. the hose could attach to a few of the wheel cart things and roll along to where is needed.
i know not explaned very well, just ask if you dont understand
NuggyBuggy
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In the next year I am hoping to renovate my shop space and am considering running an overhead duct to connect a CT hose to. But a bird in my head seems to be trying to remind me that this won't work very well with my Festools. Is he right ?
I do have the boom arm on my -33 but I have a fairly limited space so wheeling it around is a pain. I'd much rather have the hose suspended over my MFT semi-permanently.
For some reason, the dust collection CFM/suction stuff totally confounds me, Bill Pentz's site even more so. I just can't wrap my head around it, and I was trained as a scientist.
I do have the boom arm on my -33 but I have a fairly limited space so wheeling it around is a pain. I'd much rather have the hose suspended over my MFT semi-permanently.
For some reason, the dust collection CFM/suction stuff totally confounds me, Bill Pentz's site even more so. I just can't wrap my head around it, and I was trained as a scientist.
Wood_Junkie
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I'd suggest you build a support. Use the funds for a longer hose.
Tonight I'll try to post a pic of my homemade support arm. I can swing it across 180o, and with an extension hose it can reach most of the way across my workshop.
Don't get me wrong, the boom arm is awesome (based on exposure to it during the cabinet making class). But if you have a pretty stationary workshop area, a portable solution isn't necessarily needed.
Tonight I'll try to post a pic of my homemade support arm. I can swing it across 180o, and with an extension hose it can reach most of the way across my workshop.
Don't get me wrong, the boom arm is awesome (based on exposure to it during the cabinet making class). But if you have a pretty stationary workshop area, a portable solution isn't necessarily needed.
here is a system I built a few years ago. it is made from parts from an old home guy. It is a pivot anchored to the wall, and a giant wooden pulley to accept the hose and cord. I have the ct22 on the floor behind the bench and a section of shop vac hose connectiing the two. I have since added a counter balance and two large hooks on the front of the arm to hold the 150/3 and Rotex when not in use. the part i like the most about the system is that i can swing the whole 8' arm 180 deg in either direction if need be. ( sorry the pic is so far away... its the only one i had that shows it in the back ground) hope that helps.
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Curt,
[welcome] to the FOG and thanks for posting that great setup!
Peter
[welcome] to the FOG and thanks for posting that great setup!
Peter
Thanks for the warm welcome guys, It looks like there is a wealth of great info here! to address some of the comments... that was not intended to be a "stealth gloat" It was a pic i took a few years ago when i bought the slider and it happened to have the boom arm in the back ground. and the shop is a tad bit bigger than the pic lets on [wink]
Wood_Junkie
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Here we go. Homemade boom arm.
That's 2" PVC. I used about 12 lineral feet of straight pipe, 1 elbow, 1 45o wye, and two caps (one is the "foot").
I secured it to that post with 4 clips that allow it to rotate, but it doesn't wiggle at all. I did glue all the joints for rigidity. Total cost was less that $25.
I have the hose and cord secured with Wrap Straps. I need to re-wrap my hose and cord with sleeving. That'll clean things up a bit.
I added the 50mm hose from the vac up the main mast. From there I connect either the 27mmx3m hose, or a 36mm x2m hose (sawing or routing on the MFT directly below).
[attachthumb=#]
In the second picture, the distance from mast to where I stuck the hose is about 10 feet.
[attachthumb=#]
EDIT: Got proper pictures uploaded.
EDIT #2: Updated to reflect PVC size is 2"
That's 2" PVC. I used about 12 lineral feet of straight pipe, 1 elbow, 1 45o wye, and two caps (one is the "foot").
I secured it to that post with 4 clips that allow it to rotate, but it doesn't wiggle at all. I did glue all the joints for rigidity. Total cost was less that $25.
I have the hose and cord secured with Wrap Straps. I need to re-wrap my hose and cord with sleeving. That'll clean things up a bit.
I added the 50mm hose from the vac up the main mast. From there I connect either the 27mmx3m hose, or a 36mm x2m hose (sawing or routing on the MFT directly below).
[attachthumb=#]
In the second picture, the distance from mast to where I stuck the hose is about 10 feet.
[attachthumb=#]
EDIT: Got proper pictures uploaded.
EDIT #2: Updated to reflect PVC size is 2"
Wood_Junkie
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Alan m said:
I considered using the PVC piping itself. The wye complicates things, unless you cleanly block off one leg of it. I was also concerned about any possible blockages, since I was gluing it together for stability. As it is, I like being able to swap between the 36mm and 27mm hoses.
Curt, would you be interested in some sort of barter for that saw? I have four daughters... [wink]
Unfortunately your saw IS as big as my shop. Nice set up though. Looks like you're only a step away from the articulated monster that Festool sells in the UK (about the cost of a small Mercedes I believe).
Actually my shop isn't quite that small. I use a pair of CT33's with boom arms, and keep a spare hose extension handy for getting to the extreme corners but just end up dragging that about. This has got me thinking though...
I've never used the outriggers on the CT's in the shop and don't have any problems with tipping. Now they stay put and I use an old mini for travel. Like many others, had I not gotten a deal I would likely have made due with some other arrangement, especially since I have a pretty low ceiling. The arms are something of a spoiler I will say. Quite nice not to have to constantly be worrying over cords and hoses.
Unfortunately your saw IS as big as my shop. Nice set up though. Looks like you're only a step away from the articulated monster that Festool sells in the UK (about the cost of a small Mercedes I believe).
Actually my shop isn't quite that small. I use a pair of CT33's with boom arms, and keep a spare hose extension handy for getting to the extreme corners but just end up dragging that about. This has got me thinking though...
I've never used the outriggers on the CT's in the shop and don't have any problems with tipping. Now they stay put and I use an old mini for travel. Like many others, had I not gotten a deal I would likely have made due with some other arrangement, especially since I have a pretty low ceiling. The arms are something of a spoiler I will say. Quite nice not to have to constantly be worrying over cords and hoses.