Can the Festool dust extractors be used on other Mitre saws then Festool

[KG29]

Hi Folks,

Need a few questions answered today about the Festool extractors, I was under the impressions you could use any Mitresaw on a Festool dust extractor.

I was visiting a dealer today and was told flat NO that they only work with the Kapex saw. Also was told the Auto/start feature doesn't work either.

I Have this Milwaukee saw
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12-inch-dual-bevel-sliding-compound-miter-saw.1000526692.html

also bought this adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-48-03-0200-Vacuum-HOSE-Adapter/dp/B003OA0KSK

Everything I've read is different to what this special person was telling me today regarding Festool

I wanted to check with the REAL Festool pro's first before I go ahead and buy my Vacuum. (lee valley tools) won't get the sale

thanks [smile]

 

[Bohdan]

They only work on the Kapex because on the other brands the dust misses the pickup and even though you have a Festool  extractor fitted it won't work well.

 

[junk731]

Works great on a Makita LS7014, as good as the Kapex on most cuts. We've tried it on other saws and it works as well as any other vac hooked to the particular saw. Collection is very dependent on dust hood design on the given saw..

John

 

[NHSP759]

Hi Folks,

Need a few questions answered today about the Festool extractors, I was under the impressions you could use any Mitresaw on a Festool dust extractor.

I was visiting a dealer today and was told flat NO that they only work with the Kapex saw. Also was told the Auto/start feature doesn't work either.

I Have this Milwaukee saw
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.12-inch-dual-bevel-sliding-compound-miter-saw.1000526692.html

also bought this adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-48-03-0200-Vacuum-HOSE-Adapter/dp/B003OA0KSK

Everything I've read is different to what this special person was telling me today regarding Festool

I wanted to check with the REAL Festool pro's first before I go ahead and buy my Vacuum. (lee valley tools) won't get the sale

thanks [smile]

The Extractor will work with other tools and I commonly use my Bosch sander with my Midi. The power activation works just fine. I'd reach out to your salesman to study his material. As far as extractors on other saws....

 

[ear3]

Yeah, weird.  Maybe he was thinking about the vac/hose connections?  You'll likely have to get a standard, imperial hose to hook it up, or an adapter to connect the Festool hose to the dust port on your saw.

 

[KG29]

Hi everyone

These are great answers to hear [smile] I know the guy was just being a dick when we were trying to get real info. I had planned to buy today but wasn't sure about the Mini to CT36 and then the abruptness in the answers saying only the extractors work with Festool or the auto/stop feature on my saw.

I will mostly be doing finish trim work, MDF baseboards,Chair rails Crown mounding etc.

So what's a good size to collect all the dust [smile] CT36,MINI

I also just bought my newl multi-tool with Systainer
http://www.atlas-machinery.com/Fein/Oscillators/FMM350QLTD-SYS

What size hose should I be buying with everything? I'm guessing online is my best option so I don't have to deal with idiots anymore.

 

[SS Teach]

Welcome to FOG. I have a CT 36 that works quite well with my Bosch Axial Glide. I plug the CT into the wall socket, my Bosch into the CT, and connect the hose, easy peasy. I pull the trigger on the saw and the CT turns on no fuss no mess. I do use a 36 mm hose. I do suspect the Kapex has better dust extraction then the Milwaukee. Get the CT you'll be happy you did.

 

[Christopher Fitch]

Works just fine on my old Bosch 3915 10" SCMS and all other tools I have as well.

As for adapters...get one of these...or one that fits:https://www.lowes.com/pd/AMERICAN-VALVE-1-1-2-in-Dia-Flexible-PVC-Connector-Trap-Fittings/1065399

I have one for my Bosch. Works great.

 

[Holmz]

Hi everyone

These are great answers to hear [smile] I know the guy was just being a dick...
...

To be fair to the fellow, the official position is that is a system that is only adervetised/tested to work together.

Basically Vacuums etc all suck.

I use a CT26 with Lamello and Mafell (& FT) but one could also use a Bosch, Fein, Starmix, Airbo, etc with a Festool... and the vacuum is not in any way special, like a Domino tool.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I was visiting a dealer today and was told flat NO that they only work with the Kapex saw. Also was told the Auto/start feature doesn't work either.

Never go back to a dealer that gives you such misinformation.

 

[Corwin]

I was visiting a dealer today and was told flat NO that they only work with the Kapex saw. Also was told the Auto/start feature doesn't work either.

Never go back to a dealer that gives you such misinformation.

What Alex said.  [big grin]

 

[mrboult]

I was visiting a dealer today and was told flat NO that they only work with the Kapex saw. Also was told the Auto/start feature doesn't work either.

What utter rubbish! I get frustrated by dealers/sales people who give such incorrect misinformation. It's fine if they admit they don't know and do their best to find the correct answer, but incorrect statements presented as fact is not acceptable. Why would you spend £100s with someone like that?

Sadly i find that almost every time i know a lot about a product or range regardless what it is (Tools, computers, cameras etc) i find that sales people regularly present false information.

I was at the Festool road show this year, and while playing with the HKC saw and trying to work out how to release/activate the plunge function, the sales guy told me the saw didn't plunge he took some persuading from me that it did - only really accepting it once i worked out how to do it and showed him...

 

[geoffshep]

I use both my festool vacs with other brand tools, and use the autostart function.  The only problem area is whether the hose fits the tool without major mods or adapters.

 

[kevinculle]

If by work with other SCMS you mean connect to and turn on automatically the answer is surely Yes although adapters may be needed.  If you mean effectively pickup the dust anywhere close to a Kapex the answer is likely No.

 

[peter halle]

I am sorry that misinformation might have been passed on, but in all honesty I seriously doubt that this was some sort of pre-planned sales tactic to sell a Kapex in addition to the CT.  Honestly I would attribute to a lack of training.  Festool dealers have the opportunity to go to training but that all too often leads to one person attending.  What that person gets out of a training class - or doesn't get - or doesn't pass on to employees - or doesn't accurately pass on to employees - or what isn't taught - all lead to impacts on the sales experience.

Thankfully there is the try it in your own situation and workflow 30 day policy to allow users to determine if a tool is right for them.

Peter

Perhaps this

 

[antss]

I'm sorry Peter and Holmz - when a dealer tells a customer that the Auto Start feature won't work with other brands of saws/ tools, then then that person is either being disingenuous -or - is an ignoramus of the highest order. 

Neither of which I have much tolerance for. And if not called out , only perpetuates the individual continuing the behavior. 

I understand that FT will take the position that only Kapex/ CT is tested , warranted should be used together, ect...... but a dealer needs to be better informed.  It is also easy to test out whether another tool will activate the auto start function.  So , in addition the dealer sounds lazy too.

KG - I'd select the vac based on whether I was going to be moving the setup every couple of days.  A CT36 is fine for a shop, but I wouldn't want to cart it in and out of a jobsite on a regular basis.  You should also consider where the vac will reside - a ct36 won't fit under most miter saw stations.  You will want a 36mm diameter hose regardless of which vac you go with, and the shorter the length the better.

 

[Holmz]

[member=727]antss[/member]

It is unfair to put the entire onus of disinformation and ignoramusness onto the end retail sales person. The entire corporate risk management and marketing structure is set up with this "it is a system" idea... which also gets regurgitated here, ad nausem.

I recommend that one should buy any vacuum that sucks a lot and has a good filter.
If one can stand other colours then it gets easier.

 

[Cheese]

KG - I'd select the vac based on whether I was going to be moving the setup every couple of days.  A CT36 is fine for a shop, but I wouldn't want to cart it in and out of a jobsite on a regular basis.  You should also consider where the vac will reside - a ct36 won't fit under most miter saw stations.  You will want a 36mm diameter hose regardless of which vac you go with, and the shorter the length the better.

What he said...a CT 26/36 for the shop or a MINI/MIDI for travel. If you need to be portable, I'd consider the MIDI over the MINI. They have the same footprint, but the MIDI will hold 60% more waste and is only 1/2# heavier.

 

[antss]

[member=40772]Holmz[/member] - I'd agree with you IF the dealer only sold festool.

The second they sell another brand power tool , the onus is squarely on their shoulders !  At these prices the sales process is consultative.  A lot of people will walk into a big box store and say "give me the cheapest or even best  xxxx  you've got ".  That's not how festool or other premium brands are marketed / sold.

So, I expect a dealer to be knowledgeable about the lines he carries - otherwise he's just an order taker; and of little value to the customer.  Point and click is easy peasy on Amazon and I can have just about everything in two days with some items available today.  But, my screen can't give me a hands on experience, or deliver right now, and a few other things.  The local guy needs to earn his keep.

And , I doubt his corporate risk structure will tolerate outright fibbing ?

A dealer needs to be able to articulate the pros and cons of all the brands and tools he sells - not just regurgitate the mantra of the sales rep or corporate trainer of the company that has the largest spiff.  If he can't listen to my needs and then propose a suitable tool to fit those needs then.............

Most festools are great, but they don't fill a variety of needs for many people so salesmen need to be able to think on their feet and be able to suggest alternate brands to meet a customer's needs.

It's not as if the CTs are the best vac on the market either - and I own four of them !

 

[Job and Knock]

I have a Metabo ASR2025 as my general vacuum and a Festool CTM26 specifically for Corian and solid surface. The firm provides us with one or two Hilti VC-40 UM vacuums as and when required. These vacuums are interchangeable across a range of Bosch, Fein, Metabo, deWalt, Festool and Makita tools. In fact the only tools which have required an adaptor to be bought for them have been the Mafells. It makes little difference to the user which vacuum is attached to which tool - the quality of extraction is down to the design of the tool. The auto start features all work in all the combinations I've tried to dat, too. Tell the dealer he is an unprincipled muppet and find yourself another dealer