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

[LDBecker]

The only odd Kapex/vacuum behavior I've seen, and what your dealer might be referring to, is that my Kapex didn't work well with my old Porter Cable auto start vac. The suction was ok-ish, but the laser on the Kapex actually kept the PC vac from turning off when the Kapex did. That helped push me to the CT36 with the larger hose to deal with the Kapex, and I moved the PC vac to other jobs.
So - the opposite of what you're asking, I guess, but maybe related?

 

[antss]

LDB - I'm surprised your PC even lasted.

If i recall, the socket on those vacs are only rated to 6 amps - which is a lot less than a Kapex draws.

 

[ChuckM]

Before I sold my CT26, I had used it with all other brands of tools (sander, tablesaw and router table). A vac (or dust collector) is a vac is a vac and it sucks regardless of what you hook it up to. The misinformation given by the either misinformed or poorly rained (untrained?) sales rep. could have been cleared up by asking him or her the question why. Was he perhaps talking with incompatible hose connection in mind?

After I sold the CT26, I now use a Sears shop vac (with the dust deputy) for my DJ and Kapex and I cannot tell any difference in dust collection effectiveness. The proceeds saved from the sale of the CT26 were used towards the purchase of two PRO5 sanders.

Chuck

 

[demographic]

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.

First things first, never buy tools of a person who's as dense as lead or couldn't lie straight in bed...That dealer is either one or both.

Second part is that although the Kapex might be the better saw for its extraction capabilities, blah blah blah it ain't the only game in town.

Personally I've been using a nice little Makita LS1040 saw with my CTM 26 AC extractor. Most commercial sites in working on has 95mm skirting (Merkins call it baseboard I think?) and its dead easy to carry up the several flights of stairs to where I'm working.
Extraction isn't perfect but its acceptable.
I have found a few black cable shrouds (think they were left over when someone disconnected the three phase power and I spotted them in the skip) and they provide a conical fitting so I can fit the Festool hose end into odd sized tool extraction ports.
Looks like this with the small end cut off.

My autostart works perfectly with all the (correct voltage) tools I've tried it with. From Metabo jigsaws, Makita Mitresaw, Festool TS55 and De-Walt router and the only tool I've used it with where the autostart won't work is my HKC 55 saw, thats cordless so obviously there's no powewrlead signal to trigger the extractor and I just use the switch instead.

 

[KG29]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to give my update. I finally bought one and joined the club with my CT26 8)

I still have a few questions about my new purchase, there's four screw holes, but I can't find any attchemnts on festool and my manual says nothing.

My other question was about the hose, many of you guys said to buy a 36mm hose, I bought the 27mm to 36mm adapter to only find out the 27mm hose fit's nice and snug on my Milwaukee saw.

So I don't understand what the 36mm hose would be for?

Also my model was made in 2011?

I haven't used the vac yet with my milwaukee to see what kind of results I will get, but those CT wings are very cool.

Just wish everything didn't cost $1000 as I really wanted the CT36 auto-clean.

I will updated this week on my result with sanding the popcorn ceilings and installing the crown moulding.

thank you

 

[Cheese]

My other question was about the hose, many of you guys said to buy a 36mm hose, I bought the 27mm to 36mm adapter to only find out the 27mm hose fit's nice and snug on my Milwaukee saw.

So I don't understand what the 36mm hose would be for?

Most Kapex owners, purchase a 5' section of the 36mm hose to use on the Kapex because it works so much better than the 27mm variant. I would expect that to also be the case with the Milwaukee saw.

 

[semenza]

[member=63390]KG29[/member] Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

The D36 hose has a higher volume of air flow, which helps the DC on Kapex and probably other miter saws. The other thing is that the larger diameter does not get jammed by larger chips from a router or planer. However it is also too clutsy and too much air flow for sanders.

Also I seriously doubt that you would want the AC model vac for woodworking. It was really created for drywall sanding. The regular CTs are actually a much better choice for woodworking. The auto-clean sounds like a feature that would be good in general but not really. It has a specific purpose.

Seth

 

[LooseSox]

My new CT36 works fine with my Hitachi saw, 36mm hose fits nicely inside of the Hitachi port. Not as good a dust extraction as a kapex (that's the saws design fault) but too much worse either especially with zero clearance inserts and fence.