Compact Cleaning Set

[AlexThePalex]

Not entirely sure how the problem lies with the cleaning kit and components.  All the cleaning sets, from the compact, tradesmen, workshop, etc etc all basically have the same components:  an angled "wand" that attaches with the hose end, a couple of extension tubes, and some sort of end pieces (floor, round, pointy, etc etc).

If that is the case I am still going to have issues. Yes its the hose that comes loose from the angled piece.

Sounds more like a problem of the nozzle of the hose than of the cleaning kit. The nozzle is only made of rubber and is susceptible to wear. With normal use it should have enough friction to stay inside the angle piece. Did you use the cleaning kit with only one hose or do you have other hoses to try it with?

 

[rrmccabe]

Just tried the smaller hose and it works fine. That would not be an issue at all as far as staying on. Unfortunately the suction is not as good and its way to short

As far as wear. Its a brand new hose bought for use with this cleaning kit.  So purchased at same time a couple weeks ago. Should be no wear to speak of.

 

[rrmccabe]

I finally got fed up using the compact cleaning set. It really is a pain using it on the larger hose as it keeps falling apart when trying to do the floor.  So I ordered a Workshop cleaning set from Bob Marino. Wow, what a nice floor unit and tubing setup.

This is the Festool quality I was expecting.  Attached is a picture showing both units.

The only downside was the website said Sys 4 and I just build all new cabinets to allow for Sys 4 size and this thing shows up in a monster Sys 5 container !

I am well over $300 in a cleaning set and don't have a place to put it  [sad]

 

[jonny round boy]

The only downside was the website said Sys 4 and I just build all new cabinets to allow for Sys 4 size and this thing shows up in a monster Sys 5 container !

It used to come in a sys4, but I remember a lot of people complaining that it was too difficult to get it all back in once it came out, so maybe they changed it due to that.

 

[rrmccabe]

Makes sense. Its tight in a Sys 5 too. 

I am just going to hang it on the wall and sell the Sys 5. It wont fit anywhere for me.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I finally got fed up using the compact cleaning set. It really is a pain using it on the larger hose as it keeps falling apart when trying to do the floor.  So I ordered a Workshop cleaning set from Bob Marino. Wow, what a nice floor unit and tubing setup.

This is the Festool quality I was expecting.  Attached is a picture showing both units.

Apples and oranges. You got to judge the compact cleaning set for what is was meant for. A small and light set you can take with you.

I am well over $300 in a cleaning set and don't have a place to put it  [sad]

That's a real bummer. You know what, I got some spare room at my place, and because I'm such a nice guy I'll let you store it there without charge!  [big grin]

Or some more realistic advise, sell the sys 5 and get a sys 4. You can still fit the set in there, so problem solved. 

 

[rrmccabe]

Alex you are a pal !

The Sys 5 is going away. I am just going to make a wall hanger and hang the new floor unit.

No, you really can't compare them but no matter how you look at it my shop works better and holds together better. It cost the same amount with the vac.

The wife used it last night in the shop and was amazed. She said it felt like the floor unit was powered.

The workshop kit is really nice.

 

[tjbnwi]

The wife used it last night in the shop and was amazed.

'nuff said.

(I have no issues with my cCompact Kit, it is my go to in the field)

Tom

 

[Ted Miller]

Interesting. I haven't even tried the 27mm hose.

My floors are concrete with a steel troweled finish. So carpet, etc is not of concern.

Here is video. Maybe this will help.

Your not alone, I have the exact same issues you are having. It's frustrating especially since I use this set up daily to clean my shop. I even went as far as changing ends on my hose, still same issue. Still waiting to find a cheaper metal set on ebay.

I am using the 23' 36mm hose...

 

[tjbnwi]

I'll double check, but I believe if you cut the large part of the bell off the handle the bent wand end will slide in the 36 mm hose. I had considered this for the Planex hose which will not work on the Compact set.

Tom

 

[cgmojoco]

All of the Festool cleaning sets have a bottle-neck at ~27mm right?

I've noticed that for some woodworking applications (cleaning up handplane shavings) the compact set clogs up often for me (a real nuisance).

I've got the steel cleaning set too and that for some reason performs a little better with not clogging....but doesn't perform well in that it is sometimes dings my wood projects (or walls inside my house if I drop that steel tube the wrong way---it will mar a wood floor).

Does Festool make a light plastic LARGE tube cleaning set?

Thanks

 

[semenza]

D50mm plastic tubes # 440 412.

Seth

 

[AlexThePalex]

All of the Festool cleaning sets have a bottle-neck at ~27mm right?

No, they don't.

The 27 mm hose has a bottleneck at 27 mm. So the hose is the bottle neck, not the cleaning set.

The cleaning sets have a 36 mm clearing. That's why you get the best cleaning results with a 36mm hose. 

 

[cgmojoco]

Thanks Seth for link to wider tube.

Alex, if it doesn't bottleneck at 27mm then it bottlenecks at some other size that doesn't allow standard hand plane shavings to make it through.

Does anyone have success cleaning up hand plane shavings with a Festool cleaner head that isn't in one of those sets?  Maybe I'll sell my cleaner head and buy it...

With the `Workshop Cleaning Set` its not so much the tube as the shavings get caught in the cleaner head.  I'd be remiss to say I wasn't disappointed that the $260 `Workshop` cleaning set doesn't clean up hand plane shavings very well because of this.  Further, when-ever the non-plastic side of the metal tube (just metal exposed) comes into contact with something (like dropping it on a clients floor, or dragging it on the stairs etc) it can scrap or ding pretty seriously.  When I'm in a hurry cleaning up, I'm very likely to drop these tubes right on their end (I might even want to toss one onto the floor, imagine that!)

I do like that when I step on one, it doesn't break (which is what I wanted it for mostly) and that it is...steel which is just more rugged...but if I can't throw it around because it will cut into wood floors or scratch walls...well maybe it was a bad decision on my part and I should have stuck with replaceable home depot plastic.

A $25 purchase at the borg would have given me a thicker cleaning head that will bypass the clog problems of the $260 set too.

With the `Compact Cleaning Set` the shavings get caught in the tube----which is fine, the compact size is a bonus for travel and I wasn't expecting everything to make it through.

I am using 36mm hose.

Again, anyone have different luck or know a Festool option for woodworkers that use hand planes please do tell.

Christopher (aka Negative Nancy)

 

[AlexThePalex]

Alright Negative Nancy, it looks like you need the Industrial Cleaning Kit. This set is for the big stuff, it has a 50 mm hose and tubes and a special big nozzle. It is also made entirely out of plastic so you can throw it around as you like (btw, how about adopting a way of work where you don't throw stuff around?).

Expecting a cleaning kit to do what you want just because it costs $260 is not the way to look at it in my opinion. Every cleaning kit is made for a certain purpose. I would think your hand plane shavings are a bit bigger than most stuff people normally suck up with a vac, so you need a kit specially suited for that. I think Festools' industrial cleaning kit might be the answer. 

 

[semenza]

With the `Workshop Cleaning Set` its not so much the tube as the shavings get caught in the cleaner head.  I'd be remiss to say I wasn't disappointed that the $260 `Workshop` cleaning set doesn't clean up hand plane shavings very well because of this.  Further, when-ever the non-plastic side of the metal tube (just metal exposed) comes into contact with something (like dropping it on a clients floor, or dragging it on the stairs etc) it can scrap or ding pretty seriously.  When I'm in a hurry cleaning up, I'm very likely to drop these tubes right on their end (I might even want to toss one onto the floor, imagine that!)

Christopher (aka Negative Nancy)

That is one of the reasons I like the compact set. Plus the plastic it is made from doesn't leave black marks.  I don't know if it is true for all but many commonly available shop vac tools that I have used do leave marks.

Seth

 

[mouppe]

Thanks Seth for link to wider tube.

Alex, if it doesn't bottleneck at 27mm then it bottlenecks at some other size that doesn't allow standard hand plane shavings to make it through.

Does anyone have success cleaning up hand plane shavings with a Festool cleaner head that isn't in one of those sets?  Maybe I'll sell my cleaner head and buy it...

With the `Workshop Cleaning Set` its not so much the tube as the shavings get caught in the cleaner head.  I'd be remiss to say I wasn't disappointed that the $260 `Workshop` cleaning set doesn't clean up hand plane shavings very well because of this.   Further, when-ever the non-plastic side of the metal tube (just metal exposed) comes into contact with something (like dropping it on a clients floor, or dragging it on the stairs etc) it can scrap or ding pretty seriously.  When I'm in a hurry cleaning up, I'm very likely to drop these tubes right on their end (I might even want to toss one onto the floor, imagine that!)

I do like that when I step on one, it doesn't break (which is what I wanted it for mostly) and that it is...steel which is just more rugged...but if I can't throw it around because it will cut into wood floors or scratch walls...well maybe it was a bad decision on my part and I should have stuck with replaceable home depot plastic.

A $25 purchase at the borg would have given me a thicker cleaning head that will bypass the clog problems of the $260 set too.

With the `Compact Cleaning Set` the shavings get caught in the tube----which is fine, the compact size is a bonus for travel and I wasn't expecting everything to make it through.

I am using 36mm hose.

Again, anyone have different luck or know a Festool option for woodworkers that use hand planes please do tell.

Christopher (aka Negative Nancy)

Christopher, I gave up using the CT to collect hand plane shavings. I found it's much faster to sweep them into a pile and use a dustpan and brush than to unclog the hose every ten seconds! And I was getting most of my clogging at the CT end, not the hose end so it wasn't a matter of tube size.

Once I have the big stuff collected, the CT makes short work of the rest. It's also a heck of a waste of a bag to put all those big shavings inside.

 

[tjbnwi]

[attachthumb=#1]The only 36 mm hose I own is the one for the Planex. As you can see the ID is 39.21 mm

[attachthumb=#2] Just below the bell on the hand piece of the wand the OD is 40.69 mm.
[attachthumb=#3]

[attachthumb=#4]At the third step, the wand the OD is 37.87 mm.
[attachthumb=#5]

If you were to cut the large bell off the wand, the 36 mm hose should work well. I use the 27 mm hose, mines staying the way it is.

Tom

 

[cgmojoco]

Alright Negative Nancy, it looks like you need the Industrial Cleaning Kit. This set is for the big stuff, it has a 50 mm hose and tubes and a special big nozzle. It is also made entirely out of plastic so you can throw it around as you like (btw, how about adopting a way of work where you don't throw stuff around?).

Expecting a cleaning kit to do what you want just because it costs $260 is not the way to look at it in my opinion. Every cleaning kit is made for a certain purpose. I would think your hand plane shavings are a bit bigger than most stuff people normally suck up with a vac, so you need a kit specially suited for that. I think Festools' industrial cleaning kit might be the answer.  

Thanks for the feedback.  I don't want to  [dead horse]; at the same time... I do think I have a point here.

With regards to the Workshop Cleaning Set.

If it is supposed to be a "Workshop" cleaning set, it should be helpful to other members on this forum to know that it certainly doesn't clean a WOOD workshop very well.

At least not a workshop that produces occasional or regular hand plane shavings (being that the shavings are mixed with dust I don't want to get out the broom either).

Off to sell it second hand...and no, I won't be trying another cleaning set from Festool; they missed twice on those cleaning heads, and I'm not going to try again.  There is no 30 day return on cleaning sets if I understand correctly, so I'm done testing on my wallet

Shame, with the extra anti-static hose and large container it would be a great deal if the cleaning head could just muster getting those shavings sucked up without clogging.  A home depot head I've tried works fine though it doesn't have some of the fancy features of the Festool head.

Tom, you are absolutely right, the hose and tube sizes are fine, even on the smaller cleaning set.

It was the cleaning heads that were plugging, at least for me.

Christopher