CT VA 20 Upgrade kit 269792

[Wesley166]

Hi
I recently purchased the CT VA 20 cyclone unit at one of the Festool roadshows and found the one I purchased was different to the one on display. Festool have updated the unit with a strap either side which ties the top and bottom parts together so it can be picked up as one unit but is still able to be separated to change the bag. They have also added a foam packer inside the top lid which pushes the circular cyclone unit down to improve the seal of the cyclone to the outside atmosphere. These mods are available as an upgrade kit No 269792.

The kit comes with rudimentary instruments in the form of three photos which need to be followed closely if you are not to break the top unit when removing the original locking handles. The pivots on the original locking handles have a ramp moulded in the end  to aid removal lining up your pull with these makes life easier.

The foam packer is an excellent fit to the lid and has a sticky pad to retain it.

 

[Roachmill]

Sounds interesting and thanks for sharing. It's a great wee unit; one I wouldn't be without. Google's not turning up much at the moment so must be very new.

 

[DeformedTree]

Nice to hear, sounds like they are addressing issues users have brought up.  I almost made a foam bit as described.

I still think it would be best to create a Gen II version  where the hopper fits inside a systainer and the top and bottom just latch together, so it's just one big systainer.  Solve the whole 2 peice issue.

I may be buying a second one in the future, so sounds like I'll hang tight till more news comes.

 

[Roachmill]

Something to keep the bag stuck to the floor would be good too. I've poked mine down best I can and now end up weighing it down with a few scraps... possibly to no effect but it stops the bag getting sucked up.

 

[harry_]

do you have any picture or links on this? I'm coming up dry.

 

[sancho57]

I bought one yesterday and didnt the upgrades. Hmmmm

 

[infer]

[attachimg=1]

 

[Wesley166]

Hi
Glad I have started a discussion about the CT VA 20, I forgot to mention that the upgrade kit was supplied to me from Festool at no cost, so if you have an older version it might be worth contacting your dealer about the availability of the kit.

With regards to the bag not staying in place this is a design flaw with the current build. What happens is that it is very difficult to remove all the air from between the outside of the bag and the clear drop box, this air is at normal atmospheric pressure. When you use the cyclone the inside of the bag is at negative pressure and the trapped air on the outside of the bag expands and pushes the bag inwards. What is required is to equalise the pressure/vacuum on both sides of the bag with a tube, so the bag does not move.
This is not that difficult to achieve and I am surprised at Festool for not engineering the drop box correctly. I am planning to modify my unit to overcome this fault but am a little busy with other things at the moment.

 

[sancho57]

[member=67747]Wesley166[/member]

Very Kool,

Thanks for the info.

Ill give them a call Monday.

Like I said I bought mine Last Thursday and didnt get the up date kit.

 

[Wesley166]

When I was talking about the bag that catches the dust I forgot to mention that the bags that Festool supply, at great cost, are not helping the trapped air situation. These bags are quite thick and are difficult to place against the sides of the drop box, as an alternative I have tried normal kitchen waste bin bags which mould to the drop box better being thinner.
I understand why Festool supply the thick bags as they don’t want any grief from users splitting the bag and getting dust everywhere. If you use the thinner bags you have to be a bit more responsible and treat them with care when full. For the Road Warriors out there you could put the full bag in a box or bucket so it is protected from the sharp bits in the van when you take it to be disposed off.

 

[Roachmill]

Excellent stuff @Wesley166. Will drop the dealer a line and see what they say. If you do get round to modifying your drop box I'd love to see what you did.

 

[live4ever]

Thanks!  Will need to look into this for my unit.

 

[harry_]

can we get some input from [member=101]Festool USA[/member]  on how to acquire these? My searches for the part on the website turn up nothing. I have two of these purchased new @ time of release.

 

[Wesley166]

Hi Harry
I can understand your frustration but I have no clout with Festool and live in the UK.
I would think that this upgrade kit is very new and the dealer who sourced it for me had direct help from the Festool road show team.
All I can suggest is contacting your local dealer to source the kit for you, I am sure they will not be the only dealer contacting Festool about this if the response to this thread is anything to go by.
Good luck

 

[sancho57]

can we get some input from [member=101]Festool USA[/member]  on how to acquire these? My searches for the part on the website turn up nothing. I have two of these purchased new @ time of release.

its the weekend. They are off barbqueing with their families.

I called both my brick and mortar dealer and festool this morning thinking it was Monday. then I realized it was Sunday.

Its hard being retired sometimes [big grin]

Oh and I posted that question in the ax Festool folder. Thats where they address (or not) these sort of issues

 

[Roachmill]

Just checked with the fine folks I bought mine from. They replied within minutes  [smile] saying they'd spoken with Festool about it, that the UK part number for this is 205239 and they can order it in for £27 all-in. Not sounding too likely for a free update / upgrade from Festool for us early adopters. Colour me shocked  [huh]

 

[infer]

[attachimg=1]

 

[Wesley166]

Hi
My kit has a different part number to the one Roachmill was offered as it probably came direct from Germany with a German part number.

 

[sancho57]

called Festool USA this morning, They said yes there is a update kit but it hasn't been sent to thins side of the pond yet.  They didnt have a ETA of when/if it will be arriving they also said they dont have a notification process for us who own one when/if it arrives.

 

[The Wizard]

called Festool USA this morning, They said yes there is a update kit but it hasn't been sent to thins side of the pond yet.  They didnt have a ETA of when/if it will be arriving they also said they dont have a notification process for us who own one when/if it arrives.

I'm disappointed to hear this. I just ordered one and it will be here in a week or so. More than likely, these additional parts won't be included.  Just might have to send it back and wait until things are sorted out.

Festool should get on the ball and quickly ship out these upgrade kits to all their authorized dealers worldwide so they can be included with each purchase. While the straps may not be too critical, it sounds like the foam piece inside is very critical for proper and continuous operation/suction.

Lastly, thanks for posting this Wesley166.