Dust extraction with other powertools

[fettlerover]

My current shop-vac is dying and I've been eyeing up a festool dust extractor (primarily because it'd fit nicely in some dead-space in the workshop). This would be my first festool purchase - how well does the bayonet end work with other powertools? What do I need to do to adapt it to dust ports that have a more traditional friction fit? (thinking of my router and sander).

 

[Euclid]

You'll have to do a bit of searching (and measuring), but by way of an example here's a couple of products I've used with a CTL Midi...

I used this Mirka adapter with the hose for their hand-sanding blocks: the cone part is a friction in one end, and the other, with the appropriate sections of the step-cone trimmed off, sits directly into the Midi. Not 100% secure, but no real worries thus far. (I also taped off the side vent in this adapter; this worked ok - I might now do this more permanently with a large bike tyre repair patch!).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mirka-8393...05043&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=mirka+hose+adapter&qid=1563182032&s=gateway&sr=8-1

And these Axminster ones, trimmed appropriately, have allowed me to connect a couple of older non-Festools to the Midi quite successfully. Just measure carefully the internal/external diameters you need before trimming; the material (similar, I think, to the fancy aftermarket rad hoses for car customisers - silicone?) seems to provide ample friction to stay connected).
https://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-tapered-step-hose-reducers-ax966250

 

[fettlerover]

Thanks - that's reassuring. I've used those Axminster adapters before, so I'm used to snipping them to get the fit I need.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking something before committing myself to the purchase.

 

[nvalinski]

I actually like the new bayonette connector? It fits most of my tools quite well, and has a smooth lip at the front for "legacy" Festool connections. Fit my Bosch sander no problem, other tools do need adapters, but the 27/36 mm connections are the closest I've found to a standard.

 

[DeformedTree]

The Festool vac will work on your tools better than a shop vac in general, depending on what you have.  If you have newer tools from the main brands, then they were probably either designed in the EU, or had a heavily driven global design.

Where my shop vac was too small for my planner, the festool vac fits perfect.  On my router, a small dewalt, the hose fits, but not very deep/well so it works but could pop out.  For miter saw, the parts I had would hook it up just fine, it's just the dust collection on the saw was pathetic so it didn't work.

If you have a bunch of old tools, maybe old craftsman stuff (US only tools, inch based design), maybe you will have issues, but so far, no problems with stuff I have used, now I can use the vac, were with shop vacs I could not.

 

[pixelated]

For the 27mm hose, the bayonet end fits fine on my PC biscuit joiner, Bosch router, and Bosch plane. It fits inside the dust port on my Bosch miter saw, but the 36mm hose does a better job at pulling the sawdust. That hose will fit the outside of the Bosch dust port with some work, but does better with an adaptor that Bosch sells.
For my table saw, I have a hose (non-Festool) with 2.xxx in. fittings at both ends, it fits the vac with no issues. I also use the large hose with the router table.

 

[fettlerover]

It arrived yesterday, and it works just fine with adapters and doodahs I already had.

Thank you for your help and advice.