Festool boom arm 203151 for ct 36, Is it worth buying?

[lshah72414]

Tired of dragging cords and vacuum hoses. My hose is all scuffed up. Looking at festool boom arm 203151.
Looks great. However, on some reviews people speak about lack of mobilty. I have mft and home made breakdown table, which I would be moving it back and forth to. For those who own one, is it hard to move around? Is it mobile enough, or am I going to be spending alot of time trying to move it around? If so, would you purchase it again? Thank you all for your anticipated input.

 

[miclee15]

While I thought about doing a DIY arm, I broke down and bought it for my 36.  After using it, I said I should have purchased this a long time ago.  I think it's one of the best additions to the family of tools one can get.   
Moving around isn't too bad, I wouldn't want to be taking it on and off all the time.  I only have trouble b/c the arm hits stuff I hang from the ceiling of my garage.  I have 2 smaller vacs I use when I need to be mobile so my boom arm and 36 are pretty much in the garage shop all the time.

 

[ADKMedic]

After getting over the sticker-shock, I broke down and bought one a few months ago.  Now, I'm kicking myself for not getting it sooner.  The DIY versions that I've seen people post about on here are great, but most of those have been for a stationary vac.  If you just need to roll it around your shop, it is a bit bulky, but once you get used to it, it is really easy to move (roll) around.  I have it mounted on my CT36.  I just bought more hose clamps from Festool off EKAT with the hopes of having both a 27 mm and 36 mm hose on the boom arm at all times. 

Like the previous poster stated, I would not want to move this around from one job site to another - installing the boom arm was a pain in the arse (this is definitely one product where Festool's directions suck).  This is not meant to to be taken on and off all the time. 

Hope this helps.

Andy

 

[ryanjg117]

I'm a bit conflicted on the boom arm. It is super handy and I use it all the time, but certain things annoy me about it. First, the articulation isn't great but maybe it's how I have my vac cables wound. Maybe I need to re-read the installation instructions and give the joint some WD40. It gets tangled up with the tool/sander mount but I also have custom sleeved my vac hoses which makes them a little less pliable. I have to fight it to get it to tilt where I want it. Also, I seem to have lost the hex head screw that locks the articulation, so if anyone knows the specs on that screw, I would appreciate it!

The boom arm comes with a handle and vac tools holder which is handy, but the plastic hole where the boom arm seats broke. There's a lot of weight and stress at that point, and Festool under-engineered the plastic mounting point. I had to switch it to the opposite hole and hope this one doesn't suffer the same fate. Asked Festool to replace and they told me apparently the handles are considered a "consumable." Pretty ridiculous.

The boom arm comes with a rinky dink expandable metal "balancer dealey" which almost doubles the floor space of the vac and causes one to trip over it constantly. I promise you it will be the first thing you remove. I'm sure the lawyers had it added. Note that the vac can be tipped over without the balancer, but it's quite well balanced without it, even with the dust deputy I have up top. I've tipped it over a couple times when in a rush and not paying attention.

Be sure to measure the height of any doors and compare them to the height of the boom arm. Mine is too tall to get under a dividing wall and door that separates my storage room from my woodworking area. I have to kinda tip the unit and shimmy it, definitely not a Festool approved work practice!

I don't think it would be difficult to make a better design. I ended up acquiring a second CT36, and was considering adding a workcenter to this one, but after tallying up the more than $500 in the Festool workcenter and additional accessories, I'm going to be building a DIY version made from 5/8" baltic birch plywood, cut on CNC. Here's some quick renders:

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What's cool about this design that isn't shown - I'll be using 5/8" metal smooth rod standoffs protruding out of four mounting points that Festool uses to attach the hose garage. I'll be welding the additional smooth rod onto the top of Festool's screws. So the entire workcenter will be elevated above the hose garage, meaning you'll still be able to make use of that for storing your hoses, etc. Also, I have to test this, but potentially you can also slip a systainer down there... More to come, I'll post the finished design soon.

 

[RJNeal]

Yes. I have two. Like them a lot. One for a shop bound CT33 and one for a road bound CT 26.
When transportation is needed, I only remove the upper section of the arm.
Sometimes I don’t install it a a job. Depends on the job. Lots of movements and doors heights. I never used the stabilizer arms.
Rick

 

[Rob Z]

OP

Like Rick mentioned, I never used the stabilizers after the first time my big foot caught on one and I stumbled.  [eek] [scared] [unsure]. I got rid of them , and with care, I was able to move the rig around without any tippiness.

I liked the utility of the boom arm and would likely still be using it if I still have a large enough shop.

I have seen some shop-made boom arms that look great and would be fun to make, But if you are short on time and need to be working on other things, the FT boom arm is, in my opinion, a good product to have.

 

[DeformedTree]

I like the idea of it, but it means the vac would be basically shop only and not very mobile. I mainly use the tools in a space with an unfinished ceiling,  so clamps to a floor joists get you a lot of the function, cheap and mobile.

 

[dragoneggs]

I like the concept but I store my CT26 under a work bench and I don't relish the idea of hooking up the boom every time I want to use the vac.

 

[pettyconstruction]

For the time being,
I threw a bungee cord over the open rafter in my garage and hook the hose/cord to that.
The bungee has enough flex to extend when needed and it works ok . Oh and cheep lol
Charlie
Btw I have been thinking about making one like the type that the doit yourself car wash have.
A trussed pipe and a Bering plate.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[elm]

Like many, I do my work out of my garage.  I got a Rockler track system (https://www.rockler.com/starter-kit-for-rockler-ceiling-track-system) and strung my hose through the circle hangar.  The nice thing is it moves forward and backward as I need to move across the track. I have two tracks that can be put end to end, but never installed the second one.  It helped but did not totally solve my issue as my the hose was still dragging  bit on my work surface.  I got a short piece of elastic rope and had it pull the hose up a bit by attaching it to the track system hook. I used thin elastic rope so that it extended easily.  That solved my issue.  So now the cord and hose is held above my work station and is easy to extend when needed.  Cheaper than a boom arm.  I agonized about getting a boom arm, but there was not enough room in my garage.  When I do not have my garage set up as a shop, I just disconnect the hose from my AC36 and I have a velcro loop used for extension cords that is clipped to an overhead storage shelf so that it does not hit my car.

Note if I were doing it again, I would just get a Unistrut C-Channel instead of the Rockler version I got.  You can get it and some attachments a bit cheaper.  But I am happy with the Rockler product.

 

[martin felder]

I just sold my Festool Boom arm that I had for years.  It went with the CT-36 and I still have that at this time.  I did not like the fact that it rotated along 1 arc.  There a limited range of where I could comfortably work without moving the vacuum - boom arm to avoid a pulling on the hose, and then the vacuum and boom arm would be up against my bench and in my way.

Anyhow, I think that is a wonderful setup and worth buying for those who want the mobility and the ability to place systainers on top of the CT-36 and store a sander on the clip-hook.  That is not something I need.  The channel options only let you move back and forth and then the hose can flex and get in your way.  That is a limited range.

At this time, a friend and I are working on making a fully articulating boom arm that can be made with commercially available parts and wood without difficulty at a very low cost.  I anticipate having it done in 1-2 weeks.  I am waiting on parts.  If all goes well, I will post a parts list, links to where you can order the parts (other than the wood and things you can get at Home Depot), detailed plans, and photos step-by-step as I have no financial interest and happy to share. 

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
If all goes well, I will post a parts list, links to where you can order the parts (other than the wood and things you can get at Home Depot), detailed plans, and photos step-by-step as I have no financial interest and happy to share.

I have no immediate needs for any boom arm or overhead type of arm for dust collection purposes because the garage has a low ceiling. But downsizing is on the drawing board (actual move will happen at least a couple of years after the pandemic is completely over). When I outfit my new shop, I would like to consider overhead dust collection options. I, for one, will be interested in seeing what you and your pal will have come up with.

 

[Jeff Zanin]

I have the Festool boom arm on a CT36 that stays in the shop.  Mine is placed over the CT with a 36mm hose and no outriggers.  I use it for sanding, Domino, tracksaw and router and also for general cleanup around the bench.  I like it in this application but could likely manage with something less elaborate.  For my Bosch 4000 table saw I use a ShopVac with the hose supported by a bungee cord which works fine for a (relatively) stationary tool.

 

[martin felder]

I, for one, will be interested in seeing what you and your pal will have come up with.

Well...me too!  I don't know what we will come up with.  We could very well fail.  Hopefully it will work out.

 

[grbmds]

I have owned one for my CT48 for several years. For me, it was a worthwhile purchase even though I hated the thought of spending as much money on an accessory as it cost. I ended up buying 2 Systainer3/Sortainer 4's (I think although the current design seems to be different than when I bought mine). Stacked on top of the CT they permit me to store often used small tools, etc. and manage the cord/hose for my TS55, Domino, sanders.I also bought the Work Center. Together, the Boom Arm, Work Center, and the Sortainers helped me organize my work and manage my tool cords/hose much better. It did take some time to get it all organized and I didn't buy the Sortainers all at once; just as I felt it was something I needed.