Festool vacuum hose connection woes

[OzarkNerd]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the Festool world and I'm the proud owner of a new DF500 and a CT26.  I must say that both products exude quality and precision and my first few operations with the domino have left a smile on my face.  That said, the connection of the CT26's hose to the domino is leaving me a bit wanting.  In contrast to how precise and solid every other action on these tools feels, this particular connection leaves me with a sinking "is that right?" feeling every time.  There is no solid stop when you push the hose on.  There is no solid stop when you twist it to "lock" it.  In fact you can easily twist right past the lock point and back to unlock.  And even in the locked position the hose can still be pulled off the tool.  It feels like I must be missing something here.  It can't be this bad, right? 

I've searched and found several posts from 4-5 years ago where people were quite unhappy with the new bayonet style hose connectors.  But those comments seem to relate to dust accumulating in the gaps in the hose and causing a mess on disconnect.  I haven't found anybody else complaining about a lack of a solid connection like I'm experiencing.

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Cheese]

I've searched and found several posts from 4-5 years ago where people were quite unhappy with the new bayonet style hose connectors.  But those comments seem to relate to dust accumulating in the gaps in the hose and causing a mess on disconnect.  I haven't found anybody else complaining about a lack of a solid connection like I'm experiencing.

The issues that were mentioned several years ago was right after Festool changed to the rubber bayonet connector. At that time 95% of all Festool tools still had the original round port with the ridges. Festool is slowly converting their tools to the new bayonet style dust port, I'm assuming you have the new style on your DF 500?  Unfortunately, there probably isn't much info on this forum because most on the FOG have the old style round dust port on their tools.

Interesting that the bayonet doesn't really lock into position especially as the new rubber connector is quite stiff. It's a chore putting the new bayonet connector on earlier round port tools. [sad]  I actually swapped out the new bayonet connectors for the original round rubber style.

 

[Rick Herrick]

I personally don't like hooking up my hose to the DF500, or really, removing it.  Seems like a shaky piece of plastic on the DF500 and I am afraid over time it will break off.  I have recently changed over to a D36 hose on my CT26.  I am adding one of these adapters to some of my tools. 

Festool 768135 Reducing Sleeve, Multi-Colour

I can put on and take off the D36 without putting more stress on the DF500 end.  May be overkill but it makes me feel better.

 

[Peter_C]

Personally I hate these adapters shown below. They just add to the length of the stiff part making it awkward to use the tool, and more likely to knock the hose off the tool. (I only have the old style hose connections for the D27.) Instead if using a D36 hose it would be better to make or purchase a short length of D27 hose with ends on it for an adapter.

 

[Coen]

Yeah the DF500 dust port is not that great compared to the other D27 dust ports Festool has.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The newer hose/fitting is definitely stiffer than the older ringed type, but I have not really had any trouble with it, especially going on too far or to easily? I have had the newer ones for about a year and a half and it really hasn't gotten any easier, like I thought it would. I use it a lot and I disconnect the hose and plug-it every time I set it down.

Same as Rick Herrick, I was initially concerned about the connection to the dust port/tube, but having owned one for over 7 years, it was never a problem.

 

[OzarkNerd]

Ok, so I stand corrected.  It turns out the issue was exactly the opposite of what I described.  There is a "rib" on the domino that I took to be the stop for the hose.  But it turns out I needed to push it past this by a significant amount.  I took a caliper and measured the depth of the 3 square bumps inside of the hose end and then measured how far onto the domino it would need to be pushed for it to engage with the matching pieces on the tool.  So yes, once I do this then the hose is definitely much more secure.  But it *really* takes a lot of force to push on.  Like to the point where I see the domino's plastic tube flexing and it makes me brace for destruction   Hopefully it'll loosen up slightly, or I guess I can support the back of the tube with my other hand while pushing the hose on.  This explains why I didn't push it on this far originally, I honestly wouldn't have dared pushing this hard.

 

[jeffinsgf]

OzarkNerd, have you tried twisting instead of pushing? I thought the whole idea was for the short bayonet threads to lock the fitting in place. I'm still using the old style, so I'm just talking from having played with the fittings in a store a time or two.

 

[DynaGlide]

I hate the new style hose ends. I'm fortunate to have an old style that came with my CMS. If it ever wears out the other thing I've done is take a D36 to D27 reducer available from either Festool ($$$) or from Industrial Vacuum for $15 http://www.industrialvacs.com/Tool_Socket_connects_suction_hose_to_power_tool_p/h302000535.htm the portion that is essentially the 'old style' vac hose end is reverse threaded and removable from the D36 end. It's a snug fit putting it on a cleantec adapter. Hope this helps.

 

[Coen]

Huh? But that still extends the length??

I have a new style D27 hose end in stock... one of my older style ones has a tear in them. But I might swap it out with the Y-hose 27mm end. Then just fill up the useless bayonet.

 

[OzarkNerd]

OzarkNerd, have you tried twisting instead of pushing? I thought the whole idea was for the short bayonet threads to lock the fitting in place.

Well you have to do both.  First you have to push it straight on about an inch, then you twist it 45 degrees or so to lock it.  What I'm saying is that now that I realize how far you have to push it straight on (in order to actually get the lock to seat properly and keep it from falling off every 5 minutes) it is a bit alarming at the force this takes and how much the tool's plastic tube deflects in the process.  It is for sure going on the correct way at this point, and provides a very solid connection.  But seems like a bit overkill in terms of force needed.

 

[Coen]

Huh? But that still extends the length??

I have a new style D27 hose end in stock... one of my older style ones has a tear in them. But I might swap it out with the Y-hose 27mm end. Then just fill up the useless bayonet.

Just checked; the Y-hose D27 end does not rotate freely, it's a different part.