Festool Vacuum SYS Set

[stairman]

I hope the UK Crew or any other non North America users can step up and explain more about this system, as I am extremely interested to learn more about this system.

the Festool Vacuum Clamping system with it's vacuum pump in one systainer,  and the clamping pod (or pods0 in additional systainer/s,  is appearing tremendously useful,  and I would love to hear from anyone who is actually using this setup?
A question which comes to mind:  Is there sufficient vacuum capacity for attaching it to a vacuum bag?  -obviously a 5x12ft bag is going to stay in the shop connected to a large vacuum pump,  but onsite, I would love to have a 4x4 bag for smaller on the spot work.  from what I have seen on youtube videos,  as a work-holding device,  it seems extremely useful,  and I find yet another Festool on my list that I really need to find a way to obtain!
I'm going to end up having to take a trip to Europe soon,  I just know it...

 

[Corwin]

If you do a search here for, "vacsys" you will find a good deal of into on this product.

 

[stairman]

I've been sifting through that for the past couple weeks,  and the alternatives...  but truth is,  I have not come across anything that compares to the Festool System,  go ahead,  call me "partial"  but I've been very well conditioned these past 6 months.  -and I say that in the best way....

I would like to hear from real world users.  -how the system has worked for you?  other uses you've found for it?  all that good stuff

I particularly like the modular approach Festool has taken.  one can start with the Vac Sys,  add on an additional pod,  and then the various options for MFT swing platform (mounts)  systainers of alternate suction pads...  -really, really nice system.

through my "travels" the Festool UK site has a .pdf on the Vac. systems page.  have any of you read this?  it is a publication on the "unexpected renaissance of polished surfaces"  -fully polished wood and painted surfaces in kitchen / furniture / etc...

-very interesting and fast read...    but if this is any indicationof trends to come,  I for one intend to add a few  things to my arsenal, and begin practicing!  seems that what is trendy in Europe NOW, trickles down to become trendy here sometime thereafter  9and often vice versal...  -a real  "grass is always greener" phenomena,  -nevertheless,  that is only the smallest of reasons for which I would love to have the VacSYS.  in the Youtube video, where Festools german Master Cabinetmaker Frank (Franz?)  -the one which is overdubbed in English...    as soon as he pops the #2 pod to his MFT, and picks up a full size door and clamps it on it's side,  -that was it...  I HAD to have one!

 
why are there so many GREAT Festool products available everywhere except N. America!? [mad]

and it seems the list is growing!  ah well...  what can ya do!

 

[stairman]

It's becoming painfully obvious to me,  that while I know enough METRIC to build stairs and cabinets all day and  night,    -and I know what to expect when ordering a "Liter of Cola"  I am clueless on the specs needed to get some idea of VACUUM POWER produced by the VacSYS!!!

I see specs given for this both at 50hz and 60hz.  Is this a universal motor?  it seems to move more volume at 60hz power supply,  but for the usual  "Inches hg" that we normall see on a vacuum pump,  I don't really get how to convert that to come up with a realistic comparison I can understand?

again  I want to know if the VacSYS is capable of drawing down a 4ft square vacuum bag for onsite repairs, veneering tasks an small forming jobs? ???

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Yes, VacSys can support a vacuum bag, and there was once talk of Festool coming out with one as an accessory. It is definitely worth its weight. It gives you so much flexibility with holding your work, and it is incredibly strong at holding them. The first picture below is an 8-foot (I think) board cantilevered off the VacSys.

[attachimg=#1]

The articulated head is the killer feature. To be able to spin your workpiece while sanding to work on all of the edges, is great. To be able to tilt the head to hold a piece vertically is very handy too.

[attachimg=#2]

There is one drawback to your idea of taking it to a jobsite for vacuum bagging. To the best of my knowledge, there are only a couple of prototype units in the world that are 120 volt operation, and the owners of those units are not likely to part with them. The rest of them are 240 volt. Granted, it is a small enough load that you could find an inexpensive 120:240 transformer for site use.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Choices:

A) Ah Rick, making a diving board for your beer is even low for you.  [big grin]  [tongue]

B) Rick, your beer production isn't going well.  Let's step it up!  [big grin]

C)

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Well geez, Ken. I couldn't reach the MFT from where I was sitting, so I had to extend the table to set my beer down.

It's an old picture. You can tell it's an old picture because the workshop is still clean.

 

[richard.selwyn]

I think the Vacsys is my favourite Festool. It saves me an enormous amount of time. I have two bases and a full assortment of the pads. If I can't clamp it with the Vacsys I try to avoid making it [smile] [smile]
Like everything Festool the price may be a problem and there are lots of cheaper ways of vacuum clamping. But like most things Festool it just works well and as part of a system. I thought I would be taking it with me and have not mounted it permanenty but I have never used it on site. It is a bit of a fiddle to pack up the base, footswitch, hoses etc, although they do all fit neatly in the systainer. Festool FRANCE gave me a link to an outfit that made suitable vacuum bags, I'll try to dig it up.
Regards,
Richard

 

[stairman]

with the exception of one that was just too good to pass up,  I have made all my own vacuum bags.

the vast majority of my vac bag glue-ups are stair stringers and stair parts,  the former requiring really LONG narrow bags, and the latter requiring -not much bag space at all.

joewoodworker.com is where I purchase a lot of my supplies,  and where I have gotten a great deal of info and support.

as for the Vac SYS,  if you look at the specs on Festool UK's website,  there are specifications given for both 50hz and 60hz,  so I am curious if this is one of these motor types that is capable of running on whatever you plug into?  ???

-I had a suspicion,  that those who actually HAD these systems LOVED them!  and I can see I am right.  -that would explain why you never find one listed for sale on ebayUK, ebay.de, etc...

 

[agehall]

I read about the system last spring and decided it would be a cool thing to try. So when I found a kit on the local e-bay, I made sure I got it.

And sure enough. It was awesome. I still have not put them to that much use, but amongst the projects last summer was to make custom oak thresholds and it was awesome to use the vacsys to clamp down the pieces while domino:ing and planing them down.

Even though I'm just a weekend warrior when it comes to playing with my Festools, I decided to get a second clamp. With both of them, I expect to be able to hold full sheets of plywood or MDF and cut them. That will come in very handy next summer when I'll be building some new book cases for the mrs.

If you want a short and honest opinion; they rock! The whole idea is awesome and it works great! It's just a shame they cost a small fortune.

 

[richard.selwyn]

If you want a short and honest opinion; they rock! The whole idea is awesome and it works great! It's just a shame they cost a small fortune.

Well I guess if they're only a small fortune, fortunes in general must be bigger in Sweden  [laughing]
Richard