Fine Woodworking(Tool Guide): Bosch Vac VS. Festool Vac

[Jalvis]

What does everyone think about the review?

Bosch wins due to the auto clean function.  Maintains the same suction from beginning to end while the Festool seems to really decline.

I have never used the Bosch.  Whats the verdict?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Previously discussed, heated thread.  Do a search for it or maybe someone can provide you the link.  My opinion, use the article to keep warm on a winter's morn'.  [big grin]

 

[Jalvis]

Searched before asking but couldn't find it.  Maybe a link? 

 

[EWTHeckman]

Searched before asking but couldn't find it.  Maybe a link? 

Here

 

[Jalvis]

Thank you

 

[billg71]

Quick shot of the Bosch vac working with their SCMS:

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Not the most impressive DC demo I've seen... And it's FREAKING NOISY to boot...

FWIW,
Bill

 

[semenza]

Can't say about the Bosch havn't used it. But my Festool doesn't seem to have a suction problem. It may drop off but not to any degree that I notice until bag is nearly full. So if it drops off I'm not sure it matters much. Heck I have accidentally filled  20' of hose because the bag was full and I didn't know it.

Seth

 

[otis04]

We pay a high price for our festools and therefore believe them to be the best.  Therefore, I do understand the outrage over an article that dared to rate another manufacturer better than Festool.  But, the real measure of the Festool equipment is that it all works together and very well, so I don't care about one part of the system getting a low rating as the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Just a different perspective.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

We pay a high price for our festools and therefore believe them to be the best.  Therefore, I do understand the outrage over an article that dared to rate another manufacturer better than Festool.  But, the real measure of the Festool equipment is that it all works together and very well, so I don't care about one part of the system getting a low rating as the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Just a different perspective.

That wasn't the outrage.  The test method was.  Read it and you'll understand.

 

[mouppe]

In that picture, is the hose even connected?

 

[Dan Clark]

We pay a high price for our festools and therefore believe them to be the best.  Therefore, I do understand the outrage over an article that dared to rate another manufacturer better than Festool.  But, the real measure of the Festool equipment is that it all works together and very well, so I don't care about one part of the system getting a low rating as the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Just a different perspective.

That wasn't the outrage.  The test method was.  Read it and you'll understand.

+1

Most of us are not concerned about who "wins".  That's a marketing concept, not a real-world user issue for most of the people in this forum.  Their testing methodology was rather badly flawed.   It's like comparing a TS55 to a Makita hypoid saw and rating the Makita better because it doesn't require a rail.  

When purchasing, we want quality info to make good buying decisions.  Historically Fine Woodworking has done a good job of supplying this quality info.   This review indicates that their quality is slipping.   Badly.   Failure to properly categorize tools makes results questionable at best.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[greg mann]

To sum up the logic used in the test:

We are going to test a Cadillac versus a Yugo. We have decided that most buyers will dislike purchasing gas so we are going to test the cars without fuel. The Yugo wins because it is easier to push.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

To sum up the logic used in the test:

We are going to test a Cadillac versus a Yugo. We have decided that most buyers will dislike purchasing gas so we are going to test the cars without fuel. The Yugo wins because it is easier to push.

[big grin] [big grin] [big grin] [thumbs up]

 

[sancho57]

I dont care what a magazine says or actually what anyone says.

When the tools I buy and use work as well or better then expected how can someone tell me they dont/

If that makes sense.

As for FWW I quit all my taunton press subscriptions about 2 years ago or so. last year I trashed just about all the of their magazines I was collecting.

I did find a FHB one from a few years back in my office. it had a article about track saws. Today I checked it out and it showed a festool TS55 being used w/o a dust collector attached. It looked pretty dusty.

But they did give FT a pretty good review.

 

[billg71]

In that picture, is the hose even connected?

Yes it was. That was the Bosch booth at the Woodworking Show last year in Atlanta, not long after they introduced the new miter saw. I wandered by mid-afternoon and couldn't help thinking at least they could clean up occasionally. Granted, that's probably the fallout from a few hundred cuts but it really doesn't look good when you're demo-ing a new saw and touting it's dust collection. I thought it was kinda funny so I snapped a pic.

Best,
Bill

 

[VictorL]

It looks like Bosch was tested with standard 36mm hose. Festool's vacs shipped with 27mm hoses. 36mm hose makes HUGE difference in dust collection. It's not noticeable with portable sanders, but using it with TS-55/75/Kapex saws, routers and cleaning  sets makes it noticeable. I use 36mm hoses with CT-26 and CT-mini. For Domino and sanders I use hose adapter. If FWW tested vacs with same hoses, they should get MUCH better CFM rating for CT-26 vacuum.

VictorL

 

[Dan Clark]

It looks like Bosch was tested with standard 36mm hose. Festool's vacs shipped with 27mm hoses. 36mm hose makes HUGE difference in dust collection. It's not noticeable with portable sanders, but using it with TS-55/75/Kapex saws, routers and cleaning  sets makes it noticeable. I use 36mm hoses with CT-26 and CT-mini. For Domino and sanders I use hose adapter. If FWW tested vacs with same hoses, they should get MUCH better CFM rating for CT-26 vacuum.

VictorL

It's interesting that FWW tested using unreasonable metrics that put the CT vacs at a disadvantage.  OTOH, if they wanted even the playing field, they could have used the Festool 36mm hose.  It seems odd that they chose metrics that were tailored to the Bosch vacs.  Very strange.  Just sayin'...    :

Dan.

 

[matt.mackinnon]

To sum up the logic used in the test:

We are going to test a Cadillac versus a Yugo. We have decided that most buyers will dislike purchasing gas so we are going to test the cars without fuel. The Yugo wins because it is easier to push.

No, it's more like testing a Cadallac vs a GM Volt.  Then saying the Cadallac would not start because we could not figure out where to plug in the electric charging cord.

 

[EWTHeckman]

Come to think of it, the testing methodology in the article would be appropriate for the CT 36 AC. Is the AC designed for the same market as that Bosch?

 

[Jerry Sitton]

I've got an older power mad shop vac that'll beat both, but is it better! No, it's loud  and bulkier. The CT is perfect for the tools I hook it to and it's so quiet compared. If all I was concerned with was cfm and velocity I wouldn't own either. To me, that's not what makes the CT's so attractive in the actual application.