FLEX Vacuum

[festal]

Got the 33 model for $250 on black friday.  Working out of 1 car garage so space is at a premium and 44 was too big

 

[Mike Goetzke]

These are much nicer vacuums than I expected. My plan was to replace my Craftsman shop vac with the Flex 44. I have a CT33 that is probably 12 years old and although it is dusty I have babied it by using it mostly for sanding, mortising, and sometimes with circular saw & pre-seperator. I was going to use the 44 for rougher duty like I used my shop vac but now I'm thinking the opposite - use my CT33 as my shop vac replacement.

Mike

 

[DynaGlide]

These are much nicer vacuums than I expected. My plan was to replace my Craftsman shop vac with the Flex 44. I have a CT33 that is probably 12 years old and although it is dusty I have babied it by using it mostly for sanding, mortising, and sometimes with circular saw & pre-seperator. I was going to use the 44 for rougher duty like I used my shop vac but now I'm thinking the opposite - use my CT33 as my shop vac replacement.

Mike

If the current draw isn't an issue then go for it. My FLEX 33 will be my travel around the house as needed. But I plan on setting up a Ridgid shop vac in the garage for messier stuff. I just can't use such nice HEPA vacs for general clean up

 

[rvieceli]

Has anyone gotten any of the tool ends and report on how they work and which ones.

Thanks

Ron

 

[Michael Kellough]

I’m probably just going to use an existing Festool hose but if I wanted to use the Flex hose I’d try the CenTec set of nozzles in the link above. The Cen-Tec hose I linked in another thread might be better than the Flex hose. The Flex is 1-1/4” (32mm) all the way through and the Cen-Tec is tapered from 1-1/2” to 1-1/4”.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Has anyone gotten any of the tool ends and report on how they work and which ones.

Thanks

Ron

[member=3192]rvieceli[/member]  Just received my Flex adapters from Lowes. I didn’t put them to actual use but the 27mm fits nicely on my sanders.

[attachimg=1]

 

[rvieceli]

Thanks

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Has anyone gotten any of the tool ends and report on how they work and which ones.

Thanks

Ron

[member=3192]rvieceli[/member]  Just received my Flex adapters from Lowes. I didn’t put them to actual use but the 27mm fits nicely on my sanders.

[attachimg=1]

Small update: Is there a trick, or is it just me having difficulty removing the hose fittings from the hose?

For me it is hard to push in both buttons to remove the fitting. Seems much easier to pull off the rubber ends and avoid removing the plastic piece with the two buttons but don’t know if this will over time damage the rubber ends.

Mike

 

[Banana]

Has anyone gotten any of the tool ends and report on how they work and which ones.

Thanks

Ron

[member=3192]rvieceli[/member]  Just received my Flex adapters from Lowes. I didn’t put them to actual use but the 27mm fits nicely on my sanders.

[attachimg=1]

Small update: Is there a trick, or is it just me having difficulty removing the hose fittings from the hose?

For me it is hard to push in both buttons to remove the fitting. Seems much easier to pull off the rubber ends and avoid removing the plastic piece with the two buttons but don’t know if this will over time damage the rubber ends.

Mike

I have nimble fingers but still found the Flex click connectors to be difficult.  I had to pinch in with my finger nails and even then it's not easy nor a one step smooth action.  Seems to be an Asian generic design used by CenTec, Flex and others etc.
Most hose ends will be interchangeable of course so, at first, I ditched the Flex ends for the Nilfisk hose ends. Then later just used the Nilfisk hose I already had.  Flex hose is indeed a very good hose, just prefer the Nilfisk. 
What I like about the Nilfisk hose & ends are that the ends are identified as Anti Stat whereas the Flex fittings don't say anything. The Nilfisk hose has a smoother interior wall.  The vac end connector is ribbed for better grip and the tool end on Nilfisk's version  of a pinch to release connection fits right over my track saw (not a TS) dust port without the need of any adapter end, and won't come off. 

 

[festal]

stupid question but what is the grey plastic bag used for?  it seem that one end of it is open and has a white plastic string .  How does one use it?

 

[Banana]

stupid question but what is the grey plastic bag used for?  it seem that one end of it is open and has a white plastic string .  How does one use it?

Tub Liner (33 / 44).  Drapes over tub and you drop top over to hold it in place.  When full, you remove top and synch it up like a trash bag for disposal.  (I've already disposed of mine).

 

[Drich]

So has any one found a vender that sells the flex brand hose ends yet? I want to order that angled cleaning end and the 32 mm end like comes with the 27 mm festool hose as that fits my miter saw well. I sent a email to them but no reply.  I see acme sells some kits but I don't need all of that stuff .

 

[Banana]

So has any one found a vender that sells the flex brand hose ends yet? I want to order that angled cleaning end and the 32 mm end like comes with the 27 mm festool hose as that fits my miter saw well. I sent a email to them but no reply.  I see acme sells some kits but I don't need all of that stuff .

Is this the adapter you’re asking about ?  If so you might have to click on “find a dealer” to order.

List of FLEX vac accessories.

Until FLEX has better distribution in N.A. ( iirc, they wouldn't sell me the FLEX branded L-boxx a while back) this is another reason I just went with the o.e.m. Nilfisk hose ends.  Easy to find adapters, and I feel better made / on par with Fest, Starmix, etc. 

 

[Banana]

ohhhh…. now I get it. The knuckleheads supply their hoses with the grey semi tamper resist snap-rings.  If you want to do quick changes you have to order their optional red - ‘Clip-on Quick Clamping Ring 406.023’.

No wonder it’s so difficult to remove the adapters. (wonder if the red protruding ears on the 406.023 will snag or break off?).

 

[DynaGlide]

[member=71944]Banana[/member] Are you sure someone wouldn't instead want the Fast Clip adapter 410.497? It appears to attach semi permanently to the tool adapter but quick release from the hose end using the existing gray ring.

 

[Banana]

[member=65062]DynaGlide[/member],  I did see the 410.497 but "assumed" the grey & red rings were interchangeable (?).  Thought it might be fewer parts to just swap rings.  But perhaps the red ring is a larger diameter. 
Looking at how the 410.497 connects to a 406.716 etc. I'm guessing you remove the grey ring on the 406.716 and replace it with supplied red ring on the 410.497 ?  Then pop on the rubber reducer supplied with vac.  But if thats what they intend then just a red 'quick' ring should suffice with what was already supplied with vac.

 

[festal]

stupid question but what is the grey plastic bag used for?  it seem that one end of it is open and has a white plastic string .  How does one use it?

Tub Liner (33 / 44).  Drapes over tub and you drop top over to hold it in place.  When full, you remove top and synch it up like a trash bag for disposal.  (I've already disposed of mine).

Hmm not following .  I saw the picture in the manual but i can't figure it out

 

[Drich]

Yes that is one of the ends I was wanting. So these other brand ones work fine with the flex hose

 

[Banana]

stupid question but what is the grey plastic bag used for?  it seem that one end of it is open and has a white plastic string .  How does one use it?

Tub Liner (33 / 44).  Drapes over tub and you drop top over to hold it in place.  When full, you remove top and synch it up like a trash bag for disposal.  (I've already disposed of mine).

Hmm not following .  I saw the picture in the manual but i can't figure it out

Their logic is that you don’t have to carry, or lift, the tub over to a trash can to dump it with all the dust flying if you buy the plastic liners.  Any contractor plastic bag will do with some tape around inlet.  Prob a good idea for drywall and mdf.

 

[Banana]

Yes that is one of the ends I was wanting. So these other brand ones work fine with the flex hose

What ever brand hose end that will thread on end of hose will allow that brands accessories to work.  So I think someone here already said they just went with their Festool ends.  But others work too.  In the photo below the flex end works perfectly / threads on to the Nilfisk hose and vice/versa.  fwiw - in the parts diagram the Nilfisk version of a bent nozzle is metal.