Hose Garage Review

[Dan Clark]

Hi.  This is a review on the Hose Garage.  I originally posted this on 3/3/2007.  I sent some questions to Christian.  He responded and asked me to include his information in the review.  This review has been modified to include Christian's feedback and info from other users.

Here's a pic of the Hose Garage on top of my CT 22 with Boom Arm:

One thing that I was concerned about was whether I could use the Boom Arm and Hose Garage together.  The answer is YES!  They work just fine together.

Installation: Installation was trivial.  About the only "trick" is that you have to slide the right side (when facing the front) into two little tabs and then slide home the green locking tabs.  That's it.  You're done.  Grade: A+

"Storability": I.e., can it store a larger hose?  Here's a pic showing the 3.5m D36 hose (medium size) stored inside the hose garage with a systainer completely latched on top.  I have the hose nozzle sticking out the port, but you can completely store it inside if you wish.    I was concerned about this, but had no problem.  Check the pic below to see how much extra room you still have even with the D36 hose.  Also check the second from last pic that shows the hose wrapped up completely.  Even in this configuration, there's still plenty of room for several of the cleaning attachments.

It also turns out that it's more flexible than I realized and allows you to store the CT's hose and power cord while still connected to the CT.  It is designed to store both hose AND cord in the garage.  See "Usage" below. Grade: A.

Documentation - Installation: Simple, but very clear installation docs.  Grade: A

Documentation - Usage: There was NONE and I had to research to understand some of the features.  I know the answers now, but this is still poor.  Grade: F

Usage: The documentation doesn't cover this, but Christian confirms what several users have explained in responses below - the big slot in the front and little slot on the left allow you store the CT's hose and power cord while still connected to the CT.  This is very useful while taking it to the work site because it gives you a smaller package.

An added benefit is that that it reduces dust that can shoot out of the inlet port without a hose.  If you transport your CT with a bag full of dust and then happen to drop it, you may see of a cloud of dust will shoot out of the CT's inlet port.  Christian said that that most customers who take the CT on the road prefer to leave the hose plugged in to prevent this.  The Hose Garage allows you to quickly store the hose while still plugged in and reduce the chance of inadvertant dust clouds.

If you prefer to store the hose in the garage completely for transportation, Christian recommends that you use a blanking plug like the Blanking plug, D 50/V to seal off the inlet port.

So the Hose Garage can be used in several configurations to suit your needs.

1) Store the hose with the connector sticking out the front for more maximum space inside.  (See second pic above.)

2) Store the hose completely inside the garage as in this pic:

3) Route the hose boom power cord through the left slot as shown in the pic immediately above.

4) Store the hose and CT power cord completely in the Hose Garage as shown in the next two pics:

One thing that I did REALLY appreciate is never mentioned in the literature.  It raises any systainer placed on it by about 4" or so.  This means less bending over.  I now store my C12 systainer (with bits and stuff) on top of the Hose Garage.  It is much more usable at this height.  Here's a pic:

I like it. I think it's definitely worth the modest cost.  Overall Grade: A. 

Regards,

Dan.

p.s. And here is how the Hose Garage is really meant to be used:

 

[James Metcalf]

Dan

Two good reviews in one day.You may have a Festool Group tool review record.I think you nailed it on the use of the cord through the slot and my guess is that the ribs at the  hose opening at the front are used for strength for that small overhang.Would it help for the hose to be wrapped counter clockwise? Again good review.
Best Regards
James Metcalf

 

[Wim]

With the big slot in the rim, you are able to store the hose in the garage when it is still connected to the suction port and you stack a systainer on top. The same applies for the small slot (power cable). With my small CT MINI it is the same story.

 

[ejfud]

Thanks for the great review and pictures Dan.

Gary

 

[bill-e]

With the big slot in the rim, you are able to store the hose in the garage when it is still connected to the suction port and you stack a systainer on top. The same applies for the small slot (power cable). With my small CT MINI it is the same story.

Can you feed the hose through the slot when there is a Systainer installed to store the hose or must the Systainer be removed in order to coil up the hose in the garage? 

If you use the "system" as designed and stack a Systainer or two on top of the vac and you must remove the Systainers to utilize the garage then it seems to be of no more use than using a Systainer to keep your hose and accessories in.

 

[Ned]

If you use the "system" as designed and stack a Systainer or two on top of the vac and you must remove the Systainers to utilize the garage then it seems to be of no more use than using a Systainer to keep your hose and accessories in.

Well, the garage is cheaper than a Systainer...

 

[bill-e]

If you use the "system" as designed and stack a Systainer or two on top of the vac and you must remove the Systainers to utilize the garage then it seems to be of no more use than using a Systainer to keep your hose and accessories in.

Well, the garage is cheaper than a Systainer...

Yea, but for only a couple of bucks more the Systainer is more versatile.

Don't get me wrong, if you use to store your hose and typically don't stack Systainers on the vac then it seems to be a worthy addition....but I purposely left it off my shopping list last week when I got the boom etc. because it doesn't seem to add much value to my setup.

 

[Dan Clark]

Hi.  I sent these questions to Christian O and he responded with the answers, asking me to integrate them in my review.

In retrospect, his answers make sense and are pretty obvious if you use your CT on a job site a lot.  Since I don't do that, it wasn't obvious to me.  HOWEVER, the hose garage still has value to me, but in a little different way.

Check the review again for the changes.

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Frank Pellow]

...
Can you feed the hose through the slot when there is a Systainer installed to store the hose or must the Systainer be removed in order to coil up the hose in the garage? 
...

The answer to this question is the key as to whether or not I will buy one of these.

What is the answer?

 

[Dan Clark]

Bill, Frank,

I haven't tried.  It might be possible to do that with a D27 hose, but I seriously doubt it with a D36.   I'll try with a D36, but the D27 is on the boom now, so I'm not going to remove it.

EDIT (3/4/2007 5:45 pm):  I tried to pull the D36 OUT of the hose garage through the hold.  No way.  Not out or in.  The front hole and the side slot are there so that you can store the CT hose and power corder in the garage while still hooked to the CT.  I edited the review to reflect that; take another look now.

Dan.

 

[Corwin]

Feeding the hose through the front hole was a question I had asked when the Hose Garage was discussed in the Contact Festool section.  Christian's responce was:

"Well, if you have a LOT of time or you are a snake-charmer, you might be able to do that  .
It is a lot faster though to just remove the Systainer, put the hose into the "garage" and
put the Systainer back on top of it."

My first reaction was also that this did not offer anything more than the Systainer that come with my Workshop Cleaning Set -- but, after further consideration I realize that the new Hose Garage is a little shorter which would allow for a little more aboard the vac.  And I can convert that Systainer 4 for another use...  So, now I am thinking that the Hose Garage will sure look 'sporty' atop the CT22!  And Christian, I don't think one would have to be a snake-charmer to appreciate the new offering!

Corwin

 

[Wim]

The big slot in the rim is not intended to feed a hose through but to be able to coil the hose on top of the DC when storing it, have systainers stacked on top and all this without disconnecting the hose from the DC. Idem for the powerline. Also when you do not need the DC, you may roll it under a bench (without systainers stacked) with the lowest possible profile. Lately I was on a job and at the end of the day I coiled the hose and the powerline on top of the DC, stacked a systainer with the TS55 on top and rolled it in a corner. You occupy just a small corner with no hoses or cables dangling around to trip over. I really like this feature.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Feeding the hose through the front hole was a question I had asked when the Hose Garage was discussed in the Contact Festool section.  Christian's responce was:

"Well, if you have a LOT of time or you are a snake-charmer, you might be able to do that  .
It is a lot faster though to just remove the Systainer, put the hose into the "garage" and
put the Systainer back on top of it."

My first reaction was also that this did not offer anything more than the Systainer that come with my Workshop Cleaning Set -- but, after further consideration I realize that the new Hose Garage is a little shorter which would allow for a little more aboard the vac.  And I can convert that Systainer 4 for another use...  So, now I am thinking that the Hose Garage will sure look 'sporty' atop the CT22!  And Christian, I don't think one would have to be a snake-charmer to appreciate the new offering!

Corwin

I am sorry to hear that.  It's what I am already doing with the systainer dedicated to my hose, so I no longer see the garage as a 'must have'.

 

[Corwin]

p.s. And here is how the Hose Garage is really meant to be used:

Oh!  Now, isn't that tidy! 

It always takes the punch out of a joke when you have to explain it...  Bet those designers are having a good laugh at all this!  Amazing!  That silly little opening is one great idea!

Corwin

 

[semenza]

Hi,

    When a D27 hose is stored completely inside the garage with the CT power cord wrapped on the standard holders on the back. Is the handle of the CT completely accessible for carrying? 
    How tall is the CT22 with garage and a Systainer - I.  Is it feasable to carry this arrangement by the systainer - I handle?

  Seth

 

[Corwin]

Hi,

    When a D27 hose is stored completely inside the garage with the CT power cord wrapped on the standard holders on the back. Is the handle of the CT completely accessible for carrying? 
     How tall is the CT22 with garage and a Systainer - I.  Is it feasable to carry this arrangement by the systainer - I handle?

   Seth

1, Yes, the handle can be accessed with the D27 hose in the garage.

2, With a Sys-1 on board, the combination stands 25" tall.

3, Hmmm?  Have the Boom Arm on now... probably too much for the Sys-1's handle.  Too stuffed to remove Arm tonight to see how it is without the Boom.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Corwin

 

[Tim Sproul]

 How tall is the CT22 with garage and a Systainer - I.  Is it feasable to carry this arrangement by the systainer - I handle?

1, Yes, the handle can be accessed with the D27 hose in the garage.

2, With a Sys-1 on board, the combination stands 25" tall.

3, Hmmm?  Have the Boom Arm on now... probably too much for the Sys-1's handle.  

Weight wise, the handle will probably be OK assuming you haven't vac'd up an entire bag of lead shot.  Here is my assumption as I haven't actually tried it.  All the systainers appear to be constructed with the same handle, including the Sortainers.  The Sortainers are rated to carry 110 pounds....which is quite a bit more than the CT22, 5 gallons of chips and dust, hose, and what would typically fit inside a Sys1.  I don't know how much weight the connections between garage and vac and systainer and garage are rated for....and would rather not find out so I won't be picking up my CT22 with hose garage and Systainer attached.  At least not by the Systainer handle.

I read in another thread where someone mentioned velcro straps/ties to hold the power cord and vac hose together.  I do this also with my CT22 and hose garage and like the combination.  I also do this with the boom arm and CT33 and have found it to work well for managing the cord/hose.  It is an incremental improvement but an improvement (IMO) nonetheless.  You can purchase velcro ties from McFeely's or Lee Valley.  I got some small ones from Lee Valley (they come in a roll) and these are better than using the plastic zip ties.  Why?  The zip ties often have a sharp bit sticking out after you trim the excess and you are handling the hose/cord often, they aren't repositionable, the locking mechanism sticks out and catches as you move the hose in and out of the garage.

 

[Corwin]

Should have stated it differently, but the handle on the Systainers should lift the CT22/HoseGarage/Systainer-1 setup -- probably not advisable in my case as my Boom Arm is also attached.  And not the best advice for those who can relate to the current OT discussion on back pain.  Had to do a bunch of stairs today -- first time it bothered me this much, so lifting my vac was out of the question.

 

[Eli]

I use this and like it. I see it as not having to add another systainer to the stack. I only stack on top when I'm rolling in or rolling out of a job. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the garage is the perfect place to set a tool when you aren't actually using it. The TS55, the router, the jigsaw, domino. I've had three tools out at once and not worried about them hitting the floor because two are parked in the garage. I use the plug-it vac hose, so don't have the velcros on the vac hose, but I do use a velcro for the vac power. If that and the vac hose are neatly coiled, accessing the vac carry handle is not a worry. I've got a couple of the largest size plastic handcuff ratchet for the vac hoses, I forget the trade name.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Weight wise, the handle will probably be OK assuming you haven't vac'd up an entire bag of lead shot.  Here is my assumption as I haven't actually tried it.  All the systainers appear to be constructed with the same handle, including the Sortainers.  The Sortainers are rated to carry 110 pounds....

For interest, the Festool USA website has the following in their FAQ Section FAQ section:

----------------------
Question :
What are Systainers made of? How many pounds can the handle support?
 
Answer :
Systainers are made of ABS plastic. The advantage of ABS is that it combines the strength and rigidity of the acrylics with the toughness of rubber. The most amazing mechanical properties of ABS are resistance and toughness. Impact resistance does not fall off rapidly at lower temperatures.

The handle is rated at 200 kg, or 440 lbs. Due to the latches, your actual capacity will be significantly less, but don?t be afraid to pack them and stack them. These rugged cases are designed for demanding tasks.
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Forrest