Im buying a vacuum Starmix or Festool CTM?

Peshi

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Jan 22, 2012
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I need a M rated Vacuum.
Looking at Stamix ISP iPulse ARM1635EW price £460 inc vat (Festool equivalent is over £600)
http://www.starmix.de/products_desc.asp?pid=172
http://starmix.de/ipulse/  (see the videos seems to do everything I want)

I will be using with TS55 as ETS 150 sander
Also using on building site for brick dust, plaster dust, concrete dust and everything else so no sweeping dust into the air.
The accessories, hoses fitting ext are cheaper than festool.

The good:
1600watts (Festool only 1200)
2 filters in use with auto clean (Festool has 1 and needs changing for wet use)
same filter wet or dry
3 years warranty

The Bad:
The UK distributer has to order form Germany so takes 7 -14 days
Probably not the same backup service as Festool
 
The Starmix 1635 is probably the best DE on the market.
But be aware that you also get the Ø27 mm machine adapter because the ETS 150 cannot be used with a Ø35 mm connector.
And if you use systainers a lot, these cannot be put on top of the Starmix.

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Thanks neeleman, UK price I got for that part is £15.
Think ill order it.
 
I thought the Starmix vacs were also re-badged by other companies, like Metabo for example? You might find more support for it in a Metabo flavour in the UK.

Just an avenue for you to explore.

And I'm probably wrong.
 
No, rejoice, thou art right. Starmix vacuum cleaners are indeed rebadged by quite a large number of other brands. Starmix is generally considered the best brand for tool vacs in Europe.
 
I looked at the Metabo in uk but its starmix old model with 1400w

The new Starmix range has 1600w and iPulse so can constantly clean the filter.

Looks like the guys from Netherlands know about the Starmix.
 
If you want the most useful vacuum, get the Festool.
If you want the best vacuum, get the Starmix.
 
neeleman said:
The Starmix 1635 is probably the best DE on the market.
But be aware that you also get the Ø27 mm machine adapter because the ETS 150 cannot be used with a Ø35 mm connector.
And if you use systainers a lot, these cannot be put on top of the Starmix.

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[member=7673]neeleman[/member]  Do you have a link for this?

Also there's been a few retrofits performed for a systainer dock, the hose still needs to be carried separately though.

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A lot more info here:

http://mafell-users-forum.freeforums.net/thread/55/starmix-vacs
 
These are my 2 vacuums.
WP_000892.jpg

2x Protool VCP 260 E-L-AC
I only got these 2 because when Protool became Festool I managed to get these autoclean vacs for €500. Otherwise I'd had gotten Starmixes.
I give the Protool/Festool vacuums a Good rating wheras I give the Starmix a best in class rating for vacuums between 1200-1600W. There are however a lot of advantages to the Protool/Festool vacs due to all the possible accessories. Starmix doesn't offer any of that. They just offer a really good vacuum and that's it.

The choice simply depends on what you value most:
A good vacuum with a ton of versatility and options or a vacuum without any options but a bit better performance.
On the jobsite here in Belgium both are about equal in popularity, but most guys do either bring a Festool or a Starmix with them. Or both :)

Before anyone asks what makes the Starmix vacs better, is the simple fact they maintain suction power longer than the Festool vacuums. This is especially noticeable when sucking up for example cement and drywall dust.

There's a couple of reason why and how that is.
It's because they have a much better filter system. 2 filters with a lot more surface area instead of 1. It's made from a polymer that can just be rinsed off with water.
There are 2 pressure meters. 1 before the filters and 1 after the filters that constantly measure airflow and only cleans out the filters independantly from one another when airflow drops and not at set intervals like the Protool/Festool vacs.
By cleaning each filter individually you keep constant suction power. With the Protool/Festool vacs each time the filter cleaning pulses suction drops off.

Anyway Starmix has a couple of cool videos on their iPulse vac on youtube. I think those will show you all you need to know.
 
Peshi said:
I need a M rated Vacuum.
.

The Bad:
The UK distributer has to order from Germany, so takes 7 -14 days
Probably not the same backup service as Festool

Having sent my CT 26 in 5 weeks ago I can appreciate the back-up service concerns.
And I look forward to having it again.

Statistically... how often do they need service?

On the other hand, what is the difference between 5-weeks and 4 or 6 weeks if they need service?
The starman sounds like it would good. It is hard to argue against it on specs or price.
 
You can fit a Festool hose on a Starmix vac, same size vac end. This way you can use all Festool cleaning accessories.

The Starmix vacs are really good, but when you think of it, the Festool vacs give you a lot more options.
 
that star mix looks sweet!

in the USA it looks like it'd have to be bought under the Metabo brand?
 
RLJ-Atl said:
I am sure it does make a difference.  Can you still use both vac and tool on one 15 amp electrical outlet without tripping the breaker?  Are the hoses antistatic?

[member=18283]RLJ-Atl[/member]

If you look at the Metabo vac, they actually label the variable suction knob as "current control". So if you know your sander draws 6A and your breaker is good for 15A, turn it to 9A. Of course you could always just test the limits and see where it trips (if at all) since ratings are often maximums and not continuous draw, but it's a good guideline if you don't have breaker access on a jobsite.

As a side benefit, you can tell everyone your vac goes to 11. [cool] [tongue]
 
The festool has some real annoying habits.
First of all when using with the cleaning kit a lot of small debri gets stuck where the hose connects to the cleaning kit. A bonbon paper can clog it up making it useless for cleaning if you don't first pick up everything larger than a candywrapper.

Also on the midi the angled connection between the hose and vacuum needs cleaning all the time. Because if you accidentally sucks up a piece of scrap wood no matter how small you can be sure to find it there.

The festool doesn't cut it IMHO. I wouldn't have bought it would I have known.

And I know it's a dust collector and not a chip collector but I think it should be able to handle some amount of offcuts.
 
duburban said:
that star mix looks sweet!

in the USA it looks like it'd have to be bought under the Metabo brand?

[member=12487]duburban[/member] Yes, Metabo, and some have purchased it under the CS Unitec brand as well (even comes in green for you matchy matchy folks [big grin]).

IMG_20150402_231337.jpg


Only a few months ago, this vac was offered for $499 w/ the HEPA filters. Looks like it's been pulled, but it might be worth contacting the vendor to see if they're still able to offer it.

http://mafellusersforum.com/thread/423/hepa-unitec-starmix-ipulse-ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311275586479

Bosch imported the older Starmix 25L and 50L models, which means you can get all the accessories through Bosch. Any Metabo dealer has access to the full catalog as well, though I'm sure the wider distribution of the Bosch allows them to be more price competitive. The dual filters have been carried over to the new model it seems, so you should have good consumables availability. Others have reported the CT26 fleece bags fit as well.
 
For Sale

Stamix ISP iPulse ARM1635EW

I bought this vacuum Ive not used it as I realised I could do with the H model instead of the M model.

So now I'm going to sell it. It has 3 years guarantee.

I also have a 5m antistatic 27mm hose for Starmix that fits Festool tools.
Also have a 49mm hose kit with tools for sucking up larger bits.

call me on 07455 013350 if your interested

I paid inc vat:
£469 for the vacuum
£79.99 for the 5m antistatic hose
£39.99 for the 49mm hose kit

I will knock of 10% than what I paid and I can provide a vat invoice if required

 
jonathan-m said:
If you want the most useful vacuum, get the Festool.
If you want the best vacuum, get the Starmix.

Agree on the Starmix, but how so on theFestool?
 
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