In the shop what is the REAL difference between regular and Anti-static Hoses

The first and only time I was shocked in the shop was just awhile back.  I had just got my new ClearVue cyclone and had not yet set up the AS connection through the cyclone.  And the tool that shocked me was my PC121 drum sander.  After the second zap I got out some wire and did a quick connect across the cyclone (both inside and out) and finished my sanding chore without further occurrences.  A day or two later I spent the time to complete my cyclone setup -- I used copper tape for keeping slugs out of the garden instead of stranded wire.  Works nice. 
 
I use the 27mm AS hose that came with my CT22. I use the 27mm hose for sanding and other tools that have the small port. I also have a 36mm hose that is non AS that I picked up for better dust collection when sawing and routing. I bought a 16' non AS hose and it was still almost half the cost of the 11' AS. I also have a non AS 27mm hose that I bought with my TS75 to use with my fein vac.

I have noticed that the non AS hoses are much more durable, kink less and are much more abraision resistant. I have been shocked with slight tingly shocks when routing all those dadoes for the door panels but that was it.

I will only buy the non AS hoses from now on. The cost of the AS hoses far outway the benefit.

Eiji
 
Nickao;

I am also perlplexed at the added cost of AS hoses, but have been please with the Festool performance regarding lack of shocks.  I recently added a Clearview cyclone on the CT22, and started feeling a zap after cutting some MDF.  Solved that by pipe-clamping an automotive wire from the AS hose entering the cyclone, and the AS hose leaving the cyclone.

Haven't been concerned about the explosion factor - and I am a wheat farmer who stores his own grain.  I too am disappointed at some minimally distressed, but permanently scarred Festool hoses - especially compared to the un-marred Fein hoses.

Webfarmer
 
I live and work in New Mexico where the relative humidity is between 3 and 30 percent much of the time.  I have gotten some really nasty static electricity shocks from using non static hoses with almost every tool I own.  The shocks have caused me to ruin some work because of involuntary movement from the shocks.

I LOVE the Festool antistatic hoses.

My 0.02 worth.

Joe Ewing
Las Cruces, NM
 
i you notice most tools are ul listed and not rated.  hardly anyone sells rated toos.  to list you just have to fill out the paper work.  you can believe what you want but i buying the anti static hoses.  im i going out of my way to only get anti static hoses ,  no.  the probability if low that a explosion will really happen, but there is some possibility.  he asked why the difference and thats what i answered truefully.
 
Two winters ago I was fixing up a room for my daughter. I live in an 150+ year old house and the plaster on the walls needed a lot of work. I also sheet rocked the ceiling. For the sanding I used a shop vac and a hand sander/pole sander that used sanding screens and could be hooked up to a vac. This was in my pre-Festool days. I did this in the winter and got the 2 worst shock I ever had. There actually was a blue ball about 3' in diameter on both the shocks! They stung pretty good and made a loud enough pop that my wife ran up from downstairs to see if I was alright. This past winter I started selling my other tools and buying Festools instead. My first purchase was a TS55 and a 1010. Every time I used the TS55 with my shop vac  I would feel a tingling sensation that went up through the hairs on my head. That was enough, I did not want any more severe shocks so I got a CT22 and of course you must do it in a package so I got a RO150 with it. That was the end of any static for me. I am not worried about the shock or the infinitesimally small chance of a fire but a large shock like what I had causes a jolt which could result in the loss of control of a tool and that worries me. So yes the antistatic hoses do work and they are worth it if you are prone to shocks.
 
ken257 said:
Two winters ago I was fixing up a room for my daughter. I live in an 150+ year old house and the plaster on the walls needed a lot of work. I also sheet rocked the ceiling. For the sanding I used a shop vac and a hand sander/pole sander that used sanding screens and could be hooked up to a vac. This was in my pre-Festool days. I did this in the winter and got the 2 worst shock I ever had. There actually was a blue ball about 3' in diameter on both the shocks! They stung pretty good and made a loud enough pop that my wife ran up from downstairs to see if I was alright. This past winter I started selling my other tools and buying Festools instead. My first purchase was a TS55 and a 1010. Every time I used the TS55 with my shop vac  I would feel a tingling sensation that went up through the hairs on my head. That was enough, I did not want any more severe shocks so I got a CT22 and of course you must do it in a package so I got a RO150 with it. That was the end of any static for me. I am not worried about the shock or the infinitesimally small chance of a fire but a large shock like what I had causes a jolt which could result in the loss of control of a tool and that worries me. So yes the antistatic hoses do work and they are worth it if you are prone to shocks.
Click to expand...

Ken, your last name wouldn't be Tesla would it?  ;)
 
Michael Kellough said:
Ken, your last name wouldn't be Tesla would it?  ;)
Click to expand...

No that is not me, last name is Lustgarten. I think that it was a combination of spackle dust and the fact that the floor was carpeted. In the shop most of us have some form of hard flooring which is less prone to encourage static electricity.
 
Michael Kellough said:
Ken, your last name wouldn't be Tesla would it?  ;)
Click to expand...

I think the joke went right over his head. Nikola Tesla was known for his experiments with lightning and sparks. He was known for standing in the middle of the sparks and not being bothered by it. Of course, his electricity was a much higher frequency than the 60 cycles we now have.
 
Qwas said:
Michael Kellough said:
Ken, your last name wouldn't be Tesla would it?  ;)
Click to expand...

I think the joke went right over his head. Nicola Tesla was known for his experiments with lightning and sparks. He was known for standing in the middle of the sparks and not being bothered by it. Of course, his electricity was a much higher frequency than the 60 cycles we now have.
Click to expand...

746px-Tesla_colorado_adjusted.jpg


 
Hey Guys,

For what it's worth.  A short test.  I had 20 sheets of 3/4" mdf to cut down for cabinet parts for the new shop. 

The equipment:  CT22 on a known grounded plug. 
                          (1) d27 13' antistatic hose.
                          (1) d27 23' non antistatic hose. (don't tell my honey, she thinks it's for inside vacuuming only)
                            ts55 saw

The test:            Rip approx.  600lf mdf between the two hoses.  (about 2-300lf each)
                          Weather channel states today's humidity in Chicago 51%

I switched back and forth between the two hoses during the day.  With the antistatic, NO static shocks at all.  None.

On the non-antistatic hose, there were almost immediately small static shocks transmitted to my hands whenever I touched the hose. Nothing severe, not more than a light carpet shock one gets in dry winter weather.

I am certainly not worried about a fire or explosion, but the constant static shocks were annoying.  Enough so that I will return the grey hose to it's place by the mini to vacuum the house (after I dust it off) and stick with green antistatic.

Just a dumb test, Dan

 
I have switched to my 16' non anti-static hose for everything because I just got tired of switching and carrying 2 hoses to the job. I made a little adapter for the tools with small ports. The extra length is very handy for working around large pieces and I dont have to reposition the vac nearly as much. The DC with the 36 hose is much improved over using the 27mm. I have only been shocked with the small shocks a couple of times when routing those many dadoes in the door panels. I didn't mind at all. I mean these were little tiny and hardly felt at all. I get a nasty shock every time I get out of my minivan when I go to close the door and if the shocks were like that I would have taken the hose back.

I think for economic and durability reasons I will stick with the gray hoses. Those green hoses seem to kink and abbraid very fast. After a year my green hose is oval in cross section. I know I have made most of these points before but I just wanted to share again. ;D
 
Eiji Fuller said:
I have switched to my 16' non anti-static hose for everything because I just got tired of switching and carrying 2 hoses to the job. I made a little adapter for the tools with small ports. The extra length is very handy for working around large pieces and I dont have to reposition the vac nearly as much. The DC with the 36 hose is much improved over using the 27mm. I have only been shocked with the small shocks a couple of times when routing those many dadoes in the door panels. I didn't mind at all. I mean these were little tiny and hardly felt at all. I get a nasty shock every time I get out of my minivan when I go to close the door and if the shocks were like that I would have taken the hose back.

I think for economic and durability reasons I will stick with the gray hoses. Those green hoses seem to kink and abbraid very fast. After a year my green hose is oval in cross section. I know I have made most of these points before but I just wanted to share again. ;D
Click to expand...

Do you use a small extension cord to match the extra length of the vac hose?
 
I'll agree that the Festool A/S hose abrades quickly. While perusing the McFeely's site I came across
a 12 foot x 1-1/2 inch crush proof polyurethane hose by Mr. Nozzle. They have some adaptors that
seem to fit the Festool  CT and tools. Anybody own one of these? Is it a worthwhile investment?
 
Wooden,
If you are going to go that route, why not just use the festool grey hoses? Plus you wont need any adapters.
 
Woodenfish said:
I'll agree that the Festool A/S hose abrades quickly. While perusing the McFeely's site I came across
a 12 foot x 1-1/2 inch crush proof polyurethane hose by Mr. Nozzle. They have some adaptors that
seem to fit the Festool  CT and tools. Anybody own one of these? Is it a worthwhile investment?
Click to expand...

I use one but only as an extension hose. My Fein vac is my "stays in the shop vac" and it is suspended from the ceiling to save floor space so I prefer not to move it. When I need to clean the back of the shop I put the Mr. Nozzle hose in between the vac and the regular Fein hose.

The Mr. Nozzle hose is usually about half the price of a non-as Festool hose and it is very heavy duty and heavy. I think it is too heavy to attach to a tool and messing around to get tool fittings might not be worth it.
 
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