The inlet on the i-Pulse vac is the euro-standard 57 mm which is the same as the larger Festool vacs. The fitting on the vac is designed to take a locking bayonet-style fitting:
...but from the photos of the Metabo-version it appears they are supplying it with a friction-fit style - same as Festool). The bayonet-fitting is nice because it locks the hose to the vac but its absence should not be a deal breaker. 57mm vac-end friction fit style hose fittings (like those supplied with Festool hoses) work just fine.
The hose is 35mm (equivalent to Festool's 36mm) with a 57mm friction fitting on the vac-end and unknown - but likely either this fitting:
...or this fitting:
...on the tool end and is non-anti static. The first fitting is rigid polypropylene and is designed for clean-up (attachments like wands, brushes, etc, slide on and are held in place via a friction-fit). The second fitting is a tool-end fitting that fits
over Festool low-volume (and certain other's) machines like sanders. etc. and
inside larger-volume tools (like track saws, routers, etc.). Let's refer to them as one in the same as Festool's 27mm tool-end fitting. If you prefer the large ID 36mm tool-end fitting (which fits with no problem on 35mm hoses but does not fit smaller volume tools like sanders) designed to fit
over the dust ports of larger style machines (like track saws, etc.) you had better act fast since that fitting (452894 "Rotating Adapter D36, AS, CT) appears to be discontinued. I found a couple at Beaver Industrial Supply and they may have more. One note is that the CMS hose set and I think the Planex hose (both of which are exposed-rib style hoses) both rely on this fitting (it appears on the 36mm portion of the CMS hose set). I don't know, therefore, how this part could be removed from availability as a spare part given that Festool promises to support tools for ten years. Perhaps [member=101]Festool USA[/member] could chime in at this point?
The other difference, of course, is that Starmix hoses are the now-older-style "exposed-rib" style. Festool's new innovative smooth hoses have not yet been copied/licensed by any of the other shop vac companies (at least that I am aware).
The Bosch-branded 35mm hoses (search elsewhere on this forum for plenty of discussion about these) tend to be compatible with i-Pulse vacs. Again, this comes from the fact that Bosch U.S imported (and rebranded) a couple of models of late model Starmix vacs a few years back and needed to thereafter supply spares in support of their customers. The current generation of Bosch extractors are
not Starmix but the associated hoses may or may not be compatible (i have no experience with the current generation of Bosch vacs and the various fittings that are associated with them).
Regarding bags, the Bosch bags sold for the generation of Starmix vacs that preceded the i-Pulse vacs (which, again, Bosch rebranded and sold in the U.S.) are what you're looking for. Those vac model numbers were Bosch 3931 and 3931A. I'll let you google to your hearts content. Third party bags are also available from reputable international sellers. I have personal experience with
these and can attest to the fact that they work flawlessly with the i-Pulse vacs. Prices for compatible bags (including the Metabo-braded ones sold for the ASR 35) are now all over the place, again seemingly as a result of suppliers realizing the new market that exists for stuff that was marketed in conjunction with the aforementioned Bosch models but work seamlessly with the rebranded i-Pulse vacs. As a side note, Starmix didn't change anything bag-wise between the older and newer vacs. This works in our favor since there's lots still available in the U.S. (in terms of consumable & accessories) for the older models - though, as I have will now point out, the prices have been rising on that stuff). A couple of years ago they were inexpensive across the board but now, magically, the price has gone up (and not because of inflation!). Check around and you will see what I mean. Also look for Metabo-re-branded bags, etc. Oh, and all of the fittings meant for the aforementoned Bosch model numbers are compatible with the fittings that appear on rebranded i-Pulse vac hose.
The last thing I'll say about all of this is that it appears that Nilfisk manufactures all of the i-Pulse (and older generation Bosch models) related hoses and hose fitttings, tools, etc. They also were likely the manufacturer of all the Festool hose paraphernalia pre-smooth exterior style. I'm not sure who (if not Festool themselves) is producing the smooth hoses and associated fittings.
