Modernized Old Festools

[jeffinsgf]

Thanks to Joel out in sunny Southern California, my "antique" Festool saw and router now have Plug-It pig tails. I had a cord sleeved with my vacuum hose ten minutes after I had these pigtails installed. Thanks again, to Joel and whomever helped us out by shipping them to him from Europe.

 

[mike_aa]

[thumbs up]  [thumbs up]

Mike A.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Call me crazy, but I don't understand how that big lump of two connectors trailing your tool is an advantage over a sleek, almost weightless cord.

 

[Bob D.]

Agree on the bulge made by the plug-it but now the cord can be run with the hose making for easier (as some see it) connects/disconnects. One cord can be swapped between tools along with the hose.

Decades ago Milwaukee had a quick detach power cord that worked with many of their tools. Another advantage is when the cord gets mangled on the job you can be back in business ASAP, just grab your spare cord and go back to work. No searching for tools or parts to replace a bad cord cap or tape the cord jacket where a scissor lift gnawed on it.

 

[jeffinsgf]

The "lump" is somewhat undesirable, but the ability to sleeve the hose and cord together outweighs the lump...at least to me. The conversion was completely non-destructive, so if you're right and I'm wrong, I can always switch back. I worked with the sleeved hose some this afternoon, and loved it. Before I always had two tangles...one of cord and one of hose. Now there's just one beast to tame. Now, my adventure today was with a normal "Plug-It" tool, so I haven't used the saw or router yet. When I do, I'll report back.

 

[hdv]

Thank you for showing what you did with them [member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member] ! Such pictures make it worth the effort (I think Joel will agree). Sorry you guys had to wait a month for them to get over the pond. In these times shipping and handling sure isn't what we were used to.  [sad]

 

[Jim_in_PA]

Nice job on that modernization...I'd love to do that for my Rotex and track saw, as well as a couple other non-Festool tools, but not having the pigtails readily available makes that a difficult goal. 'Glad you were able to source the parts!

 

[Cheese]

Now, my adventure today was with a normal "Plug-It" tool, so I haven't used the saw or router yet. When I do, I'll report back.

I'll be interested in your actual in-use feedback [member=7266]jeffinsgf[/member]  as I've purchased pigtails for my DX 93 and RS 2 but have yet to install them because of these exact issues.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Well, I'll likely be using the track saw some this afternoon, so I'll let you guys know.

That said, the installation is minutes and doesn't hurt the cable, strain relief or switch. I would try it and see for yourself...it would take the same couple of minutes to crawdad back.

 

[Doug S]

I put a plug-it socket on my Makita belt sander but I cut the lead as short as possible so the socket is right on the back of the tool and can't get hung up on things.