New Festool Vac-Sys Vacuum Clamping System available for Preorder!

[Shane Holland]

Pre-order the new Festool Vac-Sys Vacuum Clamping System from FestoolProducts.com today for shipment on March 1st! No charges to your credit card until it ships, with fast free shipping!

Vac-Sys - $1,300
Vac-Sys Set with second clamp - $1,800

 

[unityroad]

Cool

 

[Kev]

Is that a new unit or have the US sourced a different one?

[member=48572]Shane Holland[/member]

 

[Shane Holland]

Is that a new unit or have the US sourced a different one?

Kev, this is a US-specific model for the vacuum pump it appears. Not in a Systainer.

 

[Kev]

Having not seen a T-loc variant of the pump ... that could be the future!

 

[GPowers]

It is disappointing the pump is not in a systainer.

 

[peter halle]

Probably a UL thing.  There must have been reasons why I saw this in the fall of 2009 and it has taken all this time to get here.

Peter

 

[Shane Holland]

For what it's worth, the pump will fit into a Systainer 4 for transport.

 

[nclemmons]

Shane

It looks like the clamping pads come in an old style Systainer on your website, rather than a T-Loc.

Can you confirm what kind of Systainer the various pieces come in?

Thanks -

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=167]neilc[/member], these still come in a Classic Systainer, worldwide. Same with the SE1 and SE2 clamping units.

 

[Cheese]

Hey, that's kind of weird...just another form of NOS?

 

[TylerC]

Shane

It looks like the clamping pads come in an old style Systainer on your website, rather than a T-Loc.

Can you confirm what kind of Systainer the various pieces come in?

Thanks -

SE 1 and SE 2 coming in classic SYS 4. The accessory set comes in classic SYS 3.

In all other countries, the VAC SYS is delivered in the classic Systainer. The non-US pump is only approved to be shipped in the classic Systainer, so they're using classics for everything with the VAC SYS. Even though our US pumps aren't shipped in Systainers,  it makes sense to keep in line with what other countries are doing.

 

[Cheese]

In all other countries, the VAC SYS is delivered in the classic Systainer. The non-US pump is only approved to be shipped in the classic Systainer, so they're using classics for everything with the VAC SYS. Even though our US pumps aren't shipped in Systainers,  it makes sense to keep in line with what other countries are doing.

Ya, that makes sense to me Tyler...thanks

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Regarding the Classic Systainers, they are nicer to use in the Sys-AZ drawers than the T-Locs. With the Classics, you can leave the lid unlocked and simply open and close the drawers. With the T-Loc, you need to open the drawer, spin the t-loc, open the lid, close the lid, then spin the t-loc again before you can close the drawer.

So, in a production shop, you would be well-served to build a clamping station with Sys-AZ drawers to quickly and easily access the alternative clamp heads.

 

[Kev]

Regarding the Classic Systainers, they are nicer to use in the Sys-AZ drawers than the T-Locs. With the Classics, you can leave the lid unlocked and simply open and close the drawers. With the T-Loc, you need to open the drawer, spin the t-loc, open the lid, close the lid, then spin the t-loc again before you can close the drawer.

So, in a production shop, you would be well-served to build a clamping station with Sys-AZ drawers to quickly and easily access the alternative clamp heads.

[member=2726]Tom Gensmer[/member] I was contemplating that very issue and considering how much density I'd be sacrificing if the Systainer drawers were set an additional 30mm apart to allow for leaving the T-Locs open. Depending on mix you're probably causing your units to be ~150mm taller of loosing about a Sys2 worth of storage in each port. Pretty significant when you have a lot of Systainers [sad]

A rubbish option would be to remove to T-Loc knobs .. but my OCD wouldn't cope with that (in fact I'd probably still lock the lids even if I left additional space knowing me).

 

[brianr]

Have you heard the Vac-Sys in operation?
If so, what's the noise level in full operation? Based on the tech specs online it's quieter than a CT-26.

 

[Shane Holland]

Have you heard the Vac-Sys in operation?
If so, what's the noise level in full operation? Based on the tech specs online it's quieter than a CT-26.

Brian,

When I was working for Festool USA, I saw a prototype of the vacuum pump that was going to be used. I'm not sure if it's the same as the final production unit. If it is, it was very quiet in my opinion. The specs say 55 dBA. Decibels measurements are exponential, not linear, as shown in the chart below.

 

[Shane Holland]

Only a week until this puppy ships. I'm looking forward to the reviews and commentary from those who pick it up. I think everyone will be surprised at the holding power.

It's like having your own lifetime personal assistant for a one-time fee.  [wink]

 

[jimbo51]

At the woodworking show in Somerset, I could not hear the vacuum running and it was under the table in front of me. I know that I am going deaf, but even my lady who can hear like a bat thought that it was quiet.

 

[rst]

Vacuum pumps as a rule are quiet, nothing like an air compressor.  I use a 220V surplus commercial vac that I bought 15, or 20 years ago and it is quieter than my Fein and Festool dust extractors.  Actually if you want to save money, even commercial 120V vac pumps are available for less than $300.00.  As far as fittings go, I use air compressor fittings and rubber hoses on most of my jigs, but I use 1/4" silicone tubing with push/pull fittings with my two Virutexs.  I have ordered the SysVac I and the vac head set but will continue the use the vac pump I own.