New member here,have a few questions

[Max Neu]

I am new to the festool world, I am impressed so far!I have had my own cabinet business since 1999,and just now got into festools.I just bought a CT36,Kapex,Rotex 125,2 other sanders,and a couple of routers.Here are some questions I have that may have probably already been brought up before.
1-I bought a Y connector for the CT36,because I want the kapex to have a hose on it all the time,along with a hose for sanding and routing.Is there a blast gate I can use rather than pulling off the hose from the Y connector and putting a cap on it all the time to stop the flow to the tool I am not using?

2-I plan on using 1 cord (the heaviest one) for everything,so I would like to tie the 36mm hose and cord together,to make thing a little neater.Does Festool make a clamp for this?I wanted something nicer looking than zip ties.

3-What seems to be the best sanpaper for the rotex 125 for sanding bare wood ,in the 120-180 grit range?I bought some Rubins just to get started,but I am open to suggestions.
I appreciate any feedback,and this is a great site,I have already learned alot about these tools,in fact I currently have my Rotex hanging from a cord getting broke in! 

 

[NERemodeling]

Hey Max

Let me first say  [welcome] to FOG!  sounds like you put together a great set of tools.

as for your questions;

1. Blast Gate

2. as far a as i know festool doesnt offer anything "official" here are a few options Hose sleeve, this uses short rings of large shrink wrap tubing at the ends to fasten, this stops the ribs on the hose from snagging on table edges and such  another option is Velcro straps    these are cheap and look nicer than zip ties (also more adjustable down the road)  just put one every 8-12" down the length of the hose/cord

3. im sure im not the best source for sandpaper selection info but i think you on the right track with Rubin 2  also Granat seems to be the magic "do everything well" paper.    one of the FOG's member/dealer's, Bob Marino has started to offer 10 Packs  might be a good way to sample different styles and grits to see what best works for you.

Good Luck! 

John

 

[semenza]

Welcome to the forum ,Max.

Seth

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Welcome. Ask for Doug at Toolnutsforthe answer for #2.  He will hook you up with the two part  connector.  Works like a charm. Tell him Jim from NYC sent you...he will know what to do.

 

[tjbnwi]

For #2, go with the sleeve NER linked to. With you wanting to use the 36 mm hose and cord combo, you will need this whip to make your setup work with your 125 and possibly your routers (you don't list the ones you purchased).

http://www.tool-home.com/products/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/60/products_id/17990

Tom

 

[tiralie]

2-I plan on using 1 cord (the heaviest one) for everything, so I would like to tie the 36mm hose and cord together,to make thing a little neater.Does Festool make a clamp for this?I wanted something nicer looking than zip ties.

Does anyone know what the hose/cord set-up being used in the first part of this video?

Festool Germany video

 

[Max Neu]

Thanks everyone,I appreciate the help.btw,I have the 1010 and 1400 router.Is it possible to use a 36mm hose for all of my tools?I would like to run my rotex 125,dts 400,1010,and the 1400.I was the told 36mm hose works better on routers,like the 1400,but it won't fit on the 1010 or the sanders.I thought it would be nice to just use one cord and hose,and just switch out the tools as needed,rather than switching hoses back and forth.Do they make an adapter for the 1010 to accept a 36mm hose?If not,would everything work fine to just run the 27mm hose,I really just want to use 1 hose and cord for everything,or am I being unrealistic?

 

[tjbnwi]

Thanks everyone,I appreciate the help.btw,I have the 1010 and 1400 router.Is it possible to use a 36mm hose for all of my tools?I would like to run my rotex 125,dts 400,1010,and the 1400.I was the told 36mm hose works better on routers,like the 1400,but it won't fit on the 1010 or the sanders.I thought it would be nice to just use one cord and hose,and just switch out the tools as needed,rather than switching hoses back and forth.Do they make an adapter for the 1010 to accept a 36mm hose?If not,would everything work fine to just run the 27mm hose,I really just want to use 1 hose and cord for everything,or am I being unrealistic?

The 36 will not fit the 125, 1010, DTS, Rotex.

Get the hose whip I linked, place the whip on the smaller diameter tool, when you swap the cord plug the whip in.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

Tim,

The combo hose/cord is not avalible here.

Tom

 

[ccarrolladams]

Thanks everyone,I appreciate the help.btw,I have the 1010 and 1400 router.Is it possible to use a 36mm hose for all of my tools?I would like to run my rotex 125,dts 400,1010,and the 1400.I was the told 36mm hose works better on routers,like the 1400,but it won't fit on the 1010 or the sanders.I thought it would be nice to just use one cord and hose,and just switch out the tools as needed,rather than switching hoses back and forth.Do they make an adapter for the 1010 to accept a 36mm hose?If not,would everything work fine to just run the 27mm hose,I really just want to use 1 hose and cord for everything,or am I being unrealistic?

[welcome] to The FOG, MAX,

None of the Festool sanders, the Domino, jigsaws or the smaller routers (MFK700 and OF1010) require all the suction capacity of the 27mm hose. The nature of the way those tools are used does require a flexible, supple hose. This is why they are designed to only fit a 27mm hose, many have oval dust ports which grip the hose more securely.

The Festools benefiting from the 36mm hose are the planers, the OF2200 router and the plunge track saws. In the case of the track saws, the larger and less flexible 36mm hose is a benefit because those do not hang-up on the track as easily as the smaller 27mm hose. Since the track saw is only moving in a straight line when in use there is no benefit to a flexible hose.

When the OF1400 and OF2200 routers are using large bits, such as for raising panels and so forth, they produce chips and shavings more than saw dust. Shavings tend to clog the 27mm hose. This become tricky with the OF1400 because it is designed to be versatile. When used to drill 5mm shelf-pin holes or doing delicate routing with smallish bits, as if it were an OF1010, I find I prefer to use a 27mm hose. Then when I use the same router with a larger bit I switch to a 36mm hose. Since I do not use any of my OF2200 with delicate bits, I always use those with 36mm hose.

Some of the on-line dealers sell what they call "Hose Whips" which are a short length of 27mm hose with a 27mm tool end and a fitting on the other end into which a 36mm hose end will fit. So, on a boom arm the 36mm hose is mounted and when a 27mm hose is needed, it is added to the main larger hose.

In my shop we have several work tables, like larger MFT/3. The one used for cutting with TS saws and guide rails has only 36mm hoses. The tables used for the Domino, sanding and drilling LR32 shelf-pin holes only have 27mm hoses. When we need to use an OF2200 or an OF1400 with a large bit we do those tasks on the table with the 36mm hoses.

My long Festool experience has been that almost always things go better then the electrical cord is not combined with the hose. Any method of attaching the cord to the hose only seems to snag on guide rails worse than when they are separate. The stiffer cord/hose combo really makes use of the Domino needlessly difficult. Same goes for sanding and small bit routing.

My suggestion is to give the use of separate Plug-It cord and hose a decent try before investing in methods to combine them.

 

[mouppe]

Regarding question number 3, I am using Granat 100, and Rubin 2 for grits 120 and 180, and it is working well for me. I use Brilliant 220 and 320, and Granat 500. When I exhaust my current supply, I may switch from Brilliant to Granat as I go through Brilliant paper much faster than any other abrasive in the Festool range. It seems to hold up less well than Granat. I still like Rubin 2 in the 120-180 range.

I use a Rotex 125 from time to time but mostly an ETS 125.

Best way to break in a Rotex is to use it IMO. I don't concur with the need to hang it from a cord and leave it running.

P.S. Get an interface pad and a hard blue pad for your Rotex sooner rather than later.

P.P.S. I agree with Carol about keeping the hose and plug-it cord separate. I used to tie mine together but I found that it restricted their flexibility and the cable used to keep getting wrapped around the hose.

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

I like Tom's suggestion for the link. That piece wasn't available when I was first trying to hook up the 36 to the 27.  Doug's connection, using a Festool and Porter Cable adapter is about 1/2 the cost.  If $ is not an issue, then go,with Tom's idea.

 

[semenza]

2-I plan on using 1 cord (the heaviest one) for everything, so I would like to tie the 36mm hose and cord together,to make thing a little neater.Does Festool make a clamp for this?I wanted something nicer looking than zip ties.

Does anyone know what the hose/cord set-up being used in the first part of this video?

That is a Plug-It Hose. The power cord runs through the hose except for the first and last 18" (+/-) . The effective hose size is D27 on the ends, but the middle portion is slightly larger to accommodate the power cord. There is a special fitting where the cord enters / exits the hose.  NAINA.

Seth

 

[neeleman]

This is my set up for using two hoses D27 and D36.
I use the Y-adapter with two Blast gates 497926 which I can switch easily with one hand or even by foot.
But I still find that there is some loss in suction with all these stuff.
And I don't know why the Y-adapter has to be so long.

 

[festoolviking]

Hi and welcome

As for #2 I've been looking at this: http://www.vacsoc.com/original.html
But I don't know the specs. for it. It's intended for central vacs but might work for this application. Don't know if anyone here tried it or seen it in real life. It's a bit tricky to get hold of up here by the polar bears.  [wink]

Festoolviking

 

[tiralie]

The combo hose/cord is not avalible here.

Thanks Tom.

That is a Plug-It Hose. The power cord runs through the hose except for the first and last 18" (+/-) . The effective hose size is D27 on the ends, but the middle portion is slightly larger to accommodate the power cord. There is a special fitting where the cord enters / exits the hose.  NAINA.

Thanks Seth. I figured this was NAINA, but might be a solution to Max's problem.

Tim