New vac for painter/decorator

jonasm

Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2016
Messages
8
Hi all,

As starter painter and decorator I just bought a new vac and sander.
I will mainly use it for drywall sanding.

This is what I bought:
- CTL26E AC HD
- ETS EC 150/3

Why did I buy the HD version? Because it was only 20 euro more expensive than the CTL26E AC, and they told me that the HD was an advantage.

I hope I did a good buy for my use?

Yesterday everything arrived at my place and I came to the conclusion that the sander has a dust extraction connection diameters of 27mm while the vac has a hose of 36mm... So they don't fit :)

What do you guys suggest?
- return the vac and get the CTL26E AC which has a 27mm hose
- get a connector to go from 27mm to 36mm

Do you see the 36mm as an advantage over the 27mm?

All opinions are welcome.

Thanks in advance!
Cheers
Jonas
 
Welcome to FOG - nice to have you join us.

If you are doing mostly sanding, I personally think that the 27mm hose is the better option.  We don't have the HD version here in the US, so not sure of the advantage. 
 
If you will ultimately need to use a saw and router, the 36 hose will come into play. If not, you have the wrong hose. You can get an adaptor, but the lighter hose is a better option.

 
I think you're the first here with a HD vac, it is very new. So there is not much known about what makes this vac "HD" over the other vacs. The Festool website isn't much help either. It in no way explains why this vac has an advantage over their other offerings.

But since the HD comes with a 36 mm hose, I doubt it is the best vac for use with sanders. Because very few Festool vacs come with a 36 mm hose. If Festool chooses to offer this vac with a 36 mm hose, then that makes me think it is best used with the bigger tools like planers, routers and saws.

It is possible to get an adapter, No 768135. But if you mainly want to use the vac with a sander, the 27 mm hose is better. You can also buy the 27 mm hose separately, but it is expensive.

You say you're a starter, are you a business? I thought that nowadays it was mandatory in Europe for a business to get M class vacs instead of L class.
 
Get the 27mm hose for sanding if you intend to clean up with the vac the 36mm is much better,
 
Kev said:
If you will ultimately need to use a saw and router, the 36 hose will come into play. If not, you have the wrong hose. You can get an adaptor, but the lighter hose is a better option.

WTF does a painter need a saw for?

In the fullness of time (as it goes to infinity) I can that eventually could happen...
 
jonasm said:
Hi all,

As starter painter and decorator I just bought a new vac and sander.
I will mainly use it for drywall sanding.

This is what I bought:
- CTL26E AC HD
- ETS EC 150/3

Why did I buy the HD version? Because it was only 20 euro more expensive than the CTL26E AC, and they told me that the HD was an advantage.

I hope I did a good buy for my use?

Yesterday everything arrived at my place and I came to the conclusion that the sander has a dust extraction connection diameters of 27mm while the vac has a hose of 36mm... So they don't fit :)

What do you guys suggest?
- return the vac and get the CTL26E AC which has a 27mm hose
- get a connector to go from 27mm to 36mm

Do you see the 36mm as an advantage over the 27mm?

All opinions are welcome.

Thanks in advance!
Cheers
Jonas

Hi
Welcome to the forum  [smile]
Ok, you have an excellent machine choice. For the HD you will need the 27mm hose for sure. Switch off the AC function and use the selfclean bag. With the HD you are covered for just about all applications for your area of work. A 36mm hose is really to big for easy use with sanders.
rg
Phil
 
Alex said:
I think you're the first here with a HD vac, it is very new. So there is not much known about what makes this vac "HD" over the other vacs. The Festool website isn't much help either. It in no way explains why this vac has an advantage over their other offerings.

Hi
.......HD as the AC will kick in every 10 seconds. It is supplied with the tapered hose 32- 36mm AS version.
rg
Phil
 
My two cents is that you should buy another 27mm hose (think Festool 500940 Hose w/ Sleeve, 10m) for sanding and keep the 36mm for cleanup.  If you will be doing any drywall sanding (I painted professionally for a few years and we always ran into drywall repairs that required sanding) the vac you have is great plus, as Phil pointed out you can turn off the self cleaning function and use bags for regular sanding and cleanup.
 
Holmz said:
does a painter need a saw for?

[member=40772]Holmz[/member]

To cut things ... obviously.

When trades leave the job for the next guy easy and perfect we'll probably have also reach Nirvana as a race - until that day painters will still need to fix the work of plasterers and final fix carpenters. My guess is that painters would also prefer not to coat their wet work with sawdust ... call me crazy, but I think I could be onto something!!!
 
[member=13058]Kev[/member] a sander, puddly knife, etc seem useful.
While I like tools in general, if there is no clear and present need for a saw, then waiting until there is makes some sense.

Given the OP's question, then the Mirka is a hard sander to beat for use on a wall... being the lightest sander.
They make their own vacuums, and Bosch, Metabo, Starmix, Fein also make vacuums. I use a FT vac, but I think that the Mirka hose is probably worth a look for a sander as it is flexible and light. But it would "suck" for use with a saw.

If he is dead set on Festool, then the ETS EC is the right choice unless he is headed towards the planex.
 
Holmz said:
[member=13058]Kev[/member] a sander, puddly knife, etc seem useful.
While I like tools in general, if there is no clear and present need for a saw, then waiting until there is makes some sense.

Given the OP's question, then the Mirka is a hard sander to beat for use on a wall... being the lightest sander.
They make their own vacuums, and Bosch, Metabo, Starmix, Fein also make vacuums. I use a FT vac, but I think that the Mirka hose is probably worth a look for a sander as it is flexible and light. But it would "suck" for use with a saw.

If he is dead set on Festool, then the ETS EC is the right choice unless he is headed towards the planex.

[member=40772]Holmz[/member]

I really think you have an agenda to derail every Festool tool question on the FOG and drive people to Mirka, Mafell, Lamello, etc.

Heck - we're talking about a hose and a vac and the OP's question is about a hose and a vac.

Send me to the depths of hell for innocently questioning whether the the OP has a future need of the bigger diameter hose!!! [scared] [eek] ... and for explaining to you why a painter may need to step beyond the bounds of sanding and painting - deities present forbid [wink]

So, given the OP's question, why are you going off on the Mirka sales pitch again?

Seeing you seem to want to bring up the PLANEX - wouldn't that be within the confined profession of a plasterer? Why would a mere painter aspire to such a majestic tool? ... and surely there's another brand you can promote!

[big grin] [big grin] [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]
 
I dunno Kev, the ETS EC is very good.
And I say that someone who is not renowned as being a Festool Fan Boi (FFB).

If someone is buying a tool, then saying it is good means little, unless it can be good compared to something.

When people ask if the domino if better than a lamello , it is mostly a meaningless question without context.
If i need to use dominos then a domino is better than a lamello. If I need biscuits or clampex then a domino is not as good.

Comparing the ETS EC to the Mirka there is not a lot in it. I cannot compare it to anything else that would be perceived as an alternate choice.

A Rotex may be the best sander, but for what? Certainly not for sanding a wall.

Back to the question at hand...
The OP asked about a sander and a vacuum. I provide some input on other sanders as well as hoses and sanding media, which in my feeble mind is related.

we got into the need for a Festool saw and router.
How in the heck does one sand a wall with a saw?

Anyhow the beauty of a forum is diverse inputs, which is also a curse.

I generally value your input above average, and I am chalking up the saw and router as reasonable in the context of future work which you alluded to. I am sure if we swapped tools you would get by fine with the Mirka and Mafell gear, and I would gain a greater appreciation of the FT line up.

peace Bruss.
 
Holmz said:
Back to the question at hand...
The OP asked about a sander and a vacuum. I provide some input on other sanders as well as hoses and sanding media, which in my feeble mind is related.

[member=40772]Holmz[/member] no, no, no - you see, you got the question wrong. The question was ....

What do you guys suggest?
- return the vac and get the CTL26E AC which has a 27mm hose
- get a connector to go from 27mm to 36mm

Do you see the 36mm as an advantage over the 27mm?

All opinions are welcome.


At no point did the OP say "let's be critical of the ETS150/3 EC that I just purchased because I was on the fence all the time about a Mirka"

This is purely and simple a question about ...

1. swap the vac and hose
2. keep the vac and hose and get an adaptor

or as the option I was alluding to

3. possibly keep the combo you've got if there's a future use for the 36 hose and get another hose

we're not at ...

9999. I don't like the sander, swap the sander brand to Mirka and ignore the issue with the hose diameter

.....

Don't you see that jumping onto every thread that even mentions the word sander and going "Mirka, Mirka, Mirka" simply confuses the actual question asked and makes it look like you're trying to steer people away from Festool tools on a Festool forum?

No problem with peace buddy - just don't want to drive the poor OP crazy on his first post with a massive misdirection [wink] [smile]
 
Yeah [member=13058]Kev[/member] my reading compression is low.
 
A big part of being a painter is wood rot replacement. Sometimes you need wood working tools like a saw, a planer, a router and a multi tool for that. Not all painters choose to do this themselves, but a lot do. And there's always clean up because paintprep can get messy. A lot of reasons to have both a 27 and 36 mm hose on hand.
 
Good morning!

Thanks all for your valuable input.

I will keep with the Festools ;)

rst said:
My two cents is that you should buy another 27mm hose (think Festool 500940 Hose w/ Sleeve, 10m) for sanding and keep the 36mm for cleanup.  If you will be doing any drywall sanding (I painted professionally for a few years and we always ran into drywall repairs that required sanding) the vac you have is great plus, as Phil pointed out you can turn off the self cleaning function and use bags for regular sanding and cleanup.
Phil Beckley said:
jonasm said:
Hi all,

As starter painter and decorator I just bought a new vac and sander.
I will mainly use it for drywall sanding.

This is what I bought:
- CTL26E AC HD
- ETS EC 150/3

Why did I buy the HD version? Because it was only 20 euro more expensive than the CTL26E AC, and they told me that the HD was an advantage.

I hope I did a good buy for my use?

Yesterday everything arrived at my place and I came to the conclusion that the sander has a dust extraction connection diameters of 27mm while the vac has a hose of 36mm... So they don't fit :)

What do you guys suggest?
- return the vac and get the CTL26E AC which has a 27mm hose
- get a connector to go from 27mm to 36mm

Do you see the 36mm as an advantage over the 27mm?

All opinions are welcome.

Thanks in advance!
Cheers
Jonas

Hi
Welcome to the forum  [smile]
Ok, you have an excellent machine choice. For the HD you will need the 27mm hose for sure. Switch off the AC function and use the selfclean bag. With the HD you are covered for just about all applications for your area of work. A 36mm hose is really to big for easy use with sanders.
rg
Phil

In the shop they recommended me to use the AC function in all time, together with the open plastic disposal bag. This is why I especially bought the AC version.

Now I'm curious why you guys tell me to switch it off and use the selfclean bag :)

 
If I was sanding plaster or grinding concrete all day, I'd deffo use the AC function with the plastic bags - cheaper! The thunking of the AC feature as it clears the filter would be a bit disconcerting in the workshop, so then I'd use the the self cleaning bags and enjoy a little peace without then thunking.

The HD machines, to my understanding, are fit and ready to use with the concrete renovation tools. This should be handy for you if you need to tear away a layer of nasty floor paint or the like - you'll have the right vac on hand already and you'll just need to acquire the right renovation grinder. Have a peak at the Festool RG 80 and RG 130 and you'll see what I'm on about.

 
Ok thank your for clarifying.

Which 27mm hose do I have to buy so it fits my vac and sander?

I can't really find if the valve (I don't know if this is the correct word, I mean the hole in the vac to connect the hose on) of the different vacs are the same or not.
 
jonasm said:
Ok thank your for clarifying.

Which 27mm hose do I have to buy so it fits my vac and sander?

I can't really find if the valve (I don't know if this is the correct word, I mean the hole in the vac to connect the hose on) of the different vacs are the same or not.
All the vacs have the same size port for the hose.  All the vacs, except for the mini and midi have the same suction.  You will want the anti-static (green) hose.  The 27mm hose works with all the sanders, the small domino, and the smaller routers.  Don't know about the big router and big domino.  The track saws and Kapex will use either one but the dust collection is better with the big one.  The big one is better for cleaning the shop.  Have fun.  Welcome to the FOG and the addiction.
 
Back
Top