Overhead Tether for Extractor Hose - Retraction Weight?

[4nthony]

I want to route my extractor hose to a single point above my workbench connected via a retractable tether. I've found quite a few options and I'm not sure how much retraction weight I should get.

I want the hose to be under some tension when sanding, etc., but not so much that I'm fighting with it. I'm seeing weights from 15 oz up to 8 lbs. I'm thinking 2 lbs might be good, maybe 5 lbs? I don't know for sure.

Any suggestions?

I don't have room for a boom arm. I currently use a simple hook and while it does the job, I'm constantly adjusting the slack.

Thanks!

 

[ChuckM]

Something adjustable in strength like this may help?
https://www.amazon.ca/Retractable-B...ocphy=9001335&hvtargid=pla-809844412072&psc=1

 

[Packard]

A fish scale.  The fish scale available from Bass Pro Shops is $7.99 and reads up to 50 pounds.  This will take the guess work out of the equation and is cheap.  You can probably find similar ones on Amazon.com.

They occasionally come in handy for other applications.

There are fish scales available for very light weights as well as ones that can go up to the hundreds of pounds range.

There are much more expensive ones, but for this application, I think the inexpensive one will be fine.


The Rapala digital scale is about $40.00 and has a good reputation.  It also ranges up to 50 pounds.

 

[4nthony]

Something adjustable in strength like this may help?

That's a great start. Also, knowing that it's called a "Spring Balancer" is very useful. Searching for that term introduced quite a few more results.

A fish scale. 

Also a good tip and something for me to keep in mind.

Thank you both!!

 

[rvieceli]

[member=75283]4nthony[/member]  something you might want to consider. Is instead of a single point attachment on the ceiling would be to put that point on a track that runs the length of your bench/table. I had one like this and it worked well 

You could use a drapery track or something that moves easily.

Ron

 

[Sparktrician]

[member=75283]4nthony[/member]  something you might want to consider. Is instead of a single point attachment on the ceiling would be to put that point on a track that runs the length of your bench/table. I had one V like this and it worked well 

You could use a drapery track or something that moves easily.

Ron

There are trolley systems that run through unistrut.  I'm on the road or I'd do some digging for you.  [smile]

 

[GoingMyWay]

Rockler sells a Ceiling Track System:https://www.rockler.com/starter-kit-for-rockler-ceiling-track-system

 

[ChuckM]

If I understand 4nthony's requirement correctly, he wants something that keeps the hose end up "in the air." Tracks as nice as they don't do that. They can, of course, be used in conjunction with a spring balancer.

Curtain/drape tracks as rviecell noted are dirt cheap from the big box stores. 8' long tracks I once had cost me less than $10 US each (as compared to $40 US for the 4' track from Rockler, which however is more heavy duty). 
https://www.rona.ca/en/product/kenn...zCLJ0tBAuzhEsQ/6EQT4MZcH7qXMmP6t6pR3Ob+fXJw==

 

[Packard]

Most window manufacturers in the past used counter-balance weights instead of springs.  Springs wear out or break.  Gravity never does.

Replacement weights are available from Amazon and are fairly cheap.  Pulleys intended for clothes lines are available in the big box stores (Lowes Carrie’s them and the cord). You can add or subtract weights as required.

A second pulley is required if you want the weight out of your way.

 

[4nthony]

My assembly table is also my outfeed table and I typically stand in one spot while sanding, using the Domino, etc. Thanks to [member=57948]ChuckS[/member] suggestion, I was able to find a spring balancer that should work. I'll relocate my box fan air filter and put the balancer on one of the joists above the table. Depending on what I'm doing, I can route the hose to the balancer from either side.

I currently hang the hose over various hooks (green arrows) that are off to the side and behind the table. Sometimes it works, but most of the time I'm fighting with the hose and adjusting slack. Also, the hose won't be permanently attached to the balancer. I'll clip it in as needed.

I like the idea of using the balancer with a rail system. Once I try the single point, if it doesn't work as well as I was hoping, I'll look into adding a drapery rail or maybe the Rockler track to offer more flexibility.

 

[krudawg]

I want to route my extractor hose to a single point above my workbench connected via a retractable tether. I've found quite a few options and I'm not sure how much retraction weight I should get.

I want the hose to be under some tension when sanding, etc., but not so much that I'm fighting with it. I'm seeing weights from 15 oz up to 8 lbs. I'm thinking 2 lbs might be good, maybe 5 lbs? I don't know for sure.

Any suggestions?

I don't have room for a boom arm. I currently use a simple hook and while it does the job, I'm constantly adjusting the slack.

Thanks!

Now that is what I call "thinking outside of the box".  I may steal that idea - thanks

 

[4nthony]

Now that is what I call "thinking outside of the box".  I may steal that idea - thanks

This is the balancer I ordered. I hung it from a joist tonight and attached the hose to it. It arrived too late in the day to do any actual work, but walking it around the workbench and testing the retraction, I think it'll meet my needs rather well.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GYS4RSH?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Something like that might work well for my future home shop. The ceiling is waay to high to even think about it where I work now. I have been thinking about building some kind of swinging boom arm for there.
I'm not so sure how much more effort I want to put in though? If I'm not going to be there long enough to make it worth the time?

 

[Mark Katz]

This is the balancer I ordered. I hung it from a joist tonight and attached the hose to it. It arrived too late in the day to do any actual work, but walking it around the workbench and testing the retraction, I think it'll meet my needs rather well.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GYS4RSH?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Interested to see how this works out in practice. Particularly would like to know if it's possible to set the spring tension once and leave it (If I used this, the device would be hard to reach except when setting up for an operation). My primary use would be to hold the vac hose (with sleeve and plug-it cord) overhead for use with sanders and track saws. Also interested in seeing whether the 2kg tension limit is right for that use.

 

[festal]

This guy has a good workshop tour video but its in russian.  Maybe auto translated subtitles would work. =1228
Here he shows how he has his entire ct-sys glide across the workshop.  He uses ikea tracks i think.  He aslo built a clamping contraption.  He builds home gyms for kids and seems to be popular in Europe

 

[Packard]

I had one scissor lift on a track for the overhead light in my photo studio in the 1980s. 

You positioned the light anywhere on the track and at any height and it stayed put. 

I see it is now over $400.00 for stationary mount and much more if you added the track system.

So here is what you are missing. [big grin]

The scissor was attached to a rail that it could slide along, and the rail was attached two two fixed rails, so it could slide in both axis.

This guy made his own system using barn door hardware (farm style) for a claimed $150.00.

It will give you an idea of how the track works.  Systems for photo studios run into the thousands of dollars, so I understand why the home made system.  It appears to work satisfactorily.  An interesting project.

 

[4nthony]

Interested to see how this works out in practice. Particularly would like to know if it's possible to set the spring tension once and leave it (If I used this, the device would be hard to reach except when setting up for an operation). My primary use would be to hold the vac hose (with sleeve and plug-it cord) overhead for use with sanders and track saws. Also interested in seeing whether the 2kg tension limit is right for that use.

The tension is adjusted via a dial on the back of the balancer. Once you set it, it should remain at that tension. When I first pulled it out of the box, I thought the minimum tension was going to be way too strong. I was definitely wrong. I dialed it up maybe 4 or 5 times -- there's maybe 1, 1-1/2 turns left -- and it seems to be perfect. I'm using a Rockler Flexiport Hose and it's a bit heavier than the hose that came with my Fein Turbo.

Knowing what I know now, I'd probably get something with slightly higher tension, maybe 1.5kg - 3kg.

If I used this, the device would be hard to reach except when setting up for an operation).

I've got ~8' ceilings in my garage so I just put it on a hook screwed into a ceiling joist. I hung it slightly behind and to the right of where I stand. It's low enough that I can reach up and clip in the hose or adjust the dial, and high enough to provide walking clearance.

One thing to consider is there's only so much runout on the cable (I think mine has 40"?). If you've got high ceilings, you'd need to hang the balancer accordingly.

I'll try and get a few pictures or video of it today with a tool on the hose to give a general idea of the movement and retraction.

 

[ChuckM]

I had one scissor lift on a track for the overhead light in my photo studio in the 1980s. 

You positioned the light anywhere on the track and at any height and it stayed put. 

I see it is now over $400.00 for stationary mount and much more if you added the track system.

So here is what you are missing. [big grin]

Snip.
An interesting project.

Never thought of using a riveter that way. Also refreshing to see a video so well done in terms of length. Easily, someone else could have made a similar video three times longer in duration. Most YouTubers can cut their video lengths in half (and more), and the contents would still suffer no loss of clarity or substance

 

[Packard]

The Manfrotto system is so smooth, even the heaviest light heads could be moved easily with one hand (without having to jump up on the couch).

And once you’ve used this type of setup, light stands seem Neanderthal.

He was very clever about all the materials he used, but the riveter is one I would never have thought of.

And his video was the ideal mix of clarity and brevity. There are plenty of videos I’ve seen where all sixteen holes are drilled and then all sixteen screws are driven.  The better ones use fast forward, but even then I grow impatient.

 

[Mark Katz]

The tension is adjusted via a dial on the back of the balancer. Once you set it, it should remain at that tension. When I first pulled it out of the box, I thought the minimum tension was going to be way too strong. I was definitely wrong. I dialed it up maybe 4 or 5 times -- there's maybe 1, 1-1/2 turns left -- and it seems to be perfect. I'm using a Rockler Flexiport Hose and it's a bit heavier than the hose that came with my Fein Turbo.

Knowing what I know now, I'd probably get something with slightly higher tension, maybe 1.5kg - 3kg.

That's good to know. My hose is probably somewhat heavier than yours - its an older 3.5m version of this one from Festoolhttps://www.festoolusa.com/accessory/201761---d2722x5m-as-gq-usct#Overview and I might be ordering the 5m one if my current one is too short for the new routing.

Based on that, I'm thinking of ordering this one:https://www.amazon.com/QWORK-Spring-Balancer-1-1lbs-Assembly-line/dp/B0952QYP1W/ref=sr_1_1_sspa. It's a 3.3lbs - 6.6lbs unit (1.5 - 3kg). They also have a 6.6-11LB (3-5 kg) version but that might have too much tension for the application. They're cheap enough that I can experiment.