PlugIt cord help!?
- Thread starter guddeco
- Start date
How about just making do with what Festool provides and not trying to make it complicated. If you like using all 16-guage cords great and if you like using 18-guage cords where possible that is great as well. The 18-guage cords are more flexible especially and this is convenient. And don't worry about their (Festool's) business model, it works and they have the sales to prove it. It probably is a few pennies cheaper to throw in the 18-guage cable as it is lighter which possibly reduces transport costs when you multiple the # of units sold by the weight difference.
WPeters
Member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2011
- Messages
- 206
Mark me down as someone making a suggestion for a possible improvement, not a complaint. All of my vac hoses have the cord wrapped with them. I use a ct 26 and work center and ct 26 with boom, swapping between sanders, router, ts 55, etc. All cords wrapped with the hose must be 16 gauge for this type of use. I understand for others this cord issue may not be an issue. For some of us it would be nice to see one cord across the board or some kind of trade in program. All my 18 gauge cords are in a box, and I've actually had to go out and buy 16 gauge cords to wrap with hoses. I guess I could have just bought another saw or router and got the extra 16 gauge cord that way!
jamanjeval
Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2014
- Messages
- 88
Lets look at the numbers in terms of something tangible:
The difference in weight between the two cords is about the same as 9 US Quarters. That is an amount you can easily feel. Try it. But if you add the weight of a tool (RO90, for example) and a hose, the difference is a lot less significant. With the lightest cord, everything weighs the same as 487 US Quarters. With the heaviest cord, the weight is 496 US Quarters.
If you are holding a tool above your head for 8 hours a day, then yes every ounce counts. In my opinion for the way that I use the tool, the inconvenience of having different cords far outweighs any difference in weight. And with the stiffness of the hose, any difference between flexibility of the cords impeding the use of the tool is not an issue.
I’m not saying Festool should not offer the slightly lighter cord, just that it should be an optional accessory like so many other specialty accessories offered by Festool.
This is how I came up with the numbers:
(from http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/index.cfm?action=Coin_specifications)
1 US Quarter: 5.670 grams / 0.2000034 oz
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin_wrapper)
1 Roll = 40 Quarters = $10
Weight of 1 roll = 8 oz
1 lb = 2 rolls = 80 Quarters
(from Amazon.com I couldn’t find weights from Festool)
18Gax13’ cord 14.2 oz
16Gax13’ cord 16 oz
Weight difference between cords = 1.8 oz = 9 US Quarters = $2.25
27mmx3.5m antistatic hose: 2 lb / 32 oz
(from Festool product manual)
RO90: 3.20 lb / 51.2 oz (without mains cable, with sanding pad)
Weight of tool + hose + 18 Ga cord =
51.2 + 32 + 14.2 = 97.4 oz 6.09 lb = 487 US Quarters = 12 rolls + 7 Quarters
Weight of tool + hose + 16 Ga cord =
51.2 + 32 + 16 = 99.2 oz = 6.2 lb = 496 US Quarters = 12 rolls + 16 Quarters
Sometimes I make mistakes. Feel free to get out your scale and calculators to check my results. I promise I won't take it personally. In fact, I'd appreciate it if you did.
The difference in weight between the two cords is about the same as 9 US Quarters. That is an amount you can easily feel. Try it. But if you add the weight of a tool (RO90, for example) and a hose, the difference is a lot less significant. With the lightest cord, everything weighs the same as 487 US Quarters. With the heaviest cord, the weight is 496 US Quarters.
If you are holding a tool above your head for 8 hours a day, then yes every ounce counts. In my opinion for the way that I use the tool, the inconvenience of having different cords far outweighs any difference in weight. And with the stiffness of the hose, any difference between flexibility of the cords impeding the use of the tool is not an issue.
I’m not saying Festool should not offer the slightly lighter cord, just that it should be an optional accessory like so many other specialty accessories offered by Festool.
This is how I came up with the numbers:
(from http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/index.cfm?action=Coin_specifications)
1 US Quarter: 5.670 grams / 0.2000034 oz
(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin_wrapper)
1 Roll = 40 Quarters = $10
Weight of 1 roll = 8 oz
1 lb = 2 rolls = 80 Quarters
(from Amazon.com I couldn’t find weights from Festool)
18Gax13’ cord 14.2 oz
16Gax13’ cord 16 oz
Weight difference between cords = 1.8 oz = 9 US Quarters = $2.25
27mmx3.5m antistatic hose: 2 lb / 32 oz
(from Festool product manual)
RO90: 3.20 lb / 51.2 oz (without mains cable, with sanding pad)
Weight of tool + hose + 18 Ga cord =
51.2 + 32 + 14.2 = 97.4 oz 6.09 lb = 487 US Quarters = 12 rolls + 7 Quarters
Weight of tool + hose + 16 Ga cord =
51.2 + 32 + 16 = 99.2 oz = 6.2 lb = 496 US Quarters = 12 rolls + 16 Quarters
Sometimes I make mistakes. Feel free to get out your scale and calculators to check my results. I promise I won't take it personally. In fact, I'd appreciate it if you did.
campbellcraft
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2007
- Messages
- 50
It would be nice if Festool.........
Had tools with imperial scales.
Offered tools without the systainer.
Gave you a free tee shirt after spending several thousand dollars.
Provided systainers in different colors for different tools, all routers blue, all drills black, etc.
The lack of these things does not stop me from buying Festool products. (The lack of a "bit view" did stop me from buying a MFK 700.) All of the above list would cost money but not increase sales, not a good business decision. If another company offers tools as good as Festool at the same price with identical service, and all of my above list (and maybe the cord of my choice) I will switch to that company.
In my opinion the cord is not an issue for the vast majority of Festool customers.
Had tools with imperial scales.
Offered tools without the systainer.
Gave you a free tee shirt after spending several thousand dollars.
Provided systainers in different colors for different tools, all routers blue, all drills black, etc.
The lack of these things does not stop me from buying Festool products. (The lack of a "bit view" did stop me from buying a MFK 700.) All of the above list would cost money but not increase sales, not a good business decision. If another company offers tools as good as Festool at the same price with identical service, and all of my above list (and maybe the cord of my choice) I will switch to that company.
In my opinion the cord is not an issue for the vast majority of Festool customers.
roblg3
Member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2014
- Messages
- 751
Jamanjaval
I appreciate your research!! Great job. I now %100 agree that smaller cord is kind of silly. Although I don't think it saves festool money to use 2 different sized cords. , I'm sure it. Would cost them less to stick with the same cord being larger quantities of the same product almost always costs less. I do believe someone somewhere had a good arguement during a development phase. Offering the 18 as an extra, still gives you the option.
Im sure FEstool is listening. This forum is almost as much for them as it is for us!
I appreciate your research!! Great job. I now %100 agree that smaller cord is kind of silly. Although I don't think it saves festool money to use 2 different sized cords. , I'm sure it. Would cost them less to stick with the same cord being larger quantities of the same product almost always costs less. I do believe someone somewhere had a good arguement during a development phase. Offering the 18 as an extra, still gives you the option.
Im sure FEstool is listening. This forum is almost as much for them as it is for us!
Woodhack
Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2014
- Messages
- 33
I just found this issue out for myself. I had my 2 sanders and carvex jigsaw. I have my Plug it cord that came with the sanders nicely wire tied (Festool Green wire ties) to the hose that came with the ct 26. I also have the 20 ft anti-static hose as an extension. I already hated the fact that they dont make cords or at least extension cords the length of the hoses they sell and something to attach the 2 together so your not wrestling with the cord and hose going in 2 different directions.
So I just went to use my Ts 55 and the cord I have attached to the hose does not fit the saw...
End of the world? No!
P.I.T.A.? Yes!!!
Now I have to undo the extension hose set up I have all tied up over my work station (because the hose and cord get caught everywhere), cut off all of the wire ties, put the 16 gauge on the hose with wire ties, re secure the hose over my work table and then try out my new saw.
Now way the cord thicknes and weight along with the hose attached is making any difference! That's grasping at straws to defend something poorly thought out.
Just my opinion though. I'm not the guy driving a Rolls Royce because I use Festool... What do I know? Except something as basic as plugging a tool in has become an issue.
So I just went to use my Ts 55 and the cord I have attached to the hose does not fit the saw...
End of the world? No!
P.I.T.A.? Yes!!!
Now I have to undo the extension hose set up I have all tied up over my work station (because the hose and cord get caught everywhere), cut off all of the wire ties, put the 16 gauge on the hose with wire ties, re secure the hose over my work table and then try out my new saw.
Now way the cord thicknes and weight along with the hose attached is making any difference! That's grasping at straws to defend something poorly thought out.
Just my opinion though. I'm not the guy driving a Rolls Royce because I use Festool... What do I know? Except something as basic as plugging a tool in has become an issue.
Similar threads
