Release Plug-It pig-tails to North America market?

[Tom the Remodeler]

Greetings! I am curious if Festool has plans to release the Plug-It pig-tail retrofit kit to North America? I recently did an online poll and based on the responses it looks like the Festool Owners Group members who voted are interested in Hundreds of the units, and that's just members of this particular forum who participated in that one particular poll! Anyways, I'm quite curious to hear if Festool is planning a release in North America? If not, would a European Festool distributor be punished for distributing pig-tails to an independent buyer who would then distribute the units free of charge (no profit) here in North America? Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing from you!! 

 

[Christian93117]

Tom,

Thank you for your question.

Festool will not introduce the Plug-It retrofit kits in North America.

Our product liability insurance requires UL approval for the kit and UL did not approve the kit.

From a product liability standpoint it does not matter, if we ship the kits to the US, or if a European/Australian dealer
does it. Therefore we ask our European/Australian distributors not to ship to the US.

We are currently looking into other ideas.

Best regards,

Christian

 

[mysterium]

Christian O.

Surely by simply plugging the exciting cord into a short cord with 15 amp female receptacle on one end & a "plug-it" adapter end would meet product liability or UL's blessing.  This approach is no different than the CT 22/33 - 20 amp female to 15 amp male Festool connector #482 107. 

For those of us who have made a substantial commitment to Festool power tools, in my case I own at least 21 of your tools with power cords, the  "Plug-it System" becomes exponentially beneficial as your Festool "system grows.  Being able to standardize with "Plug-it" connecters will pay me dividends in both time and on my body in getting up & down.

jim

 

[Steve Jones]

Jim,

You're sending your whine in the wrong direction (and missing the point). Let me explain....

The retrofit kit requires you to open the tool to install it, Ungle sam has decided in his infinite wisdom that you and I are far to stupid to open appliances for any reason, therefore they have made it virtually impossible for Festool to sell these items to you.

In much the same way as we're too stupid to operate three wheelers (remember them?) Small very economic vehicles, and a host of other stuff we have to be protected from. Oddly enough we are allowed guns. I suppose the logic is we must not be allowed to hurt ourselves, even unintentionally, but shooting other people is ok.

So if you really want to improve the situation, go shoot some lawyers.

Update: Jim, I apologise, your comment was about extention cords with plug-it connecters, I should follow some advice I read on this forum somewhere and read ALL the words before leaping gleefully on the keyboard - however I'm leaving the original rant intact for the entertainment and amusment of our fellow members.

 

[johnny t]

wonder why festool U.S. does not sell "plug-it" extension cords.  you know with "plug-it" ends, a female and male, on each  end.    I am sure UL could approve that.  I need to have vacuum hose extensions with cord and that way would be seemless.  yeh, thats the ticket. :

 

[Fred West]

Steve, now that is a thought I can get behind. After all even our good friend Bill Shakespeare said "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers'...."   ;D : Fred

 

[Michael Kellough]

Jim,

You're sending your whine in the wrong direction (and missing the point). Let me explain....

The retrofit kit requires you to open the tool to install it, Ungle sam has decided in his infinite wisdom that you and I are far to stupid to open appliances for any reason, therefore they have made it virtually impossible for Festool to sell these items to you.

In much the same way as we're too stupid to operate three wheelers (remember them?) Small very economic vehicles, and a host of other stuff we have to be protected from. Oddly enough we are allowed guns. I suppose the logic is we must not be allowed to hurt ourselves, even unintentionally, but shooting other people is ok.

So if you really want to improve the situation, go shoot some lawyers.

"Ungle sam" is not related to UL. No one can stop you from cutting the ends off a Plug-It cord and splicing it onto a cutoff power cord on a pre-Plug-It tool, at your cost and risk.

 

[Ned]

So if you really want to improve the situation, go shoot some lawyers.

Sorry, it's not their fault.

We Americans, by our individual actions, created the litigious environment in which Festool and their insurer have to operate.

Too many of us feel that any injury should be the ticket to riches.  Yes, the lawyers point out, even tempt us with, the possiblility of a lawsuit, but we choose to sign up for it.

When we are on a jury, or are a judge, too many of us see it as an opportunity to take from some and give to others.  There is no justice in theft.

The lawyers, both their vast numbers and their attitude, are merely symptoms of the problem, not the cause.

Some lawyers can be held responsible for choosing a branch of their trade which damages society, but they wouldn't do it if it were unrewarding.  And the rest of us are allowing that reward to be paid.

Ned

 

[mysterium]

Hi Steve,

"No Problem!!!"  Apology accepted.  I do understand your rant & Fred's/Ned's rants on lawyers... 

When Tom Gensmer started his original post part of what I said was the following;

"I have no problem with any of the following; either re-wiring into the tool housing, cutting the cord & attaching the "plug-it" end , or simply plugging the exciting cord into a "plug-it" adapter.  Because the all of these approaches build upon the "Plug-t System" and for me since I own at least one of nearly every Festool power tool sold in the US thus being able to standardize with "Plug-it" connecters will pay me dividends in both time and on my body in getting up & down."

So based on Christian O's comments I dropped; the re-wire & "cutting the cord" methods of adding the "plug-it" connector.  I am amazed that when Festool could literally sell hundreds of a short adaptor extension cord to a "plug-it" connector they wouldn't be interested.... 

So Steve we really agree more than we disagree 

jim

 

[Dave Rudy]

The lawyers, both their vast numbers and their attitude, are merely symptoms of the problem, not the cause

Well said Ned.  Problem is it's too easy to just blame the lawyers and miss how far the rest of the culture has slipped.  When the Doc gives you the wrong diagnosis, you're never going to get the best treatment.

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Tom,

Thank you for your question.

Festool will not introduce the Plug-It retrofit kits in North America.

Our product liability insurance requires UL approval for the kit and UL did not approve the kit.

From a product liability standpoint it does not matter, if we ship the kits to the US, or if a European/Australian dealer
does it. Therefore we ask our European/Australian distributors not to ship to the US.

We are currently looking into other ideas.

Best regards,

Christian

Hi Christian! Thank you so much for responding so promptly. I understand your position, and don't want to get anybody in trouble. I am curious if there are other avenues that could be pursued that would have the same end result of allowing users to retrofit non-Plug It equipped Festool equipment and tools manufactured by other companies? Maybe a retrofit program where customers could send in their tools to a Festool repair or service center and have an authorized technician perform the retrofit? Thanks for your time!
Regards,
Tom Gensmer

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Steve, now that is a thought I can get behind. After all even our good friend Bill Shakespeare said "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers'...."   ;D : Fred

And when that Shakespeare quote is understood. the purpose was to create chaos!!

I'd like some Plug-It to Plug-It extensions and shorter "whip hose" sections to use with my Boom Arm, so I could use a 36mm hose on the Boom Arm and with the TS 55 saw, router, planer and the 27mm hose with sanders.

Dave R.

 

[Terp]

Dave,
  Connect two hoses together with a swivel adapter part for the hose attached to the CT.  You can see what you need on your current hose.  The swivel adapter you'll need is the exact one you have at the machine end.  The replacement swivel installs in seconds on the working end of the hose.  Afterwards you can attach any hose to the first hose with a connector sleeve.  The sleeve is about 5" long & is simply a tube w/inside diameter to fit the hose ends.  the Boom arm comes with one of these sleeves.  Total for these two parts is about $20.00, I think.
  Go to www.festoolusa.com for the browsable parts catalog. 
  As far as shorter hoses go, perhaps you could shorten a longer hose into two smaller sections, again use the adapter parts available to do this.  Take the hose end off your hose & you'll see that it can be cut easily, & then reassembled with the new parts.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Dave,
  Connect two hoses together with a swivel adapter part for the hose attached to the CT.  You can see what you need on your current hose.  The swivel adapter you'll need is the exact one you have at the machine end.  The replacement swivel installs in seconds on the working end of the hose.  Afterwards you can attach any hose to the first hose with a connector sleeve.  The sleeve is about 5" long & is simply a tube w/inside diameter to fit the hose ends.  the Boom arm comes with one of these sleeves.  Total for these two parts is about $20.00, I think.
  Go to www.festoolusa.com for the browsable parts catalog. 
  As far as shorter hoses go, perhaps you could shorten a longer hose into two smaller sections, again use the adapter parts available to do this.  Take the hose end off your hose & you'll see that it can be cut easily, & then reassembled with the new parts.

Terp,

You've well described what I am thinking of doing.  I have an extra 36 mm hose and some extra vacuum end fittings and connector sleeve.  I just need to find some time to get back into my shop.  Although the end fittings can be removed fairly quickly from a hose, I'm trying to avoid having to do that.

Dave R.

 

[Terp]

Dave,
  I felt the same way.  I wanted to be able to attach my other D36 hose to the D36 hose already on the Boom arm.  I find the clips are diffucult to deal with on the Boom.  It seems you need to crush the hose to extract & replace it.
  Anyway,  it's really the only way to do it.  Once I received the parts, I realized it only takes seconds to swap the end fittings on the hose.  Keep a small screwdriver handy to push in the locking tabs on the swivel end to remove it.  It's less trouble than I had imagined, by far.