RO 90 Static electricity

W

Wiigian

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2016
Messages
5
I recently got myself a RO 90, and used it for the first time on a real project today.
The project is a ceiling mounted MDF box for a kitchen exhaust hood.
I had used filler to cover up the screw holes and the gaps between the panels in this box.

After a few minutes of sanding the filler, the RO90 started to shut itself down.
Not completely, but for about half a second and then it powered up again.
This happened quite often, maybe once every minute or so.
I noticed a quite powerful spark on my hand from the machine sometimes, so I figured this must be caused by the static electricity.

It was hooked up to a wet/dry vacuum (Nilfisk Multi 20) with auto start, which again was connected to a grounded outlet.

Do I need to use a Festool Extractor with these sanders? Or at least a special hose? I'm a bit surprised, I've never experienced something like this with my Bosch RO sander.
 
First welcome to the forum!

Were you using an antistatic hose?  I'm not familiar with that vacuum and how it might dissipate static.  I have an RO90 on a couple of Festool vacs with antistatic hoses and have had no problems at all.

I'm also wondering if you had the cord fully engaged on the sander, or perhaps you were experiencing intermittent power to the sander itself.

 
Make sure it wasn't the Vac shutting down Auto power to the Tool due to static electricity.
So, is the hose connected to the Vac Anti-Static, AND, is that outlet really grounded?  Sometimes the ground isn't really there , but a quick check with a simple tester will prove if it's okay.
 
Do you have the same problem when you use the sander without the vac?

The Nilfisk propbably will not dissipate the static charge like the Festool vacs do, but a bit of static shouldn't stop the sander from working.

I think you're better off by speaking to a Festool product specialist than asking here, they might know more about your specific problem.
 
I've used my RO90 with Craftsman vacs, with no vac, and always in a low humidity environment. No sparky sparky here.
 
Alex said:
Do you have the same problem when you use the sander without the vac?

The Nilfisk propbably will not dissipate the static charge like the Festool vacs do, but a bit of static shouldn't stop the sander from working.
...
Click to expand...

Really?

Nilfisk made the origional vacuums that Festool rebranded, and Nilfisk have been making vacuumed for a long time. I have a hard time believing that Festool knows more than Nilfisk about HEPA vacuums, or that Nilfisk are somehow inferior.It seems a somewhat nonsensical way to approach solving the problem.
However a volt meter may be an ideal place to start combined with the "test the outlet recommendation", and the "is the hose anti static" question.
 
Holmz said:
Alex said:
Do you have the same problem when you use the sander without the vac?

The Nilfisk propbably will not dissipate the static charge like the Festool vacs do, but a bit of static shouldn't stop the sander from working.
...
Click to expand...

Really?

Nilfisk made the origional vacuums that Festool rebranded, and Nilfisk have been making vacuumed for a long time. I have a hard time believing that Festool knows more than Nilfisk about HEPA vacuums, or that Nilfisk are somehow inferior.It seems a somewhat nonsensical way to approach solving the problem.
However a volt meter may be an ideal place to start combined with the "test the outlet recommendation", and the "is the hose anti static" question.
Click to expand...

Sorry but you're talking complete sh...

Everyone knows Festool make the best everything and made it all first. When god told Noah to build an ark, Noah said no problem I'll get my tracksaw and midi!
 
Is this a brand new RO 90?  If you purchased it used, check out the cord.  It may have a break in it that is turning it on and off. 
 
Holmz said:
Alex said:
Do you have the same problem when you use the sander without the vac?

The Nilfisk propbably will not dissipate the static charge like the Festool vacs do, but a bit of static shouldn't stop the sander from working.
...
Click to expand...

Really?

Nilfisk made the origional vacuums that Festool rebranded, and Nilfisk have been making vacuumed for a long time. I have a hard time believing that Festool knows more than Nilfisk about HEPA vacuums, or that Nilfisk are somehow inferior.It seems a somewhat nonsensical way to approach solving the problem.
However a volt meter may be an ideal place to start combined with the "test the outlet recommendation", and the "is the hose anti static" question.
Click to expand...

Since you mention anti-static, do you actually realise how central this feature is to the entire issue? You need an anti-static hose with electric conductivity to close the circuit, or else static electricity will not be dissipated to the ground.

Now this might come as a big suprise to you, but anti-static hoses are not a given with vacs of any type, they are still quite rare, especially on the cheaper models. Please show me where Nilfisk mentions the hose for this particular vac is anti-static.
https://consumer.nilfisk.com/en/products/Pages/product.aspx?fid=16262

A quick search on the model number also shows the Nilfisk vac is a pretty basic hobbyist vac and can not possibly be expected to compete with a professional €650 high end vac.
http://www.stofzuigerstore.nl/product/429611/nilfisk-multi-20-t.html

Festool's 27mm anti-static hose ALONE costs more than this entire vac.

So yeah, really.

- It really does pay off to do an occasional google search so now and then.
 
Well I took the fluke out, and cannot get a measurement from the hose end at the tool to the ground at the plug. This is mpwith the switch on.

Going from one end of the hose to the other also does not give me a conductance
 
Wiigian said:
I recently got myself a RO 90, and used it for the first time on a real project today.
The project is a ceiling mounted MDF box for a kitchen exhaust hood.
I had used filler to cover up the screw holes and the gaps between the panels in this box.

After a few minutes of sanding the filler, the RO90 started to shut itself down.
Not completely, but for about half a second and then it powered up again.
This happened quite often, maybe once every minute or so.
I noticed a quite powerful spark on my hand from the machine sometimes, so I figured this must be caused by the static electricity.

It was hooked up to a wet/dry vacuum (Nilfisk Multi 20) with auto start, which again was connected to a grounded outlet.

Do I need to use a Festool Extractor with these sanders? Or at least a special hose? I'm a bit surprised, I've never experienced something like this with my Bosch RO sander.
Click to expand...

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

    The hose needs to be Anti-static  and the vac needs to be designed / able to continue the anti-static path from the hose to the ground.

    Also , as neilc said,  make sure the plug-it cord is fully locked in to the sander. Sometimes it can take a surprisingly hard twist to have it fully engaged. If it is not , then it could cause the intermittent power problem.

    Seth
 
SRSemenza said:
Wiigian said:
I recently got myself a RO 90, and used it for the first time on a real project today.
The project is a ceiling mounted MDF box for a kitchen exhaust hood.
I had used filler to cover up the screw holes and the gaps between the panels in this box.

After a few minutes of sanding the filler, the RO90 started to shut itself down.
Not completely, but for about half a second and then it powered up again.
This happened quite often, maybe once every minute or so.
I noticed a quite powerful spark on my hand from the machine sometimes, so I figured this must be caused by the static electricity.

It was hooked up to a wet/dry vacuum (Nilfisk Multi 20) with auto start, which again was connected to a grounded outlet.

Do I need to use a Festool Extractor with these sanders? Or at least a special hose? I'm a bit surprised, I've never experienced something like this with my Bosch RO sander.
Click to expand...

Hi,

  Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

    The hose needs to be Anti-static  and the vac needs to be designed / able to continue the anti-static path from the hose to the ground.

    Also , as neilc said,  make sure the plug-it cord is fully locked in to the sander. Sometimes it can take a surprisingly hard twist to have it fully engaged. If it is not , then it could cause the intermittent power problem.

    Seth
Click to expand...
. Good Point about the Plug-It cord. I'm so used to them that I forget someone new to the system could get it loose in the tool.... [embarassed]
 
woodwrights_corner said:
Quote from: Holmz on Today at 06:40 AM
Quote from: Alex on Yesterday at 07:18 PM

Sorry but you're talking complete sh...

Everyone knows Festool make the best everything and made it all first. When god told Noah to build an ark, Noah said no problem I'll get my tracksaw and midi!
Click to expand...

;D [laughing]
 
Thank you for the warm welcome, suggestions and insights!

I discovered while sanding more that removing my shoes and using a wooden box to stand on instead of the metal stepladder with rubber feet eliminated the problem. I think this means that the static buildup was between me and the sander, and not between the sander and the vacuum. The vacuum also gave me a quite powerful spark when touching it after the sanding.

I did check the plug-it connector twice while I had this issue, to make sure it was fully engaged, which it was.
The RO90 is brand new, so I don't suspect any trouble with the cable.

To be on the safe side, I'm looking into buying a Festool 27 mm anti-static hose for the Nilfisk, although I haven't had any problems with this before. I've used it a lot on my TS55, OF1400 and Carvex.

 
Wiigian said:
Thank you for the warm welcome, suggestions and insights!

I discovered while sanding more that removing my shoes and using a wooden box to stand on instead of the metal stepladder with rubber feet eliminated the problem. I think this means that the static buildup was between me and the sander, and not between the sander and the vacuum. The vacuum also gave me a quite powerful spark when touching it after the sanding.

I did check the plug-it connector twice while I had this issue, to make sure it was fully engaged, which it was.
The RO90 is brand new, so I don't suspect any trouble with the cable.

To be on the safe side, I'm looking into buying a Festool 27 mm anti-static hose for the Nilfisk, although I haven't had any problems with this before. I've used it a lot on my TS55, OF1400 and Carvex.
Click to expand...

Buying the Festool hose will not help you with the static if the vac itself does not close the circuit to the ground.
 
Not sure why there is so much animosity towards Nilfisk.

My Festool CT22 was made by Nilfisk and when I stuffed up the motor I saved 40% by purchasing the Nilfisk branded motor rather than buying the one in a Festool box.

Regarding antiistatic hoses... other than colour (and price), can anyone spot the difference between the Nilfisk hose on this link and the Festool branded one?
https://vacuumdoctor.com.au/products/nilfisk-alto-anti-static-hose-for-connection-to-power-tools

I had assumed that my Midi is made for Festool by Nilfisk, am I wrong?

 
imaginarynumber said:
For what it is worth, Christian Oltzscher explains the importance of conductivity in more detail here
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/static-and-anti-static-hoses/

As an aside, although I am a UK customer, Christian has been instrumental in my having remained a Festool customer after I had issues with the early plug it hoses working loose. Top man- is he still with Festool USA?
Click to expand...

Christian is now CSO for Festool (worldwide).

Peter
 
imaginarynumber said:
My Festool CT22 was made by Nilfisk and when I stuffed up the motor I saved 40% by purchasing the Nilfisk branded motor rather than buying the one in a Festool box.
Click to expand...

The CT22 was actually a rebranded Kranzle vac. But Kranzle probably did not make the motor but ordered one from a specialised manufacturer like Nilfisk-Alto.

imaginarynumber said:
I had assumed that my Midi is made for Festool by Nilfisk, am I wrong?
Click to expand...

The Midi and all other current Festool vacs are made by Festool themselves, they set up a special venture that falls under Festool's mother company, the TTS umbrella. But again, they'll probably order their motors somewhere else.

imaginarynumber said:
Not sure why there is so much animosity towards Nilfisk.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure either, because there is none. Maybe not make stuff up.
 
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