Shop-Vac Conversion

[BACONwoodcraft]

Looking to upgrade our shop with 2-3 Festool products (TS 75 / DF55 / 1400 EQ). However, cost prohibits adding any of the Festool shop vacs at the moment. If the tools could be connected to a more humble vac, we'd have no issue buying a Festool hose/adapters/etc.

Currently, we simply have enough vacs to not justify spending nearly $700 on one specific to these tools - especially when we'd ideally rather invest that money in another non-dust-collection tool. We'd rather use our funds to get a Festool Router than a vac...  [big grin] We rarely need to work in a client space, so the superior CT is not generally needed. We'd even consider using a Fein (if we can connect it) - as the quality and function seems comparable for 30% less in cost.

Spoken to numerous distributors and Festool itself about this. Usually leave the conversation feeling like I was in a scene from the "DaVinci Code" when it comes to adapting a non-festoon vac to suit their tools.

Has anyone successfully used a Festool vac hose and connected it to a "standard" shop-vac (i.e. Ridgid...)? Any advice, links, etc. would be paramount.

Thanks!

 

[Wooden Skye]

It can be done, rockler has ports that fit.  I did this in the beginning but would forget to turn vac on, so I eventually got the festool vac because of the trigger activation.

 

[rljatl]

Festool vac hoses plug right into a standard shop vac without any adapter required.

 

[Paul G]

I've done so with the TS75 and it was fine. But with my RO90 sander it's too much suction and benefits from the adjustable CT. As for adapting to the TS75, I hacked up one of those multi step adapter things I found at woodcraft, not great but worked. I prefer the CT though. My shop vac/dust deputy cart is mostly now used for table saw, miter saw and drywall sanding.

 

[Cheese]

Here's a picture of a Fein Turbo II hooked up to a Kapex with a 50mm hose.

 

[nickao]

Looking to upgrade our shop with 2-3 Festool products (TS 75 / DF55 / 1400 EQ). However, cost prohibits adding any of the Festool shop vacs at the moment. If the tools could be connected to a more humble vac, we'd have no issue buying a Festool hose/adapters/etc.

Currently, we simply have enough vacs to not justify spending nearly $700 on one specific to these tools - especially when we'd ideally rather invest that money in another non-dust-collection tool. We'd rather use our funds to get a Festool Router than a vac...  [big grin] We rarely need to work in a client space, so the superior CT is not generally needed. We'd even consider using a Fein (if we can connect it) - as the quality and function seems comparable for 30% less in cost.

Spoken to numerous distributors and Festool itself about this. Usually leave the conversation feeling like I was in a scene from the "DaVinci Code" when it comes to adapting a non-festoon vac to suit their tools.

Has anyone successfully used a Festool vac hose and connected it to a "standard" shop-vac (i.e. Ridgid...)? Any advice, links, etc. would be paramount.

Thanks!

This is such a misconception. You can use a 45.00 shop vac if you want, make the connection any way you can, just use any adapter you want, Amazon has loads.

What the Festool's get you is lower noise and duty cycle, some like the adjustable vac pull, for me I give a care. I am 100% power all the time on every situation I have ever worked on..

I had a CT  hooked to a table top cnc for 6 years, it runs 8 hours a day, every day, it is running right now. I burned out a shop vac in the first week, only 56 hours. But as far as collecting the dust any old thing will work with the Festool hoses and tools.

 

[Peter_C]

I still use a shop vac as my dust collector. It works well enough that I haven't had to replace them. First upgrade necessary is a hose. The Bosch hose works well, but I am sure someone will mention it is not a non static hose.https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-VAC005...?ie=UTF8&qid=1478030847&sr=8-1&keywords=bosch+hose

My Dust Deputy that I added to a 5 gallon bucket is grounded, along with my vac, and I have never had static build up. The Dust Deputy keeps the vacs filter clean, otherwise it constantly plugs.https://www.amazon.com/Oneida-Molde...i&ie=UTF8&qid=1478030902&sr=1-1&keywords=dust+deputy

Another option to the Dust Deputy is collection bags. I use Ridgid bags in a little portable 4 gallon WD4080 Ridgid vac. The filter rarely needs to be cleaned.

As mentioned above not having an auto trigger sucks, so I added one of the auto triggers too.http://www.grizzly.com/outlet/iVac-Switch-Box/T21636?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com

My vacuum came with an elbow adapter that has a sliding vent on it. This allows me to lower the suction on the sanders. Some type of piping/adapter with a few holes drilled in it would do the same thing. Variable suction is tape covering some of the holes, or slice some type of round plastic that can slide over the holes.

This year I have a $50 voucher that is going towards a Festool dust collector.

 

[BACONwoodcraft]

Festool vac hoses plug right into a standard shop vac without any adapter required.

What kind of vac are you using? What are the hose dimensions?

 

[rljatl]

Festool vac hoses plug right into a standard shop vac without any adapter required.

What kind of vac are you using? What are the hose dimensions?

Sears Craftsman shop vac.  Any Festool hose will work as will Bosch aniti-static and non anti-static hoses, and Mr. Nozzle hoses will work too.

The only two issues you may run into are:
1. Hose to tool connection.  Adapters are easy to find for most tools at your local big box or woodworking store.
2. No ability to lower the suction when using Festool sanders.  Bosch makes a nozzle that has a sliding cover that allows some suction to be bled off so it may work with a sander.  Look around Amazon for Bosch hoses and fittings.

Otherwise, all of the above mentioned hoses will plug right into a common shop vac.

P.S. I also have Festool CT26 and Midi vacs.

 

[rst]

I use Festool, Fein, and Sears vacs and all have the same intake size.  I also use Bosch, Fein, Festool, Sears, and Mr Nozzle hoses.  All interchange.  I like the Festool ends the best and that is what I used for my Bosch 38mm anti-static hose.  Unfortunately the ends only work on the Bosch hoses

 

[nickao]

I use Festool, Fein, and Sears vacs and all have the same intake size.  I also use Bosch, Fein, Festool, Sears, and Mr Nozzle hoses.  All interchange.  I like the Festool ends the best and that is what I used for my Bosch 38mm anti-static hose.  Unfortunately the ends only work on the Bosch hoses

Yeah but it only takes a second to change out the Bosch ends with Festool ends, I have all Bosch anti static now with the Festool ends. My Bosch are all 35mm though(which mean 36mm they are interchangeable).

 

[overanalyze]

@Cheese I used that same saw stand for years with my Kapex!

We used a shop vac contractor grade 1-1/2" hose with a craftsman vac switch on our regular shop vac for years before getting a Festool extractor. It worked fine.

Sent from my SM-T310 using Tapatalk

 

[JimD]

My only Festool is the little hand sander but it and my DeWalt track saw and other tools work fine with a Bosch 5 meter hose (some with the adapter) with my dust deputy and autostart switch equipped Rigid shop vacuum.  If I need less vacuum I use a variable speed switch I bought for my router.  One advantage of the aftermarket auto on switch is you can use bigger tools.  I plug my 15A table saw into mine.  I can use it and the shop vac on the same 20A circuit.  I'm sure there are advantages to the Fein and Festool shop vacuums but my little souped up Rigid gets the job done.  The noise is not much of an issue since the other tools require hearing protection anyway. 

 

[BACONwoodcraft]

Thanks for all the advice and insight. I'm sure there will be other dilemmas to present to this forum.

However, I seemed to have found a solution to my coupling problem. A $9 Rigid step-adapter (available in-store at HD). Parsed a bit, but with the proper sequence, a pretty darn tight seal with Festool tool couplings.

Not the most ideal scenario ever, but for those who don't want to spend the $800 for Festool Vac products - there are viable options out there to be able to use the tools without investing in the WHOLE system.

 

[Mort]

I use a $30 small Craftsman vac for my dust control. Works perfectly. For turning down suction I plug it into a router speed control I got at Harbor Freight.

No auto start, but to save $700 I'll lean over and turn that little feller on myself.

 

[BACONwoodcraft]

Ain't pretty...but it works. Surprisingly well actually. For less than $70.

 

[Stephen Coff]

New to Festool though have a tonne of it now and 3 different vacs. Like all things once you get a little love you wont do without, the auto on/ off and power adjustment are super handy and if you have say a 36 with a dust deputy you can really appreciate the power, adjustability, quietness and cleanliness of it all. Appreciating the cost of such a setup I would honestly say after acquiring the dust deputy I would invest in the dust deputy and for a shop/ garage vac just a cheaper ballsy vac with adequate air flow. The dust deputy can be purchased as just the cyclonic component to retro fit to anything such as a large wheelie bin. It keeps your vac clean and free of all incoming matter plus ensures max air flow. Hoses as noted above is the least of your issues