The best Festool accessory

ryanjg117

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May 18, 2015
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329
Without a doubt, it's been the Bluetooth module for my CT vacs. Yeah, $80 is a lot to spend on an accessory, but now that I have the ability to turn on the vac from the hose end, it's hard to fathom being without it. (First world problems...) Why is the Festool Bluetooth module so great?

1. Range. It's incredible. I've accidentally triggered the vacuum from inside my house (my shop is about 150 feet away and through many walls). Didn't realize it until an hour later when I went into the shop and realized my vac was on.

2. The retrofit experience. Forward thinking at its best. Easy to pop off the blank plate on the vac and plug the Bluetooth module in. Pairing is even easier.

3. The button. Great tactile feel, two different "wrist sizes" for the most common hose diameters, and it doesn't slip along the hose.

4. Battery life. Granted these are only seeing hobbyist use, but I haven't had to replace the batteries since purchasing these modules at launch. Feels like over a year ago.

5. Great as sucking up yellowjackets. Have a hornet infestation in your attic? Normally a big problem, but now you can affix the vac hose to their entrance/exit and safely actuate the vac from inside your home.
 
Can only agree, we have them on all hoses, and the remotes are scattered around the workshop.
We could not function properly without them 👍🏻
 
For me and some of the work that i do with the materials I use, the accessory that has been one of the most useful & used items is the Gecko Dosh vacuum clamp and rail attachment.
Working with MFC, Painted panels, laminate coated sheets and Solid Surface materials, they are brilliant and worth every penny...!!

[attachimg=1]
 

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I also like the CT Bluetooth module, but for me the best accessory by far is the MFS.  It has been a real surprise to me how much I use it.

Andrew
 
Roseland said:
I also like the CT Bluetooth module, but for me the best accessory by far is the MFS.  It has been a real surprise to me how much I use it.

Andrew

The MFS is no longer available in North America, as far as I know. Thought I'd found one on Amazon more than a year ago, but order cancelled within a few hours.  :(

Len
 
For me, the Kapex's hold-down clamp. Used in almost every cut, and in almost every cross-cutting task done on the Kapex.
 
ryanjg117 said:
Without a doubt, it's been the Bluetooth module for my CT vacs. Yeah, $80 is a lot to spend on an accessory, but now that I have the ability to turn on the vac from the hose end, it's hard to fathom being without it. (First world problems...) Why is the Festool Bluetooth module so great?

1. Range. It's incredible. I've accidentally triggered the vacuum from inside my house (my shop is about 150 feet away and through many walls). Didn't realize it until an hour later when I went into the shop and realized my vac was on.

2. The retrofit experience. Forward thinking at its best. Easy to pop off the blank plate on the vac and plug the Bluetooth module in. Pairing is even easier.

3. The button. Great tactile feel, two different "wrist sizes" for the most common hose diameters, and it doesn't slip along the hose.

4. Battery life. Granted these are only seeing hobbyist use, but I haven't had to replace the batteries since purchasing these modules at launch. Feels like over a year ago.

5. Great as sucking up yellowjackets. Have a hornet infestation in your attic? Normally a big problem, but now you can affix the vac hose to their entrance/exit and safely actuate the vac from inside your home.
I also love the BT on the vac.
Makes it way more user friendly .
Charlie

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
Distinctive Interiors said:
For me and some of the work that i do with the materials I use, the accessory that has been one of the most useful & used items is the Gecko Dosh vacuum clamp and rail attachment.
Working with MFC, Painted panels, laminate coated sheets and Solid Surface materials, they are brilliant and worth every penny...!!

[attachimg=1]

[member=14860]Distinctive Interiors[/member] - This is the first I've heard of the Gecko, but I love the concept. How "non-porous" does your material need to be for it to work? I would imagine MDF probably isn't sealed enough? What function do the dual thumbscrews serve?
 
ryanjg117 said:
Distinctive Interiors said:
For me and some of the work that i do with the materials I use, the accessory that has been one of the most useful & used items is the Gecko Dosh vacuum clamp and rail attachment.
Working with MFC, Painted panels, laminate coated sheets and Solid Surface materials, they are brilliant and worth every penny...!!

[attachimg=1]

[member=14860]Distinctive Interiors[/member] - This is the first I've heard of the Gecko, but I love the concept. How "non-porous" does your material need to be for it to work? I would imagine MDF probably isn't sealed enough? What function do the dual thumbscrews serve?

Hi Ryan,
Bare MDF and bare plywood won't hold on the clamps. The surface needs to be smooth & sealed. Any porous surface will allow the air to leak back in under the vacuum seals.

The 2 thumbscrews are how the Gecko Dosh connects to the Guide Rail adaptor.They are 2 separate items and part numbers and you can buy them individually.
 
Distinctive Interiors said:
Bare MDF and bare plywood won't hold on the clamps. The surface needs to be smooth & sealed. Any porous surface will allow the air to leak back in under the vacuum seals.

Very cool. If I did more melamine or laminate work I would snap it up.

That said I am building my vacuum press right now, so maybe it will be in the future.
 
The SYS HWZ - Very handy for keeping many fine tools in a small footprint.
The fact that it is keeping your work area tidy, and holds loads of tools nearby is great.
And, if you choose, put it in it’s systainer and bring all the fine tools safe and ready for set up another place.

SE EHL holder for the planer is very versatile too, and I second the Bluetooth remote.
 
Not really and accessory. But I went to my local Woodcraft and I asked the gentleman what was the best tape measure they had because I don’t really cared for the Fastcap’s I have. He recommended the Festool tape measure. A bit pricy but worth every penny. I like the ability to measure inside distances. Accuracy is spot on!
 
I realized this week while using my Bluetooth equipped hose that I've never replaced the battery yet either- Could be several years now that it's been with me. I don't remember how long after the introduction of Festool offering them here in the US, that I bought the kit, but that battery just keeps going and going..... [eek]
 
manuc said:
Not really and accessory. But I went to my local Woodcraft and I asked the gentleman what was the best tape measure they had because I don’t really cared for the Fastcap’s I have. He recommended the Festool tape measure. A bit pricy but worth every penny. I like the ability to measure inside distances. Accuracy is spot on!

they're really good! but don't pay the festool branding for no reasonhttps://www.bmi.de/en/products-pocket-tapes.php
more models as well

$25 CADhttp://www.archersales.ca/product/405-viso/
 
For me the best accessory is one that works with the routers.  They add so much versatility and many aren't available for competitors' products.

My favorite of that group is the guide rail adaptor.  With that you can be assured of straight consistent groves and dadoes wherever you want.  Need a stopped dado or fluting on a piece of trim?  Done. 

This accessory is why I actually purchased my 1400 ten or so years ago.

I don't use it every day, but when I have a need my anxiety level with expensive raw materials is alleviated.

Peter
 
usernumber1 said:
manuc said:
Not really and accessory. But I went to my local Woodcraft and I asked the gentleman what was the best tape measure they had because I don’t really cared for the Fastcap’s I have. He recommended the Festool tape measure. A bit pricy but worth every penny. I like the ability to measure inside distances. Accuracy is spot on!

they're really good! but don't pay the festool branding for no reasonhttps://www.bmi.de/en/products-pocket-tapes.php
more models as well

$25 CADhttp://www.archersales.ca/product/405-viso/

Thanks! They had some interesting products.. liked the “inverted” rolled up tape, which will lay flat. Found an online shop that sells BMI over here - can’t see why they can list distributors internationally? [blink]
I already have 4 of the Festool version, which I have had cheaper than BMI branded as far as I could see. As a non fan of measuring tapes, I’ve found Festools tape nice and compact and without an annoyingly large belt clip [big grin]
 
What about the Supplemental Manuals?
(Although one might argue that they shouldn't be 'accessories' but standard inclusions.)
 
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