The Dust Hub - How to get the most out of just one CT - Video

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

I love my CTL26 but get fed up swapping hoses and turning it to manual to do a sweep up. So, I came up with an idea a few months ago and started playing with the idea of a Dust Hub - a single central hub for vacuum and power. Some of you may have seen the prototype in my recent videos. It was originally going to be filmed as a project in December but I have had to bring it forward as the interest has grown.

The project costs very little and the parts should be easy to find.

Here is the link:



Peter

 

[Healeyjet]

Very nice Peter!!  I am just setting up my shop and would love to make something like this work.
Thank you for making the video and making it available.
Ward

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Ward

I was in my Axminster store about 4 months ago looking for a Festool hose end connector. I saw this 63 mm kit and took a piece over to the store's Festool area and found that the sizes were compatible. I picked up a couple of blast gates and started playing. In the end I got the whole kit that they sell as I wanted to extend the pipe work across the workshop.

I love my CT26 but cannot afford a second Festool extractor. The Dust Hub makes it even easier to use my various tools with just that one extractor with no more hose and power swapping.

Anyone can make one of these - it should take less than a day for a novice. The only area of care is the electrical side where people do need to understand what they are doing.

Many thanks.

Peter

 

[adrian130980]

Hi peter

Great video as usual, I was under the impression that the axminster blast gates weren't anti static?

Have they confirmed this?

Can I ask why you did the socket to socket set up rather than a 4 way extension lead into the extractor?

Thanks and well done

Adrian

 

[Stone Message]

Hi peter

Great video as usual, I was under the impression that the axminster blast gates weren't anti static?

Have they confirmed this?

Can I ask why you did the socket to socket set up rather than a 4 way extension lead into the extractor?

Thanks and well done

Adrian

None of these 63 mm blast gates are AS - they are all made in the same factory in Taiwan.

I used proper sockets as the extension leads that have switches do not last very long - the switches go wrong very easily. I have thrown away 3 sets in the last 8 years and avoid them now.

Many thanks.

Peter

 

[CNC Paul]

Hi Peter

Great Video, as usual

Here is a link to the Switcher I made back in 2010  http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/festool-switcher/msg120236/#msg120236

[attachimg=1]

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Paul,

A brilliant idea and very mobile.

Peter

 

[badtastex]

Very nice Peter, I just did an overhaul in my shop but I used commonly available plumbing pipes (50mm) instead of the axminster kit.

Why do you need switches for all of the powertools - wouldn't just a parallel connection do the trick?

 

[Acrobat]

Whilst I wholeheartedly applaud all the various efforts in making blast gates and a hub, in case others don't realise Festol do make their own blast gates that fits onto the Y connector easily (pricey they may be) which you can fit into the vac so its simple to have two hoses connected permanently and easily swappable anytime. My old ct26 I have has two power ports and I believe most ct.'s can come with this option if required. Certainly saved me the hassle of trying to hookup another electrical outlet.

 

[Stone Message]

Very nice Peter, I just did an overhaul in my shop but I used commonly available plumbing pipes (50mm) instead of the axminster kit.

Why do you need switches for all of the powertools - wouldn't just a parallel connection do the trick?

My whole point of putting this together as a Hub is to make it as near foolproof as possible - switch the switch on then open the blast gate. Switch the switch off then close the blast gate. That way the correct gate is open for the tool being used. If there were no switches then any tool could be turned on but it might not have its blast gate open.

Peter

 

[Stone Message]

Whilst I wholeheartedly applaud all the various efforts in making blast gates and a hub, in case others don't realise Festol do make their own blast gates that fits onto the Y connector easily (pricey they may be) which you can fit into the vac so its simple to have two hoses connected permanently and easily swappable anytime. My old ct26 I have has two power ports and I believe most ct.'s can come with this option if required. Certainly saved me the hassle of trying to hookup another electrical outlet.

I became fed up with having to go to the CT, then bend down to swap hoses and perhaps swap a tool plug as well. The Dust Hub brings everything up to a comfortable height and it is very easy to use. You may not be aware that I broke my back when I was younger and constant bending over is difficult.

The extra bit of ducting also allows me to leave the CT where it is yet get some vacuum support near my pillar drill.

Peter

 

[badtastex]

Very nice Peter, I just did an overhaul in my shop but I used commonly available plumbing pipes (50mm) instead of the axminster kit.

Why do you need switches for all of the powertools - wouldn't just a parallel connection do the trick?

My whole point of putting this together as a Hub is to make it as near foolproof as possible - switch the switch on then open the blast gate. Switch the switch off then close the blast gate. That way the correct gate is open for the tool being used. If there were no switches then any tool could be turned on but it might not have its blast gate open.

Peter

I see, maybe thats a personal preference but I think that I would probably forget to switch the power on half the times and only change the blast gates. 

Have you analyzed the impact on the flow from the 90 degree connections that the T-juntions form? I guess that using strictly 45 degree junctions (such as the festool Y-connector) may have a higher efficiency.

 

[Stone Message]

I did take flow efficiency into account and that is why the path for the dust from the Kapex is in a straight line and the blast gates are all central. I accept that the flow through the right angle joint of the "T" pieces will be affected but I have tested it and am happy with the result.

I did try to get hold of some "Y" pieces - these should be about £5 each but were not available when I built the Dust Hub. Had they been available I would have probably used them to create a similar concept but with improved flow. I have attached a sketch below.

In the end my solution works for me and I am happy with it.

Peter

[attachimg=1]

 

[Acrobat]

Peter, I was just letting others know that Festool has blast gates available (that are antistatic I believe), and that they fit onto the Y connector into the vac, if someone was thinking of making an easy custom setup themselves, in case they weren't aware of this option. And the fact the cts can be rigged up or ordered from Festool  to accept more than one power outlet on the vac itself. I find this a real boon and no swapping power cords and  vac hoses unecessarily. Agreed it is a pain to bend down to select the switch to power the new tool and to have it at a more convenient height would be easier, but at least theres no wiring or setup involved and you can take it anywhere the vac goes. Both have benefits and shortcomings. I'm sure it just depends on ones choice. All in all I am in favour of having the vac setup as more than 1 hose 1tool.

 

[Stone Message]

I did look at the "Y" connector (452898) which is about £33 in the UK but I did not see it as part of a particularly elegant solution. Other than the autoclean blast gate (497926) at about £40, I am not aware of any other Festool product - it would be very helpful if you could let everyone know the part number and price of any other blast gate that Festool sell.

The Dust Hub is a simple and inexpensive idea. I agree that it is not portable but I covered this in the first 15 seconds of the video. I too have a second power outlet on my CT26 and it has been a great help in the past as I had the Kapex in one and a plug-it cord in the other. I fitted mine in about 5 minutes - all you do is isolate the CT from the power, remove the blanking plate, click the new socket in place (no tools needed) and screw back the two screws. I agree it is a great addition to any CT.

Many thanks.

Peter

 

[Peter Durand]

Hi Everyone

I love my CTL26 but get fed up swapping hoses and turning it to manual to do a sweep up. So, I came up with an idea a few months ago and started playing with the idea of a Dust Hub - a single central hub for vacuum and power. Some of you may have seen the prototype in my recent videos. It was originally going to be filmed as a project in December but I have had to bring it forward as the interest has grown.

The project costs very little and the parts should be easy to find.

Here is the link:



Peter

Peter, how do you carry the antistatic feature on to the vac? I appears that when you transition to the clear plastic you lose that continuity. I have heard that that is not good. Just a thought.

Cheers,

Peter

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Peter

You are right - there is no continuity of the AS system. I have been told that Axminster provide an anti static kit which is effective. I will look into this. I think that all that is required is a grounding cable along the outside of the plastic.

Peter

 

[GPowers]

I like the way you made your own custom fittings. Yery ingenuous way to shrink down the tubing.

 

[GPowers]

I took some regular plastic blast gates and made them conductive for anti-static by adding a piece of foil tape that runs from one end of the fitting to the other end and then it wraps around the edge and continues down the inside of the fitting.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Greg

When my wife saw the clip of me warming up the pipe she laughed so much that I had to make a cup of tea. It works quite well although getting the finished size right might take some care.

I like the foil tape idea. Many thanks.

Peter