Using a Festool Sander with Fein Vacuum? Creating virtual variable speed?

[davidwilkie]

Just got my brand new ETS 150/3 EQ Sander (yeah) and am planning to use it with a Fein Turbo II (no variable speed) vacuum. I know, I know...I should get the Festool vacuum to go with it...but let's presume for the moment that for budgetary or whatever reasons that is not happening. My understanding from posts on this board is that the Festool sanders work better with with the Festool vacuum at less than full speed, which means that the Fein will be too much. I am presuming that a mechanical speed control could be implemented in the form of a variable bypass, e.g., somewhere between the sander and the vacuum there is an adjustable-sized hole to allow in air other than through the sander, thus effectively reducing the vacuum in the sander. Anyone implement such a strategy? And any tips/pics or otherwise if so are greatly appreciated!

 

[tbellemare]

David:

This was discussed before and there's a thread somewhere about someone who made a bypass.

The black plastic curved tube that Festool has for cleaning has a bypass right where your thumb would go. It is just an elongated hole with a sliding sleeve over it. Expose more of the hole and you get less suction without having to turn down the CT, which might be quite distant.

I think you could make something pretty simple that would work fein.

Tom

 

[jonny round boy]

I think you could make something pretty simple that would work fein.

[ban]

any who writes puns that bad.....

 

[Alan m]

no that pun was feintastic

 

[BMH]

I had a Fein with my sanders and used the adapter that fein sales to hook up to the sander. You make a hole in it and I had a pvc ring that fitted over it making the hole bigger or smaller as necessary. Work great but was noisy. Now I have a Festool vacuum with variable speed and really appreciate that feature.

Bruce

 

[Holzhacker]

I had and still have my Fein TII long before I got a CT. Using the Fein with the ets wasn't any real issue. The extra suction power basically just holds the sander tighter to the material than one would like for optimal sanding. For general wood sanding outcome was fine. Drywall sanding wasn't as good. Very fine finish sanding could be an issue. Will probably take some practice to compensate for the extra suction. The handle method that Tom mentioned works fine. Its a pretty easy option and should solve your problem for now. Good luck
If it weren't for the Sys storage, I would buy another Fein instead of the older CT22. After using both for a couple years now, I still like the Fein better. I think the newer Feins have variable speed. Can't beat the Sys transport option though on the CT.

 

[MarkF]

"If someone could make an adaptor sleeve to allow mechanical suction adjustment for the Fein vacs they would nearly have the best of both worlds."

Micheal,
Never underestimate the skill of an old "Inhalation Therapist".  I used a standard Fein Wye w/cap and a 1/2 inch drill.

Fein Turbo II "Full Suction Mode":

Fein Turbo II "Sander Mode":

I had just emptied my cannister (I don't use a bag) prior to this photo.  Normally it is much cleaner, as I use a Cleanstream HEPA filter.

 

[davidwilkie]

Unless that "Y" would reduce efficiency, MarkF your solution looks perfect. Any extra noise is near vacuum instead of sander.

 

[MarkF]

Unless that "Y" would reduce efficiency, MarkF your solution looks perfect. Any extra noise is near vacuum instead of sander.

No problems with efficiency as this is a shopvac not a cyclone.  Two different things easily confused.  High pressure and low volume vs low pressure and high volume.  The Fein has plenty of reserve to handle this tiny angle.  As long as the other side of the wye (Plumbing/Medical term) or "Y" is closed no problem. 

 

[kenwahoo]

Am coming in rather late but I just got my ETS 150/5 with a Fein Dustex 25 which in US is the 9-20-24. The Fein now has variable suck!! The only annoying bit is fitting it to the sander as the Fein adaptor doesn't fit without cutting it up.

 

[Julian Tracy]

Here's a tip I heard a while back: simple rotate your sandpaper a bit to offset the hole alignment.  BY decreasing the effective size of the dust collecting holes, you reduce the suction.

I'll agree that I've always liked my Fein vac better than my CT22, though I finally sold it a little while ago when I got a great deal on a second CT22 (one set of bags to buy...)

Didn't do too bad though - had it ten years, paid bout $235 for it and sold it for $260.  Got a LN under warranty CT22 for $300.

JT

 

[GregBradley]

I really like the Fein vacuums and use them with my Festool sanders.

My 15 year old Fein, without adjustable speed, gets used on stuff that doesn't need adjustable suction. I bought a new Fein, with adjustable suction for the sanders. You need less suction and the ability to adjust it according to different abrasives and different uses. Just getting less suction with a calibrated leak only goes so far.

I found the best way to use a Festool sander with a Fein vac is buy the 27mm standard hose (452877 or 452879) and plug it into the Fein vac.