VAC SYS DISCONTINUED?

Just FYI..... for anyone looking to get one before they are gone.
I just got a VacSys SE 1 from ToolNirvana.com  I think they had a few left.  (awesome help on the phone)
Then I got a  VacSys SE 2 from Beavertools,  Think they have a bunch left.
Then I got a  Really nice Pump from veneersupplies.com  (Super nice people)  Awesome pump.https://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Excel-3-Continuous-Run-Vacuum-Press-System.html

All in  $1249  (yea, that's a lot of money.... BUT, it's less expensive the having purchased the Complete VacSys Kit) 
So that's a win.    [big grin]

 
Few cared about buying a VAC SYS until it was discontinued. Now there is more demand that supply. Festool could start up the factory again now that all of their new old stock is gone. As for comparing the price to others if I remember correctly the original price of the set was significantly more when it first came out. Someone with an older catalog could verify this.
 
[member=77446]Domino11[/member] can you share a link to the pump you ordered? Or a model number if no link?

Just off the phone w ToolNirvana. All SE1 units are sold out (they went fast!)

However, they may get more SE1 units in from Germany later, and are waiting to hear from Festool.

I received a tracking number for my SE2 today from the ToolNut, which was a great surprise as I assumed it would be backordered. I also have a foot valve coming from Hartville, and am eying the $400 Rockler vacuum pump to sub for the Festool one, in case my order from Lee Valley for the pump falls through.

If I’m able to get an SE1 which includes the foot valve, then I’ll sell or return the one I bought. That would bring my total cost for a full SE1+SE2 set purchased piecemeal to $1,530, which is $155 more than the cost of buying the package.

If I substitute the Festool pump with the Rockler one, my all in cost would be $1,250 (basically the same as Domino11).
 
I would steer clear of that pump from Rockler just because its only 1cfm which isnt much.  It would take a while on bigger vacuum bags and if trying to clamp porous woods it would help to have more CFM's to keep up with any bleeding.  Vacupress also has some pumps but the ones linked above are way more economical If it was me I would spend the extra 50 bucks and get the excel 5 which is 5cfm pump at only 55db.  The closest pump from vacupress is almost double in price.  Not sure what the specs are on the festool pump but that excel pump looks real nice.  If my Senco vacuum pump ever dies I would buy that one tomorrow. 
 
afish said:
I would steer clear of that pump from Rockler just because its only 1cfm which isnt much.  It would take a while on bigger vacuum bags and if trying to clamp porous woods it would help to have more CFM's to keep up with any bleeding.  Vacupress also has some pumps but the ones linked above are way more economical If it was me I would spend the extra 50 bucks and get the excel 5 which is 5cfm pump at only 55db.  The closest pump from vacupress is almost double in price.  Not sure what the specs are on the festool pump but that excel pump looks real nice.  If my Senco vacuum pump ever dies I would buy that one tomorrow.
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agreed on every front.
That's why we went with the Excel Pumps.

.
 
Thanks for the heads up [member=73094]afish[/member] and the link to the excel pump [member=77446]Domino11[/member]

Did you have to buy additional connectors?

I will get the same one if my Festool order doesn’t pan out. I was told that they are no longer making the pumps, but it sounds like they are still producing limited quantities of the heads (which is the more important part of the set anyway). I was given a ship estimate of late March for the Festool vacuum pump. Will see.
 
when i ordered my ship estimate was feb 27. it has moved every day, by a day, since. its up to march 26 now
 
batmanimal said:
Thanks for the heads up [member=73094]afish[/member] and the link to the excel pump [member=77446]Domino11[/member]

Did you have to buy additional connectors?

I will get the same one if my Festool order doesn’t pan out. I was told that they are no longer making the pumps, but it sounds like they are still producing limited quantities of the heads (which is the more important part of the set anyway). I was given a ship estimate of late March for the Festool vacuum pump. Will see.
Click to expand...

I cant answer that for sure, I dont use the VAC SYS system I use my own vacuum pods I make myself.  I also have my vacuum pump in a shed (along with all my other noise/dust generating items.  I also have vacuum lines run to a few different areas in the shop. I use 1/2 pvc for as much as I can and then transition to reinforced vinyl tubing and barbs up to my valves.  From the valve out I use the push connect fittings for convenience but the push connect fittings can have a tendency to leak.  By using the pvc and barb fittings up to the pump I have a 100% air tight system.  As long as I have the pneumatic switch in the off position I can leave the pump on 24/7 and have no cycles.  If the push-connect fittings leak a tiny bit its only while in use and the pump is going to cycle anyways so it doesnt much matter. 

I have 2 valves that each T off to 2 ball valves.  I use one valve to suck the part down to the bench and the second valve operates any type of vacuum fixture or template independently of the 1st valve.  I added the 4 ball valves just in case I run into a use I havent thought of yet.
 

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Thanks for the detailed response [member=73094]afish[/member]

I went through past replies in this very thread and found Reply #106 has a close up of the Vac Sys connected to the Excel pump. Looks straightforward enough! I think I'll save the $280 price difference between the Excel and the Festool pump (which may be backordered into oblivion anyway), and get the Excel one.

This is a great forum. An expensive forum, but a great one, lol.
 
batmanimal said:
Thanks for the detailed response [member=73094]afish[/member]

I went through past replies in this very thread and found Reply #106 has a close up of the Vac Sys connected to the Excel pump. Looks straightforward enough! I think I'll save the $280 price difference between the Excel and the Festool pump (which may be backordered into oblivion anyway), and get the Excel one.

This is a great forum. An expensive forum, but a great one, lol.
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That's the way I was looking at it as well.
The Festool pump seems to be 100% non existent.
And the Excel pump has better specs, for a lot less money.  So not a terrible thing.

.
 
I will say the QA fitting that Joe sells on veneersupplies has worked well for me. No leaks so far.  I have two in my system before the valves if they leaked I would know since my pump would cycle but its been sitting for days on end without use and hasent gone off once.  Im assuming the ports on the festool stuff is 1/4npt if so it should be easy to just buy some reinforced tubing and some barbs.  It looks like festool uses barbs to.  Just FYI if you dont want a pedal you can use the toggle style vales like I have.  They are only 16 bucks or so.  Not sure if Fetool uses 1/4 or 3/8 tubing.  The festool connectors are pricey.  They are about $50 for the QA side not sure about the male coupler, I stopped looking after I saw $50 for the one side. 
 
I also added some vacuum pod holders on the one end and a dedicated T-handle allen wrench for attaching them with the TSO power dogs.  It works great so far and I can attach/remove a pod in 30 seconds.  That was important for me since I only have the space for one bench and need to be able to quickly switch between tasks and clear the bench.   
 

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Well, I got the official notice today… Lee Valley took orders they won’t be able to fulfill and so I wont be getting the Vac Sys 😞 They cancelled my order.
 
edwarmr said:
Well, I got the official notice today… Lee Valley took orders they won’t be able to fulfill and so I won’t be getting the Vac Sys 😞 They cancelled my order.
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The Vac Sys SE 2 are still available.

You could purchase (2) QTY  VacSys SE 2 and add the Veneer pump like I did  to make your own complete system.
The only other thing you'd need is either
a)  the foot pump extra
OR
b) a Toggle dump valve (Much less cost)

This is what I was going to do before I Stumbled upon the last VacSys SE 1  floating around the USA.


. 
 
Got a cancellation notice from Lee Valley today as well, after being told just yesterday they were expecting more in at the end of February; bummer.  What is this "relaunch" they are talking about, anyone know?
 
JMatthew84 said:
Got a cancellation notice from Lee Valley today as well, after being told just yesterday they were expecting more in at the end of February; bummer.  What is this "relaunch" they are talking about, anyone know?
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Last I checked Beaver still had SE2 units available. I did the exact same thing as Domino11. I had planned to order 2 SE2 units, but managed to snag an SE1 from tool nirvana after another customer who had claimed it let it go. I ordered the Excel 3 pump as well, and canceled my SE1 and pump order from LV (I had a bad feeling since another poster in here noted they kept moving out the ETA date).

2 SE2 units will do the same thing as an SE1+SE2. You may wish to order a round rubber head attachment to truly replicate an SE1 unit, in addition to the foot valve accessory.
 
Hi everyone, I ordered mid December my unit from Lee Valley, got also a cancellation for the set but the SE2  should arrive in June 2022.
I am going the Excel 5 route for the pump, the rest in piecemealed from several Festool vendors.
I was looking into previous posts and I  am still not sure if the connectors fit properly. BTW, when I was in Munich I saw the pump now in a Systainer.

Cheers
Luis
 
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