Vac Sys marks on wood?

[LDBecker]

So... I was using the Vac Sys to hold a piece of cherry-veneered MDF to sand it prior to staining and laquering... very handy... but I noticed round marks on the wood that showed up when I stained it. Have others experienced that?

Is it the Vac Sys pulling out more saw dust in that spot? I DID thoroughly wipe down the wood before finishing, and had the CT36 on when sanding with the ETS 125/3.  Or is it just the rubber leaving marks on the wood? I have only used that particular vac head a few times, but had not stained anything I had held on it yet.

 

[Birdhunter]

The vacuum heads are rubber and may contain some amount of oil. I've never seen this happen using my Vac Sys, but I don't stain much.

A test would be to wipe the rubber head with a clean white cloth and see if any residue appears.

The other possibility is some degree of abrasion between the wood and the rubber head.

 

[grbmds]

I have not had this happen. I clean the rubber on the heads with Armor-All and still don't notice any marks on wood clamped on the Vac Sys.

 

[junk731]

Randy just a heads up, Armor All contains silicones. Silicones, which every good finisher knows are a big no in any wood working shop as they cause major finishing defects. Because of the extremely small molecule they are extremely hard to get rid of on a piece of wood.

John

 

[grbmds]

Randy just a heads up, Armor All contains silicones. Silicones, which every good finisher knows are a big no in any wood working shop as they cause major finishing defects. Because of the extremely small molecule they are extremely hard to get rid of on a piece of wood.

John

[member=4907]kcufstoidi[/member]  Yes, I know that and tested it first before I commonly used it. No problems that I was able to notice. I am always very careful to do a fine wipe with a dry cloth and I don't do it very often; only when there is a lot of dust build up. The recommendation came from Brian at a Festool class in Indianapolis and he's apparently done it since the Vac Sys came out. He felt that it keeps the rubber flexible which is obviously a requirement for maximum suction. Anyway, I appreciate the comment. It just hasn't been a problem for me.

 

[LDBecker]

Thanks all for the suggestions- I was reluctant to use any cleaning fluids on the rubber for fear of degrading the rubber- but I don't think it's leaving anything on the wood. I wonder if I just need to more thoroughly wipe down the wood before I stain it - i don't often stain things either, but was trying (came fairly close) to match the stain of the piece the shelf I was making went into. It looks like odd grain, unless you're aware of it. I'm chalking it up to new rubber pads and not wiping the workpiece down enough before staining...

 

[Davesbuildtips]

All of my Festool vacs (CTMini/Midi/CTL22/26E) mark/rub off on surfaces if I use the hose connector end "naked". Most carpenters are aware of that over here and most think it is a nuisance too. I didn't have the Vac sys that long so I can't say that it will or will not mark wood - but it is a Festool tradition...  :

I have seen a flooring guy curse everyone around him for messing up his white stained floor despite everyone saying they hadn't even been in the room - and then he realised it was his Festool vac he was dragging around behind him while doing trim. He nearly threw it out the window.

Any form of silicone is an absolute NO NO in surface processing - it doesn't even get inside the doors of our paint shop. One time I was HVLP spraying some delicate door stiles and I almost went crazy when I had touched the surface with silicon residue on my fingers from installing a sink at home in the bathroom the same morning.  It kept messing up the surface and I had to redo one stile over and over again before I realized my error.  I had washed my hands twice before going in the paint room but the silicone persisted. After that I always wear single use gloves with silicone.

I wear gloves when mixing and cleaning the gun in the shop but not when spray painting. If I stick my fingers in sticky stuff I want to feel it before I spread it all over the place / the next piece.

As for the staining rubber I bluetape the nozzle if I need to make sure I don't mark a surface or just cup my hand over the nozzle. I would prefer not having to think about it but it is not a deal breaker for me. Still like the vacs.

Henrik. I think these guys are talking about the festool clamping head system, Vac Sys. Not the Sys vac. [wink]

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Ahhh... ...thanks for screwing my head back on straight David.  [big grin] :

Will remove my previous post as it is not helping the thread at all.

But remember - NO silicone in the woodshop. Never.