Vac-sys

[DynaGlide]

Does Festool still offer the pump in a Systainer?
https://www.festool.de/produkte/arb...um-spanntechnik/580060---vac-sys-vp#Übersicht

Not in the U.S.

[member=72312]Rick Herrick[/member] [member=1170]Stan Tillinghast[/member] I think the link [member=8008]tjskinny[/member] posted covers everything. Let me know if you need to know more.

 

[Rick Herrick]

Thanks Matt. I remember now seeing parts of these threads when they were current.  I was newer to all this then so I didn't know what I didn't know and it went over my head.  But been using LR32 a few times now and always looking for a less clumsy way to do those 261 holes.  I had not seen the one on the pods themselves though.  I reached out to the seller to see where things stand.  Thanks for the pointers.

EDIT:  I heard back from Simon, the creator of the pods system.  COVID has cut into his schedule quite heavily so there is no inventory at this time.  If he gets things running again, he will let me/us know.

 

[Jeff Zanin]

Agreed with others, Vac-Sys is great but best if kept ready for use.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Cheese]

I have mine setup so I use the quarter turn valves to release them. You could use the foot valve but that's holding the panel.

Ahhhh, thanks for that [member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] now I can see the panel you're working on being held in place. The vacuum lines for the pods are tee'd off of the original vacuum connector.  [smile]

 

[DynaGlide]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] it's a slick setup. I never cared for bending down to fuss with clamps to secure the guide rail to the panel.

 

[Rick Herrick]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] it's a slick setup. I never cared for bending down to fuss with clamps to secure the guide rail to the panel.

Plus, I have found that using the FT quick clamps, I have dented the panel.  When you first see that, it really causes me to make up new bad words.  I was shoving the clamps all the way up against the panel.  I am trying now to keep it a 1/4" away to minimize the issue.

 

[Cheese]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] it's a slick setup. I never cared for bending down to fuss with clamps to secure the guide rail to the panel.

Ya, it seems real slick... [big grin] [big grin]

I have a bunch of kitchen cabinets to build summer/fall 2021, I think I'll pick up a pair of pods to make that task easier.  [smile]

 

[08G8V8]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] it's a slick setup. I never cared for bending down to fuss with clamps to secure the guide rail to the panel.

Ya, it seems real slick... [big grin] [big grin]

I have a bunch of kitchen cabinets to build summer/fall 2021, I think I'll pick up a pair of pods to make that task easier.  [smile]

I saw the post Simon made about these pods, but at the time didn't have the VAC-SYS.  I recently picked the System Set up and realized how nice this would be......so I looked at his Ebay listing, and they are out of stock.  I messaged him inquiring about them, and he responded he doesn't know if/when they will be available again, due to Covid. 

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Well, I for one would definitely want to buy a pair of simonh’s pods, so hope they will become available again.
DynaGlide, thanks for the video at the link. One thing I did notice that would bother me is: you were using only one VAC-SYS head, so the panel you were routing moved at each end of the process. I think I would need to have both heads up to prevent that, or have some support at the ends. Has anyone else dealt with that?
Also Dyna-Glide: where did you source the hexagonal rod for your LR-32 side stop extensions?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Since Simon has no plans to make more pods for sale you can make your own. He used Delrin but HDPE should work just as well and it’s cheaper and easier to mill. With HDPE you might want to make the pod thicker so the area over the slot remains strong enough to resist bending. Or just add a little mechanical reinforcement, pop-rivet a strip of aluminum etc.

 

[DynaGlide]

Well, I for one would definitely want to buy a pair of simonh’s pods, so hope they will become available again.
DynaGlide, thanks for the video at the link. One thing I did notice that would bother me is: you were using only one VAC-SYS head, so the panel you were routing moved at each end of the process. I think I would need to have both heads up to prevent that, or have some support at the ends. Has anyone else dealt with that?
Also Dyna-Glide: where did you source the hexagonal rod for your LR-32 side stop extensions?

[member=1170]Stan Tillinghast[/member] It's from McMaster Carr.    89845K77 I bought the 2ft length.

The other tricky part is finding a tape that will fit it. .this is the one I usedhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8RKN68/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The video makes it look like the panel is moving but it really isn't in relation to the vac sys head. Not an issue for this operation unless you're planning on doing much longer panels. These were the sides to ~25" tall base cabinets.

I left the option to add a second vac sys head to my cart but have yet to find a need for it. Maybe if I was working on doors or something.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Many thanks, Dyna-Glide! [smile]

 

[jarbroen]

I agree with [member=3515]RJNeal[/member] : you need to have it easily available or it will sit there. I stowed mine under the MFT, but it still required a decent amount of setup. After FestoolSedge's Live on the Vac-SYS, I made a similar side mount for the table and custom cart to hold the SE-1 head on that mount, the foot pedal, and accessory SYS. Now it takes seconds to setup. I know I'd use it a lot less if it wasn't for making its setup short and easy. If you want to learn how to make custom heads for it, watch Sedge's Live on it: basically, ply with a bead of silicone, but it helps immensely if you have a lot of similar parts that aren't easily serviced with the accessory heads.

Do you have any pictures of the cart you made to hold the SE1, pedal and systainer?
I checked your blog, but didn’t see it there - just your older vacuum system.
I have been noodling on the exact idea you described.  Something that stows under the MFT and allows quick access/setup of the Vac-Sys.
Otherwise, I forget to use the darn thing because it takes 5 minutes to pull out of the Systainers and hook everything up.  Which kinda defeats the time saving advantage for smaller projects.
There are some really neat Vac-Sys carts pictured in this thread, but I don’t want to dedicate a space for that.

 

[RJNeal]

View attachment 1View attachment 2
Here’s are a couple of pictures.

 

[jarbroen]

RJNeal - your Vac-Sys cart is most excellent!  If I had the space to dedicate to a separate cart I would build something precisely like that.
I was hoping [member=3513]PaulMarcel[/member] would share pictures of his setup.  He mentioned that it slides under an MFT, which is what I'm planning to build.

 

[elfick]

Big fan of the Vac Sys. .I made a cart dedicated to it.

I even use vacuum clamp pods to speed up LR32 work

[member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] Where did you get the t-track rails that you use to hang your tape measures?

 

[DynaGlide]

[member=20971]elfick[/member] They were made by Calavera Tool. No longer made, now he makes aprons instead.

https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/calavera-tool-works-reimagining-work-gear/



It makes for a nice handle on my cart. I found it at a lumber store when I was in Asheville a few years back and snatched it up since I already had one and wanted another but they were OOS everywhere I looked. I have the one with the 5# bags mounted to my MFT table. I keep Dominos in those.

 

[PaulMarcel]

My cart certainly isn't as fancy as the other posts in this thread but works well for me.

The board that mounts to the side of the MFT just leans back on the cart for storage. The pocket behind that board is where the foot pedal stows. I put a holder on that board for a weight plate; it isn't necessary but does keep it from moving when I bump it. The Systainer is the accessory kit with the different heads. The pump is sitting under the MFT on that shelf: you can see it in the first photo on the left in the back.

 

[jarbroen]

Awesome, thanks for posting Paul!

Simple is exactly what I was going for.  I like the slanted rest for the head and spot to stow the foot pedal.  And it's skinny enough that you can have another roll board next to it under the MFT.
I think I'll copy that, but make it taller so the Vac-Sys Systainers can be stored under the heads.
Do the exposed heads collecting dust cause you any vacuum issues?  I know the pump motor has a filter - just wasn't sure how sensitive the lines/heads are to dust and junk.
Even though I have plenty of dust extractors I still seem to make a pile of sawdust fairly often... lol

p.s. What do you use the 2" holes on the bottom of the SE holder for?

 

[PaulMarcel]

Do the exposed heads collecting dust cause you any vacuum issues?  I know the pump motor has a filter - just wasn't sure how sensitive the lines/heads are to dust and junk.

Not that I've noticed, but with it slanted and with the green pin in the middle pushed up by a spring, not a lot that settles would get in there. More likely to get dust there from using it tbh.

p.s. What do you use the 2" holes on the bottom of the SE holder for?

Last couple projects needed both the big round head and the narrower rail head. I drilled those holes to make stowing the other head easier as usually the cart gets pushed back under the MFT (and previously the accessory kit was stored on the wall sysport):