vacuum settings for different tools

farms100

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Apr 2, 2013
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Is there a handy chart or table of how fast to set your Vacuums for different tools, or does it matter?

for example, my dealer suggested for my sander to set it around 50%
 
I usually run sanders at about 50% - sometimes lower if I want it even more quiet and depending on the grit I'm using.

Kapex I run at full speed.  Same with a router where I am picking up more chips.  With my track saw, I usually run at 50-70%.

I have not seen any kind of speed chart, but adapted more for feel for me.

neil
 
General run of thumb, run 'er wide open for all tools. Except... for smaller sanders (ETS 125, DTS 400, RTS 400, etc.) run at about half speed. You can actually run the sander and slowly turn down the suction until you feel the sander "break free" and start to float on the material.

One other consideration is to dial down the CT for more power to the tool in instances such as cutting thick hardwoods with your TS or hogging off material with a big router and bit.
 
If my tool is not a sander I run suction to the max.

With a sander I set up with a test panel / scrap.  Start the sander and then dial beck until the sander just floats like Shane wrote.

Peter
 
I run my DTS with the sander turner all the way down. Works perfectly. Also find the RO125 easier to handle with it down all the way.
 
My thought is why would you run it turned down unless its sucking a sanding pad to your work?

I doubt it saves energy.  Noise reduction?
 
rrmccabe said:
My thought is why would you run it turned down unless its sucking a sanding pad to your work?

I doubt it saves energy.  Noise reduction?

energy has nothing to do with it, for me anyway..Sander tends to hop around less with the suction turned down. DTS needs little suction to make it effective. RO125 is a beast to control so you have to dial it in real nice-like to get the best results. I find this helps.
 
I run the ETS125 at minimum suction. I haven't tried for the "optimum" setting since the sander does its job at min suction and I don't get stray dust.

Everything else max suction.
 
I run all my sanders at full suction always, except when I use the DTS/RTS for drywall. When I sand drywall I can stick the sander to the ceiling and it will stay there on its own, but when I sand wood or metal I never seem to have that problem.
 
I'd put the ETS150 in the turn it down category too. The pad hardness and abrasive stiffness also make a difference on  how much suction it takes to stick the pad down.

In general for the ETS150 I use these approximate settings (CT33) .....  vac at  2/3 with hard pad and 120gr or coarser Rubin.  vac at 1/2  with soft pad and  150gr or coarser Rubin.  vac at 1/3 with soft pad and higher grits in Brilliant.  1/4 with super soft pad and higher grits in Brilliant.

For the Rotex 150 I bump the suction up a notch from the ETS150 settings.

Basically the softer the pad, the thinner the abrasive, the higher the grit .... the less suction you need.

Seth
 
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