What a difference a Boom Arm makes

[truck90278]

I have seen a lot of folks on this forum make their own, but I have so little time available to work on my projects, I finally broke down and bought one (thanks to Bob Marino for his fast delivery and great service as usual).  I was on travel to Huntsville AL. for several weeks and ordered it just before I got home.  It arrived this last Friday and today I was able to use it for the first time.  What a difference it makes - no more stumbling around on the hose and cord.  Makes it a lot more fun to play with all the toys

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Congrats...and yes, it is one of those "must have" accessories that you do not fully appreciate until you use it.  Make using everything with the vac easier.

Scot

 

[fifo28]

It is a huge difference.  I don't have the arm but I made my own - same benefits.

 

[RONWEN]

Making your own boom works fine if you leave your vac in a stationary spot, I've seen some very clever set-ups however if you move your vac around I haven't seen anything as handy as the Festool boom -- I'm in that (moving) category and I wouldn't want to be without one.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Making your own boom works fine if you leave your vac in a stationary spot, I've seen some very clever set-ups however if you move your vac around I haven't seen anything as handy as the Festool boom -- I'm in that (moving) category and I wouldn't want to be without one.

I built a boom arm cart for the vac to sit in.  It's nothing pretty, but very handy for a small shop.

Jon

 

[mouppe]

It took me several years to get one, but I haven't regretted it since. The only annoyance is sometimes the power cable gets caught under the stabilizing bars- as has been previously discussed on the FOG the North American power cable is thicker than elsewhere and less flexible, and tends to fall off the storage brackets on the CT vacs.

But it's a very useful accessory and has even saved my TS 55 from a nasty fall off the MFT when I knocked it off and the boom arm stopped it from hitting the floor.

FYI, it took a few weeks for the boom arm to loosen up a little and fully rotate. At first I though there was a limit to the range of rotation, but not so.

Richard.

 

[Alan m]

Making your own boom works fine if you leave your vac in a stationary spot, I've seen some very clever set-ups however if you move your vac around I haven't seen anything as handy as the Festool boom -- I'm in that (moving) category and I wouldn't want to be without one.

I built a boom arm cart for the vac to sit in.  It's nothing pretty, but very handy for a small shop.

Jon

you know the rules no pice or it didnt happen

 

[ccarrolladams]

Back in 2006 when I purchased my first CT22 I am not sure Festool USA even sold the boom arm. I knew I would be working on site. I already owned a sturdy motion picture senior reflector stand with a large grip head and arm. Those are made to fold for transport. Since such stands are designed to hold 4' square reflectors steady in wind, I knew dealing with a 36mm AS hose and power cable would be no problem.

Later I decided to buy a second CT22 for use in the work room in my condo. By then I had seen the actual Festool boom arm in use by others. My first thought was to use another reflector stand. The price of a new one with grip head and arm was far more than buying the Festool boom arm. I must say I am still very happy with that boom arm. It is the portable one in my shop.

Each of the work tables in my shop has at least one dedicated 36mm or 27mm AS hose. Those are supported by soft sash or "trick" line that can be adjusted as needed. Since these work tables normally stay in position for me this system works out well.

 

[RONWEN]

Making your own boom works fine if you leave your vac in a stationary spot, I've seen some very clever set-ups however if you move your vac around I haven't seen anything as handy as the Festool boom -- I'm in that (moving) category and I wouldn't want to be without one.

I built a boom arm cart for the vac to sit in.  It's nothing pretty, but very handy for a small shop.

Jon

Picture please?

 

[fdengel]

you know the rules no pice or it didnt happen

Hmm, shouldn't that be... AND it didn't happen?

[unsure]

 

[Jonhilgen]

Making your own boom works fine if you leave your vac in a stationary spot, I've seen some very clever set-ups however if you move your vac around I haven't seen anything as handy as the Festool boom -- I'm in that (moving) category and I wouldn't want to be without one.

I built a boom arm cart for the vac to sit in.  It's nothing pretty, but very handy for a small shop.

Jon

Picture please?

It's a little ghetto, but here you go.  There are others that are much, much better (just search shop made boom arms).

Alan, I can't find the thread about your dewalt miter stand mod.  A little help?

Jon

 

[speed]

has anyone made anything for the ctl mini/midi?

 

[RONWEN]

Nice.  What is the extra piece on the cabinet upper left corner?

 

[Tinker]

That looks like a very stable setup from here.
How do you get at the filters and the dust bags?
Tinker

 

[Jonhilgen]

Nice.  What is the extra piece on the cabinet upper left corner?

Ron,

Just a holder for my framing square.

That looks like a very stable setup from here.
How do you get at the filters and the dust bags?
Tinker

Only need to slide out the CT from the back (it's open on both ends) to access the bags and filters.

Jon

 

[Alan m]

Alan, I can't find the thread about your dewalt miter stand mod.  A little help?

linky

i should have searched for the pics but was 2 lazy
nice cart

 

[GaryLaroff]

FYI, it took a few weeks for the boom arm to loosen up a little and fully rotate. At first I though there was a limit to the range of rotation, but not so.

Richard.

Richard and others, are you saying that the boom arm is supposed to rotate more than a total of 90 degrees, 45 degrees left and 45 degrees right of the front of the CT?

I've had my CT22, handle and boom arm for three years.  It is of the vintage that came with a big white plastic part that quickly broke and was replaced with an aluminum part. 

The arc of rotation appears to be limited to the arc cut in one of the pipes and the large hex key bolt that goes in the arc.  Is there a way to get more than a total of 90 degrees swing in the boom arm?

Gary

 

[Brice Burrell]

...The arc of rotation appears to be limited to the arc cut in one of the pipes and the large hex key bolt that goes in the arc.  Is there a way to get more than a total of 90 degrees swing in the boom arm?

Gary

Gary, simple solution, remove the bolt.

 

[RONWEN]

...The arc of rotation appears to be limited to the arc cut in one of the pipes and the large hex key bolt that goes in the arc.  Is there a way to get more than a total of 90 degrees swing in the boom arm?

Gary

Gary, simple solution, remove the bolt.

Agreed, I removed my bolt the same day that I installed the boom.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

+1 on the boom arm.  Its another one of those things that seem extravagant until you get it, then you can't imagine how you lived without it.

I have made one mod.  I have my MFT a few feet behind my 300 lb traditional bench, and I wanted to use Festool stuff on both.  I took the boom off the CT and attached it to a wooden stand (with a cinder block onboard for ballast).  Antenna clamps hold the boom so it can rotate the full 360 degrees.  Now I have suction on both benches.  Thanks to Alan M for the idea.

One more thing, it is expensive, but if it saves one bound hose incident that causes a router to go the wrong way on a 95 percent complete piece of furniture - its worth it.  And yes, I know this from personal experience. [embarassed]