What Festool accessory or tool would you not purchase?

[eweber]

Of all the Festools I have tried, the jigsaw is the one that did impress me the less.
In my opinion it is a good tool but not great and do not justify the price compared to the competition.

Emmanuel

 

[rodwolfy]

Well, since we're talking about Fein and Festool vacs...

I have a Fein II with HEPA filter, a PC 7810 (both around 7 years old), and was looking for another vac; either a CT Midi or a Fein Turbo I.  I'm a vac nut and have multiple work areas...  However, I recently received a CT Midi as a gift - in essence making that decision for me.

Unfortunately (cuz I'm a big Festool fan) the CT Midi is going back.  First time ever for a Festool product for me.

Compared to the Fein I, the CT Midi is $100 more, is smaller in capacity, has less suction, is not as quiet, and has a hose that's shorter and smaller in diameter, The Fein comes with a brush and wand.  I can live with all that, preferring to buy Festool (cuz my saw, MFT, router, and sander are outstanding).  Both vacs are good European quality.

But the real clincher is having no HEPA filter option.  That's just not negotiable at any price considering my health and lungs are at stake.

Brad,

I just read a bunch of info from Bill Pentz's website. I was amazed at the info and the potential damage! I'm definitely going to switch over to HEPA for my vacs. Here's a summary from a related site:http://www.clearvuecyclones.com/Beginners_Corner.htm
You mentioned having a HEPA filter for your Fein II. All I have is the dust caked felt filter that came with it. Where do I get a (hopefully? inexpensive) HEPA filter for my Fein II?

Rod

 

[Brad Evans]

Rod,

Take a look at this link:
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/fein/turbo-ii-accessories.htm?L+coastest+qvyh8781ff233c23+1196868504

You need the first item on the list, the actual HEPA filter (which includes the filter flange and screw).  And, you need to use the paper dust bags.  That will also make dealing with emptying your vac so much nicer. There are third-party HEPA filters that are half the price and fit the Fein, but I decided to go with Fein's, believing a systems solution is better.

Also, as a general FYI, there are two components to consider when talking about filtering - particle size and the efficiency of capture.  HEPA specifies that at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and greater will be filtered.

This is in contrast to filters generically specified, say, as 1 micron, or 5 microns.  What is the efficiency?  Will they capture 99.99% of particles that size and greater? Or 75%, or ?  Without a spec, how do you know?

 

[Brian 57]

One more vote against the jigsaw.  I thought I'd use it all the time but it just hasn't happened - I think I was put off by the poor visibility of the point-of-cut. To be fair, I'm not sure I'd use any jigsaw as much as I once thought.
Regards

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I chose a Makita jigsaw a couple of years ago rather than Festool's or that from Bosch because I was rebuilding a deck, mostly in the evenings and that little LED light came in handy, and at half the price.  If my main anticipated use was cutting through extra thick countertops and having to maintain a perpendicular cutline, maybe Festool.  The Makita blades are very good, too.  And they are interchangeable with those from Festool and Bosch.

Dave R.

 

[rodwolfy]

Rod,

Take a look at this link:
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/fein/turbo-ii-accessories.htm?L+coastest+qvyh8781ff233c23+1196868504

You need the first item on the list, the actual HEPA filter (which includes the filter flange and screw).  And, you need to use the paper dust bags.  That will also make dealing with emptying your vac so much nicer. There are third-party HEPA filters that are half the price and fit the Fein, but I decided to go with Fein's, believing a systems solution is better.

Also, as a general FYI, there are two components to consider when talking about filtering - particle size and the efficiency of capture.  HEPA specifies that at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and greater will be filtered.

This is in contrast to filters generically specified, say, as 1 micron, or 5 microns.  What is the efficiency?  Will they capture 99.99% of particles that size and greater? Or 75%, or ?  Without a spec, how do you know?

Brad,

I was just looking over some other sites and found a very inexpensive HEPA Filter solution to Fein's version. I went to Lowes today and picked up a Gore Brand "CleanStream" HEPA filter for $30. I got a 3/8"x 2 1/2" bolt, a nylon washer and a nut. You put the bolt inside the black flange on the undereside of the motor, then set the filter in place and pass the bolt through the hole. Put on the washer and then the nut. The Gore filter is aluminum and apparently a Gore product. According to the box, it can be rinsed out with water and used as a wet vac filter too. Now I have HEPA filtration at 1/3 the cost of the Fein filter! I just mounted it inside the 5 micron felt filter (maybe a slight loss in suction). ;D

 

[Lou Miller]

You're not supposed to use the 5 micron filter with hepa filters. Ditch the 5 micron filter and get yourself some bags. Apparently, you can use the Shop Vac brand and get them at Lowe's too. I don't know that from actual use on my part, I've only just read posts from other people that claim those bags work fine.