What speed should I run the vac at when...?

[agehall]

I must admit, I'm a total noob when it comes to woodworking. I'm a sucker for quality products and thus I've filled my home with Festool products to help me do various things. Now comes the problem, how the heck do I actually make the best/right use of them!?

One thing that has been on my mind lately, is what speed I should use on the vac when performing various tasks. I find that I often just leave it on a fairly high setting, but I figure the setting can be changed for a reason.

So, how should I use the vac (CT-22 in my case) when doing cuts with the Kapex? Sanding with a Rotex (150 or 90)? Using the Domino? Routing? Cutting with TS-55? What speed and hose diameter is the most suitable?

 

[ccarrolladams]

I must admit, I'm a total noob when it comes to woodworking. I'm a sucker for quality products and thus I've filled my home with Festool products to help me do various things. Now comes the problem, how the heck do I actually make the best/right use of them!?

One thing that has been on my mind lately, is what speed I should use on the vac when performing various tasks. I find that I often just leave it on a fairly high setting, but I figure the setting can be changed for a reason.

So, how should I use the vac (CT-22 in my case) when doing cuts with the Kapex? Sanding with a Rotex (150 or 90)? Using the Domino? Routing? Cutting with TS-55? What speed and hose diameter is the most suitable?

Sanding is one task where the suction setting is critical. Festool sanders all require the 27mm hose. Sanders also generally work best with a minimum of suction, so the abrasive is not pulled into the work. I start with the suction on minimum and experiment on a scrap with each grit. Usually the lower the grit the more suction, but you just need to experiment.

The Kapex really needs a 36mm hose. You might as well run the CT22 at maximum. Personally I do not run my Kapex through the CT22 because I prefer to let the suction run continuously.

Within days of buying my first TS55 I started using a 36mm AS hose with it and my CT22. The bigger hose slightly improved dust collection. I also find that the larger hose is less likely to catch on rails or other obstructions.

The MFK 700 and OF1010 routers cannot accept a 36mm hose directly and there is no reason to use the larger hose with those tools. However, the OF1400 and OF2200 routers really work better with a 36mm hose. With routers I use maximum suction.

Both of the Festool planers need 36mm hose and maximum suction.

Enjoy your Festools and have fun working with wood!

 

[agehall]

Sounds like I need to take a trip to my dealer and get the 36mm hose as I only have the 27mm AS one now.

 

[Corwin]

Sounds like I need to take a trip to my dealer and get the 36mm hose as I only have the 27mm AS one now.

There are two ways to approach this that you may want to consider;  

• Purchase a 3.5m D36-AS hose that comes bundled with one of the cleaning sets.
  
• Purchase one of the longer 5m or 7m D36-AS hoses along with one of each of the end fittings (D36-AS Rotating Adaptor for the vac end and D36-AS Reducing Sleeve for the tool end) so that you can cut a length off of the longer hose to use for your Kapex and still have a 3.5m length remaining for a separate hose to use with you other tools.

 

[mouppe]

I would buy the 36mm hose as part of the tradesmen cleaning set as it comes in a systainer and includes various nozzle attachments.

I use the vac on full suction for almost everything except sanding, when I switch it to halfway. I use the 36mm hose for my router and ts55, and the 27mm hose for my Domino and routers.

I believe this is normal practice.

 

[agehall]

Excellent suggestion about the cleaning kit. I bought my CT-22 used and I got the cheaper, all plastic kit with it, but it's very worn out and I've actually been looking at the metallic version from time to time.

As I don't have a proper workshop where things can be set up stationary, I have to haul things from my basement to my back yard whenever I need to do something. So a kit that comes in a systainer is very appealing to me.

 

[semenza]

Excellent suggestion about the cleaning kit. I bought my CT-22 used and I got the cheaper, all plastic kit with it, but it's very worn out and I've actually been looking at the metallic version from time to time.

As I don't have a proper workshop where things can be set up stationary, I have to haul things from my basement to my back yard whenever I need to do something. So a kit that comes in a systainer is very appealing to me.

In that case you will love the portability of Festool, and the fact that it can be set up and used almost anywhere due to tthe dust collection.

Ditto what has been said above for advice  [thumbs up]

Seth

 

[fdengel]

If I'm sanding the side of a small piece (such as pen blanks when preparing them for penturning), I leave suction on full for my Rotex; for any work where I'm using the Rotex "normally" (with the pad facing the ground), I generally have the suction set about 1/4 to 1/3 power.

For all other tools I've used (so far), suction is best maxed out.

I need the 36mm cable too, for the planer (which won't accept the 27mm hose), but I'm not using it often enough right now to give the hose much priority -- particularly now that our basement had a few inches of water in it over the weekend...  I can live with cleaning up after that tool for a little longer.

 

[truck90278]

I would suggest half to one third speed for sanding and full speed for all other activities.  I would also suggest the Workshop cleaning kit which comes with the D36 hose.  There have been reviews on this forum which give it high marks.  As you are new to Festool and woodworking, I would highly suggest getting on the notification list for their training classes.  They are provided in Indianapolis and Las Vegas.  They are very inexpensive ($150) for 2 days of great training.  The classes are small 6 people and you good hands on training from very knowledgeable instructors.  

Sorry, didn't notice where you are located - tough for the training classes i mentioned

 

[agehall]

I'm actually not all that new to Festool. I've been owning tools for a year now, but so far it's only been used very lightly. As the home renovation project moves more into making furniture and other things where I actually need to make the best use of the tools, I decided to become a bit more active here. Although the tools makes me accomplish more, I still need to become better to get the most out of them.

I'm kind of envious that you have those training classes in the US. Anyone know if they are offered in Germany by any chance? My job has me travelling quite a bit and I pass thru Frankfurt or Munich about once every week on average...

 

[AlexThePalex]

I mostly leave them at full speeds for all activities. Only the small DTS, RTS and ETS125 sanders get half speed soemtimes, but only when I'm using them on totally flat surfaces like doors, tables and walls. In those cases they sure tend to get sucked onto the work piece's surface. 

I'm kind of envious that you have those training classes in the US. Anyone know if they are offered in Germany by any chance?

Man, Germany (and also Holland, though a bit less) has classes all the time. You can find out about them on the German website.

 

[phmade]

Here's a suggestion that is a bit out of the ordinary... The other day I was installing in a customer's home and it was time to clean up at the end of the install.  I always vacuum the whole space with the CT22 but they had a sleeping baby in the other room.  I certainly didn't want to stir up dust with a broom so I just turned the vacuum on low and swept a little slower.  The baby slept through everything and the customer was very impressed!