Which cleanup kit?
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Brice Burrell
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Jason, good question. This is just like all of the Festool decisions, it's not an easy one. I've got the Tradesmen set, I'm very happy with it. For me the biggest asset in the set is the larger D36 AS hose that I use with my Kapex and OF1400. I tend to use my Festool cleanup set when I get to the finished stage of a job and rarely before. When my Mini get 3/4 full or so the suction is not really sufficient to be effective with the floor and wand attachments.
I still use my shop vacuum hose/attachments with my Festool vacs. The larger diameter shop vac hose makes a difference for larger debris. There is not substitute for the old broom and dust pan.
Here are a couple of reviews that might help. My installer/tradesmen kit review, and Seth's compact cleaning set review.
I still use my shop vacuum hose/attachments with my Festool vacs. The larger diameter shop vac hose makes a difference for larger debris. There is not substitute for the old broom and dust pan.
Here are a couple of reviews that might help. My installer/tradesmen kit review, and Seth's compact cleaning set review.
AlexThePalex
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Since I mostly use my Festools (all sanders) for paint prep and clean up with the CTL22 I can certainly recommend the compact cleaning kit.
The compact cleaning kit basically has all the functionality you need. As far as Festool accessories go it's one of the cheapest sets out there, and it's so light you hardly notice you brought it with you.
How does it compare to the tradesman kit? Well, I haven't worked with the tradesman kit itself but I do think I can say some things about it and compare it with the compact cleaning kit since, well, I've done quite a bit of cleaning already in my life.
The biggest difference between the two kits in functionality are the D36 hose and the carpet nozzle that come with the tradesman kit. If you want the D36 hose is all up to you, and it has many advantages with certain tools over the D27 hose, but for mere cleaning purposes, it's not absolutely necessary. The D27 hose will do just fine for general clean up. Like Brice said, there's no substitute for the old broom and dust pan, and when I'm finished with paint prep I always use them to clean up the rough pieces and then finish it off with the CTL22 and the D27 hose and the various nozzles.
And this is why I prefer the Compact Cleaning kit over the Tradesman kit, because the tradesman kit has the carpet nozzle and that nozzle does NOT work so well on surfaces other than carpet. The nozzle in the compact cleaning kit works much better on rough surfaces, and it also comes with three inserts that give it more functionality. And let's face it, most paint prep is done outside, especially those jobs where it becomes real messy, and not on the nice carpet inside. But on carpet, the nozzle of the compact kit also works just fine. The carpet nozzle is big but has a smaller hole. If you have to suck up larger paint flakes, the nozzle of the compact kit will allow you that, while the carpet nozzle can clog.
Compact cleaning kit nozzle:
Carpet nozzle:
Btw, I bought the carpet nozzle separately so I know how it works too. A little shop that specializes in vacuum cleaners here in town sold it, without the Festool logo, but exactly the same thing, for only 29 euros while Festool sells it for 47. Oh, and that shop is NOT cheap in any way. They also sell the bigger rotating nozzle for only 49 euros while Festool sells it for a whopping 121
.
Only thing I can't understand about the compact cleaning set is that Festool left out the round brush.
It's a very useful brush and a standard accessory with almost every vac you buy. I greatly recommend getting this one extra also, as I did.
The compact cleaning kit basically has all the functionality you need. As far as Festool accessories go it's one of the cheapest sets out there, and it's so light you hardly notice you brought it with you.
How does it compare to the tradesman kit? Well, I haven't worked with the tradesman kit itself but I do think I can say some things about it and compare it with the compact cleaning kit since, well, I've done quite a bit of cleaning already in my life.
The biggest difference between the two kits in functionality are the D36 hose and the carpet nozzle that come with the tradesman kit. If you want the D36 hose is all up to you, and it has many advantages with certain tools over the D27 hose, but for mere cleaning purposes, it's not absolutely necessary. The D27 hose will do just fine for general clean up. Like Brice said, there's no substitute for the old broom and dust pan, and when I'm finished with paint prep I always use them to clean up the rough pieces and then finish it off with the CTL22 and the D27 hose and the various nozzles.
And this is why I prefer the Compact Cleaning kit over the Tradesman kit, because the tradesman kit has the carpet nozzle and that nozzle does NOT work so well on surfaces other than carpet. The nozzle in the compact cleaning kit works much better on rough surfaces, and it also comes with three inserts that give it more functionality. And let's face it, most paint prep is done outside, especially those jobs where it becomes real messy, and not on the nice carpet inside. But on carpet, the nozzle of the compact kit also works just fine. The carpet nozzle is big but has a smaller hole. If you have to suck up larger paint flakes, the nozzle of the compact kit will allow you that, while the carpet nozzle can clog.
Compact cleaning kit nozzle:
Carpet nozzle:
Btw, I bought the carpet nozzle separately so I know how it works too. A little shop that specializes in vacuum cleaners here in town sold it, without the Festool logo, but exactly the same thing, for only 29 euros while Festool sells it for 47. Oh, and that shop is NOT cheap in any way. They also sell the bigger rotating nozzle for only 49 euros while Festool sells it for a whopping 121
.
Only thing I can't understand about the compact cleaning set is that Festool left out the round brush.
It's a very useful brush and a standard accessory with almost every vac you buy. I greatly recommend getting this one extra also, as I did.
Brice Burrell
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- Mar 13, 2007
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- 7,385
Thanks Alex, I was hoping you'd drop in on this conversation. Great insight on the compact cleaning set. I'd love to find a less expensive version of the rotating carpet nozzle here in the US.
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