Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

Re: Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

ScottS

>I don't have a Festool ROS, but I do have a Festool Vac (CT22) connected to a Porter-Cabe 333VS sander. Suction from the vac is intense! I actually have to turn the vac down so that the sander doesn't get stuck to the wood! I can't detect any particles in the air when sanding with this combo, though I do need to wipe the wood with a tack cloth before finishing to remove the last bit of very, very fine dust from the surface.

Would a Festool sander do better? I don't know. I seem to recall that one of the woodworking mags did a test a while back that showed the Festool might have been slightly better than whatever sander they rated tops (probably the 333VS). Don't quote me on that, though...

Re: Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

Doug Reynolds in Seattle

>Tom: I have the Festool ETS 150 which I got from Bob Marino. I connect it to a Fein shop vac which I already had instead of a Festool. I am very happy with the dust collection which I think is better than when connected to my Bosch sanders. Seems Festool started with a clean design slate and dust collection was high on their priority list.

Re: Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

Tom Stockton

>Tom

I have the festool 150/3 sander and think it is a great tool. I would say it collects almost all of the dust a little will fall over the edge. As far as vacuums I use the little Fein mini turbo which is a real nice bargain as it comes with attachments and a cartridge filter, which are options on some of the other high end vacuums. I really don't think it matters which vacuum you get find one that does what you want and fits your budget seems like the sander design is what is important to dust collection.

Tom

Re: Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

David Yoho

>Hi Tommy,

I've been using two sanders from Festool - a 6-inch (150/3) and the 6-inch Rotex (RO 150E). Both connect to a Festool CT22 vac. These sanders are a step above both of my Porter Cable sanders and the dust collection is fantastic. I don't see any dust after a sanding session. Contact Bob Marino if you have questions as he's very knowledgeable and helpful.

David

Re: Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

Jesse in New Mexico

>Hey Tommy,

I have the Festool Rotex (very aggressive sander or very meek polisher - switch selectable) and the 150-3 ROS. You have to try them to believe them. I don't even wear a mask when I'm sanding with the Festools - though I always wear one for hand sanding.

I use a PC 333 with the Festool vac sometimes, at least till I use up my stock of five hole five inch paper.

A few neat features of the Festool system - IMHO, the center hole in the paper and pads does improve DC, though its still pretty darn good with the PC333. The 6 inch paper is much more effective than 5 inch. The great dc makes your paper last longer and work faster - you aren't sanding sand. God bless Festool for putting an anti-static hose on the system - no shocks like my shopvac gives. The vac puts the paper in a bag that seals tightly while still in the vac, no cloud of dust when you empty it. The sander, and other festoolies, can plug into the vac so that the vac comes on automatically when you power up the sander and stays on for 10 seconds after you turn off the sander.

It works so well that I will sand with the Festool even if I have wet varnish on the other side of the 3 car garage!

I use both the Festool plunge saw and the sanders with the vac. Neat thing is that the power cord and vac hose are interchangeable. I just unplug the cord and the hose from the sander and plug them into the saw - no spaghetti of knotted cords!

If you have a woodcraft around, they would probably let you crank one up so you can see for yourself.

Re: Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

Larry Clinton At Frankfort (Central)., Indiana

>I had the same problem. I just tried out a real cheap solution. I used masking tape to fix a 20 X 20 air filter over the intake side of a cheap window fan. I set it up on a bench and sanded right in front of the fan. I really believe it did a better job than anything I've seen. I probably will blow out the filter (outside) a time or two then replace it. Since I use the same size in my house and shop furnaces I always have them on hand. They cost less than $1 each so think I will stay with this system. I was going to build a downdraft table, already have a blower for it - but will cancel that project.

Thanks!

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>Thanks for all the input. Really helps with my decision process!

Have a great weekend all!

Tom

You keep asking questions

Glenn Madsen near San Francisco

>like you're making a lot of 'tool money' with your work. Glad it's going well!

Re: Festool ROS Dust Extraction?

Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod

>Tom -

From your post I think you're saying you run your ROS with the dust bag and no vac? If so, definitely ditch the bag and hook up to a vac. I use a Fein Turbo II with a Festool hose. The Festool hose is much more flexible than the Fein hose which translates to better control of the sander. Whatever brand of sander you are using, I'm sure you'll see a vast improvement with a vac hooked up to it.

I have a Rotex 150E Festool sander and a Porter Cable 3?? 5" sander. I don't see any dust with either unit when sanding a tabletop for example, so long as the vac is hooked up to it. When the sander overlaps an edge some dust escapes but very little.

I think if you get a Festool sander you will really like it, as I do, but the major dust removal mechanism is the vac, not the sander.

Ed

Agree

Hoa Dinh in Alameda

>"The major dust removal mechanism is the vac, not the sander."

I use a PC333VS hooked up to a Fein Mini Turbo - no dust.

I bought a Festool RO 150 because I needed something more aggressive the the PC333VS - no dust.

I recently got a 6" PC7336 with 6-hole sanding pad and dust hood (pad and dust hood bought separately from the sander) - no dust.

It's the vac, not the sander.

-- Hoa

They make dust?!?

JRutter

>I get very good dust collection from my 6" and 5" Festool ROS hooked up to my shop vac. Only see dust when doing edges.