Are the newer style fein turbos still quality tools?

[Jason Evans]

Anybody have any issues with the newer, non r2d2 fein turbo vacs?
I really like that they have the highest cfms and are the quietest vacs around.

The Amazon reviews mention bad switches. One person even said their motor blew. I’m wondering if anybody around here has had either of these happen.

I’m also wondering the same questions for the festool ct15

[Eric Shimp]

I bought a new Fein Turbo 1 last November. No issues with it, works perfectly and much quieter than the Rigid shop vac it replaced.

[Joe Cowan]

I purchased the Turbo II a couple of years ago and it works well other than the unit will come on by itself. When I use my Festool auto sander, it will come on. Sometimes just opening the door to my shop will make it turn on.

[Jack Frederick]

Can’t speak on the Fein, but I have recently been using the Karcher WD5 and it has been excellent. I gave the kids my Ridgid. It worked fine but large and noisy.

[Rush Paul]

I've had my new Fein Turbo II for about a year now. It replaced my many years old r2d2 style Fein and has worked just as well in all respects. I use it with a Clear Vue CV06 Mini cyclone, just as I did the original, and the combination has been terrific.

[Curt Harms]

I purchased the Turbo II a couple of years ago and it works well other than the unit will come on by itself. When I use my Festool auto sander, it will come on. Sometimes just opening the door to my shop will make it turn on.

I have kind of the opposite problem with my older Fein Turbo II. It doesn't come on until I expect it to but if there is any electrical draw it will not turn off. The power supply on a SCMS laser is enough to not let it turn off, even if the laser itself is turned off. If I manually turn the vac off then back to auto it will not restart but will not turn off once running. If I connect it to a tool like a sander with no draw when turned off, it turns off as expected.

[Bernie Kopfer]

I have used a Fein Turbo I for several years with a Oneida mini cyclone mounted on top. Never has given me any problem.

[Dave Sabo]

I really like that they have the highest cfms and are the quietest vacs around.

I’m also wondering the same questions for the festool ct15

Out in the real world the Fein isn't any of those things :

https://www.toolboxbuzz.com/head-to-head/best-dust-extractors-head-to-head/

The CT15 is a pretty good vac, but isn't really a good value. It's for those that want a festool, but don't want to (or can't)pay festool prices. FT, not being dummies have devised a way to even entice those people. Strip down the features to the bare necessities and lower the price while stlll maintaining (or even improving) margin; all while not giving yourself a balck eye.

[Jason Evans]

I bought a new Fein Turbo 1 last November. No issues with it, works perfectly and much quieter than the Rigid shop vac it replaced.

Thanks Eric, good to hear.

[Jason Evans]

Out in the real world the Fein isn't any of those things :

https://www.toolboxbuzz.com/head-to-head/best-dust-extractors-head-to-head/

The CT15 is a pretty good vac, but isn't really a good value. It's for those that want a festool, but don't want to (or can't)pay festool prices. FT, not being dummies have devised a way to even entice those people. Strip down the features to the bare necessities and lower the price while stlll maintaining (or even improving) margin; all while not giving yourself a balck eye.

Thanks Dave. I saw that video, but I don't have a lot of trust in YouTube videos anymore, since it has become so monetized. I feel like these guys could have been paid to post these results. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel better asking on forums.


I have kind of the opposite problem with my older Fein Turbo II. It doesn't come on until I expect it to but if there is any electrical draw it will not turn off. The power supply on a SCMS laser is enough to not let it turn off, even if the laser itself is turned off. If I manually turn the vac off then back to auto it will not restart but will not turn off once running. If I connect it to a tool like a sander with no draw when turned off, it turns off as expected.

Good to know, thanks Curt.


I purchased the Turbo II a couple of years ago and it works well other than the unit will come on by itself. When I use my Festool auto sander, it will come on. Sometimes just opening the door to my shop will make it turn on.

Strange, that kind of sucks, would be kind of dumb if it came on in the middle of the night for some reason and just sat there running, possibly overheating from running for hours or something.

I appreciate the info, everyone. I just ordered one and will see how it goes. I almost got the ct-15, but I use a simple outlet remote switch and I read that the ct-15 will not work with one since it has a magnetic switch. The Festool would have been cheaper since it comes with a hepa filter already and I had to buy one separate for the fein.

[Randall J Cox]

My first turbo II lasted 13 years, liked it so much, bought another one. Its going on about 8 years now. Can't speak to the new ones. Randy

[Dave Sabo]

Thanks Dave. I saw that video, but I don't have a lot of trust in YouTube videos anymore, since it has become so monetized. I feel like these guys could have been paid to post these results. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel better asking on forums.



I think you are wrong - Rob R is a general contractor of fairly good size and reputation. The YT stick is just a companion to his and his crew’s testing of gear. He does get some of the tools he reviews gratis , but in this case they purchased the vacs. It’s not a fluff piece on a single tool , nor is he known to be a Hilti fan boy.

The article I linked includes all the supporting data of their science project testing that lead to the conclusions. I think you can rely that it’s an unvarnished appraisal of those vacs. Even the opinions on ease of use, ergonomics , feel, ect…. are provided by tradesmen who work and use the tools everyday to earn a living. They’re not a bunch of influencers trying to gain a quick subscriber base.

[Larry Frank]

I just reread the testing of the dust extractors and am impressed. This was the best testing I have seen and an well done test setup. I do not know where you will find a better side by side review.

[Jason Evans]

I watched the video. It does seem very thorough. I just have a hard time believing that the fein vacs have such high decibel ratings, 83.5 and 92, when the common consensus by pretty much everyone who comments on its volume says they are much quieter than the rest. I have read a lot saying they are The quietest. This is as loud as my ridgid and my dying shop vac, Also such low cfms, their testing claims around half what fein claims, how can they be so low, when again most people say they are great?

I do like makita and I’m sure their vac is great, but they don’t make that version anymore, which makes me think they are still working out the bugs, and it could crap out in a couple years or it could be hard to get filters or bags in a couple years if they stop making the current one. Also, it is large. I like they small fein, since I use a cyclone.

No way im paying $1K for a hilti. I’ve read about circuit board issues with the festools.

[Jason Evans]

Ok, I was wrong. I take back my doubts in the toolbox buzz review. I did want to believe them when I first saw the video, as they seemed pretty thorough, but I'm jaded with YouTube and how so many reviews just seem like commercials.

The fein showed up today. I took it out of the box and tested the sound, with two different phone apps. They both registered between 80 and 90 decibels, higher of course when I put my hand over the end and the motor strained, it even got into the low 90's then. It seemed to average out with no resistance right around what they said, at 82. This was from about 6-8 feet away, in my shop with lots of hard surfaces. I'm a bit surprised and upset with fein for advertising 66 decibels when it is really closer to 82, this is a pretty big difference. It does have a bit of a lower sound than my ridgid vac, but that sucker is super loud, could just be the pitch is different.

I think I'm going to return it and try something else. Maybe the Festool, or the Makita.

My shopvac is in a sound reducing box I made for it years ago, the box works great, but I designed to fit a cheap shopvac I bought on sale for like $40. I have gone through two of the same models, about 2 years a piece. Maybe the box holding in the heat killed them, but in the reviews for them people say they burn out on them too, so maybe it's not the box. I don't want to go through another one, it feels wasteful and no other vac will fit in the box unfortunately

[richard poitras]

I have an older Fein and it is very quieter more in the 66 db range, But as the test shows the new ones are louder. I hate buying things now a days as they always seem to change good tools once established and cheap em then up.

[Rob Sack]

I have a shop full of Festool tools and would not argue about their obvious quality. The shop vac I am using on my Festool Kapex is not getting the job done. I talked with the folks at Festool during the most recent AWFS. As far as the Kapex is concerned, the only complete set up that works with the Kapex is their most expensive "dust extractor" which comes with the 27 mm hose. All the Festool vacs run at 130-137 cfm. the Kapex works best with the 27 mm hose, which means unless you buy the top model, you will have to buy an addition 27 mm hose. I ran the numbers and it totals with tax between $800+ and almost $1,000. And when you need replacement filters, you'll need to visit your local loan officer first.

Ridgid makes a vac that is rated at 203 cfm for just over $200. They also have a model for less that is rated at 187 cfm for even less. Using their 1 1/4 hose, the units should be at least as good, if not better than any of the Festools. There is also a device that can be clamped to the Kapex power cord that the vac plugs into and will come on automatically when the saw is turned on. If anyone has tried any of this, or something similar, I would be interested in their observations.

The only downside to buying a Festool "dust extractor" is spending upwards of a $1.000. The downside of buying the Ridgid is shopping at Home Depot.

[richard poitras]

[QUOTE=
Ridgid makes a vac that is rated at 203 cfm for just over $200. There is also a device that can be clamped to the Kapex power cord that the vac plugs into and will come on automatically when the saw is turned on.

The only downside to buying a Festool "dust extractor" is spending upwards of a $1.000. The downside of buying the Ridgid is shopping at Home Depot.[/QUOTE]

You are right about Home Depot but threw in a shop built sound cabinet and you are at 1/3 ish of the cost and the same DB'S

[Rob Sack]

You are right about Home Depot but threw in a shop built sound cabinet and you are at 1/3 ish of the cost and the same DB'S

Not to mention 50% higher cfm.

[Bill Dufour]

How does a Miele compare. I wish they made a true shop vac. I have a canister floor vac, bought used, and it is good.
Bill D

[Curt Harms]

There was a thread on a woodworking Board don't recall which one -- about shop vacs. I wish I had bookmarked it. It turns out that most of the sound attenuation from the 'R2D2' Feins is due to sound deadening foam in the black shell. My foam deteriorated a few years ago and I was able to get acoustic foam with adhesive backing from Ebay. While I had it apart I partially reassembled and turned it on. It was nowhere near as quiet without the foam as with the foam though I don't have a sound meter to quantify. The other thing I remember from the above mentioned thread is that the Fein motor is made by Ametek who seems to make a LOT of vac motors. That thread had the model number of the Ametek motor which would be handy to have. What else is there to wear out on a shop vac except the motor?

[Dave Sabo]

I talked with the folks at Festool during the most recent AWFS. As far as the Kapex is concerned, the only complete set up that works with the Kapex is their most expensive "dust extractor" which comes with the 27 mm hose. All the Festool vacs run at 130-137 cfm. the Kapex works best with the 27 mm hose, which means unless you buy the top model, you will have to buy an addition 27 mm hose.

Unfortunately, this is erroneous info. You either:

-misheard
-mistakenly typed the wrong info
-or-
- talked to a salesweasel that had no idea what they were talking about.

First - any of the wheeled vacs will work and have roughly the same performance with regard to suction. The mini/midi/15 share the same 130cfm turbine and the entire rest of the lineup share the 138cfm one. The 8 cfm really isn't gonna show up to the end use without some airflow measuring device.

Second - you are correct (almost) in that all vacs come with a 27mm hose. The AC units are the exception; they ship with a 36mm hose.

Third- the 27mm hose is not the ideal, recommended , or go to hose for a kapex. Matters not whether it's connected to the most expensive or the entry level ct15.


Kapex runs better with a larger diameter hose regardless of whether it's attached to a CT "extractor" or a Craftsman 5hp "shopvac" Festool has been advising to use a 36mm hose since kapex's early days for better collection with some advocating the 50mm. The other constant has been to keep the hose's length as short as possible. Most guys were cutting the 36mm hose in half and have long complained that festool never saw fit to sell a short version for use on the kapex.

The small nugget of fact in the story told you was that the most expensive vac would be best. That's because it does ship with a 36mm hose. But the same suction (relatively) could be achieved with their entry level vac and a 36mm add on hose for roughly half the cost. Less than that if you sold on the included hose. You could also achieve the much same performance with say a DeWalt vacuum and add on hepa filter. $275 plus tax.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-16-Gal-6-5-HP-Poly-Wet-Dry-Vac-with-3-Bags-DXV16PA/305506376?MERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-100638347-_-305506376-_-N&

Or any other number of setups that used a large diameter , short hose.




How does a Miele compare. I wish they made a true shop vac. I have a canister floor vac, bought used, and it is good.
Bill D


It doesn't. It's a ridiculous comparison. Incompatible hose because of the rigid wand , extremely short hose , and minuscule capacity.
They do make a shop vac - it's called festool :D



What else is there to wear out on a shop vac except the motor?
Hoses, and sometimes wheels. Switches and electrical sockets go on occasion too. Filters wear out too, but you many put those under consumables. And if you have a festool - the hose garages frequently broke.

[Rod Wolfy]

My old Fein Turbo II bit the dust a few months ago after 20 years. It was a great vac. I loved how quiet it was and the bucket like felt like filter meant that it didn't need any bags, just pull the filter and dump. I've read the reviews on the ones that came out about 7 years ago and I wasn't impressed. The filter is pleated, but tiny. They seemed to have taken a great product and unimproved it for $$.

I don't know why so many manufacturers (Rigid, Shop Vac, Craftsman, etc) think that suction over noise control is so important. I can't stand my loud Rigid and would love a quieter vac, without all the bulk.

[Dave Sabo]

I don't know why so many manufacturers (Rigid, Shop Vac, Craftsman, etc) think that suction over noise control is so important. I can't stand my loud Rigid and would love a quieter vac, without all the bulk.

That’s an easy one.

Their customers don’t want to pay the additional cost that feature would require.


Here are some decent vacs that are reasonably quiet and aren’t crazy money:
https://www.industrialvacs.com/Aero_26_21_Wet_Dry_Vacuum_6_6_gallon_Autostart_p/107406622.htm

already mentioned:
https://feintools-online.com/92035236090-fein-turbo-i-dust-extractor.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv-y_z8338gIVDpfICh2D9wDHEAQYAyABEgLdrvD_BwE

not widely known :

https://www.kaercher.com/us/home-garden/wet-dry-vacuum/multi-purpose-vacuum-cleaners.html

[Jason Evans]

For future vacuum hunters. I bought the ct15 before returning the fein to compare the two. The festool is better in every way, very well built. The fein seemed cheaply made. When connecting the top to the bottom it didn’t seal tightly. It had an annoying high pitch whine. After adding a hepa filter the fein cost more too.

I’m using a dust deputy with a 6ft hose between it and the ct15 and 26 feet of hose attached to the DD. The suction is really great. It is also quieter than the fein. Fein lied on their decibel level and their suction. I’m so glad I replaced my dying shopvac(my third one in a few years)it was in a large sound reducing box and the deputy was on a twelve gallon canister from the shopvac that died before that one. They took up so much space. Now I have a five gallon bucket and the ct 15. The shop feels much more open. I love it.

I highly recommend the ct15. It is worth every penny in my opinion now.

[Dave Sabo]

For future vacuum hunters. I bought the ct15 before returning the fein to compare the two. The festool is better in every way, very well built. The fein seemed cheaply made. When connecting the top to the bottom it didn’t seal tightly. It had an annoying high pitch whine. After adding a hepa filter the fein cost more too.

I’m using a dust deputy with a 6ft hose between it and the ct15 and 26 feet of hose attached to the DD. The suction is really great. It is also quieter than the fein. Fein lied on their decibel level and their suction. I’m so glad I replaced my dying shopvac(my third one in a few years)it was in a large sound reducing box and the deputy was on a twelve gallon canister from the shopvac that died before that one. They took up so much space. Now I have a five gallon bucket and the ct 15. The shop feels much more open. I love it.

I highly recommend the ct15. It is worth every penny in my opinion now.


Glad you've finally found a suitable vac for your needs.

Re: the cost diff - it's rather difficult to compare like for like. In order to gain the capacity of the HEPA/Turbo I , you would need to select a CT- MIDI. And that would cost $250 more bit gain you a BT triggering option. festools first vacs were not HEPA filtered and no one really mentioned the oversight or noticed the "increased" :rolleyes: dust production. Mainly because there wasn't any unless you had sophisticated equip. to measure micron sized particles. Even then, the diff. wasn't anything to get excited over.

In fairness , they all "lie" about their specs.

[Jason Evans]

Re: the cost diff - it's rather difficult to compare like for like. In order to gain the capacity of the HEPA/Turbo I , you would need to select a CT- MIDI. And that would cost $250 more bit gain you a BT triggering option.

I guess for some capacity is important, but for me capacity is meaningless with a dust deputy. Same motor as the midi though, so same suction afaik.

To replace the the ridiculously expensive BT trigger option, I use a shop lamp plugged into the tool outlet with a $10 outlet remote from amazon. This also lets me know when I’ve actually turned it off, which is good with the delayed off.

Maybe they all lie, but the fein was nowhere close to their listed specs.

[Darrell Bade]

Have you looked at the Bosch? I have one I really like but you never hear much about them.

[Jason Evans]

Yeah. I like the Bosch, was considering it, but it’s big and expensive. I wanted compact and less expensive.

[Rick Potter]

What size hose is that 26 footer Jason?

[Curt Harms]

Another quiet vac I'd never heard of. 64dB sound level, washable filter 1 micron filter. Possible downside 6.6 gallon tank.

Nilfisk https://www.industrialvacs.com/Aero_26_21_Wet_Dry_Vacuum_6_6_gallon_Autostart_p/107406622.htm

[Jason Evans]

What size hose is that 26 footer Jason?

it’s 2.5 for 20 feet, then the smaller shop vac, 1.25” I believe for the last 6ft. That way I can use the army of extensions and attachments I’ve collected. If I use a tool that fits the festool hose I just switch out the last bit.

[Jason Evans]

Another quiet vac I'd never heard of. 64dB sound level, washable filter 1 micron filter. Possible downside 6.6 gallon tank.

Nilfisk https://www.industrialvacs.com/Aero_26_21_Wet_Dry_Vacuum_6_6_gallon_Autostart_p/107406622.htm

I looked at that one, but 1 micron, not hepa. It’s the tiny dust that gets you.

[Rick Potter]

Thanks Jason, I was curious because I recently hooked 30' of 1" (I think) hose that I have to a 6 HP Shop Vac. Just wanted to see if it would work.

It did, but not well, with fairly weak suction at the end. There must be a ton of friction loss in that small hose. I think I will see if I can round up enough 1 1/2 or 2 1/2" to see how that fares. I have a bunch of old hose around.

I have fought buying the hose reel and hose that Rockler has on sale all the time. Not cheap, but a problem solver.

[Dave Sabo]

I looked at that one, but 1 micron, not hepa. It’s the tiny dust that gets you.


This is really a bit of a red herring.

Strictly speaking it can be true. However , the reality of the risk to your health going with the 1micron filter instead of the HEPA is pretty much negligible.

The vacs exhaust is 10-12 feet away from you typically. The capture rate isn’t 100% for your tool. More dust is going to become airborne closer to your mouth and nose from the process itself that will never get filtered at all.

Guys get all in a lather over a HEPA filtered vac for little reason in my view. I’m not saying don’t get one, I am saying not to discount an otherwise fine vac just because it doesn’t have a HEPA filter.

[Jason Evans]

Thanks Jason, I was curious because I recently hooked 30' of 1" (I think) hose that I have to a 6 HP Shop Vac. Just wanted to see if it would work.

It did, but not well, with fairly weak suction at the end. There must be a ton of friction loss in that small hose. I think I will see if I can round up enough 1 1/2 or 2 1/2" to see how that fares. I have a bunch of old hose around.

I have fought buying the hose reel and hose that Rockler has on sale all the time. Not cheap, but a problem solver.

This is the 20 ft one I have. It has different fittings to make things fit. I use fernco fitting on the festool hose when I use that to fit in it.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019C23JIQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

[Jason Evans]

This is really a bit of a red herring.

Strictly speaking it can be true. However , the reality of the risk to your health going with the 1micron filter instead of the HEPA is pretty much negligible.

The vacs exhaust is 10-12 feet away from you typically. The capture rate isn’t 100% for your tool. More dust is going to become airborne closer to your mouth and nose from the process itself that will never get filtered at all.

Guys get all in a lather over a HEPA filtered vac for little reason in my view. I’m not saying don’t get one, I am saying not to discount an otherwise fine vac just because it doesn’t have a HEPA filter.

I’ll disagree with you here Dave. The less small dust being shot out the vac. The better. Being 10 feet away doesn’t matter, it hangs in the air for hours.

[Dave Sabo]

I’ll disagree with you here Dave. The less small dust being shot out the vac. The better. Being 10 feet away doesn’t matter, it hangs in the air for hours.


What exactly are you disagreeing with ?

I didn't say Hepa wasn' better. What I did say is The dust generted by your process , whatever it is , is going to produce more dust particals of all sizes closer to your air intake that will not get captured by the vac to even get filtered at all. That dust is produced in far more volume and closer to you than any particles that would not get captured in an identical vac with a non Hepa filter. So, worrying about a minscule bit of xtra dust spewed out of a vac's secondary filter because it's not Hepa rated is a bit moot since you still have to deal with a lot more volume of dust closer to you anyway.

Sure, all things being equal the HEPA vac would be better. But they're not equal. My main point is one shouldn't dismiss a vac simply because it doesn't have a hepa filter. A Hepa filter is such a small part of the overall equation that it's close to meaningless.

[Jason Evans]

What exactly are you disagreeing with ?

I didn't say Hepa wasn' better. What I did say is The dust generted by your process , whatever it is , is going to produce more dust particals of all sizes closer to your air intake that will not get captured by the vac to even get filtered at all. That dust is produced in far more volume and closer to you than any particles that would not get captured in an identical vac with a non Hepa filter. So, worrying about a minscule bit of xtra dust spewed out of a vac's secondary filter because it's not Hepa rated is a bit moot since you still have to deal with a lot more volume of dust closer to you anyway.

Sure, all things being equal the HEPA vac would be better. But they're not equal. My main point is one shouldn't dismiss a vac simply because it doesn't have a hepa filter. A Hepa filter is such a small part of the overall equation that it's close to meaningless.

I’m disagreeing with the hepa filter being such a small part in the equation that it’s almost meaningless. To me saying that the dust generated at the source is already bad so why worry about the vacs exhaust is like saying you’re already exposed to pollutants in the air so why quit smoking. Less is best. The vacs exhaust spreads the fine dust throughout the shop to land on everything and be airborne again later. The point of dust extraction is to contain not spread. I am diligent to collect dust at the source more than most people I’m sure. So why would I stop at the thing collecting that dust? Especially when the extra cost is not much and the tool to do it is a very good one.