Loud and Boisterious Be Gone

[Bill Leonard]

Last night while sanding on a pine table top, I banned my old Master Mechanic shop vac for excessive loud and boisterious behaviour. I have relegated it to the garage/yard as a primary tool for hot tub maintenance, never again to work in a confined area. So, I am seeking recommendations for a replacement. I readily admit to being a "Boschaholic" and am seriously considering a Bosch Airsweep, but before I pull the trigger: What else is out there that is as good or better, and is QUIET? Primarily it will be used as the driving force for a new mini dust collector Clear Vue cyclone dedicated to power hand tool dust collection.

By the way, this is by far the best wood worker web site on the internet. You can see from my posting total, that I am new, but have been here for some time.
Bill

[Mike Wenzloff]

Fein and Festool both make great vacs. For general shop and mini-cyclones, I think the Fein III is better if for no other reason it doesn't need paper filters.

For hooking up to sanders, the Festool is hard to beat because of the variable speed--not that you asked about that.

Take care, Mike

[Bob Childress]

Welcome to the Creek, Bill! You picked a great question because we love to "discuss" tools.:D

After a lot of research, I bought the Festool CT-22 and I have never regretted it. Not only is it quiet, but it has great filtration (HEPA) and a paper dust bag that eliminates the old "shake and choke" emptying process. Some here will argue that the bags make it too expensive to operate, but I for one am glad to pay for the bags to keep the dust where it belongs.

I can't speak for the mini-Clear Vue part, but for direct hand tool dust collection, especially sanding, the CT-22 is tops in my book.:)

[Matt Meiser]

I've been very happy since I got my Festool CT-22 vac. The Fein's are nice too, but I like the integration of the Festool system, especially the fact that the Systainers lock onto the top of the vac.

[Kyle Kraft]

We recently got a new Shop Vac brand unit at work for cleaning chips off the milling machines. I've never been impressed with their products in the past, but this unit is pretty nice. Extremely quiet and it really sucks!! (I mean that in a good way). Takes the pleated cartridge filters and has beefy wheels and a handle for moving it around. I think we got it from Grainger. Don't know the price, but probably around $100 or so.

[Bruce Page]

Bill, I banished my old Craftsman vac for the same reason. I bought a Fein turbo III and never looked back!

[Ian Barley]

Another vote for the Fein here. I bought mine earlier this year and am delighted with it - planning on another 1 or maybe 2 next year.

[Jesse Cloud]

I'm a Festool fan. A couple of neat tricks not mentioned yet are: 1)the anti-static hoses prevent that annoying spark I used to get from my old shop-vac and 2)the wheels are very well engineered - you can turn that baby on a dime and park it with ease in a tiny space.

Its so quiet that even when I'm using it with the sander, I can still hear the radio.

Another fact that a lot of people don't seem to realize, you can hook other sanders to the Festool vac and the integration still works. My PC 333 fits the hose nicely and if I plug the sander into the vac, the vac starts when the sander does and runs for a few seconds after the sander is turned off to suck up that last little bit of dust.

[Steve Roxberg]

I now own both a Festool CT 22 and a Fein Turbo II.

I like the Turbo II better, seems to have more power.

I like the CT 22 for use with my Festool equipment, and it's very nice.

But after having owned both, if I had to keep only one it would be the Fein.

[George Leicht]

Hey Guys -
Even with your new quiet vacuums, you're still wearing hearing protection, right?
George

[Bill Bezilla]

I used to have a shop Vac- Hated it Noisy and blew dust everywhere.

Replaced it with a Porter Cable with tool trigger. This is same vacuum they sell for their power drywall sanding so filtration is excellent. It is also pretty quiet. Love it ! :) :) :)

[Steve Roxberg]

Hey Guys -
Even with your new quiet vacuums, you're still wearing hearing protection, right?
George

Just the Vacuum, no. A sander and the vacuum, no.

A router and the vacuum, of course.

[Bruce Page]

Just the Vacuum, no. A sander and the vacuum, no.

A router and the vacuum, of course.
Same here.

[Chris Padilla]

What? What? :D

I always don hearing protection now. In fact, my wife and kid use them when she vacuums the house. We now have 3 pairs of earmuffs floating around so we can all join in the fun of keeping the noise down! :)

I hate to say it, but I'm more conscientious of wearing hearing protection that eye protection. I must improve here, I know it.

One thing I've found in wearing hearing protection, I feel like I can concentrate better on what I'm doing and that is pretty important with non-discriminating metal blades that cut whatever is put in their way!

Oh, BTW, I have a CTS-11 Festool vacuum. I picked this baby up cheap a couple years back when they were discontinuing them. Even at this smaller volume, it still takes a while to fill the bag. Oh, and a big kudos to being able to lock a systainer on the F vacuum...real nice.

[Larry Norton]

Bill, not much to add, other than I'm in La Plata. Email me if you're coming over here sometime.

I have gone through 3 Porter Cable 333's, actually when the bearing went out on the 3rd one, I used parts from it to fix the second one. It still works fine.

I'm seriously considering a Festool, but it takes me a long time to decide on something that expensive. That said, I finally got a Forrest Woodworker II and it's as good as everyone said it is.

[Terry Flowers]

Just the Vacuum, no. A sander and the vacuum, no.

A router and the vacuum, of course.
Interesting, Steve, I have the TurboII that I bought before owningany Festools, and I love it to death (since my previous Craftsman vac almost killed my hearing- I know, ear protection).

Even as much as I like the Fein, If I had bought the Festools first, I probably would have gone with the CT22 because of the variable suction control. The Fein is a little too much suction sometimes with the RO125 sander. A member of another forum also has both vacs, and he prefers the Fein for general shop use, and the Festool for Festools. I have been able to connect my fein to the TS55 saw, the 1400 Router, and the RO125 sander with no problem. I am looking for some way to adjust the suction on the Fein.

[Terry Flowers]

I'm a Festool fan. A couple of neat tricks not mentioned yet are: 1)the anti-static hoses prevent that annoying spark I used to get from my old shop-vac and 2)the wheels are very well engineered - you can turn that baby on a dime and park it with ease in a tiny space.

Its so quiet that even when I'm using it with the sander, I can still hear the radio.

Another fact that a lot of people don't seem to realize, you can hook other sanders to the Festool vac and the integration still works. My PC 333 fits the hose nicely and if I plug the sander into the vac, the vac starts when the sander does and runs for a few seconds after the sander is turned off to suck up that last little bit of dust.
I have never had a shock from my Fein vac either, but I sure did from my old craftsman. In dry weather it would darn near knock me over at times.

Terry

[glenn bradley]

Without owning one, I'll second the Fein III (about $350). It's quieter than the Bosch (about $425) by a noticeable amount; especially a small enclosed area. I only know a bit about them because I was really checking them out prior to going to a small DC instead. My "hella-loud" Rigid is only used sparingly where I need some major-focused sucking power. But, Ohhhh the noise!

[Steve Roxberg]

Terry, I heard of one method to tone the Fein Turbo II down. Create a connector that has some gaps or holes allowing air to enter thus decreasing the suction going into the tool

I agree with the others the Festool is great with their tools and it's nice that it holds the systainers, but you can buy a Festool hose for the Fein and with the exception of the Systainer holder be about the same.

[Ian Barley]

Hey Guys -
Even with your new quiet vacuums, you're still wearing hearing protection, right?
George
Ear defenders go on when I walk in the shop and stay on until I walk out. If my hearing goes it will not be because of anything I could avoid.

[Bruce Page]

Terry, on my turbo III, I can unscrew the hose connector from the hose allowing for a variable suction flow. I never do but I can! :rolleyes:

[Jesse Cloud]

I'm a nut on hearing protection, but the Festool vac and a sander or Festool saw is so quiet, you just don't need it. I do, by the way, wear quality hearing protection when I'm vacuuming the house with our Hoover.:p

[Mike Wenzloff]

...A member of another forum also has both vacs, and he prefers the Fein for general shop use, and the Festool for Festools. ...
I would absolutely agree...excepting I would say the Festool for any brand of sander.

I have mistimed the few second delay and been distracted when using the Fein and hurled a small panel before as the suction slowly dies off. Using the Festool vac at a friend's shop one can dial down the suction to begin with--easily--and hurling panels is a thing of the past...

Take care, Mike

[Chris Dodge]

I have the Festool CT-22 vac and love it for both Festool and non Festool tools! I have never used a Fein so I can't compare.

[Steven Wilson]

After tossing the Craftsman into the storage locker I picked up a Fein mini turbo and it's a nice unit, getting it to work with all of my handheld tools was a challenge though. After rethinking my sanders I decided to go with Festool sanders and picked up the CT-22 to go with it - what a great combination and a nice vacum. It doesn't go through bags quickly, replacements are fairly cheap (much less than Fein), and there is an option for a long life bag (that you empty) if you desire. The optional cleaning kits are reasonably priced and the ability to use the vac as a carryall for tools is nice. Finally the anti-static hose that comes with the Festool vac adapts redily to my non-Festool power tools (PC busicuit jointer, Lamello Lipping Planer, PC circular saw).

[Bill Leonard]

Thanks, Creekers, for all the great input. I pulled the trigger on a Fein Turbo IV from Hechinger's off the internet. $199.00 with free shipping. Closest price anywhere else I could find was $489.00.:D

[Steve Roxberg]

Thanks, Creekers, for all the great input. I pulled the trigger on a Fein Turbo IV from Hechinger's off the internet. $199.00 with free shipping. Closest price anywhere else I could find was $489.00.:D

That's an excellent price, do you have a link?

[Jerry Zelt]

I was wondering about purchasing a new vac for my shop. I really appreciate everyones comments. I found this online vendor

http://www.acetool.com/

They have a good price on the Fein vac that is being discussed in this thread. Has anyone dealt with them?

Thanks,

Jerry

[Bruce Page]

Thanks, Creekers, for all the great input. I pulled the trigger on a Fein Turbo IV from Hechinger's off the internet. $199.00 with free shipping. Closest price anywhere else I could find was $489.00.:D
That's the SS one? That's a heck of a good price!

[Bill Leonard]

The web site is: "WWW.Hechinger.com"
I was skeptical with respect to the price, so I contacted their customer service. They confirmed that the offer was for the stainless steel industrial model, new in box. Foolishly I commented that the price was less than half of any other offers on the web. He had no explanation, but offered an opinion that possibly an error had been made in the advertising. At any rate I received a confirmation of the order by end of the day. Waiting to see if I actually get what I think I ordered.