I have one of the very first Dust Deputy's. It is metal and has a nice metal barrel. Unless I use yards of duct tape I have never been able to connect it. On Saturday I ran into the local Rockler store with the DD. The fellow who tried to help was informed, professional and we had a nice chat, but nothing in the store would connect up to the DD. Frustrated, I also thought of the box of plastic dust collection fittings I have bought over the years for my gear. I have a large box of fittings that do not connect the way I thought they would. Now, by trade, I am a pipe fitter and perhaps that lends itself to my frustration on this topic, but I suspect that I am not the only one in this boat.
In my business I was a Manufacturers Representative and regularly participated in discussions on packaging of products and information to make it easier and therefore more profitable doing business. I just sent the Sales Manager at Rockler a note suggesting that a series of videos actually showing them connecting device A to vac or Dust Collector B through hose C is done with X, Y & Z. That way I can walk over to bin C and pick up the correct part, with confidence. As it stands today, in woodworking, as a hobbyist, this is one of its most frustrating aspects. Well, other than figuring out what the wood is actually going to do.
I have had a Festool TS-55 and vac for a long time and it is excellent in all regards. I am somewhat put off by the price of Festool, but at least if I pony up for it I know that all the dust collection connections are consistent. I believe that gives Festool a value edge in the market. It would seem to me that Bosch, PC, Milwaukee, Makita, etc would benefit from consistency in connections. Call it a "design condition" for new products. While in the store Saturday I looked at the display of RO sanders. Every one has its own method of dust connection if there is one. This makes it tough on the consumer and potentially has health ramifications.
I do not know what trade groups there are in woodworking, or if any have a voice in this, but I would like to know that if I buy a biscuit jointer (can't afford the Domino it will have the A hose connection. From there I know that my Ridgid Vac has the B connection. Good i all ready have those... No one can bring pressure to bear on a manufacturer better than their customers. What is the path forward on this? Do you agree that it is a serious issue? Feel free to tell me it is a tempest in a teapot or that I am out of my mind, but how do these things get moved forward in the WW World?