Dust extractor vacuums - Bosch or Metabo

[Frank Martin]

It is time for a new dust extractor. I currently have a Festool and would like to get something other than Festool. Unlike many years ago, it seems there are quite a few great ones (based on specs) available. I am considering either the Bosch or the Metabo below:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Metabo-AutoCl...4577483&sr=8-2

I am a bit worried that Metabo may have long term parts / service availability issues given the sale to Hitachi. Otherwise, purely based on specs I would probably go for that one.

Would love to hear from people who have direct experience with these.

[Ron Kanter]

I don't have experience with the brands you are asking about, but wonder if you are aware of the new Festool CT 15 E. It is "only" $350 a relative bargain compared to the larger Festool line and the vacs you are considering. It is more compact but with decent 4 gallon capacity. The only thing missing from the larger vacs is blue tooth activation.
Given your other Festool you might find compatibility is an important consideration.
HTH, Ron

[Frank Martin]

I really don’t want to continue to support the Festool brand. I once had about 12-14 tools, now down to 5 and other than those without a competition so far (i.e., domino) I am trying to shift to other brands. When I first started buying Festool about 16 yrs ago, they did not have much of a competition, now for most tools there is. For example, Mirka Deros is better than the Festool sander I had before.

Anyway, back to dust extractors...

[Jamie Buxton]

A few years ago, I was very unimpressed with a friend's Bosch vacuum. It had automatic filter cleaning. Every few minutes there would be several big thumps from the machine. They were quite startling, and annoying. If I owned the thing, I probably would have ash-canned it. The Bosch you linked to also has automatic filter cleaning. I hope they've fixed that problem.

[Garrad Miller]

I have 2 Flex extractors that work very well.

[Phil Gaudio]

I have used Fein for many years and they have served me well.

[Peter Kelly]

I think the Metabo vac is a Starmix iPulse. Very nice machines, would certainly recommend.
https://www.starmix.de/en/ipulse

Same vac is branded as Mafell so you could probably get parts from them if it really came down to it. Metabo has always been helpful with anything I’ve sent them in the past, don’t think Hitachi would mess with that.
https://www.timberwolftools.com/mafe...dust-extractor

For substantially less, the Kärcher WD5/P is excellent, just needs a Bosch or Festool hose. I have one and like it as much as my Festool CT 26.
https://www.amazon.com/Karcher-Multi-Purpose-Semi-Automatic-Cleaning-Space-Saving/dp/B01BL7J5M4

There’s also the Hilti VC 150. Bit spendy but it’d would last forever and no concerns about getting repairs done through their national network. https://www.homedepot.com/p/303265519

[Frank Martin]

A few years ago, I was very unimpressed with a friend's Bosch vacuum. It had automatic filter cleaning. Every few minutes there would be several big thumps from the machine. They were quite startling, and annoying. If I owned the thing, I probably would have ash-canned it. The Bosch you linked to also has automatic filter cleaning. I hope they've fixed that problem.

Seems like Bosch has that “feature” based on Amazon reviews. So, it is out. Thanks for the heads up.

[Frank Martin]

I think the Metabo vac is a Starmix iPulse. Very nice machines, would certainly recommend.
https://www.starmix.de/en/ipulse

Same vac is branded as Mafell so you could probably get parts from them if it really came down to it. Metabo has always been helpful with anything I’ve sent them in the past, don’t think Hitachi would mess with that.
https://www.timberwolftools.com/mafe...dust-extractor

For substantially less, the Kärcher WD5/P is excellent, just needs a Bosch or Festool hose. I have one and like it as much as my Festool CT 26.
https://www.amazon.com/Karcher-Multi-Purpose-Semi-Automatic-Cleaning-Space-Saving/dp/B01BL7J5M4

There’s also the Hilti VC 150. Bit spendy but it’d would last forever and no concerns about getting repairs done through their national network. https://www.homedepot.com/p/303265519

Did not know about Metabo being same as Mafell. They definitely look the same from outside.

Karcher is certainly interesting. It is so cheap, I would normally not even consider it assuming low quality. Will need to look into it more, but so far Metabo seems the check the box for me.

[Peter Kelly]

That Kärcher WD/5 I bought years ago has held up great, bags for it are inexpensive too. Meanwhile, the plastic top part that holds the Systainers on my (expensive) CT 26 just snapped off as I was moving it a few feet. Higher price doesn’t always mean better.

[Frank Martin]

That Kärcher WD/5 I bought years ago has held up great, bags for it are inexpensive too. Meanwhile, the plastic top part that holds the Systainers on my (expensive) CT 26 just snapped off as I was moving it a few feet. Higher price doesn’t always mean better.

Does it come with an antistatic hose that fits Festool tools? Mirka Deros has the same size dust port. So, if it fits, I might give it a shot.

Also, is it as quiet as the Festool?

[Peter Kelly]

The hose that vac comes with isn’t great but the below linked Bosch 35mm one can be grafted on to the Kärcher adapter quite easily. The other end is the exact same fitting that Festool uses.
https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-16-4-Fo.../dp/B0000AV78B

[Peter Kelly]

No, not noisy like a Shop Vac. DB are similar to Festool, Nilfisk, Hilti, etc.

[Frank Martin]

Thanks for this. Seems like the hose is not antistatic. Have you had any problems because of it? On Amazon reviews someone mentions Cen Tec, which apparently is antistatic.

The hose that vac comes with isn’t great but the below linked Bosch 35mm one can be grafted on to the Kärcher adapter quite easily. The other end is the exact same fitting that Festool uses.
https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-16-4-Fo.../dp/B0000AV78B

[Peter Kelly]

Not particularly. I occasionally wash out the small amount of fine dust that accumulates within the hose with a garden sprayer once a year or so. These are inexpensive enough I can leave one set up for my Ceros as well. I wouldn’t say that an anti-static hose has been a real necessity for me.