Cheaper antistatic hoses for a Festool vacuum cleaner

**derekcohen** · 26th February 2019, 12:56 AM

I have Festool CT26E vaccum cleaner, here connected to the dust guard of the table saw with a 50mm antistatic hose, and also used for the router table.

Up until now I have used the standard 3.5m long 27mm Festool hose for my old Festo ROS. Locally, this hose costs $226 (AUD). Then I purchased a Mirka Ceros ROS and, although the same diameter, the Festool hose did not fit it. They use different connectors. Actually, the Ceros does not use a connector, and removing and replacing the Festool connection each time the Ceros is used is a pain in the watsit, so my thoughts turned to a second hose.

Here is the Ceros with the Festool hose. The connector is removed and the hose screws into an internal thread ...

Another issue with trying to connect the Festool hose to the Ceros (and I would consider this to be an issue with the Deros as well), is that a big part of the reason for choosing these sanders over a Festool is their light weight (especially the Ceros). These sanders more than any feel like an extension of the hand - less fatigue and more control. Adding a connection to the Festool bayonet adds mass and unbalances the combination. Better to use the hose without a connector, as the sander was designed.

The 27mm Festool hose was also used on a Mirka hand sander. This works by simply jamming the bayonet end of the hose onto the inlet ...

These hand sanders excel when using Mirka Abranet mesh. The sanders are rebadged for Festool, and so the later recommendation is the same.

The first decision I made was to get the 20mm Mirka hose for the hand sander. I was conscious of the weight of the 27mm hose which, as with the Ceros, needed a better match for balance.

The 4m long 20mm hose is cheap - just $35 (AUD) from the local Perth agent. Here it is contrasted with the 27mm hose ...

It also fits the Festool vac perfectly ...

But it is the 27mm hose that most want to know about. A 4m long antistatic 27mm Mirka hose cost me $93 (AUD) on eBay UK, including shipping and import tax. That's 60% less than a 0.5m shorter Festool hose. The question is how do they compare?

Mirka on the left, Festool on the right ...

The only external difference is the Mirka tapers down for about 400mm from the end.

The bayonet ends are the same ...

In the case of the Mirka, this unscrews, which is easy peasy (unlike the Festool, which needs to be unclipped - do that several times and the pins are likely to break off) ...

The ends that connect to the vacuum cleaner are also the same ...

And the Mirka fits perfectly ...

Importantly, the hoses actually feel similar. If anything, I found the Mirka to have slightly better flexibility, certainly at the important end (which was no doubt aided by its taper) ...

What about a replacement for the antistatic Festool 36mm hose? In Oz this costs $340 (AUD). From Amazon USA, the 35mm antistatic Bosch hose came to $188 (including all shipping costs). That's nearly half the Festool, plus the Bosch is 5m long against the 3.5m of the Festool. The only difference is the colour ...

.. and the connection to the vac (which does not bother me since I connect it to the Dust Commander cyclone) ...

So there you have cheaper choices. Hope this helps.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**acejas** · 26th February 2019, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the great pics & detail and the time to take an excellent write up. Do you have a name of link for your Mirka hose? I found a Mirka hand sander on ebay. cheers

**derekcohen** · 26th February 2019, 10:12 PM

Mirka 20mm hose for hand sander: https://www.malleeagencies.com.au/pr...ocks-20mm-x-4m

I must add that this is a fantastic hose for the hand sander. Unbelievably light!

This is the link for the 27mm Mirka hose: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mirka-Ab...4AAOSwqRBbM6JZ

Delivery was really fast.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**woodPixel** · 27th February 2019, 12:47 AM

Good post!

I've had these 35mm ends for the hoses in my cart for some time. They will fit on the hose and obviously the Festools.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RKNAD0/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VMYQZK/

**homey** · 27th February 2019, 07:35 AM

Derek,

Thanks, this is very helpful. Like you I have a Festool CT26E which I use for my Festool CS50 trimming saw and a Mirka hand sander with the 20mm hose. I agree completely that the Mirka hand sander/Abranet/20mm hose is a great combination. I need another hose for the router table so your post is very timely.

Brian

**woodPixel** · 27th February 2019, 11:02 AM

is there any reason why one could not use marineflex? https://www.ebay.com.au/str/hosefactory

**Huon pine fan** · 27th February 2019, 12:45 PM

I know this is a dumb question but could someone explain the benefits of an anti-static hose.
Thanks

**derekcohen** · 27th February 2019, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by woodPixel

is there any reason why one could not use marineflex? https://www.ebay.com.au/str/hosefactory

Is this flexible hose? Is it light and durable, and antistatic. It appears to be more expensive than the Mirka 20mm hose.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**derekcohen** · 27th February 2019, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by Huon pine fan

I know this is a dumb question but could someone explain the benefits of an anti-static hose.
Thanks

Antistatic hose safeguards against electrostatic discharges, which can damage electrical circuits. It also prevents dust clinging to the inside and outside of a hose.

Further, I have a memory of Festool invalidating warranty claims when non-antistatic hoses were used, and where static was deemed to have damaged circuitry. I wonder if others know the situation here? I do recall that Festool vacs tend to deal with static differently than other makes. One of the upshots of this was the issues surrounding the Dust Deputy accessory for the vacs, and the special earthing that was required to pass Festool approval.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**Bohdan** · 27th February 2019, 03:42 PM

If you are doing some dust creating job like sanding, sawing or routing, using a double insulated tool, the friction of the dust being removed by your vac is building up a static charge on the tool and on the hose. If you only do it for a short time the static buildup is small and if there is enough moisture in the air it will harmlessly bleed off. However if it is very dry or you do it for a protracted length of time with a lot of dust the voltage builds up and then when you touch a metal part of the tool you will experience a tiny lightning bolt, harmless but painfull.

An anti static hose, when connected to a vac that is plugged into an earthed powerpoint, will prevent that buildup and the subsequent pain.

In the festool example with the dust deputy the damage could occure if there was a break in the connection between the tool and vac, such as the addition of the DD which was not antistatic. This would allow a buildup of voltage between the tool and the DD which would then suddenly discharge into the vac blowing the electronics. This was fixed by ensuring that there was an electrical path between the inlet and outlet of the DD and that an antistatic hose was used.

**derekcohen** · 27th February 2019, 03:46 PM

I may add to Bohdan's comments that, even with the antistatic hoses, I occasionally get zapped in my workshop in the WA summer, which is very dry heat .... ideal conditions for static. Hence its importance to me.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**clear out** · 27th February 2019, 04:31 PM

Just a thought but after seeing the post about the useful stuff the young German was 3D printing would some adapters to fit this stuff together be worth doing?
H.

**derekcohen** · 27th February 2019, 05:05 PM

H, any adapters or connectors also need to be made from antistatic material.

I do like his go-for-it inventiveness! I saw that video a while ago, and did begin to see how a 3-D machine might fit in.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**Huon pine fan** · 27th February 2019, 06:05 PM

Derek and Bohdan, thanks for your explanations. There is certainly not an excess of dry heat down the west coast of Victoria where my workshop is but it sounds like a pretty good idea. Particularly with the lead from Derek for a reasonably priced hose from the UK. I have the Festool CT17 vacuum with the larger grey hose. I also have a Mirka Deros sander plus the assorted Festool items that I connect up.
Much appreciated.

**acejas** · 27th February 2019, 06:59 PM

I am currently building a DIY Dust Deputy and will be using copper braid to continue the antistatic path.

Thanks for the info on the Mirka house & hand sander - a fluke but I just scored the hand sander with 22mm(?) non antistatic hose and a 36mm festool hose for a great price.

FYI to all out there, the bosch is a great hose and for 5m @ $240 delivered (current Feb 19 exchange rate) is a great bargain!

Many posts in FOG but a great AIO resource. I will post my Cyclone when its finished

Turning int a great thread

Cheers guys

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