Thread: Take Care Replacing Festool Dust Extractor Filters

OK, I have a number of problems with what you've said.

First, your "simple plastic holders" that cost "next to nothing to produce" are made in a mould that likely costs tens of thousands of dollars. Who's paying for that?

Second, spare parts is where pretty much every manufacturer makes money. They're ALWAYS expensive.

Third, you are buying a spare for one of the most expensive brands. Try buying a new, genuine wing mirror cover for a Mercedes or Audi from a dealer; same bit of plastic, same size as your filter holder, easily $100+.

Fourth, you're buying a part for a model that was discontinued many years ago; you're lucky they still even exist.

Finally, your negative experience is ENTIRELY because of a mistake that YOU made. I get that your ticked off about it, but don't go dumping on a brand because you didn't know how it worked.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

First, your "simple plastic holders" that cost "next to nothing to produce" are made in a mould that likely costs tens of thousands of dollars. Who's paying for that?

I am just going to chime in here and say from my manufacturing experience that the break even point on moulds is typically about 1000 units if your price point is set right. Not sure how many units Festool make, but I reckon its going to be a few more than 1000 units.

This kind of thing is a prime target for 3D printing!

It also seems to me that it would be pretty easy to toss these caddies out. I'd reckon Festool are fully aware of this and fully expect a non-trivial percentage of their audience to do EXACTLY this.

Originally Posted by Pearo

I am just going to chime in here and say from my manufacturing experience that the break even point on moulds is typically about 1000 units if your price point is set right. Not sure how many units Festool make, but I reckon its going to be a few more than 1000 units.

Fair enough. I stand by the rest of it though.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

OK, I have a number of problems with what you've said......

Finally, your negative experience is ENTIRELY because of a mistake that YOU made. I get that your ticked off about it, but don't go dumping on a brand because you didn't know how it worked.

The issue is not my mistake (which I fully accept) but overcharging by Festool.
Even the dealer agreed the filter holders should be no more than $20 each.

That's Festool amazing products amazingly high prices......

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

OK, I have a number of problems with what you've said.

First, your "simple plastic holders" that cost "next to nothing to produce" are made in a mould that likely costs tens of thousands of dollars. Who's paying for that?

Humm mmmm. . . . not sure I agree with this. Manufacturers will rarely make a new mould just to make spare parts as they already have the mould from the manufacturing process on their main run of production and while they manufacturing units all they do is keep the production running and make a few hundred more of the parts at literally cents a pop.

However, what often costs more than the actually manufacture of cheap parts is the cost of long term storage of a large number of parts for a large number of models.

Festool spares have always been pricey, but having said that, they support there discontinued products for a long time.

So it keeps it going and working for a lot less than replacement value.


I should replace my filters, but for the price of the replacements, i hit them with the air compressor when i'm wearing mask protection and when no one is about outside.

I'd be complaining about the cost of the bags, i grabbed a 20 pack for my CT33 from the US from Amazon as it was a heap cheaper than here.

Originally Posted by bryn23

I should replace my filters, but for the price of the replacements, i hit them with the air compressor when i'm wearing mask protection and when no one is about outside. .

Hummm . . again. I hope you don't aim the compressed air directly at the filter surface as this can tear micron size holes in the filter media. The safest way is to tap them to knock the dust out. If you feel like you have to use compress air then aim the air stream as close as possible to 0º to the surface so that this does not occur.

Don't think I'll ever be an ambassador for the brand. Of course it's always easier for those who are spending other peoples money, have a surfeit of their own or can claim it on tax.

My sympathy & commiseration warmtone. An embarrassing, inadvertent mistake that I'm sure you'll not repeat!

I seem to recall that the "millennial" series of CT vacs weren't actually manufactured by Festo/ol at all. Yes, I know the Hevo/Domel motors are generic across most if not all western european dust extractors: I'm referring to the rest of their (non-electronic) componentry here. The plastics etc. I'm pretty sure they're actually made for the parent co. by their (then) recently acquired subsidiary Kraenzle. Given that there's probably a couple of hundred thousand +/- Kraenzle Ventos models produced in addition to quite a few suspected clones for Menzer, Kaercher et. al., the known Protools & several hundred thousand CT11-55?? examples made for Festo as well, I'd suggest that any initial setup costs have in the intervening 19-20 years been well & truly amortised into insignificance. That adds up to about a million or so plastic filter frames!

I'm also quite confident that other marketplaces will have the same part offered at more reasonable pricing too. It appears that it's only Oz/NZ customers that are privileged to be squeezed quite so tightly over parts pricing these days. You could possibly get replacements offshore for a fraction of the price.

I've always used "longlife" filters (& bags too usually but not exclusively) in my own CT22. I blow them (filters) out regularly using a 40 YO domestic Miele with a strong blower function, & so far have only needed to replace them once, although another exchange is probably overdue now. The pleats are more widely spaced than the standard filters' from memory (less total surface area??). The "standard" originals are still sitting unused in the first 20 year old longlife filter box that I bought with the vac.

Well well, look at this... Kraenzle Ventos ... Looks familiar in the guts? No?

urun_80553151_500x500_o.jpg


edit: and parts: https://www.amazon.de/s/ref=a9_asc_1...qid=1535775190

Thanks for the heads up - could be a more economical supply of filters and dust bags.
Do you know which part numbers are compatible with the CT 22?

This could be a real find!

Originally Posted by warmtone

Thanks for the heads up - could be a more economical supply of filters and dust bags.
Do you know which part numbers are compatible with the CT 22?

This could be a real find!

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Filter-p...8AAOSwo0JWHUJV

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-Filter...IAAOSwEeFU61U9

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Festool-...sAAOSwopRYlkE9

Longlife bags come up occasionally too. A couple of hundred is a reasonable price to pay. Five hundred is just plain silly.

Some vendors sell filters individually, some in pairs.