Upgrading Festool ribbed hoses

**derekcohen** · 7th August 2020, 01:48 AM

Some weeks ago now, I became aware that my Festool CT26e vacuum cleaner was not sucking as strongly as it should ..

I have had the vacuum cleaner for about 5 years, and thought perhaps it was time to clean out the HEPA filter! This was done, and the performance seemed to return to original levels.

Just for reference, the HEPA filter looked pretty clean on one side, while the other was lightly dirty on the outside. Wacking it did dislodge a reasonable amount of dust from between the filter layers. One reason for the lighter-than-expected amount of dust was that it was used with a small cyclone, in this case, a Dust Commander. This replaced a Dust Deputy, which does not have anti-static properties.

All this got me thinking about what could be done to improve the hoses used. There are four in the collection: the standard (green) 27mm Festool; a 35mm (blue) Bosch, which is identical to the 36mm Festool at half the price; a (black) 27mm Mirka, which is dedicated to a Mirka Ceros ROS sander; and a 20mm (black) Mirka hose, which is for the Mirka hand sanders.

I became aware of these fancy new hoses from Festool, with smooth braided sides, and which were advertised for improved handling ...

Could the new hose design be different from the old hose design? It was interesting to look at the inside of my hoses. The ribs appear small - much smaller internally than suggested from the outside or if one looked at those hoses used in dust collection systems ...

I decided that it would not be cost-effective to replace the hoses for the braided exterior.

Then I came across a video of hoses being covered in the same material as those on the braided Festool, above. Rather than paying hundreds for a new hose, it would be possible to add a covering to each for about $10. Why do this? Because those damned ribbings catch when the hoses are slid along a bench top. This is an irritation when used with a sander, but dangerous when used with a router.

The woven covering is durable and said to offer a protective sheathing for the hoses. Where does one get these coverings? Just Google "BRAIDED HOSE SLEEVE KIT".

It looks like this. I chose black for all ...

Remove the fittings ...

Slide the hose in, tape down at one end, and then smooth it back to the start and pull tight ...

I used self-sealing tape ...

... and replace the fitting ...

Each hose was colour-coded for ease of recognition ...

I am now waiting on braiding for the Bosch hose ...

In use, the hoses are magic. They feel so nimble and easy to move around ... one is far less aware of their presence.

They come in all colours. The hoses covered all used a 25mm diameter for the 20 - 27mm covering. The 35mm hose will require a 50mm diameter.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**twosheds** · 7th August 2020, 09:05 AM

This is a very timely post Derek,

A few weeks back I was having this very same issue when sanding back a large blackbutt dining table top. Eventually it pi**ed me off so much I bodgily joined two vaccuum hoses together (with duct tape - what else?) and suspended it from the ceiling with rope at the bodgy join so the vac hose wouldn't catch on the table edge when it went down to the shopvac. Then I found the power cord (which ran from the aux outlet on the shopvac) kept on getting tangled and in the way. So I duct taped it to the vac hose and the whole setup worked like a charm.

The next day I was walking past the slipway in Nelson Bay where they were working on a wooden hull yacht. The workers on ladders were using ROS on the hull with 20ft vac hoses running back to the shopvacs on the ground. The vac hoses were covered in the braid sleeve you described above with the power cord also inside the braid sleeve.

Right I thought, that is what I need to do, but where do I find the braided sleeve? Just at the right time along comes your post. Great timing Derek.

Regards
Twosheds

**Bernmc** · 7th August 2020, 09:25 AM

Try searching for 'braided cable wrap' instead - braided hose wrap tends to bring up automotive stuff

**yvan** · 7th August 2020, 09:50 AM

Derek,

The Unicorn fix for ribbed hoses

Thanks for the great tip!

Cheers Yvan

**Huon pine fan** · 7th August 2020, 10:56 AM

Thanks Derek, a great tip. Using both my track saw and sander the last few days I have had plenty of experiences with the dreaded snagging. I have actually used that sleeving before to tidy up some motorcycle wiring for which it is brilliant. I will get myself a roll of the larger diameter for my dust hose.

**RossM** · 7th August 2020, 11:27 AM

Can highly recommend this.

I did this to my hoses a few years ago, but with one modification that is really worth considering.

I taped a "Plug-it" power cable to the hose prior to installing the braid. You need to leave enough power cord tail at each end to ensure that you can rotate the vacuum end and have enough cord, but not too much, at the tool end.
Doing this means that not only do you avoid the snagging of the hose ribs, but you also now have a single line to manage. It's SO much better.

**Bernmc** · 7th August 2020, 12:44 PM

When Dave Stanton youtubed this idea, there were some comments on including the lead making the hose a bit more cumbersome. He also used heatshrink on both ends but found it made the sander end too stiff, so went to tape.
I've only got the 36mm hose at the moment, and I've clipped the cord to it without finding any issues, so I think the combo wrapped would be fine. Might make the smaller hose a little more cumbersome though?
I also have the earlier plastic Fe$tool hose, as well as the newer version, and the newer is much much nicer to work with, so I expect this wrapping would be a decent improvement for the older type, without the massive $ premium.

**RossM** · 7th August 2020, 12:59 PM

I can report that the older style 27mm hose with a plug-it incorported into the braid upgrade works just so much better than the hose without the braid!

Yes - the whole assembly is a bit stiffer, but in no way has this had any detrimental impact to workflows.

**stevenjd** · 7th August 2020, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the article Derek. Definitely worth chasing up.
Steven.

PS. The Vac I bought was from WA. The dealer as you have stated is a very interesting character! I ended up getting the Vac sent from NSW.

**woodPixel** · 7th August 2020, 07:43 PM

Derek, any chance of prising out of you where you acquired yours?

All my searches come up with steel street machine braiding

**derekcohen** · 7th August 2020, 08:13 PM

No problem ....

Fray Resistant Cable Braided PET Expandable Sleeving Tight Wiring Harness Wraps | eBay

Regards from Perth

Derek

**jack620** · 7th August 2020, 09:08 PM

I did this a couple of years ago. I followed this video:

DIY Festool vacuum hose protection Dave Stanton - YouTube

**woodPixel** · 7th August 2020, 09:23 PM

YEAH!

This is the stuff I use on PCs for neatening up wiring. Excellent find on the bigger diameters Derek.... Very nice!

edit - I also use nylon shrinkies.... this is my source... a few giant ones would clamp it nicely on the ends.

**Bernmc** · 8th August 2020, 10:41 AM

This ebay bunch have 50mm in stock: 5M PET Expandable Braided Sleeving Wire Wrap Management Sleeve Organizer Protect | eBay

**Huon pine fan** · 17th August 2020, 05:42 PM

A great tip Derek. I have just fitted the braiding to my 2 Mirka hoses and they feel as slippery as an eel now, can't see them catching on anything. I used 20mm braiding on the smaller one and 25mm on the larger. The only issue I had was in length (no jokes please). I bought 5m lengths thinking that would be sufficient for the approx 4m hoses but as you might see from the pictures around a metre short.
20200817_145840.jpg 20200817_154257.jpg 20200817_155523.jpg

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