Anit-static hose for dust extraction

[Mike_5]

Hi all,

First post in this forum =D>

I have started doing some hobby wood working. My setup is a single garage so limited on space. Until today, there has been more dust in my garage than tools! I have purchased a Festool ctl 26. Very excited to get home and vacuum!

An issue I have now is some of my tools are Makita 36mm dust extraction. 7m of 36mm anti-static hose from Festool is ridiculous at £160 ish.

I have read some people use alternatives, but these were old articles. I was hoping to get a update on this topic.

Firstly, is anti static hosing essential, as I had an idea of having pvc piping around the garage with shut off valves for different tool uses. I'm imaging it is for safety and to stop a build up of dust in a hose due to static. However if the pvc piping is not moving, there would be no static charge build up, especially if I have earth areas to discharge any static.
Secondly, if I have to have anti-static hose, where is the best place to get it?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[MattRoberts]

In many people's view, the whole concern over static build up in dust extraction piping is a non issue. The conditions required to cause a problem are very very remote apparently.

If you're concerned, then implement an anti static solution. If it's not a massive personal concern, then don't worry about it

 

[Roughcut]

I would probably just stick a stepped hose reducer on the end of the current Festool hose to accept the other power tools (Makita etc.)
http://www.axminster.co.uk/numatic-step ... cer-610325

 

[Shrubby]

Before you buy anything try the Festo hose on everything you own
Makita sell vacuums with the same German standard fitting 27mm int /35-40mm ext
They have adapters for any tools that require them
Matt

 

[petermillard]

I have a non-AS hose on my workshop vac (older CTL22) and I definitely get more static hits from that than from my vacs with AS hoses. Also 7 metres is pretty long - could you get away with something shorter (therefore cheaper)?

If you do need a D36 fitting for you tools, could you get a short length of D36 hose and the fittings to make a step-up adapter? I have one going the other way, to adapt the D36 to D27, works well.

Definitely try the standard hose on your tools before faffing about though! N&B (powertool-supplies.co.uk) tend to have the edge price-wise, though not all that much in it. FWIW Festool's non-AS 7-metre hose is item # 452885, £90-odd from most of the usual suspects.

HTH, Pete

(and welcome, btw!)

 

[Mike_5]

Thanks for all the replies.

Gave the garage a good vac last night, spent an hour and still not finished!

My compound mitre saw dust outlet is larger than the D27 hose fitting. I will have a look at some adapters, probably the easiest route to go.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Alexfn]

Ive been using anti static and standard hoses for years. Ive not noticed any difference between them and if i had to buy a hose now i wouldnt spend a penny more because one was anti static.

I use them for.. Mitre saw dust extraction. Plunge saws and a lot of sanding.. Maybe theres another use where they come into their own.. But they seem to do nothing for me

 

[Mike_5]

I would imagine if the hose is mobile, subject to movement to generate the static charge, then it may become an issue. But a fixed hose subject to none to little static friction, I don't see an immediate issue.

I think I am going to setup a pipe system to each standing tool with shut off valves to direct to the tool being used.

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[Shrubby]

The static electricity is caused by waste moving inside the hose/duct.
Matt

 

[sunnybob]

As just mentioned, any static charge is caused by the dust / chips rubbing along the inside of the hose / ducting.
In a hobby situation, of a few minutes use at a time, this is a non issue. In a workshop where dust is moving for hours at a time, then there is a small possibility.

I would be suspicious of any static sparks on the outside of tubing, I would thoroughly electrically check the machines themselves. And of course make sure your underpants arent nylon!

7 metres of small diameter hose is not going to give much flow. Try to get 100mm tubing wherever possible (flexible or rigid), and the largest you can if that cant be achieved, only reducing at the tool itself. Also, Its strongly recommended that you get a cyclone to fit between the tubing and the vacuum, they are amazing at separating the dust out so your bags dont block all the time.
We all hope you are wearing a good mask too.

 

[Mike_5]

Also, Its strongly recommended that you get a cyclone to fit between the tubing and the vacuum, they are amazing at separating the dust out so your bags dont block all the time.

I have Festool ctl 26 with the self clean bags. How does the cyclone work? I thought the best option would be for the dust to go direct to the vacuum with a HEPA filter, wouldn't the cyclone reduce this efficiency?

Thanks for tubing advice, I would not have imagined larger hose would have been more beneficial.

 

[sunnybob]

almost all hobby systems run on low vacuum pressure, so if you have a long small tube, the friction on the tube sides slows the air speed considerably. The larger the tube the less friction, so the more the air moves taking the dust with it.

There are many threads on here about cyclones. basically they force the air into a mini tornado. The dust and chips are forced to the outside of the cyclone by centrifugal force, and then they slide down the outsides into a collection box underneath.
The result is that a cleaner bag will last many times longer before it needs cleaning. By all means keep your hepa filter as well, but after the cyclone.