Festool Vac (vice / clamping) system

[Escudo]

What's the verdict on this impressive looking set-up?

I think it costs about £800.

http://www.festool.co.uk/artikel/artikel_weiterleiten.cfm?id=969

Festool ingenuity and quality it seems.

Tony.

 

[Mr Ed]

If I had seen that product unbranded I think I would have guessed it to be Festool.

I don't think its for me, although I am sure some people will want to own one. At the risk of being controversial to the Festool believers, it seems a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut to me.

Cheers, Ed.

 

[wizer]

Festool aren't the only people making it.

http://www.m-powertools.com/products/va ... lddown.htm

I believe I have seen a DIY version also (Joe Woodworker?)

 

[wizer]

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=32087

 

[JonnyD]

If you have a vacumn vennering setup there is this option as well which utilises the vacumn pump

http://www.airpress.uk.com/UK/index2.htm click on vac pots

jon

 

[joiner_sim]

The festool model is okay if you want to use it portably, otherwise, I'd either get a more industrial "slab" version, or just use a normal vice.

 

[Jake]

To be fair to Festool, they offer a fair bit more than just flat fixed suction, which really isn't new. I'm sure there are other more sophisticated industrial systems out there, but they aren't claiming to have invented either vacuum or vacuum clamping so far as I know. Looks like one of their niche products to me, where they bring high end industrial down to low end industrial/high end trade.

 

[wizer]

can you use the festool compressor for vacuum pressing, I wonder?

 

[Shrubby]

Festool bought Holzher who sold the schmalz vacuum bench. It looks like the usual Festoolization to me - mobile, nifty and expensive.The principle is widely used in industry so a logical trickle down to the smaller trades.
Matt

 

[Escudo]

Thanks for the comments fellas.

I would like to see one of these in action as they seem very impressive. Although, clearly not a new idea, from the other references above.

It looks so simple and effective, no more work holding problems with one of those puppies. (Is that a pun?)

Cheers, Tony.

 

[wizer]

Sounds like a pun to me Tony

I'm off to research my above question. As if the compressor can be used for vacuum forming, then the whole package is worth the money.

 

[CNC Paul]

Wizer,

Yes you could use it for vacuum pressing, all you need is a vinyl bag and a bag connector.


Paul

 

[wizer]

Cheers Paul, in that case, if you ever had it in mind to but a vacuum compressor then this is the kit to buy, double bubble.

 

[CNC Paul]

Wizer,

I have a really nice Alcatel vacuum pump I use with my bag press and the Airpress pucks, I did think about getting the Festool setup without the pump but they want about £385 for it


Paul

 

[user 5027]

A couple of months ago I got the chance to have a play with one of these setup's. I has put a 1800x220 peice of flooring onto it and used their Rotex 150 sander to take the varnish off... Boy, that thing holds well.. Easy to move around. But... It's pretty expensive. However, I'm doing an office at the moment with lot's of edge banding. I would not get my money back straight away (as I do as justification for most of my tools) but in a few goes you would. Screw clamping it all down, just place it on and - STUCK !!

If it were £500-600 I'd buy without a question...

However... most places do discounts even on FESTOOL - I'm so tight, I HAVE to have a discount, so perhaps I will look at it again on the next kitchen I do...

 

[Steve Maskery]

I had a go with this back at easter time. I visited one of Festool's beta-testing customers where they had been using it for a few months. Seeing it in use by someone who is adept at it make one realize how useful it could be in the right workshop. These guys were edging and sanding doors and the workpiece just flew about in any direction it was needed. Fab. But I couldn't justify the expense for the sort of work I do.

It is aimed at the pro shop churning out kitchens and the like. For that sort of work it excels.

Incidentally, at the Nuremburg show, which was also part of our trip, there were a number of other manufacturers with similar offerings, although they were usually built into larger, more dedicated bench/support-table setups.
S

 

[wizer]

whats it like in terms of noise?

 

[CNC Paul]

Just a Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Steve Maskery]

Yes, not bad at all. The pump is housed in a Systainer, which deadens it somewhat. There is a foot-operated valve for vac/novac and a couple of levers on the vice for tilt and turn. Each vice will hold, IIRC 30kg and the pump will serve two at a time, so you can hold a flippin heavy fire door if you really want to.

 

[wizer]

Well for what it is I don't think it's a lot of money. But it's still more than a tablesaw. Realistically this could be my first Festool purchase.