workshop vac

[johnf]

I need a new vac for power tools as my earlex powervac has given up.
new vac needs a powertool take off with auto start 1800 watts minimum around 20 ltrs or bigger drum.

Which would you buy

budget £200

 

[superunknown]

I use a trend one everyday and that's always been great so far.

 

[Oryxdesign]

The fein ones are really good

 

[Karl]

I've got a K'Archer one which I use for the 'shop and out on site. About £50 from Screwfix, and it's really powerful.

Cheers

Karl

 

[jedmc571]

have a look at the Aero 50-21 by Nilfisk/Alto, it's less than £80 and truly a fantastic machine, it has a power take off as well, it'uses bags, but you can re-use them a couple of times.
I use mine for jobs in the house for sanding, not a trace of dust, it's the best money I've spent.

I looked at Trend, and Fein, and Festool, and found that for the money, it can't be touched.

Godd luck

Jed

 

[woodbloke]

I use one from Axminster... it comes supplied with a power tool hose and a 60mm hose for bigger stuff, plenty of power. In fact I have two, one used on the bandsaw/disc sander (small hose) and the other one hooked up to the table saw - Rob

 

[johnf]

I think the fein might fit the bill

 

[pooka]

I use the Niflisk-Alto 360-21 and find it very good. At the time I bought it is cost £199 (on offer) but I don't know what it costs now.

I threw some info into a thread at the time, comparing this Alto with the Fein and Festool alternatives. The thread is here in case you are interested.

 

[lurker]

If you want to save a wadge of that for some proper tools then the B&Q Macallister is similar but better than the Earlex

I saw a discounted one (brush attachment missing) in Leicester B&Q last Thursday for £30

 

[OllyK]

If you want to save a wadge of that for some proper tools then the B&Q Macallister is similar but better than the Earlex

I saw a discounted one (brush attachment missing) in Leicester B&Q last Thursday for £30

I have one of these and have to say it works well. No use for the SCMS or The Big Triton Router with the powertake off, but it's plugged in to the same socket as the SCMS so no big deal to flick 2 switches instead of 1.

 

[Imperial]

How about this one, £50 off......

http://www.homewood-ltd.co.uk/index.php ... ucts_id=95

 

[jlawrence]

Does anyone have any view on this one:
01453 SIP 1HP Dust Extractor
Seems a pretty decent spec for just over £100.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Does anyone have any view on this one:
01453 SIP 1HP Dust Extractor
Seems a pretty decent spec for just over £100.

I've got one and it does everything I need it for. It comes with three different filter bags and several spare plastic bags. I don't use the plastic bag I use two filter bags, doing that increases the volume of air moved by 100%

One thing though it has a plastic grid just inside the intake directly below the motor, it keeps blocking so I cut it out and I've never had a blockage since.

The link you gave prices it at £117 you can get them cheaper if you shop around.

 

[johnf]

I want one that will cope with a 1800 watt scms and router that rules out all the cheaper ones the Earlex did this but the switch broke after 4 months, so I will have to chose between Fein Trend Festool I think the Fein is favourite

 

[pooka]

One thing to beware of when choosing any dust extractor/collecter is the level of filtration that it provides. Especially if you are dealing with something as toxic as MDF dust. I'm stating the obvious, I know, but it can be easy to forget or assume that they all provide a similar level of protection (which may or may not actually be the case).

It can be difficult to find this info though, as strangely a lot of retailers don't provide it. When I was comparing models last year, Fein readily advertise the info for their unit (filters down to 5 microns), Nilfisk Alto were able to tell me on request, and I didn't chase it down for the Festool (as I had already decided on the Alto). It is worth checking for any unit you are considering.

 

[Calpol]

I have a Nilfisk Alto Aero 25-21 at the house which I used to use for routing and whatnot but 2 have blown up while attached to a power tool (both well within the power rating) so now I just use it for carpets!

We have a Festool something or other at work which is very good, never had a problem with it and it gets used all the time...

Also have a Record Power RSDE1 with the small hose attached which works very well but doesn't have the auto start. It can be fitted but it's hardly an essential... I think the RSDEP (something like that) is within your budget though which is pretty similar.

 

[ivan]

Another vote for the Nilfisk Alto 360-21; this was £160 at the last Ax show. Has standard ~50mm "hole" for hose, 3M of 27mm supplied. This is antistatic and earthed. Hose end fittting identical to Festool. Plastic washable filter is still original. Bypass motor so can't overheat. Is compatible with Festool vac accessories. Bags cheaper than Feastool's, too. Manual push to clean function puts reverse flow air through filter.

 

[miles_hot]

can you use something like the Alto in a semi plumbed in system? I am thinking of having a vac which I can take to the tool (around the house etc) but also have it able to be plugged into a series of pipes running around the garage (along side the larger pipes for the main machine centric dust extraction)? In this way I can then use a dust trap to increase the capacity or even a mini cyclon to aid seperation etc.

many thanks

miles

 

[bob321]

i use a pre-cyclonic system then an old vax it is bullet proof runs without a motor control board without filters. and i can run it 4 a long time and just gets warm, then i try a cheep tesco one and cuts out after 2 min

motor control board

old vax

pre-cyclonic

this is all most full now :shock:

 

[Ross K]

Six makers in our workshop use the Makita vac and after literally thousands of collective hours over ten years, not one fault with them. Bagless, does wet and dry, 100% dependable. Like all Makita stuff.