Dust Extraction- “portable” for scroll saw - Festool type system

[meflick]

Ok, I have a question for everyone regarding “portable” dust extraction for use with in particular my scroll saw. However, to better understand my need, I need to give some background on what’s been going on lately in my life. I’ll try to take a long story and make it as short as possible. but I tend to be “wordy” so I apologize now.

So, hubby has had an oversized woodworking workshop in our home we built 18 years ago. He tends to do larger furniture type projects and also has a lathe he uses so he has the typical larger woodworking tools, and most of them. He allowed me to “move in” to share his space 6+ years ago bringing in 2 scrollsaws, a smaller bandsaw and more sanding equipment. We were wall to wall. We have had had a large dust extraction system with conduit to each tool station.

Back in the middle of March, my FIL, who was 95 (3 months short of 96)  and in pretty good health and still living in the family home independently for the most part and doing well, was out walking with a friend and fell backward hitting his head and passed away. My MIL was already gone so family is going to sell the family property and starts process. 

Long story bit shorter, we decided to downsize from our house, get out of a subdivision, and buy his siblings out and buy the family home and its acreage with a mountain view and maybe get him closer to retirement and definitely a bigger shop. House was built by his parents and is almost as old as my husband (he is the baby.) it is well built but will need to be remodeled. Plan is to move into house while we build a new larger shop building which will have a living space. Then once shop is built, we will move in that living space while we remodel house. So, since end of March, we went on previously planned trip out of country with our kids, came back and went through that decision process and then I have been decluttering and cleaning out our house from 18 years and getting it on the market. We broke down the shop the past couple weeks as he had time after work and moved it all to “store” in the basement of family house. We have now sold our house and will be out in next few weeks. Needless to say, I haven’t been able to do any scrolling or carving or anything else since March, so about 5 months already. We figure if we are lucky, shop will be built and moved into in 6 months. (Crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath).

So, I don’t really want to continue to not be able to scroll while we continue this process and I’ll need something to do once we are moved so I’ve been trying to figure out best option to scroll with portable dust extraction for my saw. My thought was it would be useable with other tools too perhaps during that time (small bandsaw for example). I would have to scroll in the basement or garage probably. Once we were in new shop space, I could continue to use with scroll saw rather than run scroll saw with big dust extraction that runs all the time and is quite loud. I was thinking a Festtool portable system might work as I envision or maybe there is another choice. I had hubby look online but I wanted to get some insight or input from my scrolling friends to see if anyone was using a portable Festool sawdust extraction system or something similar and, if so, which one might be  Pros and Cons and thoughts from you all.

Thanks if you read through it all, now you know why I’ve had nothing to show for awhile and may not for a while longer. I really don’t want to have to wait on the new shop space before I can scroll again so any insight anyone can provide would be appreciated.

[Bill WIlson]

Well, I don't have any wisdom to impart, regarding portable DC, but want to be the first to congratulate you on this new stage in your life.  Building a new shop is a dream most of us never get to realize, but have to experience vicariously through others.  Hopefully you will post pictures of the progress during construction.

[OCtoolguy]

29 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

Well, I don't have any wisdom to impart, regarding portable DC, but want to be the first to congratulate you on this new stage in your life.  Building a new shop is a dream most of us never get to realize, but have to experience vicariously through others.  Hopefully you will post pictures of the progress during construction.

What Bill said. 

I will say this though, I have on-board dust control on each of my Ex saws that work well. We discussed this a couple of years back. I incorporated the MetroVac 500 and small cyclone cannisters. To cut down on the noise I fabbed a muffler of sorts from an empty Tropical o/j bottle. I can take either saw anywhere and still have dust control. I've got about $75 ea invested.

 

[meflick]

Thanks Bill and Ray. I will give updates as we progress. It will be a couple months probably before the shop gets started.

Does anyone have experience with a Festool Dust Collection? Would still like some input before I go forward with something I’m a few weeks.

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, meflick said:

Thanks Bill and Ray. I will give updates as we progress. It will be a couple months probably before the shop gets started.

Does anyone have experience with a Festool Dust Collection? Would still like some input before I go forward with something I’m a few weeks.

I watched a demo of a lot of the Festool tools from the vacs to saws and sanders etc.. The vacs seem like they was real quiet. I really want to do as @Rolf had done and build a system from PVC, I've ordered some of the flex piping a couple months ago but gosh life happens sometimes, LOL. I believe @Sycamore67 has posted about having a Festool system set up on his Hegner. Rolf has his on a Hawk and I believe he made a system for his Excalibur as well. 

I have the Seyco system on my Excalibur and also did similar set up as Ray with the Metro vac, which by the way is basically what the Seyco system is. My experience with the metro vac is that it's quiet at first but gets louder and louder.. I get enough fine dust passing on through the dust deputy and making it to the vac.. and it's not a Hepa system and I find it actually blows "some" of the real fine stuff right out the exhaust port.. I have no experience with Festool or the Fein.. But I think the Festool is the way to go with it's Hepa filter. Fien are similar and cheaper however in my research I found that they do not come standard with Hepa.. that's a add on and then the price is very similar.  Back to the Seyco system for a sec. also would point out that it doesn't have both top and bottom collection points.. I did buy a scrollando set up too.. I haven't used it enough to really give a good review of that.. I'll first say I think the kit is pretty cheaply made in my opinion.. and think one is way better off just building a system from PVC pipe and the line-loc flex tubing. 

Should also note that some time back someone posted about a new DeWalt Quiet vac that was supposed to be a good system.. Can't remember who is was.. I'm thinking at the price point of this though.. it's probably not a Hepa system... The only negative thing I believe I've seen about Festool is the price tag, LOL.. most cheap out and buy a cheap system and are either happy there is not sawdust in the lap or like me.. disappointed in all the fine dust blowing out the back of the vac. and the filter / bag getting lined with fine dust and making the Vac louder. The amount of money / time I've spent fussing with the cheaper set ups I wish I had just done what Rolf did.. I think for light weekend work the seyco type systems would be great for the money.. If I want the seyco system to stay quiet I have to change or blow out the dust from the bag / filter at least once a day sometimes twice. 

[meflick]

Thanks for the detail reply @kmmcrafts Kevin.  I was thinking some here had gotten the Festool so was hoping for some good insight before I pull the trigger. I was thinking @Rolf had one. I know he doesn’t visit the Village everyday, so hopefully he’ll stop by soon. If not, I’ll reach out directly to him as I get closer to the move which will be n the not too distant future, depends on when I can get movers lined up.

[Sycamore67]

I have a Festool Dust extractor and use it on my Hegner and works very well.  I also muse it with my sanders.

[Rolf]

I am visiting today. I bought the Festool midi after winning a Festool track saw in a raffle and my wife bought me a Festool RO sander. As I don't us the those tools often I connected it to my Hawk. I mounted the tubing on a wooden base that has two "Mag Switches" so I can easily take it off. Little did I know I was going to buy a used EX 16 as a travel saw. It is now my primary. I just move the dust extractor over.  I run the Festool vac at about 50% speed. I have the saw plugged into the Festool outlet so it comes on with my saw.  

I added a swivel and a dust trap that has a screen in it to catch those tiny pieces that get sucked up that you still want. The swivel allows me to swing the upper arm out of the way and back without messing with my adjustments.  Also I did NOT glue any of the joints in case something got jammed in one.

Edited August 28, 2023 by Rolf

[Rolf]

Dewalt makes a new Stealth Sonic Vacuum that is supposed to be about 65 DB or less. and you can get a HEPA filter for it.

The 10 gallon dewalt is about $145 and the best Hepa filter for it $66. 

I have not heard it running, but if the specs are true it certainly is quieter than a shop vac.

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, Rolf said:

I am visiting today. I bought the Festool midi after winning a Festool track saw in a raffle and my wife bought me a Festool RO sander. As I don't us the those tools often I connected it to my Hawk. I mounted the tubing on a wooden base that has two "Mag Switches" so I can easily take it off. Little did I know I was going to buy a used EX 16 as a travel saw. It is now my primary. I just move the dust extractor over.  I run the Festool vac at about 50% speed. I have the saw plugged into the Festool outlet so it comes on with my saw.  

I added a swivel and a dust trap that has a screen in it to catch those tiny pieces that get sucked up that you still want. The swivel allows me to swing the upper arm out of the way and back without messing with my adjustments.  Also I did NOT glue any of the joints in case something got jammed in one.

Rolf I'm curious about your swivel. I see it's a pvc union but what is the screw in its side for? Is it a tension screw or a stop or ???

[Scrappile]

And I am curious, looks like the Ex 16" sits on a wood platform... How do the magnetic switches hold the dust collection on?  

[Roberta Moreton]

I scroll in a spare room in my house. I bought a Scrollnado to go on my Dewalt 788, and hooked it to my Festool vac.  The smallest one.  It works fine. It isn’t dust free. It is much better, and my husband doesn’t complain. 

[Rolf]

2 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

Rolf I'm curious about your swivel. I see it's a pvc union but what is the screw in its side for? Is it a tension screw or a stop or ???

I snug up the swivel just enough so that it seals but can still rotate. The screw is a set screw to keep my setting in place and keep it from unscrewing. I drilled and tapped the ring (10-32) 

Edited August 28, 2023 by Rolf

[Rolf]

2 hours ago, Scrappile said:

And I am curious, looks like the Ex 16" sits on a wood platform... How do the magnetic switches hold the dust collection on?  

It is a special magnet for wood. 

Just kidding I had a piece of scrap metal that I screwed to the table.

 

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, Rolf said:

I snug up the swivel just enough so that it seals but can still rotate. The screw is a set screw to keep my setting in place and keep it from unscrewing. I drilled and tapped the ring (10-32) 

I sort of thought that was what it was for but wanted to make sure. Thanks.

[rash_powder]

Regarding the fine dust making it through the collection system - one could exhaust the blower air out an exhaust vent or window.  A dryer flex pipe and one of those window adapters for portable air conditioners would do the trick. 

[Sycamore67]

My Festool is HEPA rated so fine dust not escaping.  The important point for me is to get the dust pickups in the best position to capture the dust. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the dust collector/extractor and not enough on the dust pickups.  For me, it is capture dust as close to the source as possible .  Rolf and I along with others are using 3/4" Loc-Line to help do this.

[meflick]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. @Sycamore67, @Rolf and @Roberta Moretonthank you for your specific info. And in particular, Rolf’s photos. I hope to follow up once we get closed and moved which should be in the next few weeks. I’m going to wait until that happens before I order anything- have enough stuff to get moved from here to there. Fortunately, we have all the shop stuff packed and moved. Now, I just have to see if I can get at least one of the scroll saws accessible.

[Rolf]

Meflick hopefully you will have more room in your new shop.!

I could not comprehend moving my shop and all of the tools. 

6 hours ago, Sycamore67 said:

My Festool is HEPA rated so fine dust not escaping.  The important point for me is to get the dust pickups in the best position to capture the dust. There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the dust collector/extractor and not enough on the dust pickups.  For me, it is capture dust as close to the source as possible .  Rolf and I along with others are using 3/4" Loc-Line to help do this.

I keep the top pickup just behind the blade.  Because of how the saws are designed, The bottom one works great on the Hawk not so great on the EX.  I started to design an adaptor for the EX that will exit from the left so that I can stick the nozzle in it. I will 3d print it at my library.

[kmmcrafts]

6 hours ago, rash_powder said:

Regarding the fine dust making it through the collection system - one could exhaust the blower air out an exhaust vent or window.  A dryer flex pipe and one of those window adapters for portable air conditioners would do the trick. 

Only issue I see with that is in the cold winter or in the southern states hot summer you'd be blowing your heat or A/C air outside wouldn't you? There is a inline filtration system for laser machines to filter the smoke and vapors so you don't blow your heat outside.. though a bit pricey from what I understand for no longer than the charcoal filter last in them. 

[Rolf]

You could always buy a HEPA filter and make a small enclosure for it then exhaust the vacuum exhaust through it.

[Gonzo]

Late entry.  You may want to check out the Fein. I have it and it does a wonderful job for me in my shop.  It’s very quiet, and a bit less expensive than the Festool. 

[OCtoolguy]

On 9/4/2023 at 5:53 AM, Gonzo said:

Late entry.  You may want to check out the Fein. I have it and it does a wonderful job for me in my shop.  It’s very quiet, and a bit less expensive than the Festool. 

Plus one for the Fein.