Festool Products (one of our affiliate partners) sent out an email today, showcasing several new Festool dust collection products and accessories.
First – a new Bluetooth remote control set!
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The receiver connects to your Festool CT dust extractor’s accessory module port (CT 26/36/48), and the transmitter can be attached at the top of your hose.
There is an aftermarket remote control also available, priced at $129. This one, by Festool, is (surprisingly) less expensive, at $80.
Additionally, the receiver module that attaches to your vac can also be triggered by Festool’s new Bluetooth battery packs.
Wait, so that means that using any Festool cordless tool that’s equipped with one of their Bluetooth batteries will automatically turn on the connected (and equipped) Festool CT vac? Sweet!
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Festool has also come out with new braided sleeved hoses, which they say offer improved flexibility, are snag-free, and also have a conical design to improve air flow. The tool end of the hose can be inserted into the vacuum end, for storage and transport. This should help prevent dust from spilling out.
The new hoses have new dust collection attachment ports.
Product pages for the new anti-static hoses with smooth exteriors say that the new hoses “increase suction power.”
Additionally, because the tool end of a hose can connect to the vacuum end, you can combine two hoses into one longer hose.
Darn – this makes me want to replace all of my current Festool anti-static hoses. I have hoses in all sizes. I use 27mm for my sander and most tools, 36mm for larger tools, such as my Festool router sample, and 50mm for table saw connection. Right now it looks like only 27mm and 36mm hoses are available in the new design, but that might change.
There are new vacuums too, and an updated CT SYS mobile dust extractor as well.
The new CT vacuums all come with the updated hoses. They also sport improved cord wraps and a new T-Loc Sys-Dock.
The new T-Loc port can connect to T-Loc Systainers, but is also backwards-compatible with the older Systainer design.
I wonder if the new cord wrap will be available as a bolt-on upgrade for existing CT dust extractor users.
Personally, I like the idea of these new sleeved hoses a lot more than the one that Festool came out with a few years ago. That sleeve was priced fairly, when you broke down the cost of the set’s components.
At the time, the price of the 27mm x 3.5m anti-static hose was $119. It’s currently $123. I haven’t checked what it will be after the upcoming price increase, so let’s just look at that $123 spec.
The new 27mm x 3.5m hose is priced at $130. That means you’re paying $7 more for the smooth braided sleeve exterior, the new connectable hose ports, and “increased suction power.”
Festool makes a convincing argument:
And you’ll work more efficiently with a system that prevents clogging due to particulate buildup inside the hose. A durable, pliable design withstands heavy use and prevents kinking, for longer service life and more efficient work.
While I won’t replace any of my hoses, which are all still in great condition, I’d definitely consider these new updated hoses should I need any more.
As for the Bluetooth remote? Yes, please! I mean… I don’t know… I’m awfully skeptical. Maybe someone should throw an engineering sample or review sample my way to convince me. Kidding, I’m going to preorder one.
ETA looks to be April 2018 for everything shown here.
Buy Now, via Festool Products:
Festool New Products
Festool CT26 (My Pick)
Festool 27mm x 3.5m Hose
Festool CT 26/36/48 Dust Extractor Bluetooth Remote
Festool 18V 5.2Ah Battery
Festool 18V 6.2Ah Battery
Additional new tools include a corded mixer, 6″ multi-Jetstream 2 sanding pads that improve sander dust collection, new forwards and backwards compatible Jetstream 2 abrasives, a TS 55 and TSC 55 diamond blade, Domino DF 500-series knock-down connectorsm and new Granat net abrasives.
fred
Maybe they do listen. The hose garage and cord storage while not terrible on the old models – did not befit the Festool cache or price.
For me – my old Dalek look-alike Fein is still going strong.
Rahm
Makita has been including this feature with their new cordless tools that benefit from dust extraction for the past seven months in Japan. Nice to see another manufacturer realize the benefits in their line as well.
Stuart
Yes, but the remote allows other cordless tools to activate the vacuum, and the Bluetooth batteries allow retrofitting of all Festool cordless tools.
With Makita, you have to buy everything new, unless there’s a new remote I haven’t seen.
Jim Felt
Hah! “Dalek” Fein!!!
Now I’ve got to affix the bumps all over it. Jeez.
But that’s what I’ve used and abused (if gently) for at least ten years. Never an issue. Just changing the brilliantly designed wraparound bags. And it’s still the lowest dB I’ve encountered.
Russ
Nothing about a new Midi extractor?
Stuart
All of the extractors are being updated, including the mini and midi. But they don’t have an accessory port, and as such they won’t work with the Bluetooth remote.
Ben
I actually just bought a new (pre-2018) model on Monday but it hadn’t shipped yet. I was able to change my order to a pre-order of a 2018 model and get it with the Domino discount still (10% off the MIDI).
The ‘new’ MIDI, according to Festool is the exact same vac however with the newer braided hose. The 2018 model is $30 more I think as well.
I’m a bit bummed that the MIDI can’t use the same remote setup as the CT-26, but size wise the MIDI is exactly what I need (portable, easy to take into the house or on the road with me). Hopefully somebody else comes up with an aftermarket solution eventually for it.
Ktash
You can get snagless hose sleeves if you have the old style hoses or any other brand. Inexpensive. On eBay. Video with details. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrWmAxFDChc
I got one for my Bosch hose. Works well.
That said the whole system looks great.
Joe
Always happens, just bought a midi vac…I love the thing , had a fein which was nice. Don’t think I’m upgrading to the new one or or getting a ct…..but gotta love progress