What dust extractor to go with? What is best? Hilti, Festool?

Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.

FatandreMember since Jun 2020

Hello guys.

I am looking for a dust extractor both for concrete grinding and for my wood saws when I am at a job site.

I need the best stuff and price is not a problem.

I just want the best thing out there.

paulengrMember since Sep 2018

The filters and blower are basic tech until you get into large systems where you get pulse jets and Torit systems. The thing is there is a balance called the air to cloth ratio which needs to be under about 4 and the pressure drop needs to be between 2 and 8 inches: for ANY filter. If air flow is too low or high it doesn’t work: Also you need a certain CFM based on the opening it is sucking air through, the gaps around the tool. If it’s too much it won’t capture the dust and you are forced to use a bigger blower which means a bigger filter. Just saying so you get what the technology limits are.

So the best dust collector is the one built specifically for a specific tool. Everything else is meaningless. Using a Festool dust extractor on a Dewalt grinder is not a good idea.

With saws it’s a different story. They have built in dust ports and just take any shop vac. Shop vacs come in a variety of CFM but the saw manuals give a minimum CFM. More is not better. If you are above minimum you get maximum collection efficiency.

Buying super high filtration filters kills air to cloth ratio over OEM filters. 3M is famous for selling overpriced filters that reduce system performance. Don’t do this. Especially with concrete and drywall dust that plugs filters quickly.

FatandreMember since Jun 2020

I looked at the bosch one. Looks promising.

I need one that is good for everything 🙂

I like the hilti one but is it really better?

 

winglessMember since Nov 2017

Welcome to the forum.

 

If going w/ Festool, I use their long life bag, then dump / shake out over and over, until the bad fails.

FatandreMember since Jun 2020

Well. I think I might go with the Hilti one.

Maybe you get me of that idea?

FatandreMember since Jun 2020

no more input? 😀

regopitMember since Feb 2013

You could look into Flex Vacuums. I have the festool and the Flex. The flex works just as well as the festool and it cost less then the festool

FatandreMember since Jun 2020

Flex looks nice. How is it compared to Hilti?

I like it has a small filter for the motor

FatandreMember since Jun 2020

Decided to go with Starmix

Eric – TIAMember since Jan 2010

Sweet, I am curious to get your thoughts on it.

FatandreMember since Jun 2020

Went with the H 1635. Should be a good performer I guess 🙂

RexbriMember since Jul 2020

So the best dust collector is the one built specifically for a specific tool. Everything else is meaningless. Using a Festool dust extractor on a Dewalt grinder is not a good idea.
 

AltanMember since Nov 2011

Fatandre wrote:

On 7/10/2020 at 1:27 AM, Fatandre said:

Decided to go with Starmix

Starmix is great, their cordless vac can be used either with one single 36V battery or 2 x 18V batteries, the design of battery slots (one for 36V battery and two for 18V batteries) was amazing to save space. 

You are the influencer. Post it to 4.4 million followers.

Hit record. We’ll handle the rest.

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