I’m considering asking for a Fein II vac for Christmas. I’d use it for dust collection on my sliding miter, router table, and hand sanders (and any toys I get in the future).
The vac comes with a 16′ hose but, evidently no tools like a crevice tool, brush, etc. I know you can buy the accessory kit but $75 seems awful steep. Will off the shelf brushes, nozzles, etc. bought from my home center fit the hose?
Replies
I have a Turbo III with the 2 1/4" hose. I don't know if the Turbo II will accept the larger hose which is better than the 1 1/4" for shavings and heavier pick up. All my old Sears & Shop Vac accessories fit the 2 1/4" hose. I don't know about the smaller hose. There are not standard sizes on many portable power tools for hose fittings. You may have to use adaptors for different brands. You don't have to buy the whole kit, they are available individually. Most are reasonable in price. I think this site has the largest choice I've seen.
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/fein/mini-turbo-accessories.htm?E+coastest
I use both hoses with my little Fein so I would expect that would be the same for the Turbo II. However the large OD hose is quite stiff and not, IMHO, suitable for use with floor wands and the like. I'll try to remember to check to see if SWMTMH's vac attachments fit the Fein hose.
I have the Fein III and I use Sears attachments. They work just fine.
The OD on the nozzle of the hose for my little Fein is 1 3/8". It does not, directly, fit the bits for our household vac, which is a Nilfisk.
My Fein Vac came with a 1 3/8" hose. It's a european size, so you can find attachments at a high end vac dealer. Miele is one brand. They aren't cheap either, but they're good.
[URL=http://www.jameseddywoodworks.com]James Eddy Woodworks[/URL]
An expensive solution, but see if you can get bags for it, or whether you is gonna be relegated to cleaning the filter every time it plugs up.....A pita. I dunno if they are available, when I looked at one, the local supplier coudn;t tell me if Fein made bags for it or not.
A small thing folks might say, but when it comes to fine dust, it doesn't take long to lose yer suction....
methinks they are around the 300i pluss-ish mark, and at that price, you can possibly only rationalize/afford one, but the same dineros will purchase 3 shop vacs, which do use bags, and that you can used also with pleated filters, come with a warranty which is likely locally supported, albiet they don't have the same finesse as the fein.
Just my thoughts....
Eric in Cowtown
hi don,
i have a turbo II ('t2') and a turbo III ('t3'), and in short, i won't work without them. after buying several other shop vacs, i've worked my way up. there are two different diameter hoses: a 16' x 1 3/8" (euro-sized) and a 10' x 2 1/4" (std-sized). there are attachments readily available from many companies for the big hose, but not for the small hose -- rather annoying, but the multi-step adapters work fine. i have the t3 hooked up to my router table (bench dog fence -- no adapter needed), and use it with my mitre saw. i use the t2 wih my hand sanders, and for bench clean-up. both vacs have tool-activated outlets: plug the tool into the vac and the vac into the wall, then turning the tool on starts the vac.
when we remodeled our kitchen, my wife and i used the t2 for all the clean-up (tile counter demolition dust and chunks, and drywall dust from pulling/replacing the fluorescent-filled soffit). the t2 is really portable, and works so weel that we bought the floor tools and use it around the house. (t2+tools is about the same cost as one of those dysons...) also, the vac is quiet enough that it doesn't drown out conversations (or the tv :-) ... we've logged about 1000 hours with the t2, and maybe half that with the t3.
most shop vacs are dust pumpers in disguise (my old vacs serve as garden/yard tools now for that reason) -- with dark hardwood floors you can see even see it happen. the feins aren't if you use the HEPA filter and bag (which i do with both vacs -- also makes clean-up easier). they're a bit pricey, but i think they're worth it.
i bought both vacs at my local woodcraft, and they've always taken care of me, so i fully trust them to support the vacs. if i needed another vac, i'd buy another fein.
sorry if this sounds like an advert, but that little t2 has taken a lot of abuse and come out purring.
cheers,
bert
I use bags that I purchase most anywhere with mine. I think they are Shopvac brand, not a perfect fit, but do OK, and much cheaper than the Fein.
No they wont fit. You'll need the accy kit as well.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
Are you referring to the acc. kit that lists for about $ 75 in the Amazon/Tool Crib catalog. The price seems high to me for plastic tools. I though I'd try to find some less expensive ones if I can find ones that fit. Or, are the Fein tools that much better?Thanks for the reply. Don
I think so, if it's the same one I bought it included a really good floor sweep head with metal tubing along with the 3 tools and a rubber tool adapter. I agree they're not cheap but they fit the hose. The rubber hose adapters work really for hooking up sanders. Extras's are available for less than a buck.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
I agree with Elcoholic - the accessories are a little steep but the floor sweep does a) fit the hose!, b) is metal handle, and c) works really well.
I just spent the last 3 hours on the Bosch ROS - the hose on the Turbo II fits right on the Bosch vac connector (which also works on the 1/4 sheet sander). It's a (relative LOL) pleasure using this combo - no jet engine roar, and no dust!
The rubber connector in the accessories kit connects to the Porter Cable hose I use with the biscuit cutter and old tank Rockwell 4x24 belt sander.
I do have, and highly recommend, the HEPA upgrade. Coastal Tool had a great deal on the combo when I bought mine.
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