Festool Bluetooth Remote

Before Festool came out with the bluetooth switch, this was available. I have had it since it came out and been very happy with it. I have a long hose on my CT36 and I find I use it a lot more when I don't have to walk over to switch it on.

Guess I don't get it I plug my sander into the Fein Vacuum turns on and off when I start the tool. Now for a big Oneida collector, yes remote start is very helpful.

Toomanytools? said:

Guess I don't get it I plug my sander into the Fein Vacuum turns on and off when I start the tool. Now for a big Oneida collector, yes remote start is very helpful.

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Yeah, the Festool extractors do that too... That's not what the bluetooth is for... It's essentially for when you want to use the extractor sans a tool or with a tool that doesn't require power (like a pocket hole jig), etc...

This sounded incredibly useless to me on paper. But in practice, it's actually incredibly handy.

Note: This isn't a paid endorsement or anything like it. I got one for Christmas and love it is all...

I work with a commercial door and hardware installer (I do the electrical stuff, he does the hardware stuff). He has a festtool set-up, including the vacuum and the Bluetooth switch.

That switch is well worth the money. Every time saving (and back saving) measure really adds up. I always keep in my mind that the real cost of skilled labor these days is +/- $50/hour. If something saves you 1 minute of work every working day (like switching a vacuum on and off), that saves you 4 hours of work a year, or ~$200.

The vacuums that turn on automatically with a tool are nice - but you're not always using a vacuum with a corded tool. You may have a cordless tool, or just vacuuming up debris aside from using a tool.

Like Lee, I’ve been using the precursor to this and have found it incredibly handy. I got by just fine without it, but now I keep the remote and hose end hooked at the end of the bench.

While not Festool-specific, I LOVE my Vacmaster with a bluetooth remote built into the handle. Being able to turn it on and off immediately is so nice! Using it with or without a tool is easy to get started and stopped, without having to waste any time.

Dam you Ryan, Dam this forum.

I have spent more money on here for things I didn't know that I needed.

You are right sounds stupid, but geesh makes sense to have one.

I can't wait to save time from walking over to turn the vac on or off. I have no idea what I am going to do with all that extra time I am going to have now.

Thanks for posting!

The bluetooth kit is really cool Ryan, especially if you have cordless tools that can't trigger the vacuum (forgetting for a moment Festool's new bluetooth batteries).

I picked up a couple remote plugs like this one, but on different channels, on sale at my local hardware store: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q9EFUK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not quite as cool, but it lets me trigger my Fein vacuum when using cordless tools, with the blast cabinet, or as you note just for general cleanup without having to reach for the vacuum itself.

Works as a nifty Xmas tree light switch too.

Pro tip: attach a brightly colored lanyard to the remote with something to hook on your belt or pocket. Makes it much harder to misplace on a worksite. (The Festool solution cleverly stays on the hose making it much harder to lose)

PS my killer use case for the remote is cleaning up between repetitive drilling operations at the drill press.

albinowilson said:

Guess I don't get it I plug my sander into the Fein Vacuum turns on and off when I start the tool. Now for a big Oneida collector, yes remote start is very helpful.

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That WAS a great feature. But it's dated in the days of cordless tools. And it has its limitations.

One of my Fein vacuums lives above my miter saw. But the 15A miter saw draws too much power to run off the vacuum, so I instead plugged the architect's lamp on my saw table into the vacuum. Turn on the lamp, and you're ready to cut.

Just this week, I added remote control to my 1.5HP dust collector (which right now is only connected to my table saw). But I didn't go the bluetooth way.

I have my dust collector plugged into a central vacuum relay, and control that through an IoT switch that I can voice control through the Echo Dot in my shop.
"Alexa, turn on the dust collector".

As of last month I can now also ask her to control the garage lights (and another set of lights outside under the awning which I use for my automotive work), and my TIG torch water cooler.

But my favorite is an electronic ball valve on the compressor tank outlet that is controlled by her. So, when I shut off the lights and leave the garage, the valve shuts off and depressurizes my manifold. That way, my permanently connected hoses no longer stay charged 24x7, and my compressor pump doesn't have to run once a day to make up for leaks in my QDs (making me have to drain water from the tank for no other good reason).

Of course, none of this is a substitute for Festools bluetooth solution, because Festool mainly caters to mobile craftsman, and my solution is very solidly tied to one location.

edit: 2.5 years later, and I'm still happy with the voice control for most of this. I did have to rename "dust collector", because it was just too much for Alexa to understand behind the running noise of a dust collector. LOL. He's "Dusty" now. Coolmate has always worked well enough. "Daddy's forbidden close of mystery" is a mouthful, but hey, what else would you call your closet light? The ball valve on the compressor died last month. At the time, I went with a valve that wasn't rated for the 175PSI of the tank, and I think that the pressure was too much for the drive motor. I quickly replaced it with a 1000WOG stainless valve that shouldn't get tight under pressure, and an external WiFi actuator that can be manually bypassed, so I won't be without a compressor if it fails again.

The traveling Makita Driving Innovation Tour stopped in my area the other day. A MakitaUSA company rep on the tour indicated that Makita is working on a similar Bluetooth dongle device that will permit automatic dust extraction vac actuation with legacy vacuums and tools... even those that didn't originally come with AWS.

So this concept will likely spread to all the tool makers eventually... to the extent that patent restrictions or their willingness to pay license fees will permit.

FastCap has been doing these for years now. Doesnt have the slick green paint job, but also cost 50% less.

https://www.fastcap.com/product/remote-control-vacuum

But just one more example how Festool is a well thought out system with smart useful features.

The next decade will be very interesting when it comes to dust collection. No cords is nice, but no hoses is the next hurdle.

tarbellb said:

...The next decade will be very interesting when it comes to dust collection. No cords is nice, but no hoses is the next hurdle.

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I believe the message about the bluetooth garden hose is supposed to be tomorrow.

Bahaha, love this. But I only want one if it has color changing LEDs and plays music.

tarbellb said:

FastCap has been doing these for years now. Doesnt have the slick green paint job, but also cost 50% less.

https://www.fastcap.com/product/remote-control-vacuum

.

Click to expand...

In bold red all caps letters, Fast Cap warns that their remote control vacuum device isn't exactly universally compatible...


THE RCV WILL NOT WORK WITH LARGE DUST COLLECTORS OR OTHER LARGE SHOP EQUIPMENT. EVEN DUST COLLECTORS THAT RUN AT 12 AMPS. THE MOTORS IN THESE COLLECTORS WILL PULL MORE AMPS WHEN TURNING ON OR UNDER STRAIN AND CAUSE THE RCV TO FAIL. THE RCV IS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH SHOP-VACS AND OTHER SMALL SHOP EQUIPMENT.


In as much as possible, if I buy a new Makita tool, I will be certain to select the AWS bluetooth version... to at least have the remote actuation built into the tool.