Post by aas on Jul 18, 2021 5:17:17 GMT -5
So I've purchased a second Festool cyclone - one to stay on the Starmix for 'dirty' work, one to stay on the Festool Mini.
I've been using it with the new Festool Planex 2 - I digress but this is awesome - it was a toss up between the Festool or Mirka, I went for the Planex based on a fair few poor reliability reviews on the Mirka. First big positive - the ceiling suction; it supports it's own weight even using 10m of hose and a cyclone - this is hugely impressive and helps out so much for normal ceiling sanding, when you have to sand over a stairwell, it can be done without access equipment; Second big positive - the LEDs - there is no denying that this speeds up the work process, no need to set up and move tripod lights etc, the light is where you need it; Third big positive - dust collection, there is no dust - no need to wear a breathing mask.
Back to the cyclone and Starmix - I modified a Starmix 'Y' connector, cutting off the end to go straight into the cyclone so now I have the bayonnet fitting direct on the cyclone. Despite using 100% antistatic hoses, I'm getting huge static issues - I will address this when I get time, we are talking about big blue visible sparks that jump and sting you as you walk by!
The Starmix is in Autoclean mode with black sack in the tub. As only the really fin dust is getting through, not really any dust in the sack, it goes straight up and clogs the filters. After a half day of sanding, the Autoclean becomes almost continuous. The suction remains strong though, so strong it slightly lifted one of the filters out of the housing and filled the top part of the vac with lots of drywall dust.
Short of regularly cleaning out the filters with a second vac, I can't really see a way around this...
TLDR : All in all a great setup that needs a slight looking at for static and fine dust clogging the filters.