I got a reply back from the manufacturer (I guess) of the DeWalt Stealth Sonic vacs saying:
"The DXV12P-QT is designed for intermittent-duty operation, not continuous industrial use. You can typically run it for 20–60 minutes at a time under normal vacuuming loads, provided airflow isn’t restricted. "
I would assume that most CNC jobs exceed that 60min recommended max time. Are the vacs holding up on long runs?
They seem to have a fairly solid warranty for 3 yr, but do they stop answering the phone on the 3rd replacement?
Been using mine since they came out. I dont typically run it for more than and hour but i have done some 6 hour long 3d carvings with it on the whole time and no issues yet.
I run mine with a hepa filter and a thien baffle style dust collector.
Most tool OEM give you a warranty until you actually turn the tool on and all is null and void. The classic Craftsman tools you could take to a Sears store and get an immediate replacement. Now you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get a Craftsman tool replaced and even then there is no guarantee you will ever get a replacement. Dewalt is owned by a large conglomerate Stanley Black and Decker. Dewalt was once a premier tool but is just in the middle of the stack at Stanley Black and Decker.
The rare exception has been C3D. Seems like they back up their products and have minimal hoops to jump through.
interesting reply from DeWalt - and I am surprised and then not surprised - I have loved the Festool ct-36 and have used it for many 10+ hour days - I did a quick search on the differences. One of those price difference things. I never did like it’s price but it’s never had an issue five years in now.
Key Differences in Marketing and Rating
Duty Cycle Rating : Unlike Festool units which are rated for continuous duty (all-day operation), DeWalt explicitly rates the Stealth Sonic for intermittent duty . Manufacturer responses indicate a recommended run time of 20–60 minutes at a time under normal loads, warning against continuous industrial use.
Target Application : DeWalt markets the Stealth Sonic primarily as an “Ultra Quiet Shop Vacuum” for general cleanup, wet/dry jobs, and noise-sensitive environments (like occupied homes), rather than as a specialized “Dust Extractor” designed for constant tool integration.
User Perception : Despite the official rating, many woodworkers use the Stealth Sonic as a Festool alternative for its quietness (under 65 dB) and value. However, reports exist of motors failing after extended continuous runs (e.g., 3 hours), reinforcing the intermittent-duty limitation compared to Festool’s robust continuous-run design.
I have friends that have Festool tools. They are great tools but are on the expensive side. If you are a professional woodworker then the cost is justified. If you are a weekend warrior the cost can scare you away. For the weekend warrior many consumer grade tools work just fine. As a hobbyist you can choose to buy the best but most people balk at the price tag of Festool. No doubt Festool makes great tools. Festool is one of the last family owned tool makers in the world. Stanley Black and Decker and TTI own 65% of the North American tool brands with a smattering of other brands like Bosch. Within Stanley Black and Decker they own Dewalt, Craftsman, Stanley, Black and Decker, MAC Tools, Porter Cable, Lenox, Irwin, Bostich, Proto and many many more. Many of these tools come off the same assembly lines with the same inside guts just a different label.
My advise is to buy once, cry once and not cry every time you use a cheap tool. I have many tools that are over 50 years old and still as good as the day I bought them. On the other hand I have bought Harbor Freight tools that are currently in the trash can because they just broke after a few uses.
Harbor Freight’s warranty is rock solid. Usually, it it dies in 1 yr, take tool and receipt and get another. Some applications it’s the best choice if there is not a long-term need for the tool.
I agree with HF warranty and unfortunately have had to return tools I bought there. I bought a 10" mini lathe I had to return 4 times before I got one that was serviceable. A side grinder I had has a lock button to replace the disks and the whole casting broke out. So for some one time use tools HF is ok but if you are going to really use a tool HF is not my first choice. I live in a tiny town and have to travel 45 minutes to get to a HF. So returning a tools is not as easy as driving down the street for me. The cost of gas has to go into my calculation of is it worth it to drive back and forth 45 minutes each way to get a replacement or refund on a cheap tool. For weekend warriors you are caught between a rock and a hard spot when it comes to tool purchases. Even brands like Milwaukee have multiple levels and are relying on their once great reputation to sell you mediocare tools.
I didn’t know Festool was still family-owned — good to know. Every expensive tool I’ve bought in general so far has not only lived up to its reputation and done an amazing job, but it’s also held its resale value much better if the day ever came that I no longer needed it.
I’ve got my share of Harbor Freight tools too, and they do make some decent stuff. The final straw for me with cheap tools was a pair of big slip-joint pliers (water pump pliers, Channel Lock style, whatever you want to call them). Every single time I really needed to clamp down hard, the two halves would slip and pinch the web of my hand between my thumb and index finger. Blood blister or a cut, every time. I’d cuss, throw them back in the drawer, and wait for the next punishment day.
The real final straw was a nasty cut and a ruined part. That was the day I happily threw them in the trash. I bought a pair of Knipex pliers after that, and once I used those, even most of my newer Channel Lock-style pliers found their way into the trash a lot faster.
On the CNC the Festool has done a really good job of keeping up. On some of the larger surfacing passes the bigger wood chips can still get loose and make a mess, but the fine dust is gone.