Does the festool still need the Oneida cyclone attachment
Yes, it’s highly recommended (unless you are ok with changing the bag in the Festool very often)
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any dust cyclone is highly recommended. it will sort a majority of the debris leaving only the smallest amount to pass to the vac bag. in doing so it reduces bag changes/replacements. which is cost for bags that add up in no time if you want to have adequate filtering.
this ensures the vac maintains maximum suction for much longer due to a non clogged/full bag to deal with. overall a much better and higher performing experience. there are diy cyclones but honestly the readily available units are worth it - even at the somewhat high price
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Here is some choices for cyclone add-ons that can be used with a Festool vacuum:
Oneida Air Systems AXD000009 Ultimate Dust Deputy Kit for Festool: COST $299
Festool 204083 CT Cyclone Dust Separator: COST $389
Costly choices:
Cost for one time use disposable Festool bag are $5-8 -, sold in pack of 5 each.
Reusable Festool Bag is around $250 not sure how durable this bag is?
I have the Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy, and I find it well worth it — still on my original bag, and the big thing is, I don’t have to worry about losing suction due to a full bag during a long job (just check, and if need be empty the container in advance) — pricey, but the convenience, on-going savings, and peace of mind justify the expense to my mind.
I made a DIY cyclone using some pvc pipe and a 5 gallon bucket. This worked great for awhile, I upgraded to an actual full on dust collection system after I shocked the crap (not literal) out of my self after running it for the first time with my new planer. Shocked so bad I heard a good bang with me hearing protection on and my toes tingled where it exited into my steel toe boots. After that I decided to upgrade, but the homemade cyclone (less than $25 if I remember correctly) and my Shopvac were plenty for the ShapeOko.
The DIY is a 90 placed in the side and a 45 in the lid of a 5 gallon bucket and works great.
Here is a pic for reference and a link to the plan I followed.
https://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-Easy-DIY-Dust-Collector/
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I’m usually routing plastic, but I cut a fair amount of MDF also. The Dust Deputy is awesome. Before getting the DD, I was always dealing with clogged filters and reduced vacuum. I have the DD attached to a 5 gallon bucket and it works fantastic… I just emptied the bucket the other day. The bucket was nearly full, yet the shop vac (and it’s filter) were essentially empty.
Home Depot has a dustopper for around $39.97. It works great.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dustopper-High-Efficiency-Dust-Separator-12-in-Dia-with-2-5-in-Hose-36-in-Long-HD12/302643445
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So the question is: Do I need a cyclonic addition to my dust collection?
The answer is yes and here is why.
A single stage dust collector, like your Festool uses air to suck in dust, chips and other debris from woodworking machines. The single stage dust collector is efficient depending on CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) and the rating of the dust bag the debris is captured in.
When you add the cyclonic solution in front of your dust collection you make a two stage dust collection collection. The dust is sucked in from your router and then is introduced into the cyclonic spin inside the cyclone separator. Because it slows the dust and debris down and gravity pulls down on the dust it has time to fall down and into the cyclonic collection dust bin. The air you sucked in with dust and chips becomes much more clean at the top of the cyclonic dust collection stage and that cleaner air is sucked into your primary dust collection system. Because the air is cleaner the filter does not become clogged and lower your CFM making your dust collection more efficient. Now when your cyclonic dust collection starts to become full then the collected dust can be sucked back up to the primary dust collector and clogs the bag. So keep your cyclonic dust bin empty and do not let it fill up or your primary dust collector will become clogged up. Some cyclonic systems will start to suck dust from the cyclonic bin when it about half full. So empty your cyclonic dust bin regularly and check your primary filter periodically to make sure you maintain peak performance for dust collection.
Dust does not move in a vacuum. So merely the presence of vacuum does not collect dust the movement of the air (CFM) is what moves the dust from your router to the cyclonic and then primary dust collection. Anytime your CFM drops, due to clogged filter, you lose efficiency and collect less dust in the dust collector and have more dust get into your shop in the air you breathe.
So cheap bags let more small particles of dust get into the air from the exhaust of your dust collector and the small particles of dust are the most dangerous to your health. The big chips are to heavy for you to breath in making the large chips not nearly as dangerous as the very small dust particles that escape in the exhaust of your dust collector. Also ineffective dust collection allows the fine dust to get into the air at the source which for the Shapeoko is the router bit at the material you are cutting.
So which ever dust collection method you choose make sure it captures fine dust and filters the exhaust of the dust collector. Typical Shop Vacuums suck up the debris and fine dust but spit back out into the air in the exhaust port of the shop vac fine dust. A paper bag in a shop vac helps but depending on the rating of the filter you are still getting the dangerous fine dust that you want to avoid in the first place. Shop vacs are meant to pick up a mess your make but are not really designed for use as a primary dust collection system. The addition of a cyclonic stage before the vac works better but only a true dust collection system with proper filtration and the cyclonic stage will be safest for you.
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Hey guys, new here.
Do you think the ridgid WD4070 vacuum with the VF3600 filter would work good enough until i buy an festool?
thanks
I have several Rigid vacuum, one of them similar to the model you are considering but without the wheels and they work well but they are noisy and you need to add a cyclone. I also added a router speed control to reduce the noise if I don’t need the full suction. I have both the Dust Deputy and the Duststopper but I prefer the Duststopper.
I’d only bother with a separator if I was filling more than a bag every week or so. Otherwise I’d just stick with bags.
I already have the Ridgid Vac with Oneida and it works great, now im looking for the quietest vac.
I think the festool and the Fein are the recommended ones.
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