Comments on: $20 Auto Switch + $50 Shop Vacuum = $400 Festool Dust Collection Vac

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 06:11:30 +0000

This auto switch is a great idea. I’m going to try it on one of my old vacuums.
But this doesnt turn the Craftsman into a Festool or even a Wap vac

I’ve used Festool and Wap vacuums (now I think called Alto or Attix vacuums) for 20 years. I have a Wap from 1988 and it still works better than any Festool vacuum i ever bought or any other Craftsman or Rigid. My next vacuum will be another Wap or Attix because myself and the other drywallers and contractors i work with find the Wap to be far superior to the Festool. Way more durable and powerful.

if you guys havent seen it there is a cool video showing a new Wap Attix vacuum with a selfcleaning filter system. the vacuum sucks up an entire 50 lbs. bag of Portland cement mix without using a bag. REALLY AMAZING.

i saw this video at http://www.industrialvacs.com and was blown away. you should check it out.

But thanks for the tips

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 06:45:14 +0000

well there are small moduals used for running turn devices on via inductance
we install them all time should work fine to make your own or to make several to run many tools or put it on the main feed into a small shop and if any plug in the circuit were turned on it would turn your vacuum on

could easily get a air switch the works of air flow not pressure

I’ll get a part and a proper name for you guys tomorrow we just call them booster fan switches

very flexable idea yo just gave me sir thank you very much

By: MikeR

MikeR — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:25:30 +0000

Whoa whoa whoa, easy there… It takes a lot more* than auto-start to compare to a Festool

*For the record, it takes twin HEPA filters with cleaner flaps, variable suction, quiet operation, an anti-static hose, air tool compatibility (not to power the tools, but that you can use Festool’s air sander and connect it to the ct22/ct33 and have it collect dust) AND auto-start (and then there’s still more).

You could have at least compared it to a yucky Fein vac

(Anyone want to buy a Fein mini-turbo? The older model)

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go hump my vacuum.

By: AZ Engineer

AZ Engineer — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:10:40 +0000

Great solution for an autostart vac but….. it’s no Festool. I personally own a Sear gazillion Horsepower shopvac and a professoinal WAP Drywaller vac. I use the Sears vac for for general cleanup, but I can hear it over the router. The WAP vac has more suction and inches of lift than the Sears, and it’s only 56 db. The Festool is nice, but it’s expensive, and it’s 72 db. A nice alternative is the Fein vac, it’s around 59db, and nearly as powerful as the WAP. It runs around $120 I think.

By: Stuey

Stuey — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:08:21 +0000

It’s not hard to make perma Sears links.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00924031000

Just search for the “pid” in the URL and delete everything else after the “product.do?” part.

By: Roscoe

Roscoe — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:36:57 +0000

Would this work with a power strip so that several tools could use it?

By: James

James — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:30:01 +0000

Looks like it’s not available in Canada.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:56:30 +0000

FYI if the link is broken search for Auto Switch or Sears item #00924031000

By: Michael W.

Michael W. — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:06:15 +0000

Thanks for the share. That’s about 1/2 the price of the other units I’ve seen around.

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:18:43 +0000

Awesome. I was thinking of making something like this myself too, but I can’t beat 20 bucks. Great tip!

By: Kevin Jack

Kevin Jack — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:59:38 +0000

This looks pretty useful! I like that Craftsman comes out with innovative add-ons that save us tool mongers from having to upgrade tools (for a while).

Best of all.. the price is right!