The Dust Deputy and Static Electricity

[Derek Cohen]

I just purchased a Festool CT26E vacuum cleaner after my Fein Dustex bit the dust. Pricy, but it has many features I like. That is not the issue here.

I spent some time thinking over how I could hook up the Dust Deputy. I have the original Deluxe version that comes with two buckets. I use one bucket as a bracket.

What Oneida have done is create an airtight box that fits like a sustainer onto the top of the machine - the Ultimate Dust Deputy. It is very expensive locally - $500. Others have attempted to build their own version by converting a sustainer. It is a lot of work to make it air tight, and I imagined how difficult it would be to empty each time.

I decided to go in a different direction. It occurred to me that I could use a Sustainer as a base for a bucket. That is, bolt a bucket to a narrow sustainer, which would fit to the top of the CT26E. I have one from a C12 drill/driver.



The hose connecting the inlet of the vac and the outlet of the DD is plastic/vinyl - just a 2" version of the hosing similar to that used for the dust extractor and machinery (although the spiral reinforcing is not metal, as in the larger hoses).

All of a sudden I am reading about static build up with the Dust Deputy, and that it can fry motors and circuit boards. I have used the DD for a number of years and never experienced static shocks. How would I know this is occurring without feeling a tingle in my hand? The Fein (that bit the dust) requires a new circuit board - could this have been due to static electricity? There was no warning. One of my friends, who specialised in dust extraction for surgeries says it is hooey, and the reason was likely heat as a result of dust collecting in the filter.

How big an issue is this, and what can be done with the original system to ensure all is safe, if necessary?


Regards from Perth

Derek

[packerguy®]

Not sure. I figured not to fool around and got a UDD when they were $199 a like a year ago.

Well worth it IMHO. After using it....I would have paid the $500. It works awesome.

[Derek Cohen]

Apparently, the initial UDD was held responsible for static build up, and Oneida changed the materials they used to build it.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Foghorn]

Derek Cohen said:

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Apparently, the initial UDD was held responsible for static build up, and Oneida changed the materials they used to build it.

Regards from Perth

Derek

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From what I've read, it is not so much the material used that has changed, rather than a continuous grounding path from the inlet of the DD to the exhaust ( and to the Festool vac) . Festoon vans have anti-static hoses and their machines are sensitive to static discharge, ruining circuit boards. Once you put an aftermarket device (DD-the static is generated by the dust material passing over the cyclone material) in the path of the hose, those anti-static properties are defeated. DD now has specific connections for metallic conductors in the DD to assure the anti static pathway is not compromised.

Static discharge could very well have been the killer of your fein circuit board.

[MarkSingleton]

It is a vacuum right? Why in the world would it need a circuit board?

[bandsaw]

I have the original dust deputy which is steel and came with a steel drum and lid. Solves most static issues. Now called the industrial version is still available.

[barnowl]

<<< Never could understand why anyone would spend hundreds of $ attempting to redesign Festool's legacy of dust collection in order to save a couple of bags a year.

Seriously.

<<< Owner of multiple Festool vacs, hoses, associated sanders, saws, routers, and Domino.

[Robert Adams]

For many users a bag could easily be filled in a couple days.

[Rich's Woodcraft]

+1

My UDD is filled once a month - at least.

[packerguy®]

Robert Adams said:

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For many users a bag could easily be filled in a couple days.

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I only sand with mine, and it gets emptied monthly. If I used it with my router, it would get changed 5 days a week.