Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Create a review for a woodworking tool that you are familiar with (Shopsmith brand or Non-Shopsmith) or just post your opinion on a specific tool. Head to head comparisons welcome too.

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reible
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Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by reible »

I have a good number of smaller tools in the shop and attaching them to a dust collector is always fun. Most of the tools came with no adapter to fit a standard (if there is one) vacuum hose. A few came with bags or canisters but they only help somewhat, certainly not like a vacuum does and they are a mess to clean out after the fact.

Rockler came out with a "Dust Right Universal Small Port Hose Kit" item #48212. It runs $39.99 so it is not a cheap investment. The box looks like this:
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Inside is the very flexible hose, according to them it is able to go from the 3 feet compressed to 15 feet when stretched. I didn't test that, sounds reasonable. It has a 1" and a 1-1/2" rubber port that is flexible. I doubt it fits everything and again I did not test all of my equipment to see if even fits everything I own. Then there is a 2-1/4 port for the vacuum. All the ports swivel which is really a nice feature. Inside the box after I opened the plastic bag of attachments:
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The attachments simply screw in to the hose, the one for the vacuum I will leave on and then switch out the other two as needed. Well that is the plan anyway. Today I had two sanding projects so this is how things went with them. First I wanted to sand the paint off my design on the plank chair I made. To do this I wanted to use my belt sander, an Hitachi, the hose slipped on and away I went.

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The second project is a little table/chair/setup stool for a granddaughter. For this I wanted to use my Bosch random orbit sander. The hose fit that as well.
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The hose is heavy and does weigh you down somewhat and there is no clips or way of attaching the cord and hose together. I'm not sure that would be a good idea but something I might play with in the future. I have an arm, also sold by Rockler that lifts and attaches the hose so it stays out of the way and I think that will help with the weight issue but I did not verify that yet.

I am happy that I now have a way to attach at least these two tools to the vacuum by simply slipping the hose end on. I was able to off set some of the cost because they were offering free shipping and they also threw in a couple of there small glue brushes (45495) that normal sell for $7.99, still the price seems a bit high. As I check this out with some of my other tools and if they fit then I'll be happier.


Ed
{Knight of the Shopsmith} [Hero's don't wear capes, they wear dog tags]
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letterk
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by letterk »

Thanks for sharing your review. Been thinking this looks promising, but the price was making me hold back. Nice to know the hose expands in lenght too, I never got that impression from Rockler's catalog.

I think I know what I will be picking up this Friday.
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moggymatt
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by moggymatt »

Thank you for the review. Those small tools do always seem to be a dust challenge.
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ChrisNeilan
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by ChrisNeilan »

I just got this kit as well and do like it. However, the hose slips off my Dewalt D26451 Palm sander. Have not given up yet....
ExtraMile
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by ExtraMile »

Yikes, I saw that "green" and thought "wow, he has a Festool" lol!
I am a true blue Xylophiliac, who also is a Nemophiliac ;)
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benush26
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by benush26 »

Just received mine on Monday. When I use my little dewalt router on MDF it would turn the bench and area into a horrible mess. A good friend just got his and recommended this, so bought it with the free shipping.
Had planned to plug it into the third DC opening, but not certain the 15' hose will be as long as I would like since it seems to stretch to not quite 13' before wanting to recoil. I'm thinking an additional length of hose would make it more useful but probably more unwieldy.

Thought I'd use Velcro strips near the tool and 12" farther along to secure the power cord to the hose. That way I can lay it over my shoulder to get it out of the way if needed.

Good idea if it works well.

Be well,
Ben
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dusty
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by dusty »

Looks great. Does it fit the Dust Collector and the Shopsmith ports?
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djr
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by djr »

ChrisNeilan wrote:I just got this kit as well and do like it. However, the hose slips off my Dewalt D26451 Palm sander. Have not given up yet....
http://www.lowes.com/pd_37045-20097-906 ... 85001&pl=1 This is what I use on mine. Cut off the first section.
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benush26
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by benush26 »

dusty wrote:Looks great. Does it fit the Dust Collector and the Shopsmith ports?
Hi Dusty,
Yes and No. It does fit the DC
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It's ShopVac's quattro hose
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so it's adapters fit any standard systems

But the two blue adapters are meant for 1" and 1.5" exhaust ports (so maybe the old belt sander port??)

I think it is too short but if I want to add to the hose, it is almost cheaper for me to buy another one from Rockler and a coupler than to buy the Shop Vac pieces on Amazon!! :eek:

Be well,
Ben
RodJ
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Re: Today in the shop (FLEX ABILITY)

Post by RodJ »

Thanks for posting this up. I've used noncompatible fittings to connect my shopvac to handheld power tools using duct tape. Have you noticed whether in going from the small ports to the big diameter DC hose that any chips or other material is settling out in the bigger hose? I guess where it's just dust, not a problem but I wonder about a power planer. Thanks again.
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