Author Topic: Got my new Vac-Sys SE1 system today, kinda bummed... (Read 2397 times)

Rick Herrick · « **on:** October 01, 2020, 11:48 AM »

UPS just dropped it off. First thing I notice was the systainer did not have the t-lock. It has a flip down connector on the left and right side of the front. I looked on line and it says this unit comes in a 'Classic' systainer. So I guess that explains that?

But the bigger disappointment (I think) is that the head unit was made in 2015 and the pump was made in 2016. Everything does look brand new. My concern is if these are hose lines and I assume there are some type of bladders and other rubber pieces inside that make this thing work. Sitting on a shelf for 5 years does not give me a warm fuzzy. I know I have a 3 year warranty but I hate to think I may be sending it in for repair if some of those parts are not up to par.

I am fairly new to FT and I really don't know much about how vacuum systems work so I may be sweating over nothing but I would like get some opinions. Thanks.

mkasdin · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2020, 12:40 PM »

Hmmmm. That seems like a log time to sit on the shelf?

AstroKeith · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2020, 12:46 PM »

What are you using to get these manufacturing dates?

Sometimes cast or other parts will have the date of the tooling on it.

Cheese · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2020, 01:01 PM »

Quote from: AstroKeith on October 01, 2020, 12:46 PM

What are you using to get these manufacturing dates?

Sometimes cast or other parts will have the date of the tooling on it.

On the serial number tag Festool also prints out a mfg date.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2020, 01:06 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on October 01, 2020, 01:01 PM

On the serial number tag Festool also prints out a mfg date.

Correct, both pieces had the blue Festool label with the dates there.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2020, 04:18 PM »

Here are the date pictures.

rmhinden · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2020, 04:55 PM »

Doesn't seem like they sell a lot of these, given the stock was from 2015 and it ships in an old style systainer.

Bob

Cheese · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2020, 05:04 PM »

Quote from: rmhinden on October 01, 2020, 04:55 PM

Doesn't seem like they sell a lot of these, given the stock was from 2015 and it ships in an old style systainer.

The original style Systainer is what all new Vac SYS product arrives in.

A 2015 mfg date seems out of place for this product, that’d be like something from the Festool Recon sale.

Are you sure you purchased new product?

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2020, 05:10 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on October 01, 2020, 05:04 PM

Are you sure you purchased new product?

I bought from shopfestool.com. I am pretty sure its just been sitting for years and no one paid attention to it. And didn't check it before shipping it out. Its definitely unused from my point of view. Still waiting on the vendor to get back with me. From what I understand, that site has short work days due to COVID, so they are gone by 1400 or so. Should hear something tomorrow but I think I will call Festool warranty and see what their take is.

Cheese · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2020, 05:19 PM »

Quote from: Rick Herrick on October 01, 2020, 05:10 PM

Quote from: Cheese on October 01, 2020, 05:04 PM
Are you sure you purchased new product?

I bought from shopfestool.com. I am pretty sure its just been sitting for years and no one paid attention to it. And didn't check it before shipping it out. Its definitely unused from my point of view. Still waiting on the vendor to get back with me. From what I understand, that site has short work days due to COVID, so they are gone by 1400 or so. Should hear something tomorrow but I think I will call Festool warranty and see what their take is.

Rick if the product looks new then I wouldn’t worry about it. You purchased from a good vendor so it’s just been on their shelves for a while.

Last October I ordered in a RAS from Woodcraft. When it arrived from Festool it had a 2016 mfg date.

Just make sure you register the gear and keep the receipt for any 3 year warranty claims. Without the receipt, Festool will go off of the mfg date.

PaulMarcel · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2020, 05:36 PM »

I have one of the original ones available in the US (compressor in a Systainer) and everything has worked well. My older VacuPress is also fine. Dunno, maybe age isn't as much an issue with these designs.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2020, 05:52 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on October 01, 2020, 05:19 PM

Just make sure you register the gear and keep the receipt for any 3 year warranty claims. Without the receipt, Festool will go off of the mfg date.

Thanks Cheese. I register these tools as soon as I get them. No sense taking a chance. Your statement reminded me of a question I had about this topic. When you order from an online vendor, you get an email receipt. The relevant part of mine is shown in the pic. Do you think that is enough to satisfy Festool as proof of purchase ? There is no serial number so it somewhat minimizes its legitimacy. The receipts I have gotten from my local Festool dealer are even less descriptive. When my mfg date is within reason, I won't sweat it but this 4-5 year thing still worries me. If they give me a 5 year old tool, why can't I have the 5 year old price ?

JD2720 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2020, 06:46 PM »

Quote from: Rick Herrick on October 01, 2020, 05:52 PM

Quote from: Cheese on October 01, 2020, 05:19 PM
Just make sure you register the gear and keep the receipt for any 3 year warranty claims. Without the receipt, Festool will go off of the mfg date.

Thanks Cheese. I register these tools as soon as I get them. No sense taking a chance. Your statement reminded me of a question I had about this topic. When you order from an online vendor, you get an email receipt. The relevant part of mine is shown in the pic. Do you think that is enough to satisfy Festool as proof of purchase ? There is no serial number so it somewhat minimizes its legitimacy. The receipts I have gotten from my local Festool dealer are even less descriptive. When my mfg date is within reason, I won't sweat it but this 4-5 year thing still worries me. If they give me a 5 year old tool, why can't I have the 5 year old price ?

If I remember correctly, you would have paid a much higher price if they gave you the 5 year old price.

manuc · « **Reply #13 on:** October 01, 2020, 07:44 PM »

I got my vac SYS about 2 months ago. The head unit says 2015 and vacuum pump says 2017. Wonder if this is the reason they dropped the price to move old product...

RJNeal · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2020, 08:11 PM »

I’ll have to check my twins when I get back to the shop on Saturday.
Heading up for my contractors test tomorrow. I bought mine about a year and a half or so ago. Right after they lowered the price.
Rick

Peter Halle · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2020, 09:51 PM »

Festool adjusts its manufacturing lines and makes batches of products. The us market is different electrically than the rest of most of the world. So they make a whole bunch at one time and store to ship as requested by dealers.

Register your tool and store your receipt or else if you need warranty service it will be based on manufacture date.

Peter

Cheese · « **Reply #16 on:** October 02, 2020, 01:17 AM »

Quote from: Rick Herrick on October 01, 2020, 05:52 PM

If they give me a 5 year old tool, why can't I have the 5 year old price ?

Rick, I'm sure Festool will be happy to give you the 5 year old price...you just need to send them a check for the additional $325.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #17 on:** October 02, 2020, 08:11 AM »

I shouldn't be drinking coffee when I read these things... FT actually drops prices ? Guess I stepped into that one..

Thanks guys.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #18 on:** October 02, 2020, 11:26 AM »

I didn't even check the date on mine

But I sure do enjoy using it. Even if I got out of Festool as a system I'd keep the Vac Sys.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2020, 11:29 AM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on October 02, 2020, 11:26 AM

I didn't even check the date on mine But I sure do enjoy using it. Even if I got out of Festool as a system I'd keep the Vac Sys.

Thanks Matt. I got eyes on your cart. Can't decide whether integrating it into something I have or using your cart (and Neil's) as inspiration.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #20 on:** October 03, 2020, 08:08 AM »

Quote from: Rick Herrick on October 02, 2020, 11:29 AM

Quote from: DynaGlide on October 02, 2020, 11:26 AM
I didn't even check the date on mine But I sure do enjoy using it. Even if I got out of Festool as a system I'd keep the Vac Sys.

Thanks Matt. I got eyes on your cart. Can't decide whether integrating it into something I have or using your cart (and Neil's) as inspiration.

If you have the room for a more purposeful station to mount it then that might make more sense. Like a Paulk bench with extrusions for the vac sys. I have a tiny shop 12x16 and gave up valuable floor space for my cart and am pleased with it. I store the TSO parallel guides and rail squares in the middle and all my edgebanding stuff goes in one of the drawers. Takeaway - regardless of where you put your new tool have it always ready to go so you'll get the most out of it.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #21 on:** October 03, 2020, 08:36 AM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on October 03, 2020, 08:08 AM

If you have the room for a more purposeful station to mount it then that might make more sense. Like a Paulk bench with extrusions for the vac sys. I have a tiny shop 12x16 and gave up valuable floor space for my cart and am pleased with it. I store the TSO parallel guides and rail squares in the middle and all my edgebanding stuff goes in one of the drawers. Takeaway - regardless of where you put your new tool have it always ready to go so you'll get the most out of it.

I agree. This should be one of my most used tools so it needs to be there ready to go. I have an 4x8 Paulk'ish bench. It looks like the 'Borg', just a big ole rectangle. But so far its been very useful. I already gave up a couple of dividers so I could add some 54" drawers. I finally got all of my WoodPecker and TSO products safely tucked away and not hanging on a wall. I just need to find another spot to install the Vac-Sys. I like taller work surfaces so that bench is kind of high for the Vac-Sys so I need to find a way to install it properly. Thats this weekends project.

TwelvebyTwenty · « **Reply #22 on:** October 03, 2020, 08:41 AM »

I’d return it. I think the three year warranty is moot. The most likely scenario is something goes wrong 3-5 years down the line and you’re effectively dealing with a vacuum tool with gaskets, o-rings, seals etc that are nearly ten years old.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #23 on:** October 03, 2020, 09:02 AM »

Quote from: TwelvebyTwenty on October 03, 2020, 08:41 AM

I’d return it. I think the three year warranty is moot. The most likely scenario is something goes wrong 3-5 years down the line and you’re effectively dealing with a vacuum tool with gaskets, o-rings, seals etc that are nearly ten years old.

Thats been my worry all along. I am not a mechanical guy or an engineer but I am pretty sure vacuum related tools have parts that wear out faster than in a router or a drill, or whatever. Both pieces had some blue goop on them, which is weird because they come in separate boxes. So I will play with it for a few days, work on where/how I want to install it, and then see how it feels. I called Festool. They were nice enough but couldn't really offer any thoughts or suggestions, other than to tell me I have a 30 day return and 3 year warranty. No response yet from the vendor. Taking it day by day.

MikeGE · « **Reply #24 on:** October 03, 2020, 12:14 PM »

I recently bought mine from my ~~drug~~ Festool dealer, and the dates on the data labels are 2020-1 and 2020-2.

Rick Herrick · « **Reply #25 on:** October 03, 2020, 01:18 PM »

I stopped by the local dealer this morning to see if he had the Vac-Sys. He did but it had same dates as mine.... The good news is he had found the MFK-700 that he didn't have 3 days ago. So I walked out with it. Now 2 toys to play with.