Author Topic: VAC SYS DISCONTINUED? (Read 117845 times)

vkumar · « **Reply #150 on:** December 25, 2021, 12:07 PM »

Quote from: Rollin22Petes on December 04, 2021, 11:02 AM

So I've done a little research and think I found something similar that will work (at least for me) It's the Virutex multiple fastening system, it uses compressed air instead of a vacuum, but is a very simple and affordable design that tilts and swivels. You can also add multiple head units and get an option so you can vacuum it down to a work surface, it also uses a readily available rubber seal on the head.

Interesting. Do you have any links?

Samo · « **Reply #151 on:** December 25, 2021, 02:43 PM »

Merry Christmas

https://www.virutextools.com/multiple-fastening-fystem-tilting-swivelling-svn460-pid349

rst · « **Reply #152 on:** December 25, 2021, 05:46 PM »

I bought the basic units and mounted them on bar stool swivels

Rjk75 · « **Reply #153 on:** December 26, 2021, 09:08 PM »

Do we know what psi and cfm it requires?

HowardH · « **Reply #154 on:** December 27, 2021, 10:21 AM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on December 03, 2021, 01:37 PM

Yeah I know you can cobble something together with other company's products. I just like the robustness of the Vac Sys pivoting head.

I have the entire system. Don't know how I lived without it. However, I have both heads and have never even opened the box on one of them. I would be willing to part with one is someone needs/wants it.

Bugsysiegals · « **Reply #155 on:** December 28, 2021, 11:53 PM »

I was hoping to grab one of these during the recon last year and missed out. I can't find anybody with the set ... anybody know where I can find one? It seems TN might have some for pre-order Jan 22' so I'll keep an eye out.

About the set, it seems many of you don't care for the pump and only the heads ... if I buy the set is there a reason to sell the pump and get something else?

Besides edge banding where you can't clamp the piece down are there any other really good uses for these?

Cheese · « **Reply #156 on:** December 29, 2021, 09:14 AM »

Quote from: Bugsysiegals on December 28, 2021, 11:53 PM

I was hoping to grab one of these during the recon last year and missed out. I can't find anybody with the set ... anybody know where I can find one? It seems TN might have some for pre-order Jan 22' so I'll keep an eye out.

Besides edge banding where you can't clamp the piece down are there any other really good uses for these?

Shane has already stated that all of the TN product, even the yet to arrive product, has been spoken for. He said the only exception would be if anyone cancelled their order. Maybe TN has a waitlist option?

US Tool & Fastener had some available...

I use mine for sanding and for Dominoing, I don't have to futz around with clamping boards down, it makes things a lot easier & faster.

DynaGlide · « **Reply #157 on:** December 29, 2021, 11:02 AM »

Vac Sys gets used on every project in the shop. I've cautioned before though, gotta have a dedicated setup or it won't get used enough to justify it. Starting out it was too much of a PITA to setup for some quick sanding or whatever. Faster to grab some clamps.

Bugsysiegals · « **Reply #158 on:** December 29, 2021, 11:42 AM »

Thanks @Cheese … US Tool & Fastener are out of stock … I subscribed to TN back in stock alert … not sure if that’s enough or not. I’ve called around 20 or more dealers within an hour and nobody has one in stock as it seems a slow seller. Wondering if I should continue to extend the search and hope some local unknown to the internet dealer happens to have brought one in which didn’t sell and probably has older manufacture date?

DynaGlide · « **Reply #159 on:** December 30, 2021, 12:11 PM »

Does anyone have a slick design for their Vac Sys mount?

I know Sedge uses a drop in style that relies on the suction of the heads to secure it in place:

Mine is just bolted to 1.5" thick laminated plywood that secures to t-track:

With the 2nd head I'm starting to think about if I want to modify how I secure the units in some sort of height adjustable fashion. I guess I could put a second set of holes where the knobs go to drop it down giving me two height settings. Curious to see if anyone has done something with t-track to give variable height adjustment.

Matt

Chainring · « **Reply #160 on:** December 30, 2021, 02:35 PM »

I forget whose design it is, but here's a pic of an adjustable height VAC SYS mount.

rst · « **Reply #161 on:** December 30, 2021, 03:53 PM »

I used 8020 extrusions and posted pics years ago...have trouble attaching now

MrToolJunkie · « **Reply #162 on:** December 30, 2021, 06:39 PM »

Quote from: Bugsysiegals on December 28, 2021, 11:53 PM

I was hoping to grab one of these during the recon last year and missed out. I can't find anybody with the set ... anybody know where I can find one? It seems TN might have some for pre-order Jan 22' so I'll keep an eye out.

About the set, it seems many of you don't care for the pump and only the heads ... if I buy the set is there a reason to sell the pump and get something else?

Besides edge banding where you can't clamp the piece down are there any other really good uses for these?

Tool Nirvana has the individual pieces, it looks like but I would confirm with Chip. The main head ships in March. They have the second one in stock and he pump in stock.

serge0n · « **Reply #163 on:** December 31, 2021, 12:32 PM »

Quote from: MrToolJunkie on December 30, 2021, 06:39 PM

Quote from: Bugsysiegals on December 28, 2021, 11:53 PM
I was hoping to grab one of these during the recon last year and missed out. I can't find anybody with the set ... anybody know where I can find one? It seems TN might have some for pre-order Jan 22' so I'll keep an eye out.

About the set, it seems many of you don't care for the pump and only the heads ... if I buy the set is there a reason to sell the pump and get something else?

Besides edge banding where you can't clamp the piece down are there any other really good uses for these?

Tool Nirvana has the individual pieces, it looks like but I would confirm with Chip. The main head ships in March. They have the second one in stock and he pump in stock.

I just spoke with Chip yesterday. The pumps are long gone and he doesn't expect to have any in the future. He has plenty of SE2 heads in stock and SE1s will be arriving in March.

Ace Tool is still taking orders for the SE1 + pump kit, but lady from customer service told me they don't guarantee a delivery and have no records of any backorders. They think a shipment is coming in sometime in February, but they have no idea how many units they will have.

Also spoke with Acme Tools, you can place an order for SE1 + pump, but also no guarantees. Their e-commerce platform is not sophisticated enough to disable the add to cart button when all backordered quantities are fulfilled. They can have 50 orders for the pump with only 10 units coming in and they will continue to take online orders even though they will never be fulfilled.
At least Acme doesn't charge your card until the order ships. Ace Tool places a hold.

I finally found a retailer who still has the kit - Lee Valley. Unfortunately the only one they have is the full system with 2 heads and a pump. It's on back order, expected to ship on 2/8. As the CS rep explained to me, their system is smart enough to disallow purchases once all backorder quantities are spoken for. I got my order in, keeping my fingers crossed.

Richard/RMW · « **Reply #164 on:** December 31, 2021, 02:01 PM »

Assuming Festool discontinued it due to slow sales, looks like all they really needed to do was announce it was discontinued to send sales thru the roof... FOMO

Kinda validates the Onetime Tool approach.

RMW

Cheese · « **Reply #165 on:** December 31, 2021, 02:43 PM »

Quote from: Richard/RMW on December 31, 2021, 02:01 PM

Assuming Festool discontinued it due to slow sales, looks like all they really needed to do was announce it was discontinued to send sales thru the roof... FOMO

Kinda validates the Onetime Tool approach.

Ya, that's been the case with the MFS...RAS 115...RS 2 and to a lesser degree the GMS Set.

I wonder what will happen when they officially announce the LS 130?

MrToolJunkie · « **Reply #166 on:** January 01, 2022, 12:13 AM »

Have you heard that the LS130 is going to be discontinued?

Cheese · « **Reply #167 on:** January 01, 2022, 09:18 AM »

Quote from: MrToolJunkie on January 01, 2022, 12:13 AM

Have you heard that the LS130 is going to be discontinued?

Nothing's been said but it's no longer listed in the 2022 Euro or UK Catalog...that's not a good sign.

https://www.festool.co.uk/-/media/tts/fcp/festool-united-kingdom/downloads/downloads/festool-main-catalogue-2022-uk-en.pdf

BarneyD · « **Reply #168 on:** January 01, 2022, 03:19 PM »

I finally finished my rolling cart for the Vac Sys. It's not going to win any beauty contests. Made from whatever scraps I had on hand. Just had to buy the hardware. The fool valve, when not in use, gets stowed under the pump. I wish it could've been larger, but I am severely space-constrained. So this will have to do.

Richard/RMW · « **Reply #169 on:** January 01, 2022, 06:23 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on January 01, 2022, 09:18 AM

Quote from: MrToolJunkie on January 01, 2022, 12:13 AM
Have you heard that the LS130 is going to be discontinued?

Nothing's been said but it's no longer listed in the 2022 Euro or UK Catalog...that's not a good sign.

https://www.festool.co.uk/-/media/tts/fcp/festool-united-kingdom/downloads/downloads/festool-main-catalogue-2022-uk-en.pdf

Looks like you started a panic...

RMW

Ebuwan · « **Reply #170 on:** January 02, 2022, 12:54 AM »

Anyone hear if Schmalz?

Seems legit and vacuum clamping is their whole game.
https://www.schmalz.com/en/vacuum-clamping-technology/clamping-equipment-for-woodworking/clamping-equipment-for-manual-work/multi-clamp-system-vc-m-vc-m-v-309801/

NOT a bargain price replacement though

I am also in the category of just about to buy into vac sys, exactly what happened with the CMS too

MrToolJunkie · « **Reply #171 on:** January 02, 2022, 01:23 AM »

Quote from: Ebuwan on January 02, 2022, 12:54 AM

Anyone hear if Schmalz?

Seems legit and vacuum clamping is their whole game.
https://www.schmalz.com/en/vacuum-clamping-technology/clamping-equipment-for-woodworking/clamping-equipment-for-manual-work/multi-clamp-system-vc-m-vc-m-v-309801/

NOT a bargain price replacement though

I am also in the category of just about to buy into vac sys, exactly what happened with the CMS too

Schmalz has been in the game for years and I looked at that system when the Vac Sys was NAINA several years ago. It is pricey, but honestly I would buy into whatever system if something happened to my unit. It is so versatile.

MrToolJunkie · « **Reply #172 on:** January 02, 2022, 01:24 AM »

Quote from: Richard/RMW on January 01, 2022, 06:23 PM

Quote from: Cheese on January 01, 2022, 09:18 AM
Quote from: MrToolJunkie on January 01, 2022, 12:13 AM
Have you heard that the LS130 is going to be discontinued?

Nothing's been said but it's no longer listed in the 2022 Euro or UK Catalog...that's not a good sign.

https://www.festool.co.uk/-/media/tts/fcp/festool-united-kingdom/downloads/downloads/festool-main-catalogue-2022-uk-en.pdf

Looks like you started a panic...

RMW

I am glad I already have the sander - not used often, but when I need it, I need it.

usernumber1 · « **Reply #173 on:** January 02, 2022, 03:14 AM »

Quote from: Ebuwan on January 02, 2022, 12:54 AM

Anyone hear if Schmalz?

Seems legit and vacuum clamping is their whole game.
https://www.schmalz.com/en/vacuum-clamping-technology/clamping-equipment-for-woodworking/clamping-equipment-for-manual-work/multi-clamp-system-vc-m-vc-m-v-309801/

NOT a bargain price replacement though

I am also in the category of just about to buy into vac sys, exactly what happened with the CMS too

thanks for the links

also yowza!
one head is ~$980 CAD and pump is ~$1280 CAD so about CAD $2300

DynaGlide · « **Reply #174 on:** January 02, 2022, 07:30 AM »

Here's another company

https://www.barth-maschinenbau.de/en/produkt/workbench-jig-vakuusyst/

It's also around 2400.

They make a slick assembly table with integrated vacuum clamping for only $10,000.

Bugsysiegals · « **Reply #175 on:** January 02, 2022, 10:00 AM »

I checked Lee Valley but wasn’t aware I could place an order even if it’s on back order. I just checked again to make an order and see the vac set is $2,040. 😢

Cheese · « **Reply #176 on:** January 02, 2022, 10:23 AM »

Quote from: Bugsysiegals on January 02, 2022, 10:00 AM

I checked Lee Valley but wasn’t aware I could place an order even if it’s on back order. I just checked again to make an order and see the vac set is $2,040. 😢

I bet that's Canadian they're talking about, I expect about a 20% discount on that for US dollars.

Bugsysiegals · « **Reply #177 on:** January 02, 2022, 11:09 AM »

You’re correct … about $1,615 USD.

Cheese · « **Reply #178 on:** January 02, 2022, 12:10 PM »

Quote from: DynaGlide on January 02, 2022, 07:30 AM

Here's another company...

As nice as the Barth industrial system is I really think the Festool version is a much more elegant solution. And then considering the Festool pricing it really is...er...was a steal.

I'm still amazed that the SE 1 or SE 2 vac heads sell for only $425 each considering they have built-in valving, nicely finished aluminum castings, rotating and tilting capabilities and each unit also includes the rubber vac cup and comes in its own Systainer.

Subtract $100 for the vac cup & $70 for the Systainer and you're left paying only $255 for the unit...steal indeed.

The ability to rapidly change the height on the Barth is nice but it's probably a feature you'll only use 10% of the time. And then there's the inconvenience of having to bolt the Barth system to a bench.

Each system was obviously targeted to a different audience.

Stan Tillinghast · « **Reply #179 on:** January 02, 2022, 12:35 PM »

Lee Valley still gives an expected in-stock date of 12/13/21 on mine. They were very nice when I called to inquire, but had no update.