Festool duct collection adapter for Craftsman sander?

I hear you. Its the wild wild west out there. The lack of uniform standards for vac hoses and tool connections is maddening and expensive. The way a company describes an adapter is unclear – is it ID or OD and why not state both? The way I have dealt with it is to accumulate a box full of assorted adapters. Here are a few that I quickly found in a search just to show a few types that are handy to have around:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OW6E0I/?coliid=I155A13MXYCUG1&colid=D18C1O746EUG&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/Fein-Hose-Connection-31322771009/dp/B002S9FPA6/ref=pd_sim_1?pd_rd_w=Qwyy0&pf_rd_p=5dadc1ab-1aea-4988-b62f-4dbe559e6cca&pf_rd_r=CM00S45W0MK7WA674TZ9&pd_rd_r=058fa67d-6364-4b3a-8ee7-de8a8309ed81&pd_rd_wg=s5Rgt&pd_rd_i=B002S9FPA6&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Attachment-Designed-Attachments-Adapters/dp/B07XQKFLP7/ref=pb_allspark_session_sims_desktop_7?pd_rd_w=hnkkG&pf_rd_p=bfefd6e2-acb1-463d-94d0-38a6e00f41d3&pf_rd_r=7NCWHHZ7W1JSKVX9H7AF&pd_rd_r=57c6ae95-6d12-44bc-93d7-af36732dcc06&pd_rd_wg=gIHVd&pd_rd_i=B07XQKFLP7&psc=1

Sometimes a wrap or two of electrical tape on an OD surface will make a sloppy fit work . Where I live once a year we have a week when home owners can put out anything and the town will pick it up. I usually make a reconnaissance run with a hacksaw and I cut the ends off discarded vacuum hoses that look like they may be useful. Also, PVC fittings will sometimes solve a connection issue, more often than not it takes more than one adapter used together to make a connection work.

-- Cheap is expensive! - my Dad

I bought a dust collection accessary kit for my Bosch 1617 router. In that kit it had a black vacuum adaptor, the rest of the kit was clear. I found that adaptor fit the end of an old 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 vacuum hose and the other end fit every hand power tool I own that has a dust port. It either fits inside the dust port or the dust port fits inside of it, either way it works. So I just made an adaptor hose out of the assembly by putting a 2 inch rubber coupler on the other end that will easily plug into my overhead port over my tablesaw. Google the dust collection kit and you will see the adapter.

-- Daniel, Pontiac, MI

Is it the hose on the festool the problem? You might checkout the Rockler Dust Right FlexiPort Power Tool Hose Kit, though if the you cannot fit their hose to the festool vac, that may not help you. You might call or stop by Rockler and ask them if it will work with the Festool vac.

The other option is to 3D print an adapter. I’ve printed a couple for other uses.

-- Nathan, TX -- Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

I have had good luck with used radiator hoses. I have a mechanic close by and he usually has something that will work.

I bought a dust collection accessary kit for my Bosch 1617 router. In that kit it had a black vacuum adaptor, the rest of the kit was clear. I found that adaptor fit the end of an old 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 vacuum hose and the other end fit every hand power tool I own that has a dust port. It either fits inside the dust port or the dust port fits inside of it, either way it works. So I just made an adaptor hose out of the assembly by putting a 2 inch rubber coupler on the other end that will easily plug into my overhead port over my tablesaw. Google the dust collection kit and you will see the adapter.

- Brawler

Is the kit a Bosch kit? Thanks for any info to narrow it down.

Is it the hose on the festool the problem? You might checkout the Rockler Dust Right FlexiPort Power Tool Hose Kit, though if the you cannot fit their hose to the festool vac, that may not help you. You might call or stop by Rockler and ask them if it will work with the Festool vac.

The other option is to 3D print an adapter. I ve printed a couple for other uses.

- Lazyman

I’m not sure I could really say which is the problem. They all seem to have their own system. I suppose I can get some rubber hose and some stainless steel ring clamps and secure it that way if I can’t find an adapter. Honestly I’m not even sure what the Craftsman outlet is made to fit except their own dust bag. Or maybe they make a dust collector that it fits to and I’m just not aware of it.

Sometimes a wrap or two of electrical tape on an OD surface will make a sloppy fit work . Where I live once a year we have a week when home owners can put out anything and the town will pick it up. I usually make a reconnaissance run with a hacksaw and I cut the ends off discarded vacuum hoses that look like they may be useful. Also, PVC fittings will sometimes solve a connection issue, more often than not it takes more than one adapter used together to make a connection work.

- OnhillWW

Thanks for the links. I’ll check them out.

Have you actually tried to insert the festool end into the sander port ?

I believe the FT end will fit into the large opening and I’ve the smaller diameter inner port.

Not sure who you’re resenting, but it should be craftsman / black &decker. Festool’s hose end isn’t all that proprietary, though it does have a locking feature that works only with their tools. The hose end without modification or adapters fits sanders from FT, Bosch, Porter Cable, DeWalt / Black&Decker, Mirka, some Makita- but not many, Ridgid and Milwaukee, and Metabo.

Does it fit all of their sanders ? Prob. not. But it works with a lot of them. And I’ve heard that the Craftsman sander port doesn’t really work with elCheapo shop vac hoses either.

On another note, you may want to try out the entry level festool sander for 200 bucks. You may just find it worth the cost. If one discounts or sells on the systainer , you’re looking at a $150 (Or less) sander. Which isn’t that much of a premium over the name brand offerings. After all you’ve got $500 + vacuum.

Have you actually tried to insert the festool end into the sander port ?

I believe the FT end will fit into the large opening and I’ve the smaller diameter inner port.

Not sure who you’re resenting, but it should be craftsman / black &decker. Festool’s hose end isn’t all that proprietary, though it does have a locking feature that works only with their tools. The hose end without modification or adapters fits sanders from FT, Bosch, Porter Cable, DeWalt / Black&Decker, Mirka, some Makita- but not many, Ridgid and Milwaukee, and Metabo.

Does it fit all of their sanders ? Prob. not. But it works with a lot of them. And I’ve heard that the Craftsman sander port doesn’t really work with elCheapo shop vac hoses either.

On another note, you may want to try out the entry level festool sander for 200 bucks. You may just find it worth the cost. If one discounts or sells on the systainer , you’re looking at a $150 (Or less) sander. Which isn’t that much of a premium over the name brand offerings. After all you’ve got $500 + vacuum.

- xedos

LOL! Yes I’ve tried that. It almost sort of fits but it doesn’t. And yes I could buy a new sander but then again a suitable adapter would cost a lot less :)

Just wanted to add this as it looks promising.

https://www.amazon.com/Cen-Tec-Systems-95237-Multi-Brand-Collection/dp/B084D9B8MR/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=qF4ba&pf_rd_p=5928e347-16f0-4e53-a849-898a1e55c6bc&pf_rd_r=21TY9ZTQ37JNQXQBBCJD&pd_rd_r=514a6ccc-1abf-4b72-93ab-be4723da634b&pd_rd_wg=RhGK4&ref_=pd_gw_bmx&th=1

-- Cheap is expensive! - my Dad

LOL! Yes I’ve tried that. It almost sort of fits but it doesn’t. And yes I could buy a new sander but then again a suitable adapter would cost a lot less :)

- Digelectric

I’m guessing it fits but doesn’t stay connected because the inner tube is too short ???

For sure a 10-$40 adapter is cheaper than a new sander. But, you’re missing my point I think. Which is, put the cost aside for a moment and just try that sander. You may find you that it’s actually worth the premium. I went through the same paralysis over a two hundred dollar sander – and I’ve owned a festool tracksaw since they started importing them last century before anyone had ever seen one.

My sentiment was, no one had a track saw, but everyone has an orbital sander , so how good could a fancy pants one be ? Turns out, pretty darn good for me.

Just like the vacuum. There’s ALWAYS something cheaper.

Just wanted to add this as it looks promising.

https://www.amazon.com/Cen-Tec-Systems-95237-Multi-Brand-Collection/dp/B084D9B8MR/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=qF4ba&pf_rd_p=5928e347-16f0-4e53-a849-898a1e55c6bc&pf_rd_r=21TY9ZTQ37JNQXQBBCJD&pd_rd_r=514a6ccc-1abf-4b72-93ab-be4723da634b&pd_rd_wg=RhGK4&ref_=pd_gw_bmx&th=1

- OnhillWW

Just wanted to add this as it looks promising.

https://www.amazon.com/Cen-Tec-Systems-95237-Multi-Brand-Collection/dp/B084D9B8MR/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=qF4ba&pf_rd_p=5928e347-16f0-4e53-a849-898a1e55c6bc&pf_rd_r=21TY9ZTQ37JNQXQBBCJD&pd_rd_r=514a6ccc-1abf-4b72-93ab-be4723da634b&pd_rd_wg=RhGK4&ref_=pd_gw_bmx&th=1

- OnhillWW

Thanks, might try that one!