3M/Festool Dust Extractor is the best thing to happen since the shop vac

Words and Photos: Cam Benty

If there is one given when doing body work, it is that it makes a mess. Worst of all is the sanding process. The debris created by the sanding of old paint, body filler, spot putty, primer, and paint layers all generate tons of dirt that, when mixed with water and other body shop stuff, is as common in a body shop as masking tape and paper. Blend in the health risks that surround breathing in this toxic particulate and it goes without saying there is a need for some way to capture this crap.

Festool is well known for their sanders, but their new dust extractor is exactly what the painter ordered. Holes located in the surface of the DA (and the sanding blocks for that matter) loosely correspond to the holes in the abrasives (they do not have to match exactly) that attach via Velcro.

The Mobile Dust Extractor sucks up the sanding debris and captures it neatly in a self-cleaning bag hidden deep within the cabinet’s lower cavity. Festool claims 90 percent of all sanding debris is collected, rather than being spread around the shop. In our testing, that number is probably more like 95. It’s that good.

For those looking for the ultimate package, the Festool Mobile Dust Extractor can be had with a ton of additional options. The assorted hooks and hangers were well designed to keep everything in one place. If you only paint a few cars, it’s probably overkill, but if you paint seven to 10 cars in a year, you need this machine. HEPA-certified, this system will help you be able to breathe when working on a vehicle, and keep dirt out of your next paint job.

The unit

As demonstrated for us at Custom Rod Garage, the Festool Mobile Dust Extractor can be equipped with a variety of different options that certainly increase the versatility and cost of the unit. The system we reviewed allows dual hose arrangements so that two opera-tors could work at the same time, off the same machine, with equal efficiency.

The hose that connects to the DA sander features an inner air line that drives the DA in conventional style and an outer area, within the 3-inch diameter hose, that allows the Dust Extractor to suck the debris from the work area into the vacuum bag. The DA attachment attaches with a simple quarter-turn quick connect. It is easy to use wearing gloves and other paint shop garb.

A series of optional drawers (called the Sortainer System) on the top of the base unit keep each of the DAs and blocks organized and ready for use, while others provide storage for sanding materials. Hooks on the unit allow for containment of wires and various hose connections. It is a well-designed unit that sports typical German ingenuity.

To connect the DA hose, it’s a matter of lining up the hose to the tool and making a quarter-turn twist to lock the two together. The small lever on the hose must be depressed to release the hose. The DA and other tools have been ergonomically designed to avoid fatigue, and all hoses are anti-static.

Along with keeping the shop clean by reducing debris by 90 percent, the increased sanding abrasive life is probably close to that figure. While most abrasive will clog up in a short period of time, by sucking away the debris, the abrasive stays cleaner longer, allowing use of each piece to its longest possible life. If you think about it, it just makes sense.

Among the cool little things that have been figured out is the quick stop feature to the DAs. On most DAs, when the trigger is re-leased to stop sanding, the disc spins freely for a while afterward. Most seasoned sanding experts will stop the wheel by hand, commonly ending up with paper cuts from their impatience. The Festool DA units stops within one rotation of releasing the trigger, allowing you to remove the sanding disc quickly and without a common injury from sanding discs.

Source: Festool, 3Mcollision.com/Festool