It’s time to clear the air with the new Festool MX stirrers with dust extraction. Professional Builder’s Lee Jones takes a look.
Remember the days of bending over a bucket and frantically pumping at the contents with a podger? Unless you really are very old school indeed you’ve probably eschewed this unnecessary effort from something rather more electrical and user friendly, and the new Festool MX stirrers are a very good example. In fact, thanks to the manufacturer’s variable ErgoFix height adjustment system it’s even easier on the old ‘hammer and tack’ because you can mix and stir from a fully standing position – but the health and safety benefits don’t stop there.
No matter the trade, the industry is starting to wake up to the idea of adopting dust extraction measures, and it’s not just about making sure that harmful material stays out of your lungs. The time saving potential of keeping the worksite tidier, especially when you’re clearing up at the end of a hard day, and the impression that will make on a client, clearly has its own benefits.
Plasterers, decorators, and many other trades besides will be all too familiar with the dust that is generated as the inevitable consequence of mixing powdered materials – but it doesn’t have to be that way. Thanks to an extraction solution that can simply be secured to the edge of the bucket of the MX Stirrer, reducing the risk of suffering from some pretty serious occupational health conditions in later life is a reality.
The tool also features the convenience of a FastFix quick-change system, which means that you can quickly and easily separate the stirrer from the stirrer basket without tools, whilst it is equipped with a new hoop guard that protects the unit from being switched on accidentally. Stable and anti-slip rubber corners will protect the stirrer – as well as floors and walls – from damage in the event of it falling over, and there’s smooth start-up, with a high-torque motor that will provide all the mixing power you need. That power can also be adjusted via an electronic speed control dial on the handle to ensure the right stirring speed for every material.
The Festool MX stirrer is designed to minimise the effort in every regard. Thanks to the ergonomic and large lever handles, for example, moving it around in the material is made easier and, whether it’s your posture or your airways, it’s a tool that your body will thanks you for investing in.
For further information on the MX stirrers with the new dust extraction system go to www.festool.co.uk
