A Kapex with CT Midi question

[erock]

Hello guys,

    Sorry to post this question.  Seems like a lot of Kapex questions being post lately, but I needed a little feed back.

I have a CT MIDI.  And love it.  For my small shop it has met every need that is demanded of it. 

I have been saving my overtime money and planning to buy a Kapex in June.  I have been throwing around the idea to buy a Kapex and CT 26 package.

I did a little (very little) research on the FOG about the Kapex and 36mm hose with a MIDI.  Now I'm thinking that I don't need a CT 26. 

So if anyone out in FOG land can help me with this I would love it.    How good is the CT MIDI with a 36mm hose and the Kapex hooked up to it?

Does the Kapex draw more amps then the TS55?  Has anyone hooked up a  "Y" splitter to the CT MIDI? 

Also, has anyone hooked up a Dust Collector (delta or jet) with a remote control to a Kapex with good results? 

I know a Kapex is $1350.  And a package deal with a CT 26 is $1868.  A $518 difference,  which to me is money towards another Festool purchase like

a CXS. But if it'sbetter to have a dedicated CT for the Kapex I may go that route. 

Any input on my little problem would be great.  Thanks guys!

Eric

 

[mlfaber]

I have a CT22 with an Ultimate Dust Deputy connected to a boom arm.  It sits right between my MFT3 and Kapex.  In all honesty it became somewhat of a pain to constantly remove the Boom's 27mm hose and connect a short piece of 36mm to it and the Kapex.  A lot of back and forth.  When a good deal came my way on a Midi I splurged, but have not looked back.  Now, the Midi sits below the kapex, with a short piece of 36mm hose connected.  When I need the Kapex I just fire it up and go, no playing with hoses.  Also, because the CT22 is connected to the boom I no longer have to dismantle it for work outside of my shop.  I like having the two vacs.  Mostly because the one has really become a dedicated dust extractor/boom setup.  In fact, I think the hose to the Kapex is a bosch 35mm hose and it works great.  The extraction is really good, better than the 27mm hose.  I picked up the bosch hose for around $30.00 on Amazon.

 

[vwdave]

A midi for the kapex is a perfect solution, especially with a shortened 36mm hose. One thing cool about the midi is if fits nicely below the kapex in the UG stand. I've never tried the y splitter in my midi but I use it frequently on the ct22.

Bundling the tools is always a good idea to take advantage of the discount. Plus having 2 vacs is a much more efficient way to work.

Dave

 

[nclemmons]

I have a Kapex hooked up to a central dust collection unit with a Powermatic collector.  Short 36MM hose to the 4" pipe with blast gate.  I use a wireless remote on a belt clip.  Hobby workshop and it collects the dust fine for me.  Not as well as my CT22, but like you, I didn't want to invest in a second vac.  It takes me all of maybe two minutes to vacuum up the dust around the Kapex when I clean up.  And I saved the money to apply toward other Festools.

As others have said, the Midi will work fine with the Kapex and I would fully agree that there are probably other Festools you might like more before buying a second vac.

neil

 

[ccarrolladams]

All Festools, especially the Kapex, require high velocity dust extraction. For the Kapex a recent Mini or Midi, which extract the same volume and at the same velocity as the other new CTs work just fine. It is best to use a short 36mm AS hose between any CT and the Kapex. With the Midi or Mini you will need to remove the 27mm hose with its right angle adapter. The 36mm hose will leave the Mini or Midi straight up, so it is not possible to fit a Systainer on the vac when using a 36mm hose. Even the older Mini and Midi extract well enough so long as the 36mm hose is fairly short.

While conventional Dust Collectors are fine with most large fixed machines, they pull a high volume of collection at low velocity. Without the use of some kind of accelerator blower between the Kapex and the dust collector, the Kapex will not only not collect much dust, it needs the Festool CT style high velocity to cool correctly.

In the case of the Kapex, having the 36mm AS hose coming out the top of a Mini or Midi actually improves the efficiency of the dust extraction.

 

[sancho57]

I had a CT22 ooked up to my apex,  also used to have a shop van and prior to that a Jet 650 DC 4" hose with a reducer to fit all have good results.

I got tired of fool with the 4" hose for the jet, The Shop vac was to loud, CT 22 with a short 36mm hose is what I  use now.

 

[Steve R]

All of the CTs have the same power, so it comes down to what works for you. If transport and jobs are small the mini or midi are fine. Going to be at a location doing a lot of cutting... then maybe go bigger.

Just as when mobile phones came about...it was not the cost of phone it was the price per minute... when CTs.... it is the cost of the bags...  that long term will effect you. Two Midi bags a week to one CT26 is about twice the cost.... what works for you?

Any CT will do the job.... it is cost of operation that you need to calculate. Only you know what is important.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[TomGadwa1]

A midi for the kapex is a perfect solution, especially with a shortened 36mm hose. One thing cool about the midi is if fits nicely below the kapex in the UG stand. I've never tried the y splitter in my midi but I use it frequently on the ct22.

Bundling the tools is always a good idea to take advantage of the discount. Plus having 2 vacs is a much more efficient way to work.

Dave

Right you are Dave! I have done a custom install of a CT MIDI on a UG Stand with short 36 mm hose and it works quite well. It is a real space saver for a small shop.
[attachimg=#1]
Picture of my KAPEX on UG cart with CT MIDI on custom mounting plate.

 

[erock]

Thanks for all the responses.

Thank you TomGadwa1 for that photo! 

I am going to order the Kapex/CT Midi package this afternoon.  I have thought about moving things  around  in the shop to welcome the Kapex and to hook

the Kapex up to my dust collection system.  But that would have been a bit to much work for what it's worth. 

I wanted a dedicated Festool CT vac for the Kapex.  I was leaning towards a CT 26.  But thanks to all the feed back a CT Midi will fit me just fine for the

amount of use the Kapex will see.  I think I just wanted a CT26 just because I could get it.  I wanted the CT26 for the boom arm or Work Center.  But I will

make up one for the CT Midi.  With all the homemade boom arms on the FOG I'm sure I can come up with a good system for myself. 

I will also order a 36mm x  3.5m anti static hose.  But I'm sure it will still be to long. 

Has anyone cut a anti static hose with good results?

Since I have a 4 day weekend coming up, I'm going to be in the shop all weekend getting ready to incorporate the Kapex to my Festool system. [cool]

I have a lot of tools to pick through and donate/sell or pitch. 

Thanks again guys.

Eric

 

[tbellemare]

Has anyone cut a anti static hose with good results?

I cut them all the time, Eric. You just take off the end by depressing the two little tabs that hold it on. Under that, there is a left-hand threaded ring. Just take that off and the locking ring behind it and you have a clear hose.

I cut the hose with a utility knife and then trim it with diagonal pliers. Sometimes the rib makes the first cut a little ragged. Install everything the opposite way and you're golden.

Tom

 

[erock]

Well I did it.

I ordered the Kapex today.  And at the last minute I changed my mind and bought the CT26 instead of the Ct Midi.

I already have a Midi and I just couldn't resist a chance to buy the CT26 for future use of a Work Center or Boom Arm. 

Plus that fact that I have a Midi and just wanted something new  [wink].  I also picked up a 36mm hose that I plan on cutting

for a custom fit. 

I'm pumped up about receiving the Kapex!  I must have watch Gary Katz video on Youtube about 4 times today.

Thanks for all your help Tom!

Eric

 

[morts10n]

Eric,

I started with a Kapex and mini with a 27mm hose. Ok, but not great. Now its a Kapex/midi with 36 mm hose on the jobsite, and Kapex/CT 22 in the shop. The upgraded hose makes a difference. Forget the Y adaptor, I wasted money on one, and still haven't used it. I just pull the hose off the Kapex and plug in the RAS 115 with the short 26mm  "whip" when I'm scribing.

Cheers

 

[erock]

Morts10n

  When I was on the phone with Tom this afternoon he check to see if the "Y" fitting would fit on the CT midi, but the hose garage was in the way.  Since I will be cutting the 36mm hose and making a custom hose for the kapex Tom gave me a good idea about using the other half of the 36mm hose for my HL 850 with the bench top  unit.  But since the "Y" fitting doesn't fit into the Midi and I plan on using the Midi only for the Kapex that little setup is out of the question now. 

But thanks for the heads up on the "Y" fitting.

Eric