Accidentally ran CT 26 for 20 hours. Did I do a bad thing?

[bwehman]

Hey all! Currently building a house and had a CT 26 inside the kitchen for a cabinet install, and then another CT 26 in the garage where I was working on some trim bits.

Yesterday, I took the hose from the kitchen CT to use in the garage CT, which had its bluetooth remote tethered to the kitchen CT. I accidentally pressed the remote while in the garage, but then went home for the day straight from there and didn't realize it turned on the kitchen CT.

I came back later the next day to find that the kitchen CT running. I pieced all the events together and estimate it was running for about 20 hours on max.

It seems to work fine. No difference in noise or suction. Are these things rated to run for that length of time? It was definitely warmer than normal in that room and it smelled like sawdust.

Whoops. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[luvmytoolz]

Just picture it sniggling at you saying "I laugh at your puny 20 hours! Ha!".

In other words, don't worry, I've had mine going for the better part of many days sometimes!

For almost all our married life my wife has destroyed almost everything electronic she touches, with the exception of her little midi, Festool stuff really is built to last. If she can't kill it, I doubt you will.

 

[Mortiser]

Now that's funny! [big grin] I'm guessing you've bought her a lot of cell phones!

 

[bwehman]

Haha OK good. The housing was still cool to the touch, so figured all was well, but never know.

 

[Packard]

I’m surprised that the room did not implode from the negative atmosphere created. [cool]

 

[luvmytoolz]

Now that's funny! [big grin] I'm guessing you've bought her a lot of cell phones!

Don't get me started on phones, or laptops, etc! I work in IT and I've never seen someone so unintentionally destroy so much stuff in my life. It's actually kind of impressive in some ways she has that superpower. After I rebuilt the kitchen cupboards and benchtops I came home one day to find her standing on the front edge of the benchtop, I freaked out thinking the weight in that spot will break the facia, but it didn't (thank god for over-engineering), and her response was "well how else can I clean the ceiling?"

Who the hell cleans ceilings?? All I could think was "Spiderpig" from the Simpsons!

 

[squall_line]

Oh, I love me some Spiderpig!

I have a feeling that, if it could, the CT26 would probably thank you for leaving it running for so long.  "Aye, I'm finally getting a chance to stretch my legs and get myself broken in a bit"

 

[Crazyraceguy]

You just cleaned that room's air better than it ever has been.  HEPA filter running continuously

 

[Michael Kellough]

Oh, I love me some Spiderpig!

I have a feeling that, if it could, the CT26 would probably thank you for leaving it running for so long.  "Aye, I'm finally getting a chance to stretch my legs and get myself broken in a bit"

And the people who make commutator brushes will be grateful.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Oh, I love me some Spiderpig!

I have a feeling that, if it could, the CT26 would probably thank you for leaving it running for so long.  "Aye, I'm finally getting a chance to stretch my legs and get myself broken in a bit"

And the people who make commutator brushes will be grateful.

Dunno about that one, my SR5E has been running over 40 years now I think. Actually same for my TS55, RS2E, the R01E, etc. It's only ever been cheap quality tools I've ever had a brush problem. All my Festo/Festool/ELU, Fein, etc are pretty much flawless.

 

[Coen]

Yes, you wasted electricity, that is bad.  [tongue]

Other than that; it's build for that. They have a separate motor cooling circuit so even with restricted hose they don't burn out, like household vacs do.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Yes, you wasted electricity, that is bad.  [tongue]

Other than that; it's build for that. They have a separate motor cooling circuit so even with restricted hose they don't burn out, like household vacs do.

But brushes do wear down.

I’ve replaced brushes on a top of the line Miele vac, on the original Fein Turbo vac, and on my CS Mini.

When the Fein Turbo stopped run a second time  thought it couldn’t be the brushes again already.
And it wasn’t the inside of the vac was filled with short bits of copper wire from the armature.

When the CS Mini stopped and I found the worn out brushes Festool said that they did not supply replacement brushes, that when the brushes were exhausted the motor was at “end of life”.
Subsequently they reversed that and sent new brushes but they were for the wrong vac.
Found suitable brushes online elsewhere and the Mini works fine again.

 

[Coen]

Yes, you wasted electricity, that is bad.  [tongue]

Other than that; it's build for that. They have a separate motor cooling circuit so even with restricted hose they don't burn out, like household vacs do.

But brushes do wear down.

I’ve replaced brushes on a top of the line Miele vac, on the original Fein Turbo vac, and on my CS Mini.

When the Fein Turbo stopped run a second time  thought it couldn’t be the brushes again already.
And it wasn’t the inside of the vac was filled with short bits of copper wire from the armature.

When the CS Mini stopped and I found the worn out brushes Festool said that they did not supply replacement brushes, that when the brushes were exhausted the motor was at “end of life”.
Subsequently they reversed that and sent new brushes but they were for the wrong vac.
Found suitable brushes online elsewhere and the Mini works fine again.

Did they specify an amount of hours?

 

[ChuckM]

According to this post, a CT is expected to work to 1,200 running hours or so:https://www.toolboxbuzz.com/safety-work-wear/dust-collection/festool-dust-extractors/

 

[Michael Kellough]

Seem to recall being told the vacuum has run for over 1000 hours when the brushes are done.  They did recommend replacing the motor rather than just the brushes.

 

[luvmytoolz]

According to this post, a CT is expected to work to 1,200 running hours or so:https://www.toolboxbuzz.com/safety-work-wear/dust-collection/festool-dust-extractors/

I just did a rough and very conservative estimate on the CT36 hooked up to my CNC, and it's done a minimum of around 4000 or so hours over the years. As I do a lot of 3D work though that can run 12-15 hours at a time, I think the real figure would be at least 50% more.

The SR5E I bought 40+ years ago I think will have done at least that much, quite possibly considerably more. The wife's midi does a minimum of around 10 hours, but usually closer to 20 hours a week every week for the last 13 years she's had it. That's at least 5000-6000 hours.

 

[ChuckM]

I agree that the figure of 1,200 is a bit low.

My Sears Craftsman shop vac seems to have 9 lives, and there're no signs that it's going to kick the bucket anytime soon. And it's about 1/4 the cost of my CT15 which, I expect, should outlast my woodworking (if not my own) life.

The suggestion that the motor should be replaced when the brushes are gone is good...from the sales point of view.  [tongue]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I would image that they are taking wear of the bearings and other parts into consideration too. At some point, you are just putting a band-aid on it, rather than repairing it. You run into a parts vs labor equation too. Is replacing the motor, which is a one-time cure, more cost effective than replacing "parts" several times?
I'm sure it's a case by case basis, works on some tools, not on others. A pro, who depends on a particular thing might see it differently from a hobbyist too.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip. A pro, who depends on a particular thing might see it differently from a hobbyist too.

If I do woodworking for a living, I will try to have at least one back-up tool or plan around for the critical ones.

When one can claim tax deductions (e.g. as depreciation) for tool purchases, the consideration is also different. I, for example, can claim tax benefits for using my car in my business, and so I never delay any maintenance or repair recommendations that come their way. I know a fellow who would not replace his car battery until it actually dies (despite the fact that he has sought road side assistance from his friends more than a few times in subfreezing temperatures over the years); I replace mine every 4 years or so, whenever the battery test suggests so. Same things for winter tires, etc.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Snip. A pro, who depends on a particular thing might see it differently from a hobbyist too.

If I do woodworking for a living, I will try to have at least one back-up tool or plan around for the critical ones.

Unless I'm mistaken this falls under the standard "He who dies with the most tools wins" clause?

Does for me anyway, being a serious hobbyist we have 2 midi's, an SR5E, a CT36, a 20L drum garage vac, a 1.5HP 4" extractor filter/bag system, and a portable 1HP 4" extractor, so I don't really too much about the issue of dust collecting! ;-)