Another Dust Collector Comparison : CT Midi w/ DD vs CT 26

[huntdupl]

Long time lurker, first time poster. And sorry in advance for the  [dead horse]

I've been following the progression of dust collectors via social media and beyond and I think I'm ready to make the jump. I've been running a shopvac with Dust Deputy for some time now, and with most, I was absolutely shocked as to why I didn't incorporate a DD sooner.

I have a tiny shop and I'm a hobbyist not professional. I've been weighing the pros and cons of both the Midi and CT 26 and my personal dialog has been as followed:

I don't care about the larger wheels on the CT 26 or the expensive boom arm
Capacity of the Midi is a non issue with a DD when compared to the CT26...But static shock is and warranty is

I've done research on how to mod (ground) hoses from the DD, but I'd feel more comfortable knowing the warranty is in tact from buying the whole kit.

Midi with DD = 12.9 gallon total vs CT26 = 6.9 gallon

What it boils down to is, I would rather spend the extra $250 on the new grounded DD system for the CT Midi vs the $125 for CT 26 with no DD. The DD makes sweeping floors and running table saws etc more practical. I like the idea of portability if I want to take just the Midi with me.

Questions:
I'm 30 yo, is portability between the Midi and CT26 really that great to be a determining factor?
And the major question I can't find in all my browsing...When would I need that extra 7 cfm from form the CT 26?

Thank you for your support in these confusing times  [thanks]

 

[rljatl]

The Dust Deputy is now made with anti-static plastic and comes with an anti-static hose.  No further modification should be necessary as long as the hoses you already have are anti-static.

Festool green hoses are anti-static.

 

[huntdupl]

Thanks RobBob. Can you shed light on which scenarios the extra 7 cfm would be needed? Do you own a Midi or could attest to times when you needed more power?

 

[rljatl]

I have a midi and a CT26.  Either of these work fine with any hand held power tool.

 

[RKA]

If you're using the correct hose for the application, the difference in cfm is unlikely to be noticed in real world use.  So, for those jobs that really benefit from a 36mm hose, use it.  That also eliminates the right angle connection at the vac/hose and gives you a straight connector.  But, the same applies with the CT26.  You're not going to get sufficiently good results with a 27mm hose connected to a planer for example.  So this really isn't a point of differentiation.  The capacity and size are the points of differentiation you would be interested in. 

One other aspect of the 26 that's worth considering is the ability to add an aftermarket remote switch (maxsys) so you can have the tool activate the vac AND use a remote to do the same without running back to the vac to flip the switch.  If that's something that is appealing to you, it's not possible on the midi.

 

[clark_fork]

This is a puzzling discussion. I had assumed the Festool vacs were only for portable tools and bench tools like the Kapex. I never considered using one for my floor machines.

What is the appropriate Festool Vac for a planner, jointer and tablesaw, each with a 4" outlet?  I have never considered a Festool vac for these as I have the typical 2.0 HP dust collector with a chip collection barrel taking up space. If possible to connect, how is connection made and what are the chip collection options in addition to the DD?

Thanks

Signed... Four Inch Hose Tripper

 

[chrisrosenb]

Festool vacs will not work properly for tools that have 4" outlets. You need a larger dust collector to get proper dust collection for those. I do have a job site table saw  & jointer that have 2" outlets. The Festool vacs work OK on those. 

 

[huntdupl]

Bigups RKA!

clark_fork the dust extractor will be primarily used for sanding etc with a 27mm hose. I run a dewalt jobsite table saw, this is where I plan to use a 50mm hose with the Dust Deputy- keep my bags clean and wont have to worry as much about splinters/chips from clogging up the hose when ripping or vacuuming the floor. In regards to a planer, irregardless of my approach(es), 4" dust collector, shopvac, theres nothing thats going to get everything that comes off my Grizzly. Though I guess a HEPA extractor on airborne particulates is better than nothing

 

[rst]

I use a DD with my Midi in my shop.  The only drawback is that the midi does not really hold the DD well.  I carved at the DD feet to make them fit better but ended up adding a rachet strap to insure holding the two together. 

 

[rst]

When the above pic was taken I had'nt added the strap.  The hose is a Bosch 36mm with Festool ends.  The table is 65" X 102" spit in the middle with an oak replaceable insert sitting on 8020 2"x2" extrusions.

 

[morts10n]

I used a midi with a DD for awhile but found the setup to be too top heavy, especially when using Kapex and 36mm hose, and when wheeling the set-up around the jobsite.  Moved on to a CT26 with DD instead and am much happier. Now the midi gets used for general.
Cheers
Dave