Any Important Differences Among Big Vacs?

[williaty]

I have a CT MIDI right now and I love the thing. I'm finally about to move and I'll have a real shop at the new place. Because of this, I want to get a full-sized CT vac. Once you move up into the "numbered" CT vac series, is there really any difference among models other than the size of the bag they take? From looking at the website, they all appear to have the same CFM, same static lift, same noise level, same power consumption, etc. Do some accessories only fit one size? Does anything else change between the big models? Can they all take the organizer deck think on top and use the boom arm?

Obviously, I'm trying to decide if I need anything bigger than the CT 26. I have a Dust Deputy cyclone separating the chips out before they get to the vac, so the bag size doesn't mean anything to me as they last forever (so long as I remember to empty the cyclone!).

 

[tbellemare]

If the bag size doesn't matter, the CT 26 is probably your best option. It's the least expensive and other than bag volume, there isn't a functional difference.

Tom

EDIT:
Unless you're talking about the CT 36 AC, it has the AutoClean function.

 

[skids]

I have a CT MIDI right now and I love the thing. I'm finally about to move and I'll have a real shop at the new place. Because of this, I want to get a full-sized CT vac. Once you move up into the "numbered" CT vac series, is there really any difference among models other than the size of the bag they take? From looking at the website, they all appear to have the same CFM, same static lift, same noise level, same power consumption, etc. Do some accessories only fit one size? Does anything else change between the big models? Can they all take the organizer deck think on top and use the boom arm?

Obviously, I'm trying to decide if I need anything bigger than the CT 26. I have a Dust Deputy cyclone separating the chips out before they get to the vac, so the bag size doesn't mean anything to me as they last forever (so long as I remember to empty the cyclone!).

The biggest difference is capacity, then how you are able to accessorize the vac Once you move away from the midi and Miini . Otherwise the power is the same as you mentioned Across all vacuums.

Portability however decreases as you increase the size of the vacuum obviously.

 

[Kev]

The cyclone addition tends to negate a need for higher capacity ... levelling the 26, 36, 48. I went 36 because the difference between 26 and 36 in $'s was tiny and I wanted the extra volume - the 36 is just a little taller than the 26. The 48 is bigger all over, quite a beast.

If you're adding a cyclone - go the 26, if you're not using a cycle, but it's stay in the shop the 36 is good value.

 

[Brice Burrell]

As for the accessories, the CT48 takes a different boom arm bracket than the CT26-36 vacs.  Sounds like the CT26 is a good fit for you.  If that's the rout you go you want to look at the boom arm set for the CT26-36.

 

[Paul G]

Does the Oneida cyclone made to sit on the Festool Dust Extractors have any static problems that could damage either the vac or the tools? Are there other cyclone makers for this application?

 

[semenza]

Besides being taller the 48 has a slightly bigger foot print than the 26 and 36.  That (as well as the height ) could matter if it needs to go under a bench , cabinet or some particular spot.

Seth

 

[williaty]

Does the Oneida cyclone made to sit on the Festool Dust Extractors have any static problems that could damage either the vac or the tools? Are there other cyclone makers for this application?

According to Oneida, the anti static properties are preserved. It's a load of hooey. There's major static buildup with it. The worst part is that, when used with an anti-static Festool hose, the hose grounds itself through you. So you get constant tiny shocks from it as though it were stabbing you with hundreds of tiny needles when the hose runs over your arm or leg. Supposedly, you can fix this by running a bare copper wire from the hose where it connects to the cyclone down to dangle on the floor since concrete is highly electrically conductive and that will resolve the issue but I haven't tried it yet. I really should do so!