Blocked CT 15

[ChuckM]

I use my CT15 (located next to my workbench) mainly with the DF500, Pro5, Drilling Jig (connectors) and for other general vacuuming functions (such as cleaning the workbench top). The latter was not quite a good idea, I found out.

Last week, the CT15 stopped working while I was drilling holes for connectors (red bar/light on the suction power indicator). I eventually traced the problem to a blocked hose after removing the vacuum inlet and shining a light into the hose:

[attachimg=2]      [attachimg=1]

To prevent off-cuts from getting into the bottleneck, I'll cover the hose outlet end with a mesh before doing any vacuuming of the bench top.

 

[mino]

The chips were blocked before damaging anything, would not be concerned much.

Though it needs to be said the CT 26/36/48 series vacs have full-width inlet and will let even bigger chips than these in the bag. Especially with the D50 hose.

Big chips blocking vacs is as old as vacs are. I remember removing my toy cars from one when I was like 6 or so.
[big grin]

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
Big chips blocking vacs is as old as vacs are. snip.

Now you tell me!

For a moment, I thought I had a $200 repair bill problem on my hands.

Before the unit shut down, I did see some very fine dust left on the rim of the mortises, which had never happened before when suction was used with the DF500.

 

[bobtskutter]

I frequently have this problem with one of my vacuums.  I hold a finger over the end of the hose to narrow the opening if I'm trying to clean up dust and leave the offcuts behind.  Or you could use a crevice tool to narrow the opening and prevent larger stuff getting sucked up.
Regards
Bob

 

[mino]

Just a comment, this is what the air flow detector is for in the (European) CTM seriers vacs.

IMO it is a shame Festool does not offer these in the US.

That sensor is mandatory for M class in Europe ... which is required for some commercial applications ... but the notification is still useful even outside the safety aspect for the peace of mind. Sure, it is $100 atop an already expensive vac. But I am sure some folks will go for it anyway for the ability to tuck the vac around somewhere in the corner and never check the bag ... until the vac starts beeping it is full.

In Europe and most of the world, pretty much any Festool vac except the CT-SYS has an M-class version with the sensor available. Including the new CTMC-SYS. IMO at least the CT26/36/48 series could warranty this option being offered.

 

[Michael Kellough]

That is weird. Is that a restrictive plug reducing the diameter of the passage from the hose to the vac bag?

By design, every orifice debris passes through from the business end of the hose to the vac bag should be larger than the previous to prevent that kind of blockage.

 

[squall_line]

That is weird. Is that a restrictive plug reducing the diameter of the passage from the hose to the vac bag?

By design, every orifice debris passes through from the business end of the hose to the vac bag should be larger than the previous to prevent that kind of blockage.

I believe that's a picture of the end of the hose still inserted into the vac, so that's just the difference between the hose diameter and the connector on the vac end of the hose.

I say "just", but with the 27mm hose, it's barely half the diameter (and thus around 1/4 the cross-sectional area) of the vacuum inlet port.  The vac end of the 27-32 tapered hose doesn't look much better, honestly.

 

[Coen]

Some chips tumble inside the hose and block it. Happened to me before

Even on CTL's there is an audible warning, because you can hear the motor making a different noise.