Can my CTL 26 be used for plaster dust?

[Tim Brennan]

I'm just installing a fan in the toilet (at home) and I need to chase the wall about 1 foot to run power into the loft.

I have a CT-26 and I bought the following

Festool 5x Disposal Bag ENS-CT 26 AC/5 496216 for CTL 26 AC CTM 26 AC​

Price:​

£52.72

​

However, my CTL doesn't have autoclean so it seems like I can't use these bags.

I am thinking that given its only a small bit of wall to chase maybe I could just use the regular bag that's already in my CTL but I think that once it has fine plaster dust in the bag its probably best to not use it again as it will just spread that fine plaster dust in my workshop and I will breath it in.

The other option is to use our Miele S2111 vacuum - but there is a chance the dust could ruin it so probably not wise

Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[thudchkr]

Your CTL is not going to be spreading that fine plaster dust because the CT 26's main filter provides 99.9% filtering. If the fine plaster dust makes it past the regular bag it will be caught by the main filter.

Your most likely scenario will be that your normal bag becomes clogged rapidly by the fine plaster dust and will need to be swapped out earlier with less material filling the bag. I've used my CT 26 for that exact same scenario and just ended up getting enough of the standard bags to swap them out as needed.

There is a definite possibility of clogging the main filter as well and I picked up a spare one, (HF-CT 26/36/48, 496170),
along with my replacement bags, (ENS-CT 26 AC/5, 496216), for the CT-26. I've done a bit of plaster sanding, though not a lot, and haven't yet needed to replace it.

 

[bobtskutter]

The bag you've bought is the "open plastic bag" type, right? If you don't have an auto clean CTL then it's the wrong bag.
Sounds like you've only got a relatively small amount of plaster to remove, so just use a normal bag in your CTL. It won't last long, but you should be able to get the job done. If the CTL looses suction, turn it off, leave the hose & tool connected together, open the machine and give the bag a shake to knock off any crusted on dust. Put it back together again and carry on.
Plaster dust clogs vac bags quickly, domestic vacuums won't stand a chance. Don't ruin your Miele vac.

Bob

 

[Coen]

However, my CTL doesn't have autoclean so it seems like I can't use these bags.

Correct. These bag liners are _not_ for CT's without AC.

I am thinking that given its only a small bit of wall to chase maybe I could just use the regular bag that's already in my CTL

Yes you can. I do that too.

but I think that once it has fine plaster dust in the bag its probably best to not use it again as it will just spread that fine plaster dust in my workshop and I will breath it in.

It's not spreading the dust around, however the suction will get reduced due to a bunch of clogging. Mainly in the bag, but also a bit in the filter.

The other option is to use our Miele S2111 vacuum - but there is a chance the dust could ruin it so probably not wise

Don't. It will die and you will regret it.

---

Having said all that; you need to chase a slit for a total length of 1 foot? Don't use the wallchaser. Just drill a line of holes. It's 200% easier to control the dust from drilling compared to that when chasing. I use a short 22mm Bosch SDS Pro 7X 4-cutter bit for that and if you space the holes exactly right you don't need any chiseling either (for 16mm conduit). You got to plaster anyway, nobody is going to ever see if it's a clean slid from a wallchaser or if it's 20 holes. You can even use 20mm, but then you need to drill a bunch more holes. And if you just tile over it you don't even have to plaster it anyway.

I don't know what material the wall is (I am assuming something solid), but I've done my drill method in both the hard cast concrete as well as in the indoor aerated concrete. The latter can also be done with a multi tool in combination with a blade with carbide teeth. (Or regular blade; but the teeth will disappear fast followed by the body of the blade.)
There is no way I will grab the wall chaser for a one foot length slit.

 

[Cheese]

Like Coen mentioned, I've used an OS 400 & an OSC 18 for cutting plaster walls in a bathroom. I also used a Bosch carbide blade because a normal one will literally dissolve. The narrow kerf doesn't produce much dust and you can cut with one hand and hold the vac hose with the other hand.