Comparison of CT 22/33 and Oneida's new Gorilla Portable Vacuum

[Dave Ronyak]

Oneida recently announced a new portable shop vacuum which combines their Dust Deputy, a steel drum, HEPA filters, powered by twin 110V motors with 25' of antistatic hose, all on a heavy duty roll about base  for ~$2300 plus shipping.  Here is the linkhttp://www.oneida-air.com/newsite/gorilla_vac.php  They claim it is weatherproof.

A shop or construction site could buy several Festool CT series vacuum machines complete with reuseable cloth filter bags and still have money left over to buy other Festools, or whatever.  I don't understand the reasoning behind Oneida's introduction of this machine.  Two CT vacuum machines would produce a greater flow rate and a higher vacuum level.  I did not notice any listing of the noise level of the Oneida unit.

When in my shop I connect the hose from my Boom Arm to the inlet of my Dust Deputy and connect the outlet of the Dust Deputy to my CT-22E.  That combination is also a 3-stage system, and most of the debris ends up in the 10 gal steel drum of the Dust Deputy which can be easily dumped.  If I really wanted a 3-stage portable unit, I would mount my Dust Deputy on top of my CT-22 or to a cart beside it.

Who would buy the Oneida machine and why?  Those who do not know about Festool?

Dave R. 

 

[Greg_R]

I don't think you can add static pressure ("vacuum level") in that manner (CFM yes, static pressure no).  I agree that $2300+ is a very expensive vacuum and I can't see the benefits beyond no bags and greater capacity (55 gallon drum option available).  Does anyone know why there are 2 motors vs. 1 big one (variable power levels perhaps)?  I sent them a few questions about the unit to see what justifies the high cost.

 

[Woodenfish]

It weighs 103 pounds yet Oneida calls it "Portable"? 

 

[Greg_R]

I got a response back from Oneida.  CFM / static pressure is measured at the machine's inlet and there is no (factory) way of varying the airflow (for use with small tools).  The noise level is 78dBA.

So, for ~$200 you could buy a Dust Deputy, hook it onto a 55 gallon drum and mount that onto your Festool vac and save a lot of $$$.

 

[rodwolfy]

I don't think you can add static pressure ("vacuum level") in that manner (CFM yes, static pressure no).  I agree that $2300+ is a very expensive vacuum and I can't see the benefits beyond no bags and greater capacity (55 gallon drum option available).  Does anyone know why there are 2 motors vs. 1 big one (variable power levels perhaps)?  I sent them a few questions about the unit to see what justifies the high cost.

Greg, there are two motors on Fein vacuums. One is used for suction power and the second one is used to cool the first motor (in case of a blocked hose, in which case the main motor would overheat and burn out - if not given a second motor to cool it).

Looking at the website, I can't imagine anyone purchasing this vacuum for $2.3K + shipping & handling.  You might as well go out and purchase a 50 gallon drum and mount a shop vac on the top, along with a Dust Deputy (which is what this thing looks like!). I like the CT22s that I've seen here with a Clearview cyclone or DD on them better. About the only thing that this vacuum has going for it over that arrangement is high capacity and a 3 stage filtering process (which in the real world doesn't seem to be any advantage over the CT22 w/ HEPA and Clearview...). I could go purchase 4 CT22s with Clearview cyclones for the price of this ONE Oneida. And the "advantage" of larger capacity could be matched by just putting a larger collection tank under the Clearview. I have a 15 gallon tank under mine, which is on wheels. But, I could just as easily put it on top of a 55 gallon drum.

Rod

 

[Dave Ronyak]

The way I see it is that a CT 22 or CT 33 hooked up to a mini-cyclone is a stage vacuum machine: 1) = cyclone, 2) = standard paper filter bag and 3) = standard HEPA filters.  That is the way I am running my CT 22E most of the time in my shop.

Dave R.

 

[fcraven]

Greg, there are two motors on Fein vacuums. One is used for suction power and the second one is used to cool the first motor (in case of a blocked hose, in which case the main motor would overheat and burn out - if not given a second motor to cool it).

Actually, I believe there is only one motor, but it utilizes bypass cooling. The suction blades have nothing to do with the cooling blades for the motor, so if there's no air flow the motor still gets cooled.

In the old days Fein had a twin motor vac (Which may have been made by WAP) that was in the same price range. (I've attached a photo from my July 95 catalog)

Formerly, I had a thought to buy two Fein Turbo IIs (or IIIs) and mount them to a single box with a single hose attachment, to get the "twin motor" thing going. Then add a mini-cyclone to a chip bin all in the same box giving lots of suck with cyclonic separation. OH, the power. But I thought that would be too expensive, and a bit on the overkill side.

But now, HEY, it's a bargain!