Consolidated Q&A for Planex and CT AutoClean

[Saskataper]

I am kind of stumped on this one. Is this new drywall? what mud are you using?  Some mud like the synko redi filler is much harder than others. If you send me some pics of what you're sanding I might be able to help you out a little more. Ill PM you my email.
Power sanding isn't something you're going to learn overnight, I tape for a living and have been using a planex for almost a year now and had a porter cable for about a year before that and I still have issues sometimes. That said I am super picky about my finish and go over every inch of my walls with my sys lights to find the imperfections.

 

[Saskataper]

Here is a very cool video I shot of the inside of the CT36 AutoClean in action.
Such an awesome machine.

 

[jim-k]

hi guys,

recently bought myself a planex and ctm 36 combo,although today was the first time I used both together,previously used the planex with a sparky vac with no issues.
when using the ctm vac everything works fine until I turn the dial on the sander(for the vac) past 3 the vac starts beeping.this only happens when extraction is set to middle,when set to outside can turn vac up to 6 with no alarm.

any ideas what may be causing this?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Jim,

Welcome to the forum. I'm not where I can check the manual easily at the moment, but I believe the alarm is telling you clean the small filter on the motor.

Shane

 

[jim-k]

hi shane and thanks for the welcome

will give that a try,just seems strange that up to setting 3 everything is fine as soon as I turned the dial past 3 for vac the acoustic alarm sounds.

must add though compared to the flex sander I had been using  the planex is on another level,only using half the amount of sanding discs which alone

is a bonus

jim

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Jim, so I was just able to have a look at the manual. It does not state anything about an alarm or beeping sound. The filter needing cleaning is indicated by a flashing red light.

If cleaning the filter does not help, please contact your local Festool service department for assistance or post back and I'll check with our service team to see if I can find what the sound means.

Shane

 

[Saskataper]

What speed are you running the planex on? If the speed is to low and suction to high the motor can shut itself off and sound the alarm because it can't put out the torque so it protects itself. Just run the speed a little higher and you will be fine.

 

[jim-k]

Jim, so I was just able to have a look at the manual. It does not state anything about an alarm or beeping sound. The filter needing cleaning is indicated by a flashing red light.

If cleaning the filter does not help, please contact your local Festool service department for assistance or post back and I'll check with our service team to see if I can find what the sound means.

Shane

The alarm/beeping is from the ctm.the manual gives several reasons for this but don't think any apply to my
problem. I'll clean filters etc and give it another go with my next house,if still same I'll return to dealer.

 

[jim-k]

What speed are you running the planex on? If the speed is to low and suction to high the motor can shut itself off and sound the alarm because it can't put out the torque so it protects itself. Just run the speed a little higher and you will be fine.

Hi,

Been running the planex on 5/6 as our joint cement/mud is pretty hard

 

[Saskataper]

Ok I think I might have your problem kind of figured out. You said it'd the CT "M" that you have we only get the "E" over here, I believe the M has an sensor that is supposed to shut down the vac when it's full by sensing a reduced air flow. So maybe when your setting the Planex to centre suction there isn't enough flow as it's sucking to the wall and creating a vacume. Which shouldn't happen as that's the way it's designed to work. Your not using a bag other than the plastic liner in the vac are you? Is the autoclean working? You should hear it popping from time to time. The only time I've ever noticed a significant loss in suction with my vac is when it's right full, or when I've been taking down a lot of popcorn texture that the vac has a hard time clearing out as the larger chunks wedge into the pleats.
This is my best guess as to what's happening. I hope it helps.

 

[jim-k]

Ok I think I might have your problem kind of figured out. You said it'd the CT "M" that you have we only get the "E" over here, I believe the M has an sensor that is supposed to shut down the vac when it's full by sensing a reduced air flow. So maybe when your setting the Planex to centre suction there isn't enough flow as it's sucking to the wall and creating a vacume. Which shouldn't happen as that's the way it's designed to work. Your not using a bag other than the plastic liner in the vac are you? Is the autoclean working? You should hear it popping from time to time. The only time I've ever noticed a significant loss in suction with my vac is when it's right full, or when I've been taking down a lot of popcorn texture that the vac has a hard time clearing out as the larger chunks wedge into the pleats.
This is my best guess as to what's happening. I hope it helps.

Thanks for the reply
Didn't realise the ctm was Euro only,that's right it has a volumetric flow sensor.yea using the plastic liner and had auto clean set to full,all working ok(loud thud,temporary loss of suction and back to full suction).
I took filter out of vaccum tonight and there was quite a bit of dust jammed in the pleats so gave it a good clean and hopefully that may have been the problem. not sure why the auto clean didn't bang it out though .

 

[Worm Drive]

I just bought the Planex/36-ac combo and plan to use the 36 with other tools, as well. I'm a little confused on the best setup for different applications. For example, when sanding wood with a random orbit sander, would I still use the HP filter and plastic bag with the auto clean on? What about when cutting plywood with my TS 55? Should I use the self cleaning bag and do I need a HEPA filter or will the HP filter work fine? Thanks, Welton

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Welton, you can use the HP filter with any application. I would recommend the bag in place of the liner for tasks other than drywall. You will need a 27mm hose for the sanders.

 

[Worm Drive]

Welton, you can use the HP filter with any application. I would recommend the bag in place of the liner for tasks other than drywall. You will need a 27mm hose for the sanders.

Thanks, I have a Bosch hose that fits my sanders.

 

[elfick]

I just received a Planex and the matching dust extractor hose 496972 and the hose has the same coupling on each end... the DE coupling. So no locking tab. I can't imagine this is correct but I wanted to check before I contact the seller.

Thanks!

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I just received a Planex and the matching dust extractor hose 496972 and the hose has the same coupling on each end... the DE coupling. So no locking tab. I can't imagine this is correct but I wanted to check before I contact the seller.

It should look like this... It's a 36mm connector with a flange on the tool end.

 

[elfick]

Thanks Shane!

Mine looks like this so I guess I'll be sending it back:

[attachimg=#]

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Well, that's not right.  [blink] Sent you an email to offer to send a tool end connector to save you from having to exchange.

Shane

 

[trammelcreek]

Just got new LHS 225 accessory  haven't used yet. Bought  the
Planex auto clean works good for tex removal but was scratching
Sand finish with 220 on final. Do you know about this accs.
They didn't tell us about this at the demo I went to an purchased
This it had just came out.
The part is 495168 496106 and 496140 (2) pieces.

 

[Worm Drive]

I think this is what you need. To use the interface pads, you have to switch out the stock backing pad for the soft backing pad. The soft backing pad is thinner , to allow for the thickness of the interface pad.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0058HUABO