Cost of use comparison of CT vacuum sizes

[JonathanJung]

Keep it on topic? I'm not quite sure how the conversation went from my question to talking about insert tooling, but anyway.

2 CT15s cost almost the same as 1 CT26. What I was asking is, if the CT15 works fine, why get the single CT26? Someone on a thread listed out the cost of bags by volume, did a comparison, to explain that x number of bags purchased in one CT size would provide x amount of savings over buying the same volume in bags from another CT size.

I'd rather have 6 CT15s hanging around my 2600sqft shop than 3 CT26s. Unless the CT26s provided significant performance difference or savings over time.

Some simple math shows that the CT26 ( .33 ) will cost less per liter than the CT15 ( .48 ). And a single CT26 costs $35 less than two CT15s. So in both ways, tool cost and consumable cost, a single CT26 is less than two CT15s This is in a bit of a bubble since actual fill percentage between the two may be different. I am guessing that if there is a difference in fill percentage that the CT26 will win in that regard as well since the larger volume should resist clogging longer.

The fill percentage and actual cost difference in actual use will be hard to truly know from peoples individual experiences and guesstimations. Because there are a bunch of factors that involve each persons personal use habits. I am not saying  that input doesn't have value, just that it may not hold up for someone else's usage.

The math suggests that a single CT26 will cost less than two CT15s over time. 100 bags per year in a CT26 (2600 L ) = $858. The same 2600 L in CT15s (173 bags ) = $1,248.  Saving $390 per year. That is assuming the fill percentages , etc are actually equal.

I think you need to figure out about how many liters per year you will need and do  the simple math. Look at that number, then decide if it is enough to justify a less optimal shop set up (for you) using fewer CT26s.

My inclination based on the numbers involved is to go with the better shop set up ( in your case CT15s ). It will pay dividends in efficiency.

Seth

Thank you! This is exactly the type of response I was looking for. Asking myself how much volume of bags I go through a year got me on the right track. I don't go through enough to make it matter much.

And efficiency in not having to relocate CTs is worth a lot.

6 CT26s is $4590
6 CT15s is $2400

My business is fine but I'm not going to shell out money where my mouth isn't.

In response to everyone else going on about costs and DDs and insert heads bla bla, my response is this. In a business, a more expensive tool or consumable is not always best. Perhaps not even a more cost-effective tool, if it means reducing labour efficiency. In my case, I would invest in 6 CT26s, but only if the savings over a year or two is significant. It appears it isn't, since I go through maybe 20-30 Midi bags a year currently. And since I don't need the add-on benefits of the larger CTs, affording more CT15s is better because I can have one everywhere I need one, without moving any around constantly.

I currently have 1 full timer and 1 part timer using these dedicated vacs:

Midi - miter saw
Midi - general bench use with routers, track saws, Domino
Midi - sanding station with an Oneida Ultimate DD
CT15 - assembly room & cleanup

I think I'll stick with these for now and maybe add in larger CTs for the stations that get the most often bag replacements.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Re-using bags... be it cutting the normal bag or using the official reusable bag... disgusting
No way I am emptying that bag anyware.

I have a 22, 26 and a Midi I, have no cyclone and use the official bags. The fleece bags for the 22 (not the paper ones!).

The cyclone brings loss of suction and depending on what you do it will  be years before it pays off.

I'm Getting the CTH 26e and have read this topic with interest. The main attraction of the Festool extractor for me is they fit the system and are relatively compact.

I also thing reusing bags is a bad idea, have done but it exposes you to the very dust your trying to avoid with the high end filter. The Cyclone solution is big and bulky and I would only use it if I was creating large amounts of rough milling chips from routing or planing.

I'm getting the CTH as it's not that much more expensive than the other versions but will protect me from the worst dusts that I know are present in the old buildings that I service.

One issue is the CTH bags are 20% more expensive that the regular CTM bags but for added safety I think is worth it. The cost gets passed on directly to the workplace.

Regards

Brent

 

[Coen]

[member=23193]PreferrablyWood[/member] ; yeah, especially with a H-class I wouldn't want to be involved with emptying bags.

I thought re-using the fleece bags was a no go? Aren't the bags too blocked to offer the right filtration, once they've been filled?

Highly depends on what type of dust you collect. If you are planing real wood... not so much clogging. If you are chasing concrete walls... you won't get to a full bag without significant loss of suction.

 

[Ebuwan]

Hey Jonathan,

While not exactly what you're looking for (e.g. no analysis of bags), we created a comparison chart of dust extractors earlier this year.https://www.ultimatetools.ca/blogs/news/spotlight-on-dust-extractors

Hey Chris,

Why are the extractors so marked up on your chart? that including bags or something?

Was just curious.

 

[ChuckM]

They are in Canadian currency, before tax. I believe every Canadian Festool vendor carries the same price.