CT-22 Dust collection problem

[MWSS]

Hi All. I've had my Festool stuff now for 4 years. My CT-22 used to work awesome! But recently the vacuum has been letting me down. I use my vacuum for Solid Surface, like Corian, Gibraltar, etc, etc....

My problem, which Festool has been unwilling to help with, is that I lose lots of suction shortly after installing a new bag. When it initially started happening, I thought that the bag was full. I would open up the CT-22 and find out that the bag only has about 1 to 2 inches of debris in the bag. I thought that maybe I needed a new hose, so I spent $100+ for a new hose.... It didn't fix it. I then bought new HEPA filters, $60. It didn't fix it either.

When a new bag is put in, this thing runs like a champ but after using my RO-150 or my 1200eq router, the suction drops by over half and I start getting dust particles flying in the air.

When I called Festool, they said for me to ship it in. But this is my work and I can not afford a new vacuum NOR can I afford down time by shipping this thing in to them.

Any ideas?

I've checked the rubber seal around the lid. Its fine. Its obvious that the vacuum bag is either clogging up from the fine particulates or that as the bag pores start to clog, the vacuum motor can no longer support the strain.

Any Ideas?

 

[chrisrosenb]

Welcome to the FOG. There is a lot of good information here.

I have had a similar issue with my vacs, Porter Cable & Festool. What I found was that the bags were getting a coating of fine solid surface dust on them & this was reducing the air through the bags. I have also had this problem with drywall & plaster dust. I found that opening up the vac & shaking the bag removed the dust coating from the bag & improved the air flow. I hope this works for you.

Chris

 

 

[Frans]

My problem, which Festool has been unwilling to help with

When I called Festool, they said for me to ship it in. But this is my work and I can not afford a new vacuum NOR can I afford down time by shipping this thing in to them.

Sounds to me like they were quite willing to help, but you didn't want to send it in? Perhaps you could borrow a replacement vac from your dealer in the meantime.

Could it be the brushes of the motor are worn down?

Frans

 

[Dan Clermont]

Hello MWFS

Welcome to the forum. Festool has pretty quick turn around in the US on items like this and the top of the vac does seperate from the dust extractor for easy shipping.

I do agree with the Frans. They did offer to help and really the only alternative is for them to inspect it.

If you are in Canada feel free to give me a call and I'll get you a vac while yours is repaired.

I don't think the issue is brushes as they typically wear down completely before they malfunction.

Are you using a Long Life filter Bag or a replaceable bag?

Dan Clermont

 

[Roseland]

How old are the filters?

A

 

[MWSS]

I was up late typing that. When I said that they were unwilling to help, I meant that they weren't willing to try and help me trouble shoot over the phone. Any turn around, no matter how quick it is, isn't quick enough.

Look, I don't need debate on Festools willingness to help or not, I need a way to trouble shoot this problem.

RE: Question about the long life bag. Those bags won't work as they don't grab the smallest particulates like the paper filter bags do. I work with corian dust, which is finer than wood dust.

I have spoken to my local Festool carriers and they all say not to use the long life when working with solid surface.

 

[jvsteenb]

Since you've been using it for 4 years I feel kinda stupid asking, but could ikt be weather related ?
I noticed the paper bags clog faster in a very humid atmosphere - this is definately the case with drywall, plaster and the like, but may also be the case with solid surface dust ?

Just a thought.

Regards,

Job

 

[Holzhacker]

I'm guessing bad entry clogging or static. I used to fab/install Corian. At the time all we used were Fein Turbo's. I tried using the bag in my Fein once or twice and had essentially the same problem you are having. Started out great and then performance dropped. I've never used a bag again for anything in my Turbo II and it keeps working great. If I were still doing installs I'd probably still use the Fein simple because it doesn't seem to care about bags and is easy to hose out.
Not to sound too jerky but if you are doing installs regularly you should have plenty of dough to buy a 2nd vac. Think about raising prices.

 

[AlexThePalex]

When I said that they were unwilling to help, I meant that they weren't willing to try and help me trouble shoot over the phone.

Have you thought about the idea that troubleshooting by phone might be impossible? No way can a mechanic say anything sensible about your vac without seeing it himself.

Any turn around, no matter how quick it is, isn't quick enough.

Then rent a vac for a week. You can't expect your tools to work 100% all of the time for year after year. Sometimes you simply NEED to have maintenance. And when that time comes, you need to improvise a bit.

It sounds almost like you're mad because Festool can't magically fix your vac by phone.

 

[greg mann]

I don't think there is anything wrong with your vac. You say it works for a while and then performance drops off. I inferred that a new bag would cause a repeat of that performance. Your bag is clogging due to the ultra-fine dust particles. The bag is acting as a pre-filter as well as a collection point. A mini-cyclone might be worth a try. This could possibly reduce the amount of dust that gets through to the bag. My biggest concern would be whether the fine dust has enough mass to fall out of suspension but I suspect it would. This could be a real elegant solution to your problem. 

 

[chrisrosenb]

I don't think there is anything wrong with your vac. You say it works for a while and then performance drops off. I inferred that a new bag would cause a repeat of that performance. Your bag is clogging due to the ultra-fine dust particles. The bag is acting as a pre-filter as well as a collection point. A mini-cyclone might be worth a try. This could possibly reduce the amount of dust that gets through to the bag. My biggest concern would be whether the fine dust has enough mass to fall out of suspension but I suspect it would. This could be a real elegant solution to your problem. 

A mini cyclone does not help much. I have one in my shop hooked up to a CT33. I do not use as many bags, but as you stated the fine dust that causes the reduced air flow does not settle out in the cyclone. It gets sucked into the bag.

 

[score0matic]

Here is a question..... how are your router bits and saw blades?  If you have been doing a ton of work with them (and it sounds as if you are) once the bits/ dull some you get dust [blink] rather than shavings.....  just a thot as it caused me a similar problem with an Attix 8 clogging up much faster than it used to.

Craig

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

When I said that they were unwilling to help, I meant that they weren't willing to try and help me trouble shoot over the phone.

Have you thought about the idea that troubleshooting by phone might be impossible? No way can a mechanic say anything sensible about your vac without seeing it himself.

Any turn around, no matter how quick it is, isn't quick enough.

Then rent a vac for a week. You can't expect your tools to work 100% all of the time for year after year. Sometimes you simply NEED to have maintenance. And when that time comes, you need to improvise a bit.

It sounds almost like you're mad because Festool can't magically fix your vac by phone.

Thanks Alex, it still boggles my mind when people think you can fix something over the phone.

Tell you what I would do, send it off to get fixed, buy a new one and use it untill the old one gets back.

Try as you might to return that new one, you wont be able to do it.

I second Holtzhacker on buying a second vac, one for shop use, one for install use.  You should be making plenty of profits, fabbing and installing SS countertops, if not, you need to charge more.

 

[peter halle]

The following comment is from Peter Halle forum member:  Personally I have a problem with buying a tool and then using it for a short duration prior to returning it.  That tool can't be sold again as new and some manufacture's - like Festool - don't sell reconditioned tools.  That practice adds to the costs for the tools that we buy.

Peter Halle Moderator:  Whether or not the OP could buy and return would be determined by what country that poster lives in.  We assume by the post that he lives in the US - but that might not be so.  Thanks to a new feature installed for us new moderators by Shane yesterday, I believe that the poster is in the US.  If he was outside the US, I don't believe he would have the 30 day return policy.

Please update your profiles and at least post the country you live in.  Answers to questions will vary based on where you live.

Now back to your regularly scheduled posting...

Peter

 

[MWSS]

Since you've been using it for 4 years I feel kinda stupid asking, but could ikt be weather related ?
I noticed the paper bags clog faster in a very humid atmosphere - this is definately the case with drywall, plaster and the like, but may also be the case with solid surface dust ?

Just a thought.

Regards,

Job

Thanks for the idea, but every job is different. Customers keep their temps at all different settings.

This has been just a recent problem.

This bag used to fill up until it was ready to burst.

Today, I could barely get this thing to suck. Well, suck it did. LOL.

 

[MWSS]

How old are the filters?

A

Brand NEW.

 

[peter halle]

I'm going to suggest something off the wall and I don't want to offend anyone.  Just trying to help because it has happened to me.  Turn the CT on.  Try to disconnect the hose.  Do you feel resistance?  If you do, there is something that is partially clogging the hose.  If not, ignore this post.

Thank you for your patience.

Peter

 

[MWSS]

I got a PM from Christian/Festool.

He has a solution to my problem.

Thanks Christian!

 

[Roseland]

Can you share it, so we all know what to do in future if we have the same problem?

A

 

[MWSS]

If he wants to share it, I'll give him the honors. Since he is the one making the call, it wouldn't be right of me to discuss it without his permission, especially if everyone else expects the "same" treatment.

I'll just do what everyone else here says. If you have a problem, send it in. Seriously, why have a forum for festool tool problems if everyone is going to say the same thing, "send it in".

Now, for those that did come up with ideas. Kinda like, router blades being worn, or hepa filters clogged, or using a cyclone filter, or shaking the bag. Those were all ideas and for those people I respect that they had ideas and were willing to throw them out to me. I say thanks to you folk!

Jon