CT 26 Maintenance/Rebuild?

mbrusso

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2015
Messages
36
Hi to all. I  am hoping to find out if anyone else has gone through this issue with their dust extractor.  I  have been running the CT26 primarily in conjunction with my Kapex for over 5 years now.  I  have noticed recently a significant loss in suction due to more sawdust being present on my work table at the end of a work period than what I  remember.  I  have been diligent in replacing the hepa filter, new bags, and even cleaned and wiped the gaskets and hose connections with some soapy water. - Even to the extent of opening and cleaning the gaskets surrounding the motor enclosure.  I  am wondering if it is worth having what I  call "the carpet underpad" foam blocks replaced as well?  I  know every little bit will help, but I  feel like it's not the machine it used to be.  Thank you kindly
Mark
 
Assuming theres nothing mechanically wrong with your CT26, in addition to checking for blockage, have you changed the way the hose is routed? … Have you tried a larger diameter hose, or shorten the length of the hose your now using?
The available suction is a function of the overall suction losses through the hose, and are due to friction losses over the total length of the hose and friction losses which occur at the various connections and bends. These connections can be; hose to tool connections, hose to hose connections or even PVC elbows, etc.,  that we may introduce into our set ups.  Even the bending of the hose, ie., wrapping it around in a spiral configuration etc, can introduce considerable suction losses. The original corrugated hoses are notorious for their increased suction losses. The inside surface of the hose has undulations which cause turbulence in the air stream and increase the suction losses. The new Festool hoses appear to have a smooth inner wall which should reduce the suction loss.
Use the largest  diameter hose you have, and the shortest length possible; use the least number of bends and other fittings, and straighten the hose run.
 
I have had a 33 for a decade. Never replaced anything but the bags and have use it in conjunction with virtually every tool I own including sucking sheetrock dust with it. Even had a bag rip with sheetrock dust in it and merely blew out the filters with air.
[I know, I KNOW. but in the field you do what you gotta do to done what's gotta get done. So spare me the diatribe all] None the less, I have had no noticeable loss of suction.

I did get a couple of slivers in my hose once and that plugged things up right quickly.

Without the hose attached, turn on your CT. With it still running plug in the hose. If it changes its tune, there's the problem.
 
“Diatribe harry” - My intention was not to criticize or rant on; I was attempting to point out some “ideas" that might be helpful to a fellow woodworker in diagnosing his problem. The principles mentioned remain valid whether he was setting up in his shop or his customer’s living room. The” ideas” mentioned may be something that you understand completely or have no use for; however there are other readers that may find something of interest. Sorry you wasted your time reading.
 
Jcwoodshop said:
“Diatribe harry” - My intention was not to criticize or rant on; I was attempting to point out some “ideas" that might be helpful to a fellow woodworker in diagnosing his problem. The principles mentioned remain valid whether he was setting up in his shop or his customer’s living room. The” ideas” mentioned may be something that you understand completely or have no use for; however there are other readers that may find something of interest. Sorry you wasted your time reading.

You misunderstood me.

I was not referring to anything you said, at all. My 'diatribe' reference was to those who would start in with the blah blah blah about using the compressor to 'clean out' my HEPA filters. We all know it's a no no. So I wanted to nip that in the bud before it got rolling.
 
You seem to be very thorough in your examination. I suffered a similar thing. I did the whole tear down, change  everything and it did nothing. Being a mechanical engineer I suffer from extreme OCD on these things. It turned out that it was cracks around the wheels in the tub. You could not see these under no pressure condition, they opened under vacuum pressure,  dropping the efficiency a fair bit. In a fit of despair I dusted the tub in the same dye used to check aluminum for stress cracks, and dusted with the powder and there they were. I sanded and lined the tub and the vacuum was back to normal. I am currently modifying my vacs and getting rid of the wheels, the one area of the vacuums I have always hated. I love them, just hate the wheels or casters.
 
All good posts here, and the smooth vs corrugated walls on the hose make sense, and I'm wondering if the sawdust accumulation inside the ridges is a culprit as well. I    can't believe that someone actually found cracks in the tub of their extractor? That would be the last place I  would suspect a vaccuum loss but I'm also OCD on these types of issues so I  will check here as well.

I  have also noticed vacuum loss at the hose ends where the male connection points are, on the stock hose that came with the CT26. - Every area of loss adds up.
 
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