CT 36 Autoclean vs CT 26 with a CT-VA separator?

[bwehman]

Hey all! I have some drywall to sand for a big, but one-off project, and also getting the RG-130 to grind some concrete. I currently have a CT 26 with the CT-VA. Would getting the CT 36 Autoclean be considered a necessity? Or am I good with just the current setup.

Also, do you use the CT-VA with an Autoclean vac? Or are you supposed to just vacuum straight into the CT 36 bin?

 

[Lincoln]

Straight into a plastic liner, in the CT36 bin, when using AutoClean. So no benefit using the separator.
For a one-off project, what you have will be fine.

 

[mino]

For drywall, you want an autoclean vac.

For Autoclean, you want (at least) a CT36 size bin, the turbulence makes it now work well with a CT 26 small bin.

Using CT-VA with Autoclean is actually very beneficial, but really required only for a drywall crew which will have multiple CT-VA bins as emptying them by one crew while the other continues sanding, or getting them fully sideways carry away at the end of day is a good strategy. Especially when one is working in a big building where emptying can be a problem.

That is why you see most CT-VA promo videos with the Planex ... that is its "heavy duty" use case.

So:
Do get AC vac, no question there. If you want to save money, you do *not* need Festool, get some Nilfisk etc. But you do need autoclean for any major drywall work.
Still consider using the CT-VA, it is just more convenient to empty ... and you can get replacement bins ... you will see how it goes.

 

[bwehman]

Straight into a plastic liner, in the CT36 bin, when using AutoClean. So no benefit using the separator.
For a one-off project, what you have will be fine.

OK that's what I think too based on a bit more after-posting research? I mean, I know the bags get pretty socked when using with concrete dust, but that's an awful lot of bags to go through before making up the cost of an AC CT for this being just a isolated project. I do renovation work, but rarely have to deal with concrete. This project is really less concrete and more stripping a coating off a three-car garage floor.

 

[Coen]

[...] three-car garage floor.

So no problem emptying bins or bags. If getting an AC vac... don't bother with the CT-VA.