CT as a shop vac?

[dcdesign]

Hi all,

I am a new festool owner as having purchased a TS75 a few weeks ago.  Needless to say the tools performance is exceptional and I see many more festool products in my future.  However do to the steep prices festool demands that future will more likely be later than sooner.  At the moment I am in need of a shop vac and a dust extraction unit.  If possible I would like to buy one vac that does both.  Obviously the CT's work flawlessly with festool products but how is it as a shop vac for both wet and dry clean up?  I am also considering the Fein which seems to outperform the CT as far as noise and CFM and I'm also aware of it's easy integration with festool.  I can only afford one or the other at the moment.  I am torn as to which route to choose.  Any insight would be helpful and much appreciated.  Thanks, Dan

 

[LaserGecko]

It is possible, however you'll be changing bags quite a bit. That's not too cheap, nor is the reusable bag. I'm going to get the nozzle set just for ease of cleanup from Festool projects, but I will keep my $90 Ridgid for general purpose and wet cleanups.

Get the Festool dust extractor. The integrated Systainer support is so incredibly handy (take what you need with you, if I'm sanding out back, I take the Rotex and the separate Abrasive Systainers to save trips through the house.). The Boom Arm is reported to be an accessory of the highest caliber.

 

[kgregc]

I have a CT22 and used it for clean-up on my kitchen/bath remodel. That involved dust collection while removing ceramic tile, and sucking up small chunks of tile and tile cement. Then removing the wood top, saw dust and small wood chunks. I worked on 2 large bathrooms, a powder room and the large kitchen. In between, I used it for sanding and vacuuming  sawdust from cutting framing boards in my shop. The bag is only about 2/3 full!

The filtration system in the Festool CTs is such that there's no dust, smell, sneezing at all using it as a shop vac. To me it's a great shop tool which is very versatile. I also have the boom and would highly recommend getting it. It's a great addition to the dust collectors.

Just another view.

 

[ScooterX]

i just bought the Festool CT Mini, and it does NOT make a good shopvac. i dont think the problem is the suction power - the problem is the 1" dia. hose. small wood chips get stuck very easily. i'm used to my Sears shop vacuum, with its 2-1/4" hose, that can suck up nails, brads, woodchips, and small animals. Sure, its loud, and it would be a terrible dust collector.

The CT Mini makes a great dust extractor. there is a lot less dust in my shop now. However, I'm keeping my cheap Sears shop vacuum to use for the heavy duty messy jobs.

I really love the fact that the CT Mini becomes the wheels for my Festools. For that reason, i'd suggest you get the Festool vacuum, and (perhaps like me) just get yourself a cheap shopvac for the occasional cleanup, if you find you need it.

 

[mastercabman]

i have the mini,ct22 and the fein.all 3 are great vac.be careful with the mini,because the hose is only 27mm and there is an elbow where the hose is connected to the vac.i had to take it apart before to remove pieces that was too big to go thru the elbow.also you can't replace the hose with a different size on the mini.with the ct22 you can buy bigger hoses to use your vac for clean up.i do believe that you have to buy an accessory to convert for wet pick up.the ct22 does great for clean up,i got the kit with bigger hose,and attachement.lasergecko is right about the cost of the bags so what i suggest is to sweep up the most by hand and then use the vac to finish it clean.the fein is also great,as far as noise level i couldn't tell you witch is louder.one thing about the fein that i don't like about is that there 2 swithes,1: on/off ,2: auto/man.those swithes have a clear soft plastic cover,and when they get dirty,it's kind of hard to see.as with the festool,only 1 swith, auto/off/man,very easy to see.

 

[Brice Burrell]

......also you can't replace the hose with a different size on the mini.....

I too have the mini, you can use the 36mm hose. Master take a close look at your mini, at the top where the power cord comes up over the top then through the little cutout and down to be stored around the handle, note there is a roundish cutout for a larger hose to come up.

 

[dcdesign]

is it possible to use the CT's without the bags? 

 

[Toolpig]

I was hesitant to get the CT22 to use with my TS55, but boy am I glad I did!!  Flawless dust-extraction, I can mount the systainer(s) on top and wheel them around, plus I have the little "arm" mounted on the vac (not the boom arm, the steel rod with the coil) which helps keep the hose and cord from lying on the ground and getting jammed up under the wheels.

Buy the Festool vac.  You won't regret it -- especially if you end up getting other Festools in the future.

TP

Hi all,

I am a new festool owner as having purchased a TS75 a few weeks ago.  Needless to say the tools performance is exceptional and I see many more festool products in my future.  However do to the steep prices festool demands that future will more likely be later than sooner.  At the moment I am in need of a shop vac and a dust extraction unit.  If possible I would like to buy one vac that does both.  Obviously the CT's work flawlessly with festool products but how is it as a shop vac for both wet and dry clean up?  I am also considering the Fein which seems to outperform the CT as far as noise and CFM and I'm also aware of it's easy integration with festool.  I can only afford one or the other at the moment.  I am torn as to which route to choose.  Any insight would be helpful and much appreciated.  Thanks, Dan

 

[Brice Burrell]

is it possible to use the CT's without the bags? 

You can, but it is not recommended, it will shorten the life of the filters, it can also be a hassle to empty out the vac.

 

[dcdesign]

at $28 for a five pack of bags for the CT22, do you find that you go through them fast?  The mini bags are only $17 according to BobMarino.com but i can't imagine a 2.6 gallon bag would last very long under regular use.  The TS75 produces a lot of dust.  Do you think it's worth the extra $150 and cost of bags for the CT22 opposed to the mini?

 

[LaserGecko]

More importantly for the Mini vs. CT22 debate, the CT22 has adjustable suction. That's important to keep some sanders from catching on the workpiece due to too much suction.

You may not go through that many bags if you use it as a general purpose ShopVac. It depends on how you use it. I would never dream of doing thing things I do with my $90 Ridgid with my CT-22. In my mind, it's not the best tool for cleaning up an inch of accumulated dirt from the corner under my cabana in the spring or quickly removing fifty pounds of sand from the lizard cage.

Although, the anti-static hose would sure be nice for the last one!

 

[T. Michael]

Hi,  I bought the CT 33 because I wanted to also use it as a shop vac (really dislike the screaming noise of the typical US universal motor).  These have bigger bags than the CT 22, and I understand from an earlier poster that the CT really packs it in, and still gives good suction.  I found an Aussie site on this (where they even have CT 44's and giant CT 55's!) and they claim the CT is capable of using the whole bag through their deft unfolding scheme, which gives 20% more capacity.
The CT's also have variable power, and soft start on the switched tool port.  Here's what they said, and below is a graphic of the soft start.
"Electronics - Technology without long wires.
The powerful technology is monitored by intelligent electronics from the moment it is switched on until it is switched off. The smooth start-up prevents current peaks from time-delayed switching on of the CLEANTEC mobile dust extractor and tool and prevents unwanted fuse tripping. The infinitely variable suction power adjustment ensures that as much power (or as little) as is required, is always available."
But, like you, I also worried about bag cost, so bought the Dust Deputy from Oneida as a cyclone front end to the vacuum.  Makes it a little less portable (could mount the cyclone on top) but I almost never change a bag anymore.  Oh, and the large hose is a must for the Shop Vac equivalent duties.
My .02, YMMV
Mike Ward

 

[Brice Burrell]

More importantly for the Mini vs. CT22 debate, the CT22 has adjustable suction. That's important to keep some sanders from catching on the workpiece due to too much suction.

The mini has adjustable suction also.

 

[Bob Childress]

I have used the CT22 as a shop vac for over a year and no worries. Even with the 27mm hose. I just sweep/pick up the big chunks first. And I'm still on my first box of bags! No dust in the air and the filters are still clean as a whistle.

Interestingly, anything too large to get through seems to collect right at the nozzle end, so in all that time I have never experienced a single clogged hose. May be just coincidence.

 

[LaserGecko]

Hmmm, someone told me they didn't. Odd. Oh well, the photo on the website clearly shows that it does.

 

[Ted Miller]

For me I use the CT 22 is for tools only and will be buying the mini for quick job site work with Festools. But for all other area to be cleaned I use a regular 5 hp shop vac. I do not want anything other than fine dust in my bags in the CT or mini...

 

[dcdesign]

The CT22 sounds like it would work the best for me.  I'll just pick up a cheap shopvac for clean up.  Thanks for all the help.  Dan

 

[Dan Uhlir]

Hi Dan

      In my opinion, for dust extraction i.e. to use with the saw, router sanders, etc i would lean toward festool, however, for jobsite junk pick-up i would highly recomend the fein. peace dan

 

[Bill]

"as far as noise level i couldn't tell you witch is louder."

Fein lists their vacs at 58d. Festool lists their vacs at 72d.  However, as I understand it, Festool tuned the noise of their vacs for sound canceling, so that the noise of the tools used with it cancel out most of the vac noise.

"i do believe that you have to buy an accessory to convert for wet pick up."

The Mini, CT 22 and CT 33 may be use for wet pick up but it is very important to use the appropriate sponge filters to protect the motor from water damage (456 805 for the Mini, 452 924 for CT 22 and CT 33). 

The Dirt Trap for wet course dirt makes emptying water from the CT 22 and CT 33 much easier (452 925 for CT 22 and 452 926 for CT 33).  With this, you dont have to lift the vac and tip it to dump the water out. Just pull the "bucket like" Dirt Trap out and pour the water down the drain.

"is it possible to use the CT's without the bags?"

Yes, but it is much cheaper to replace bags than it is to replace the filters. 

"Do you think it's worth the extra $150 and cost of bags for the CT22 opposed to the mini?"

I believe so.  The CT 22 and CT 33 have much more powerful suction than the Mini, both in terms of static lift, and more CFMs.

Bill

 

[Corwin]

If you are getting the CT22 and a ShopVac, you might look into getting Festool's Workshop Cleaning Set -- larger D36 hose, really nice floor nozzle all in a Systainer -- and add a brush and crevice tool.  Since the Festool hoses will connect directly with a ShopVac, you'll have the larger hose and nice vac tools to use with either vac.

Corwin