CT-Midi vs CT-22?

[mntbighker]

I would like to field comments on the real world comparison on vacuum performance between the CT-Midi and CT-22. The 22 winds up being quite a jump in cost if you include the hose garage that comes with the Midi. The specs are a bit different but I'm interested in actual perceived difference before I drop the hammer. It's worth mention that I have severe space constraints.

--Mark

 

[Rob Tolentino]

A lot of us have space constraints as well.  With that said, I have the CT-22 and couldn't be happier.  It is a very important part of the system and performs better than expectations.  I can't tell you how it performs over the midi - you can visit other sites to see side by side comparisons with regards to power.  If I were you, I would visit a local Woodcraft store or other establishment that carries them and judge the size in person.  You may see that you will have enough room for the CT-22.  Good luck in making your decision.

 

[mntbighker]

A lot of us have space constraints as well.  With that said, I have the CT-22 and couldn't be happier.  It is a very important part of the system and performs better than expectations.  I can't tell you how it performs over the midi - you can visit other sites to see side by side comparisons with regards to power.  If I were you, I would visit a local Woodcraft store or other establishment that carries them and judge the size in person.  You may see that you will have enough room for the CT-22.  Good luck in making your decision.

Thanks Perry, coming at this from another direction I am interested in the justification of the large cost difference since I realized that you must include the hose garage to do an apples to apples comparison. Fortunately there is a dealer near but they don't have the whole vacuum line.

--Mark

 

[lynnsr]

Mark
I am privileged to have both CT 22 and the MIDI.  I first purchased the CT 22 and I love it.  I ended up getting the hose caddy and the boom.  Depending on the kind work you do, the boom is fantastic.  I use it all the time, however I needed something that can move around for on-site jobs and while doing projects in the house.

I queried several people on the FOG I purchased the MIDI and it is a very good vacume however it is not my go to machine for routine work.  The 22 has more vacuum power, and the capability of the boom (as I said before it's fantastic) and it has a HEPA filters which for routine work I consider invaluable.

There's my two cents worth,   space constraints or not I would start with a 22.

Lynn

 

[Anthony]

Mark
I am privileged to have both CT 22 and the MIDI.  I first purchased the CT 22 and I love it.  I ended up getting the hose caddy and the boom.  Depending on the kind work you do, the boom is fantastic.  I use it all the time, however I needed something that can move around for on-site jobs and while doing projects in the house.

I queried several people on the FOG I purchased the MIDI and it is a very good vacume however it is not my go to machine for routine work.  The 22 has more vacuum power, and the capability of the boom (as I said before it's fantastic) and it has a HEPA filters which for routine work I consider invaluable.

There's my two cents worth,  space constraints or not I would start with a 22.

Lynn

What Lynn said!

Give some thought to what you may want in the future. Adding a boom arm maybe, hooking it up to a benchtop thicknesser, long life filter-bag, more hazardeous dust (better served by HEPA filter). Plus my favorite..... emptying the bag less often.

I know you did not ask about the CT-33, but once your workshop is able to manage the footprint of a CT-HEPA, the CT33 is the way to go. Even more time between empties. Still fits under the MFT with hose garage fitted.

 

[Fred West]

I also must echo Lynn's comments. I too own both and started with the 22, added the boom arm and then purchased the Midi. Both are great vacumns but I always use the 22 with the boom arm in my shop with the tools and actually keep the Midi under my two MFT 1080's and use it as the go to vacumn cleaner rather than unhooking the tool attached to the 22. I also use my Midi away from the shop when I am doing an install and it is great though it does not have the suction power of the 22 nor have the Hepa filters. Fred

 

[Brad Evans]

Without a HEPA filter option I find the CT Midi unacceptable. I'd go for the CT-22 where it is standard and touted as a feature.

If you're looking for a smaller vac of similar European quality, consider the Fein Turbo I.  Compared to the Midi, it has greater capacity, greater suction, is quieter, has a longer hose larger in diameter, comes with a couple wands, and is $100 less in price. And can be outfitted with a HEPA filter.

 

[Hotwheels]

Without a HEPA filter option I find the CT Midi unacceptable. I'd go for the CT-22 where it is standard and touted as a feature.

If you're looking for a smaller vac of similar European quality, consider the Fein Turbo I.  Compared to the Midi, it has greater capacity, greater suction, is quieter, has a longer hose larger in diameter, comes with a couple wands, and is $100 less in price. And can be outfitted with a HEPA filter.

I am thinking about this option .... I have a CT22 with boom arm. I have found that it works great around the MFT, but when I need to use a saw, router, dominio, sander or other tools away from the MFT, then it is a real pain to move the Ct22 and boom. And, I am impatient enough, that I often just don't want to take the time to unhook the boom arm, carry it into the house for ten minutes of sawing or whatever, then take it back out to the garage, etc.... I also found that moving the CT22 with boom attached becomes more of a two person job at my house wheere I have to drag it up a flight of stairs.

I was going to get a mini or midi, but after looking at them, I started thinking about buying another CT22 for being more mobile, but the Fein Turbo I may do the job for me --- from your quote I guess that it will mate up with the Festool ports on the tools?

Thanks
JR

 

[Brad Evans]

>>>  from your quote I guess that it will mate up with the Festool ports on the tools?

My Fein Turbo II appears to use the same top/motor-housing and hose as the smaller Turbo I.  The hose is terminated in a 1 1/4" hard plastic end.  Slips in (and stays) nicely into my TS55's port.  From my OF1000, I use the Festool (rubber to plastic) adapter that came the router (which has an oval port), and also for my RO125 sander (with smaller round port).

One difference between the Midi I tried out and the Fein, is the power port. On the Fein, the power port is live even when the vac is turned off.  On the Midi, it's switched with vac power.  Could be a pro or con, depending on how you operate.

 

[lynnsr]

FYI , the MIDI's power outlet is just exactly like the CT 22, it has an auto-manual switch (best to both worlds)

Lynn

 

[Thomas R]

I have both the Midi and the CT22. I got the Midi late this spring and I LOVE it, mainly because I was tired of carrying the much heavier and bulkier CT 22  (I work a lot in peoples homes) and the MIDI is just wonderful in that aspect, but as much as I like it, if I needed one stationary vac I would go with the CT22. It is the superior vac

Thomas

 

[Brad Evans]

>>>  On the Midi, it's switched with vac power.  Could be a pro or con, depending on how you operate.

Need to be more clear on the above... 

The Fein also has an Auto-Manual switch (for tool-operated vacuum), as well as a power switch. If the vac power switch is set to off, the power port is still live - some may like that (I do) and some may not. 

Also, the Fein stays on a couple seconds longer than the Midi when the plugged in tool is turned off.

 

[rodwolfy]

Mark & JR,

I'll chime in here. I too was thinking recently about getting another vac. I have a Fein Turbo II. The Fein is very quiet and has been taken over by my family as the 'go-to' vacuum for our house. The kids can carry it (ages 7, 10, 11).

When looking for a new vac, I wanted the adjustable suction of the Festool vacs (not available on Fein) and HEPA (which is only on the CT22 and CT33). I looked at getting a second Fein. I recently bought a HEPA filter for my Fein that's washable. But, with the added cost of the HEPA filter and the discount applied (as I got an OF1400), the price of the CT22 was within $40 of the Fein II with HEPA.

That being said, if I was only going to purchase a small household shop vac, I'd get a Fein I and go buy a Gore Cleanstream HEPA filter for it at HD or Lowes for $30. It's quieter than the Festools, more portable, it now has a tool activated plug-in port, and has a larger capacity. In a pinch, it will hook up to your Festool tools for dust collection. But, if it's primarily for shop use (not a lot of pick up and carrying around), the CT22 has bigger wheels, a flat top and if you can get the two tool discount, get the CT22.

Rod

 

[jonny round boy]

I have a CT mini - I'm more than happy with it, but I'm moving into the new place in Jan where I'll have my own shop, so if I can afford it, I'll get a CT22 or 33 to keep in there. Personally, I think the CT22/33's are a bit too big to lug around peoples houses.

 

[Ned]

... I started thinking about buying another CT22 for being more mobile../

John--

How about getting a CT33 and moving the boom arm to it?

Ned