CT-Sys + Sys-MFT

[ear3]

Someone else posted this a while back, but I can't seem to dredge up the original thread, so I'll just post my copycat version to remind people that it's possible.

Anyone with a CT-Sys knows how annoying it is fitting everything into the top.  You manage to wind up the hose just right, stuff in the cord, and then you find that you can barely grasp the handle.  And good luck fitting anything extra in there, like a tool power cord.

So another FOGGER came up with an ingenuous solution to solve the space issue and add another layer of functionality to the CT-Sys, which is to fit the lid of a Sys-MFT atop an empty Sys-2, and swap that fin as the top part of the CT-Sys, with the appropriate cutouts for the hose.

It's actually quite simple.  You don't have to be exact with the hole in the bottom of the Sys-2 -- the only requirement is that it be a tad larger than the fitting, and so a 2 1/2" forstner bit did the trick:

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Finished the rounding with a mini-file to get the precise clearance:

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Cut out the channel on the side with a coping saw, and broke the edges with the file so that they didn't cut into the hose:

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And after swapping the top, that's really all you need to do to increase the storage size of your CT-Sys:

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That's the hose, Vac cord, power cord, two quick clamps and a brush attachment, with plenty of room to spare.

It even still fits in the original chaos wall cubby I had allotted to it

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I added the handle on the front to restore some portability.  I'm going to screw around with a design for an insertable/detachable handle through the top of the Sys-MFT top.

So thanks to the original FOGGER who came up with this idea.

 

[ColossusX]

Really like that. I just got a CT-SYS and noticed how much a pain it is to fit everything in the hose garage.  But I don't have any spare systainers yet to mess around with.

 

[tomtom1984]

Nice! It was me who made the original post, here it is for anyone interestedhttp://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/modified-ctl-sys/

Seth also did the same mod so that makes three of us now. Looks like we all did it pretty much the same way, and like you say it's really very simple to do.

 

[ben_r_]

Pretty cool!

 

[Bob D.]

I just got a CT-SYS and already I'm tired of trying to stuff the hose and cord in there. So I'll be looking to do the same I think. If only they made the hose garage a little bit taller it would be fine.

The stiff plastic jacket on the power cord is a pain too. A rubber jacket like an SOW or SOJW cord  similar to that used on the standard Festool power cord would have been much easier to coil up and stow.