CT15 or Mini/Midi ?

[ChuckM]

If you could justify buying a mini rather than a ct15, which I already pointed out would more than meet your sanding needs, you sure could get a midi because cost vs needs seems no longer the most important factor in your consideration . The price difference between a midi and a mini is smaller than that between a mini/midi and a ct15.

 

[Joebuck]

This has been a very good discussion. To the OP’s question: Buy a MIDI and don’t look back. It’s a seriously good piece of equipment. You will not be dissatisfied.

 

[squall_line]

Keep in mind, too that the MIDI-I collection bin is the same size as the 15; the MINI-I is a smaller collection bin than both.

 

[semenza]

And here I thought this topic was about vacuums ...............................  [huh]

  An OT discussion is one thing, but why post comments that will turn it ugly and irritate?  Some posts have been removed. Some of those removed, were OK. Too much to sort and sift. To those who lost a post that was OK, sorry. To those who went ugly, stop it.

    The content is largely preserved. [member=65593]rbrt86[/member] It looks like this topic has been useful for you.

    Please stick to the topic at this point.

Seth

 

[Coen]

That cleaned up nicely.

...but I'm your typical weekend warrior so I'll hardly use it on the road, the hose garage and systainer support are not really relevant. Actually I'm still doubting if I should use a Dust Extractor for sanding at all, as I mostly sand outside.

The dust extractor does more than just vacuum up the dust, on Festool sanders the dust extraction, through a series of holes & channels in the pad, also cools the pad and sandpaper. If a Festool sander has "Turbo dust extraction", "Multi-Jetstream", "Jetstream" or "Multi-Jetstream 2" then the pad & paper will run cooler and last longer.

The BT is very convenient when changing grits. When I change grits, I remove the hose from the sander, vacuum the wood to remove any dust, remove the sand paper and vacuum the pad, then put on a different grit paper, reattach the hose to the sander and carry on. I'd never purchase another vac without BT because of the convenience factor.

[...]

Thanks everyone, you seem to have convinced me to buy a dust extractor, I can see the advantages over not using one, even outside.

However there is one thing that keeps me doubting: For the additional 85EUR upgrade between CT15 and Mini I get:
[list type=decimal]
[*]bluetooth function
[*]hose garage
[*]AntiStatic smooth hose
[*]filter cleaner
[*]foot break
[/list]

Given the price of the AS hose alone I can live with that.

But the Midi is 40EUR more expensive compared to Mini, and the upgrade is:
[list type=decimal]
[*]a larger dust compartment
[/list]

This is why I thought the Mini sounds like a better deal?

If you can afford it then I would get the Midi, you won't regret it and you will never be thinking "I wish I had just paid that little bit extra to buy a Midi" 

[..]

The Mini is a Midi with less dust capacity. They both use the same bag but in the Mini you can't use all the capacity of the bag so you will spend more on bags. I was about to buy a Mini until the Festool rep told me this and I bought a Midi.

[..]

Do you guys think I'd regret getting a Mini over a Midi, given that I'll mainly use it for sanding anyway? Or is this a nice way to save 40,- ?

If you fill the bags, the Midi will eventually run cheaper than the Mini, since the bags are the same but the volume in the Mini is less. So you can calculate how much bags will cost you for the next ten years for the Mini and Midi, then distract from the Mini what the smaller size is worth to you and distract the capital cost of the 40 bucks.

I got myself a Midi last year; the footprint is the same, it being slightly taller was better for me and I didn't care about the weight. The price difference back then was smaller I think. Or the Mini not even in stock, can't remember. Was also used for a lot of (aerated) concrete dust and larger debris, so bags filled up quickly. For only sanding some window frames; I don't think you will regret either.

I'm relative tall (even for Dutch standards). Mini will be easier to carry up the stairs too, not only for it's weight, but also it's size.