CT22 Bags, again...

[GreenGA]

Back in February, I posted a message, http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-problems/vac-bags/ - asking if anyone else noticed if any CT bags they had purchased recently, were of the same quality as in the past.  Of the five bags in the box we purchased, only 2 1/2 were usable.

Jump forward 5 1/2 months...

Again, this past weekend we needed bags unexpectedly and ran down to the Woodcraft in Delaware and bought another box of bags.  While the new box, compared to the box purchased in February, appeared better, the first bag from this new box blew out today and it was only half full.  [eek] The only thing we were doing was sanding some hardwood floor.  No nails, chips of wood, stray screws etc..., were picked up.  Just dust!

Luckily, most of the "damage" was contained within the CT22 (still for sale BTW...  [big grin]) but I think we now need to replace the filters inside because, as a result of the blowout, they are full now as well.

I just wanted to post this out here in case others experienced the same thing and, perhaps, cause some form of investigation by FUSA.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[Julian Tracy]

I've had a few blow-outs recently of CT22 bags.  Sucks!  For $7 or so, they should make a better bag.

As for the filters - no need to replace them - simply tap them and blow them out to get all of the caked up dust out of them and reassemble with a new bag.

Bags are too darn $$$ to be so unreliable.

JT

 

[windmill man]

We can now get these in the UK

http://www.slingers1858.co.uk/Filter-Bag-FIS-CT-22-SP-VLIES-5-456870.html

Think they are the same material that the CT26 bags are made of

JOhn

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Gary,

Using low pressure clean dry air, blow the filters out from their backsides (clean side to dirty side) so it's easier to get them clean and you don't force the dirt to the motor when they're reinstalled.  

 

[GreenGA]

Oh, we did that already.  For this blowout and the prior one.  While the inside filters are a bit better, unless they came out really clean, or as clean as they should be, I would not feel right selling the CT with them in this condition.

I hope, and based on postings here on the FOG, the bags for the new CT36 are better.

As you noted, for seven bucks a bag, they should be a better bag.

That said, the first three or four boxes of bags were great.  It's only been these last two purchases that were a problem.  Unless it was a bad batch that slipped through the QA cracks at HQ, I hope it's nothing more than the vendors/dealers improperly storing the bags.

I've had a few blow-outs recently of CT22 bags.  Sucks!  For $7 or so, they should make a better bag.

As for the filters - no need to replace them - simply tap them and blow them out to get all of the caked up dust out of them and reassemble with a new bag.

Bags are too darn $$$ to be so unreliable.

JT

 

[GreenGA]

D'oh!  Why did I not think of that.  [doh]

Thanks Ken.

Gary,

Using low pressure clean dry air, blow the filters out from their backsides (clean side to dirty side) so it's easier to get them clean and you don't force the dirt to the motor when they're reinstalled. 

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I have the CT36 and I've used it for everything from tool dust extraction to cleaning hardwood and carpeted floors with the attachments to sucking up plaster, nails, screws various oddities that come out of 100+ year old walls.  No bag problems whatsoever.  It's been flawless!  Best vacuum I've ever had!  The bags I usually empty are full of all kinds of crap and  heavy.

 

[BMH]

Had the same problem. Two blowouts in a row while just sanding a bunch of cabinets door. Takes about 45 mn to clean the vacuum and the air filters. Frustrating experience.

Bruce

 

[GreenGA]

Okay, so it's not just me.  [scratch chin]

Tell me, do your bags feel kinda thin.  Maybe thin is not the word... Ah..., do they feel like you could poke your finger through them without much effort?

Had the same problem. Two blowouts in a row while just sanding a bunch of cabinets door. Takes about 45 mn to clean the vacuum and the air filters. Frustrating experience.

Bruce

 

[mishle]

It's not just you.  I bought a twenty pack and in the last 6 that I have used only one made it to full.  The rest have been ripped in one area or another resulting in cleaning the vac and filters.

 

[ScotF]

I just had a blowout yesterday and it is on a new box of bags too...I posted a question about the internal filters and I am going to try blowing them out with low pressure to see if that works to get them cleaner -- I did vacuum between the pleats with my other vac...what a mess, though, and I am not really sure what caused it to break.  Luckily everything was contained in the CT and nothing leaked, but frustrating nonetheless.

Scot

 

[Frank-Jan]

We can now get these in the UK

http://www.slingers1858.co.uk/Filter-Bag-FIS-CT-22-SP-VLIES-5-456870.html

Think they are the same material that the CT26 bags are made of

JOhn

Those vlies bags have been around for quite a while before the introduction of the ctl26/36 vacs. It's not the same material, the bags for the new vacs are more clothlike and fold up smaller.
The vlies bags are a bit more expensive than the paper bags (while the selfclean bags for the ctl26 sell for the same price as the paper bags for the ct22) The vlies bags don't have the selfcleaning effect, but are much less likely to tear by sucking up sharp objects than the paper ones, and can't be  punctured by the waterlevel-sensor-prongs.

 

[GreenGA]

I must admit, the same thing happened here.  Nothing escaped the CT.  [smile] We only realized the blowout occured because of the drop in suction and a change in the sound coming from the CT.

So, other than the quality of the bag, the CT came through with flying colors.  [cool]

I just had a blowout yesterday and it is on a new box of bags too...  Luckily everything was contained in the CT and nothing leaked, but frustrating nonetheless.
Scot

 

[CTPootie]

I can report one thing that was noticed recently.

Just started using bags out of two new boxes.

Had to remove a bag from the CT-22E to check something and when it was time reinstall, noticed the inner liner of the bag had separated right at the cardboard/opening and the vacuumed dust was probably blowing in between the liner and the outermost bag layer.

I do not think this is due to installing the bag improperly or from mishandling and never noticed this before.
The bag was still fairly new, so the inner liner was taped back to the cardboard handle/mounting section of the bag.

The inner liner seems to be thinner than tissue paper and could easily pull away from surfaces it is mated to, such as the vacuum bag opening.
Just something to watch out for when installing new bags.

 

[mwildt]

Bringing this old topic to the top.

Any new experiences with the CT22 'new' bags ? I have to get some more bags and would like to get something that keeps working ;-)

Let me know.

 

[ericbuggeln]

So far, so good with the long life bag.

 

[mikeneron]

Bringing this old topic to the top.

Any new experiences with the CT22 'new' bags ? I have to get some more bags and would like to get something that keeps working ;-)

Let me know.

Am really liking the new CT22 bags...I found with the old paper ones I would lose suction power as the bag got used.  Not the case with the new ones.  I would almost say that the suction power seems increased since I made the switch.

 

[Holzhacker]

Interesting, I feel like I've lost suction power with the new bags. The CT also seems to sound a little different as well. Not all that sure or happy about the performance so far, on my second 'new' bag. The new bags seem to be much stronger and not prone to holes like the old bags.

 

[mwildt]

Thank you for the comments so far. I wont be going with the long life bag, just can't justify the cost for what I use the CT22 for, which is primarily hobby use.

I do find it interesting that the new bags appear to have a mixed review overall. I'll probably just pick the cheapest ones.

Edit: I checked the Festool USA site and the 'fleece bags' are not listed. Not sure if its just a mistake since both Bob Marino's site have them as does the European Festool site.

456870 - Fleece version $35
452970 - Paper version $33