CT22 vs CT33 extractors

[Notorious T.O.D.]

I am finally looking at getting a Festool Vac/Extractor and just am wondering if the 22 is sufficient or if it is better to go with the 33 and its larger capacity.  I will be using it pretty much exclusively in a basement shop with a cyclone dust collection system for the large tools.  So, it will be used with Festool TS55 saw and Routers almost all the time and for some shop cleanup and perhaps for some cleanup in the garage occasionally.  I don't expect to be traveling to any jobsites with the vac at this point.

So, is there a preference or reason to go with one over the other besides cost and capacity?  All other features look the same to me in reviewing the catalog information. I also have a cheap Sears shop vac with Gore-tex filter that I can use for bigger cleanup jobs if needed too.

Best,
Todd

 

[mwhafner]

I went through the same process, and ended up with the CT22 for the shop, and a CT Midi for the jobsite.  All of the posted specs are the same, with the exception of capacity.

The only time that I really regret choosing the CT22 is when I use the HL850.  The bag fills up very quickly.  Otherwise, it is a perfect for me.

 

[romlee]

I switch from the paper filter bags to the longlife bag when using the 850 or the 1040.  The price of the longlife is quickly recouped if you use the a planer or router a lot.  I switch back to the paper bags when sanding.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Adding a mini-cyclone between your tool and your vacuum can solve that problem with planer shavings, so could Festool's reusable cloth filter bag.  My Dust Deputy came with a 10 gallon all metal drum.  Very fast and easy to dump.  I have yet to need to change the filter bag on my CT-22 due to effectiveness of the cyclone.  Routing and planing generate a lot of debris.  The only downside to the DD mini-cyclone is if you have to move your equipment around, which I don't often do.

Dave R.

 

[tbellemare]

Todd:

You're right, the CT 22 and CT 33 are identical in power but not capacity and $70. On Monday, that will go to $75...

Tom

 

[proclive]

As someone who is still new to Festool (just got the ts55 on christmas) can these vacuums be used without bags like a regular wet/dry vac?

 

[tbellemare]

You can use them as a wet vac but you should use the Wet Filters. There is also an insert, called a Dirt Trap for the CT 22 and CT 33. It allows you to carry the water you picked up to dispose of it. It also traps the dirt that you picked up with the water in a screen so you don't get it all down the drain.

It is a bad idea to use these dry without a bag.

Tom

 

[Bob Marino]

  Todd,

Most people opt for the 22; just the right balance of weight/size and features...and price. One other difference between the 22 and 33 is that the 33 has a small built-in storage drawer.

Bob

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I agree with the advice above.  The CT22 is a good fit for me.  I use mine at home in the shop.  I use the saw, sanders, and routers.  The only time the bag fills somewhat quickly is when I'm hogging out a lot of dovetails.  Otherwise, I can go six months without swapping bags.  Matter of fact, the vac seems to really compress the dust in the bag, once I noticed the vac not picking up dust as well as it usually does and found the bag full and dense as a brick.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I struggled with the same thing. I ended up buying the 33 since I had a spot for it in my garage/shop so the increased height didn't matter. I've only had it for about 9 months and I already got tired of emptying or replacing the filter bags. I use the vac primarly for my panel cutting cir. saw system. Like others I ended up recently building a pre-seperator and hopefully it will solve my frequent vac filter maintenance problem. With a seperator I probably could have been fine with the CT22 too:

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Dave,

How much does it cost for one of the mini cyclones?  I was thinking that I looked at one made in NC and it was several hundred dollars for the mini cyclone...

Todd

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Todd, when I purchased mine it cost ~$200.  Now they cost less, $169 including shipping
Dust Deputy Offer
Note that you will also need some fittings to connect a DD to your Festool hoses, but maybe not.  At the time I purchased, they did not offer different inlet and outlet sizes.  I had to use one of these adapter connectors Adapter Connector which cost ~$15
plus a Festool hose to hose connector to connect my DD to my CT 22 using the 50mm hose supplied with the Boom Arm.

Dave R.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

CT-22, I travel with mine.  It has Hepa filters, good capacity, beefey, easy to carry(when bag is empty) and I think they can actually suck paint off a wall.

 

[butzla]

  Todd,

Most people opt for the 22; just the right balance of weight/size and features...and price. One other difference between the 22 and 33 is that the 33 has a small built-in storage drawer.

Bob

Bob,  I have the 33.  Where's this storage drawer you mentioned?!

 

[Bob Marino]

  Todd,

Most people opt for the 22; just the right balance of weight/size and features...and price. One other difference between the 22 and 33 is that the 33 has a small built-in storage drawer.

Bob

Bob,  I have the 33.  Where's this storage drawer you mentioned?!

On the front at the bottom (grey color).

Bob

 

[johnsonri]

I started out with the CT33 and like the extra capacity. I don't travel with it though. When I had reason to get another vac, I chose to go with an additional CT33. To me, the only reason to go smaller here, is for slightly easier portability, or space constraints...and of course the cost difference.