mculik5, I decided to share my opinion about boom arm with you because I think it will make you feel better. I bought the boom arm along with CT26 dedicated to the boom arm last spring. I did not have a chance to test or see it at a dealer before ordering it as my local dealers did not have it on display. My impression from the boom arm is mixed. On the one hand, the idea of routing vacuum hose and power cable overhead offers great convenience. On the other hand, starting from the moment of assembly and through many instances of practical use during past summer, I had a strong impression that this is a Festool's foster child. Festool has some phenomenal tools, but it also has tools which barely deserve Festool's name on them. Boom arm is one of those not-quite-up-to-the-mark tools. The problem is integration. Since its range of motion is somewhat limited (it turns around a fixed axis), it is best used within a relatively small area, e.g., with MFT-3. In my perception, it would work best if one could attach it to the MFT itself, or at least position it near the corner of MFT-3. Well, good luck with that. When attached to CT-26, the only compact configuration is with CT26 under the MFT-3, the MFT itself is separated from the wall by some 10-15 inches to accommodate for the outriggers which prevent CT-26 with the boom arm from tipping over, and with the boom arm located behind MFT-3 approximately in the middle of the table. Any other configuration takes way too much space and the boom arm ends up too far from the table.
During assembly, I had to make some corrections to factory instructions, e.g., remove the pin which limits the rotation range of the boom arm, otherwise it does not cover the whole MFT-3. I also found that the hose tends to pull the boom arm and rotate it, I can't remember what I did to fix this, but somehow it worked. I may have ended up routing the hose differently than suggested by the instructions. The vacuum hose tends to slide under the weight of 50 mm extension hose and pulls the hose down along the boom arm. I found that I periodically had to pull it back, otherwise it eventually gets too short. I think I use electrical isolation tape to attach it to the boom arm, in addition to factory clips. The 50 mm extension hose which comes from the inlet in front of CT-26 makes a loop almost at the level of the front of MFT-3, so this thing takes the whole space under MFT-3. Actually, if boom arm could be attached to the wall or to MFT-3, a Midi, with its inlet on top of the vacuum, would be a great fit for the system. Replacing the dust bag with the boom arm attached and CT-26 under MFT-3 is a not so convenient procedure if your CT26 is under the MFT-3 and the only way to get to it is to move MFT-3 off the way. Opening the vac with the boom arm mounting bracket attached is also kind of difficult. It is possible but hard. I am lucky that I only had to do it once during the season, after the bag overfilled and the vacuum lost suction. Opening it just to check is something that you probably would not want to do, with the boom arm attached and the system set up. While I used the boom arm and it was helpful, especially when you use MFT-3 with TS-55, my overall feeling was that it was, if I may put it this way, a Home Depot grade tool - solid, functional, but nothing to be particularly excited about. It looks better than it sets up. One could certainly design it better and integrate into the Festool system better as well. I love the idea, but do not like the execution.
The last but not least, due to a limited range of movement, you cannot use the boom arm to cut 4x8 sheets of plywood. The range of motion is pretty much the size of MFT-3.
Detaching the boom arm from CT-26 is fairly easy, detaching outriggers which are required (otherwise the whole thing may tip over) requires some work. It is not what you want to do more often than once per season... or once per month. Assembly is kind of lengthy. Required storage space, while not huge, is significant due to odd shape of the components. There is always a risk of losing a few small parts if you are not careful. You cannot really take it off and store it without disassembling - it would just take too much room. I would never consider detaching the boom arm and outriggers to move the vacuum somewhere else for a short use, and then attaching them back. I'd say, it is a 15-20 minutes chore each way, and there is a risk of losing the square nuts which just slide into pockets in CT26. In my mind, it has to be attached to a dedicated CT26 and stay assembled for the whole season.. or forever...
If it is not possible to attach it directly to MFT-3, then I think the second best idea would be to attach the boom arm to the wall instead of CT26. I might actually look into it this season. Then one would not need to bolt anything to CT26, and it can be positioned anywhere near the boom arm at any angle. Plugging a hose vertically into a Midi to circumvent the awkward 50 mm extension hose could be a great space saver. Basically, the boom arm is just a metal pipe. All you need to do to attach it to the wall is a wooden panel which can be attached to the studs and brackets which can hold the pipe in place attached to that panel. Then, one can connect any dust extractor to it, including Midi.
On the FOG and on Youtube, I have seen several home-made versions of the boom arm which I think work as well or perhaps even better than the original. All you need, is to attach your vacuum hose to something overhead, preferably something that can slide as you move.
Overall, boom arm is meant to create a creature comfort. Fewer hoses under your feet, fewer electrical wires around. It will not make your work much faster or more accurate. If it is not in your budget, do not worry about it.
Finally, I would also not sell the Midi. It has the best combination of form factor and capability for a non-stationary use. I have one Midi, two CT-26, and a CT-36 AC. I do not have a workshop, I set it all up in my two car garage when I need it. One CT26 runs the boom arm, the second one is permanently attached to the Kapex. CT-36 AC is for the drywall sander, but I might utilize it for the router table this year. I use the Midi as a household vacuum and always grab it when I need to do something around the house. The idea of moving CT-26 is not enticing, and CT-36 is a monster. When I am done with my remodeling and can start selling some of my tools for which I have no future use, I will certainly get rid of the CT-36 and one or both CT-26. I might buy another Midi instead.
BTW, I am not even a hobbyist (as you are). I just decided to remodel my whole house as a DYI project, and decided that I will do a better job with better tools (almost wrote "toys"). I have a boom arm, but in retrospective, it was not really necessary for anything. Everything that I've done so far could be accomplished without it. So you are good! Don't feel bad that you are not getting it!
