CT26 for small shop - talk me in (or out) please

Thanks for your input everyone. I really appreciate it. After weighing the options, I think I'll stick with my original plan and go for the 26 with the cyclone and some extra hoses along with the bluetooth (I'm turning 50 soon, so happy birthday to me.) I think the 26 is the optimal size for my space, it's mobile enough for my needs, and has enough capacity should I not use the cyclone.  [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member]  thanks for the tip on the cleaning kit to get the Systainer AND the 36mm hose. Definitely a savings there.) If it turns out the cyclone doesn't work well, I'll sell it and get a DD. But I think for my tools it will work.

It will be interesting to experiment, especially with the jointer - it does have the carbide cutters, so the bits it spits out are a bit smaller - and I don't turn really green wood - however, when I turn acrylics, the shavings are super long, and usually end up getting swept - I was more concerned about capturing the sanding dust.

Michael
 
[member=81116]mikbau206[/member] I had missed the bit about pen turning, it was posted while I was typing.
The inserts in the jointer are definitely in your favor. Looks like your plan should be good, at least as far as the experiment goes.
Those cleaning sets are a bit of a hidden gem.
 
Crazyraceguy said:
[member=81116]mikbau206[/member] I had missed the bit about pen turning, it was posted while I was typing.
The inserts in the jointer are definitely in your favor. Looks like your plan should be good, at least as far as the experiment goes.
Those cleaning sets are a bit of a hidden gem.
Click to expand...
Hidden gem for sure.

Now I need to get on with adding circuits to my shop....long overdue, and ensuring there's a 20 amp for the CT26 and a tool plugged in to the auto start is just the reason I need....
 
mikbau206 said:
Hidden gem for sure.

Now I need to get on with adding circuits to my shop....long overdue, and ensuring there's a 20 amp for the CT26 and a tool plugged in to the auto start is just the reason I need....
Click to expand...

That's a smart thing to do, even if you don't need it for any other tool. You can pull up to 15amps through the CT, but it has a draw too.
Smaller tools like a Domino, which is also "short term" use (usually) the 15amp might be ok. Laarger tools will trip the breaker.
All of the outlets, in the shop where I work, are 20amp, but the extension cord reel I sometimes use has a 15amp breaker built into it. I cannot use any of the TS with the CT on that cord. It trips every time.
 
20amp circuits are definitely the way to go. I have had no trips since installing two 20amp outlets in my shop 3 years ago.

That said, no machines (not counting the heater) have tripped the lone 15amp circuit in the shop in the past except in a couple of times when the SawStop PCS, used with the dust collector and shop vac at the same time, got bogged down from ripping a hardwood plank about 1-3/4" thick.
 
Crazyraceguy said:
The bigger ones are exponentially more expensive, ...
Click to expand...
US prices:
CT 15 - $419  (12.5l usable capacity)
CT 26 - $799  (24l usable capacity)
CT 48 - $935  (46l usable capacity)

That is +17% for +100% more bag capacity between 48 and 26.

bags
CT 15 - $39
CT 26 - $46
CT 48 - $59

So on each second "CT 26 bag pack", one saves $16. This translates in the CT48 "paying" for itself after about 15 bag packs used up.
A CT-VA goes $419, so actually a faster full pay-up, assuming one-in-ten bags needed. But a bigger upfront cost and the space needed for the CT-VA is not free either. One effectively loses the ability to put systainers atop the CT (mostly non issue) or to roll the CT below a bench (bigger issue).

In Europe the difference is more /CTL 48 costs more relative to CTL 26 as it includes the handle/ while the bag prices are closer - €54 versus €46 so it becomes a wash on payup but more savings down the line.
 
CT15 is essentially a MIDI without a garage, no BT option - and a rubber hose pretty much

IMO the green smooth hose is reason enough to buy the MIDI - I waited and bought one in the RECON shop for $543 including shipping to my door.  With the sales around the holidays this year it  may be a while before some stuff comes up on the recon site...
 
Hipplewm said:
CT15 is essentially a MIDI without a garage, no BT option - and a rubber hose pretty much

IMO the green smooth hose is reason enough to buy the MIDI - I waited and bought one in the RECON shop for $543 including shipping to my door.  With the sales around the holidays this year it  may be a while before some stuff comes up on the recon site...
Click to expand...

The CT15 is now sold and supplied with an anti-static hose.
 
Although I'm a site based carpenter, your use case is much like mine.  I have acquired 4 Festool dust extractors over the last 10 years; CTC-Sys, CT MIDI, CT-26, and a CT-48.  If I had to choose just one to live with it would be the CT-26, no question.  The CT-26 has the right combination of size, capacity, and power.

I generally send my DeWalt Planer into a bag like you plan to.  As others have said, a broom seems to work best for my infrequently used joiner. 

I would suggest you consider the Oneida Dust Deputy instead of the Cyclone Separator.  The advantage of the Cyclone is that it stacks nicely on the CT-26;  the Oneida DD is much cheaper.  I typically only hook up the DD to my Job Site Table saw and Miter Saw when I'm doing more than just a couple of rip cuts.  My Dust Deputy only travels in my van when I know that I'll be producing lots of dust at a given job.  It's not enough of a benefit to earn a full time space in my van.

Personally I don't buy into the bag expense argument.  I used few of them enough in a year I will never 'feel' the ROI that seems to be there with either the DD or the Cyclone Separator.  As a full time site based carpenter, I buy maybe one box of bags per year across my 4 extractors.  The convenience of the bags far outweigh the 'cost' of the space that the DD charges in the back of my van.

You'll really appreciate the 36mm hose when you use your router.  Consider buying the 577259 Floor Cleaning Set ($345) as a way to get the 36mm hose.  Purchasing it this way gives you the hose plus Systainer and cleaning tools.  The hose itself is $195.  For another $150 you get a M437 Systainer and a complete set of cleaning tools. 

Best of luck!
 
ChuckS said:
Hipplewm said:
CT15 is essentially a MIDI without a garage, no BT option - and a rubber hose pretty much

IMO the green smooth hose is reason enough to buy the MIDI - I waited and bought one in the RECON shop for $543 including shipping to my door.  With the sales around the holidays this year it  may be a while before some stuff comes up on the recon site...
Click to expand...

The CT15 is now sold and supplied with an anti-static hose.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, didn't know the festool usa website still has the 15 listed with the older ribbed hose - both the description and pictures.
 
"Anti-static" is the only thing I pointed out about the hose in my previous comment. When the CT15 first came out, its hose was not anti-static.
 
ChuckS said:
"Anti-static" is the only thing I pointed out about the hose in my previous comment. When the CT15 first came out, its hose was not anti-static.
Click to expand...

You are correct, but you replied that to my post where I pointed out it doesn't come with the smooth bore green hose - that is where the money is - the difference in price between the old ribbed hose (anti static or not) vs the smooth bore green hose (plus BT)

I said it before and I'll say it again, that is enough reason to look at the MIDI over the 15.....
 
Oneida Supercell would actually be the one size fits all solution and future proof you from having to buy a collector later on. bit more expensive though and requires 220v.  I am in same space as you and it has worked perfectly for my big 4" tools and my small tools

It can be mobile or wall mounted. Has a hepa filter. Designed to work as collector and extractor for 4" machines and 2.5"/smaller tools. The bags are regular plastic bags that you can substitute w/ small trash bags if desired after u run out.  Supercell comes w/ a fill sensor and also a remote.

I'm in a one bay and wanted a hepa and something that I could move around if needed and didn't want to buy a big collector and an extractor.  I chose a supercell and it has been pretty great.  works on bandsaw(harvey), my table saw(sawstop), dewalt planer, cheapo benchtop jointer(probably same one you have) and also w/ my power hand tools like tracksaw and sander using rocker's flexport kit for quick change.  I just keep the remote attached to my belt loop when I work and turn off/on as needed.

caveat, it is loud and generates some heat(great in the winter!) b/c it is 3 shopvac motors but, it replaces 2 machines beautifully in a small shop and since it has the hepa .
 
Hipplewm said:
ChuckS said:
The CT15 is now sold and supplied with an anti-static hose.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, didn't know the festool usa website still has the 15 listed with the older ribbed hose - both the description and pictures.
Click to expand...
What folks are describing as "anti-static hose" is the black one pictured on the website. That is what ships with the vac.

The "greenish" hose is braided in cloth, dual-component and also anti-static. It is tougher and the braiding combined with toughness are very useful for tool use - does not catch on boards/table edges. If you want only one hose, you want this one.

Couple yrs back, the CT 15 (and the CT 17 before it) were shipping with non-antistatic grey hoses. About 2 yrs back Festool stoppped shipping any vacs with non-antistatic hoses and switched even the CT 15 to a basic but still anti-static one. It is absolutely fine for static use, but mainly is good-enough for general cleanup etc. For static tool use like a mitre saw one wants a shortened D36 or D50 hose.

EDIT:
That said, this needs to be put in context ... most other brand vacs ship only with ribbed hoses, the braiding is a luxury in the world of vac hoses. A luxury well worth it, but still a luxury.
 
RE the 20 amp circuits. Our house was built in the 90s....the garage only has a couple of outlets, and several of those are taken up by a chest freezer and a fridge freezer. It's also the same circuits as the outside outlets....so at Christmas time when I'm frantically trying to finish up some gifts, I constantly pop the breaker. I'm thinking of adding 3-4 circuits for Space Heater, Dust Extraction, and a couple of tools (and potentially a ceiling mounted dust filter.) I also need to put in a 220 for my welding gear. I dabble in the electricity dept but I'm going to have an electrician come out and give me his opinion.

As for the bench top jointer - I bought it used (Rikon, 6") and the prior owner told me that it could clog if not connected to some kind of vacuum. I don't think it takes much, so I think the 50mm hose will probably be sufficient, even with the slightly lower suction of the CT VA. We'll see as soon as it arrives. I am going to have to look in to some adaptors (already have a couple on the way that allow the 27 and 36mm hoses to connect to my table saw, band saw, etc.)

The CT 26 was a little smaller footprint that I expected (and super light when empty) - but it fit perfectly in to the spot I had set up previously with my shop vac, and it will still have room for the CT VA on top.

I"m still trying to sort out the best layout for everything...but I have a lot jammed in to this small space (large work bench, smaller bench with a portaband and some smaller grinders), 2x72 grinder and table, cart with my Drill Press/Band saw, rolling shelves with misc tools and storage, Flip top bench with Planer and Jointer, job site saw folded up on a rolling cart, Rolling cart with storage bins, welding cart, air compressor, two tool boxes, and a small rolling table with storage I use for sharpening and other misc work. Suffice it to say, I need more room. Don't we all :)
 
[member=81116]mikbau206[/member]    As it turns out, weight is the easiest way to tell when it is full. You probably won't notice a drop in suction power, but you sure will notice the "brick" that you find when you open it up. That bag will fill the entire cavity and be quite heavy.
 
Crazyraceguy said:
[member=81116]mikbau206[/member]    As it turns out, weight is the easiest way to tell when it is full. You probably won't notice a drop in suction power, but you sure will notice the "brick" that you find when you open it up. That bag will fill the entire cavity and be quite heavy.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping once the CT VA gets here, it will be a long time before I get to experience that :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
Best Kapex for dust collection
Replies
10
Views
662
ChuckM
C
M
How to hook up CT 26 to 2.5 dust deputy cyclone
Replies
3
Views
5K
semenza
semenza
S
CT 36 E good enough for my current shop?
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
sawdust-samurai
S
B
CT MIDI vs CT26 for my specific scenario
Replies
0
Views
309
bp09
B
E
Festool ets 125 req. new user dust help!!!
Replies
17
Views
541
Ebake
E
Back
Top