CT26 loss of suction!

[sessler2013]

Hey hows it going guys?  I got a question for you...

Today I was using my Ct26 connected to a 7" Makita Grider with a 7" Diambrush coating removal blade and Shroud to remove thin set from a kitchen floor.

I notice after removing about 20 to 30 SqFt of thin set the CT loses suction to a point where I have no option but to turn the vac off and empty the dust bag out even though its only 1/8 or less of the way full. This gets annoying quickly...

I am using the long life bags and decided it would be most economical to cut a hole in the end of the bag to dump the waist and then roll up the end and clip it with those black paper like clips. Once I empty the bag the vac Performs as good as new but after another 20-30 SQFT of thin set I am back to emptying the bag.

Do any of you know any tips to stop this problem?

 

[Benjamin]

you really be better off using a seperator . such as the dust deputy.

As in my opinion the festool vacs are not made to suck up dust like that. way to rough on them.

a separator would keep the air flow consistent and avoid the vac being beat up.

 

[sessler2013]

you really be better off using a seperator . such as the dust deputy.

As in my opinion the festool vacs are not made to suck up dust like that. way to rough on them.

a separator would keep the air flow consistent and avoid the vac being beat up.

If a 600 vac can't handle mortar dust then what does LOL? HILTI?

 

[Staniam]

you really be better off using a seperator . such as the dust deputy.

As in my opinion the festool vacs are not made to suck up dust like that. way to rough on them.

a separator would keep the air flow consistent and avoid the vac being beat up.

If a 600 vac can't handle mortar dust then what does LOL? HILTI?

Absolutely. Hilti. I can't fathom how many times I've showed my customers how well the Hilti vac performs with concrete, grout, thin set etc.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I think that is a task for the ct36 ac.

 

[sae]

So help me understand, what actually gets clogged? Is it the filter bag itself, as in all the pores in the bag get filled?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Is it the filter bag itself, as in all the pores in the bag get filled?

Yup, that's exactly what happens. Any type of stone dust like thinset, mortar, concrete and plaster creates very fine dust with a crystaline nature. This dust fills up the pores in the bags and the filters very quickly so air can not move anymore. This happens long before the bag is full.

If a 600 vac can't handle mortar dust then what does LOL? HILTI?

What you describe in your first post is perfectly normal. A standard CT26 vac just isn't the right tool for this job and cost has nothing to do with it. That's why Festool has developed the CT 36 AC with AC meaning AutoClean. This vac is meant for stone dust and uses no bag that can clog, but has a mechanism that cleans the filter by shaking it in regular intervals to ensure continued operation until the vac is full.

     

 

[Gary in Texas]

you really be better off using a seperator . such as the dust deputy.

As in my opinion the festool vacs are not made to suck up dust like that. way to rough on them.

a separator would keep the air flow consistent and avoid the vac being beat up.

The vac isn't getting beat up, simply the filter getting clogged up....

 

[NH-Engineering]

As others mentions the CTL 26 is not designed for concrete dust. My CTL 26 is only used together with my CS 70 EB table saw, and I have only been cutting wood on it. Last week I lost the suction power of the CTL. However this was no suprise as I expected the bag to be soon full. And it was, but the dust had also buldt up like 1/2 ft into the hose. So the CTL 26 when used for wood only, remains its suction power even when the bag is 100% full. I use the 1 time disposable bags.

When I changed the bag I also noticed that the inside of the CTL 26 was 100% clean, something my Metabo vac never is, the Metabo  is always covered with some fine dust that has passed trough the bag. Maybe this is a little unfair comparison since I use the Metabo for all kinds of dust. The CTL is more quiet, much better buildt, the bag is properly secured and can not become lose inside the vac. So when the Metabo dies it will be replaced with a Festool.

 

[Laminator]

I noticed a loss of suction when vacuuming a floor covered with drywall dust and paint overspray.  This was the first time to use the ct26 and I was not too happy.  I took the hose off while the vac was running and looked inside with a flashlight.  The bag material was sucked up against the hepa filter and caked with powder, effectively blocking the airflow.  I made a "screen" out of a plastic coke crate that prevents this from happening by not letting the bag contact the filter and all is well.

 

[R.W_Carpentry]

I used to do the same with the bags, cut a hole and clip back up, I found after a while a loss of suction unless emptied very frequently ( way before being full) I assumed it to be the pores of the bag clogged and bought the longlife bag in the end and not had any issues since.

 

[ChipinWood]

I am having the same issue. Any chance you can share a picture of how you used crate? Thanks!

I noticed a loss of suction when vacuuming a floor covered with drywall dust and paint overspray.  This was the first time to use the ct26 and I was not too happy.  I took the hose off while the vac was running and looked inside with a flashlight.  The bag material was sucked up against the hepa filter and caked with powder, effectively blocking the airflow.  I made a "screen" out of a plastic coke crate that prevents this from happening by not letting the bag contact the filter and all is well.

 

[luvmytoolz]

The bottom of the crate is a lattice, so all you need is something similar that will allow air to flow through but create a gap between the bag and filter. You could make one out of some thin scraps of wood even. Think along the lines of a trivet vertically but with lots of air flow.