CTL 26 as workshop extractor?

[scgwhite]

Morning everyone,

First post on the FOG - I've recently upgraded a number of my tools to Green after a near miss with my table saw, which has put me off a TS for life. At least I've had a great excuse to buy a TS55, MFT and a Kapex! Peter Parfitt was very helpful - great videos which sealed the deal for me.

Onto the question in hand. I'm building a multi use workshop with an integrated dust extractor, plumbed through fixed pipe work with remote switching in a similar style to Peter's Dust Hub. I'm considering the use of a CTL26 for this job, which will give me the option of removing the extractor if I need to use it other than in the workshop. I have a home brew cyclone system so regular emptying isn't a concern.

Will the CTL26 be man enough for a plumbed system? I'm not planning to have a planer / thicknesser or anything generating large quantities of chip - it'll mostly be for the Kapex, TS55 and a router when I can get the purchase past the finance director!

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Simon

 

[Kev]

[welcome]

Distance will be the killer if anything. The CT's match the Festool tools well and you can usually get away with a decent hose length, so it's all going to come down to your plan for the plumbing!

cheers,

Kev.

 

[RDMuller]

I too think distance would be a killer.  The "engineering" of permanent dust collection systems is not to be taken lightly.  You'll see references to "static pressure", which I equate with resistance coming into play.  To be honest I don't understand much of the science.

 

[peter halle]

The CT will not make you happy in this configuration.  Carroll Adams has written many times about all the research he did while setting up a very extensive (and expensive system) for his cabinet shop.  Although his situation doesn't match yours, the lessons he learned might be helpful.

I know that he hasn't been feeling 39 lately but perhaps he might be available to offer his thoughts.

Peter

 

[sancho57]

What Kev said

 

[Cheese]

If the space is very compact and well thought out and the 3 machines are within arms length of each other, along with the vac, you may have a  good chance it will work.

However as others have said, the main issues are distance and elbows/turns in the system. Each 90 degree elbow added to the system is the equivalent of adding 10 ft of straight tubing. Plumbed systems are generally powered with a 4" or larger dust collector.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If it's only for small tools, and not stationary tools, I think you can get away with a total tube length of up to 7 meters. Beyond that you'll start to notice reduced suction, and the further you get the worse it becomes.

 

[ccarrolladams]

The CT will not make you happy in this configuration.  Carroll Adams has written many times about all the research he did while setting up a very extensive (and expensive system) for his cabinet shop.  Although his situation doesn't match yours, the lessons he learned might be helpful.

I know that he hasn't been feeling 39 lately but perhaps he might be available to offer his thoughts.

Peter

Peter and I are both major fans of Festools, especially when they are used as they are designed. Peter is also correct that since last December I have not enjoyed good health. The fact is I have virtually no use of my right hand.

Since I first bought Festools in 2006 I have shared my experience both running successful cabinet shops and getting the most from a mixture of traditional, CNC and Festool for woodworking. Please understand my experience and thinking is as a business owner under strict California worker safety laws. It has been over 65 years since I used tools for DIY.

I suggest strongly we all understand the difference between dust extraction as Festool uses the term and dust collection with pipe connecting traditional fixed machines with a conventional dust collection system.

Festools are designed as a system in which the tool is brought to the work. We move a track plunge saw through lumber and sheet material which remains stationary. The Festool CT dust extractor is moved close to the work and connected to the tool with relatively small flexible hose. In the case of Festool sanders the CT is most convenient when it is within reach of the craftsperson, so the amount of suction can be modulated in real time to make the sanding most effective. Although Festool does sell devices so that two tools can be attached to the same CT at once, my experience is this is ineffective. It is far better to move the hose from one tool to another.

Festools in most cases depend on the air movement of the CT from tool cooling. For that reason the CT are designed to move air rapidly through the small hose. A typical dust collection system is designed to move a far larger quantity of air at a much lower velocity. When a machine is distant from the dust collector the size of the pipe is increased and the lowering of velocity is not a problem.

My own cabinet shop in Burbank is regulated by California state regulations, local City of Burbank laws and US Federal laws. For example Burbank does not allow dust collection systems inside the building, so my blowers and bags are outside and protected by a sprinkler system. Fortunately other people had already convinced Burbank that Festool CT were safe indoors without a sprinkler so long as only extracting from one tool at a time. So in my case all of the large fixed machines, such as the beam saw and CNC routers are connected to the installed DC. The portable Festools use CT. Things got complicated when I wanted to connect my two permanently located Kapex to the DC system. There was no way the DC connected to the Kapex with a 36mm hose could pull the air fast enough. I invented a special blower to increase the velocity of air through the 36mm hose before delivering it to the DC pipe. It took a lot of effort to gain approval. Frankly it would have saved me money just to dedicate a CT to those Kapex as I do to the other 4 Kapex in the shop which are move to where needed.

Perhaps in this case the CTL36 will work for you. If not by an appropriate DC system and save the CT for Festools.