CTL midi cable mod

[aas]

Hi
My new CTL Midi arrived today... I've already modified it!

Cable uses original cable clamp, put passes vertically through a conduit and into the hose storage area.

New clean look back, cable was asking to get damaged sticking out the back like it did!

I've since put a blanking plug in the original cable entry hole.
A

 

[fdeloncker]

Nice job, I just picked up a new midi too and hate that there is no cord wrap. I knew this from my previous midi, but forgot how annoying it is.

 

[aas]

I did think about getting it to come out to the spare bag storage slot at the back, at least like that it can't get damaged, but I figured there wasn't enough room to store the cable there.
I'm chuffed how it turned out! It took a bit under two hours, but I was taking it slow, bearing in mind I'd only had the machine 1 hour!
A

 

[rajuliano]

That is excellent. What did you use for a blanking plug for the original cord exit hole?

 

[aas]

I think it comes from a kitchen unit, I found it in one of my installers cases, about 20mm round so it gives a virtually smooth finish, gob of silicone behind so it's water tight too!.. I have some tape holding it in place while it dries, I'll take a pic tomorrow if I remember.
A

 

[Doug S]

Got my 6 month old midi back from repair today, the power cord had a break in it where it comes out of the back of the machine!

Festool replaced the cord and also put in a nice new dust bag  [smile]

Doug

 

[aas]

I'm not surprised it had a break... stupid, stupid idea to have a cable sticking out the back like that... of course it will get a break!  [tongue]

 

[Wuffles]

As I'm about to get a Midi myself I might do that, is it fairly obvious?

One problem with the boom arm on the CT26 is you kiss goodbye to the cable wrapping thingy when you install it - unless I missed a page in the instructions. So it generally just trails and gets walked on.

 

[aas]

Yep, fairly obvious. Need to remove cable, drill down from spare bag cubby, drill into top hose storage area, then feed cable back, through glans to hold cable, then through conduit (so it is protected). Hardest part was feeding back through the hole at the bottom to feed into original cable inlet as it is almost 90 degrees. Re-fit original cable retainer and re-connect.
Makes it so easy to move around as the hose and cable are all wrapped up in the same place.
New mod coming next week...

 

[Wuffles]

Wilco.

 

[wow]

Anybody who mods a brand new piece of gear almost before they use it gets my admiration! Nice job!

[not worthy] [thumbs up]

 

[AlexThePalex]

I'm not surprised it had a break... stupid, stupid idea to have a cable sticking out the back like that... of course it will get a break!  [tongue]

My Mini is from 2006, 8 years old. Cord is still fine. The vac saw some great abuse at the painting company where it started its career before they retired it to me.

Eventually every cord has to have a point where it sticks out of something. That's what cords are for, right? As it is, cords on vacs break nowhere near as often as on handhold power tools.

Your cable mod only works as long as you have the cord sticking out of the front of the vac. Then the cord stays straight. But when you use a vac, you pull it around, and it seems obvious to me that since you pull it on the front where the hose is attached, that it is least stressful for the power cord when it exits from the back. Having the cord exit on the back also makes sure the vac can move freely without any obstruction. When the cord does not exit on the back, and you move it around, at some point it has to make a bend somewhere. While you pull it.

I think there's a reason why all designs for vacs have the cord exit from the back, just like they have their wheels at the bottom and not on top.

 

[aas]

I always have the systainer for the vac tools on top. There is a gap in the top front of the garage for the hose to exit, and a small groove in the rear top of the garage for the cable to exit. So in effect, the cable does exit the rear when in use, it's just that when it is all packed away, it can be packed in nice and tight in the van so it doesn't move, and there is no risk of damaging the cable... it works for me in any case.