CTL-SYS struggling to handle fine dust

chippy

Festool Dealer
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Joined
Jan 21, 2009
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Using CTL-SYS with long life filter bag, the bag fabric is filling with fine MDF dust, this is restricting the suction power. The vac is struggling and not able to fill bag. Using TS 55 and EHL 65 planer. 
 
Hmm. I would be curious to hear if thus experience gets repeated with materials other than mdf. I was seriously considering the CT sys for myself, but do n t want to get it if it has these sorts of issues. I've heard reports on the FOG of something similar happening with the mini and midi, or at least that suction gets compromised when bag gets more than halfway full.
 
All of my CT's clog the pores on the bags when working with processes or materials that create fine dust. Happens with any filter media.

Tom
 
Maybe its the cheapo paper bags I run in my fein vac. But I deal with a ton of mdf and have very little suction loss...
 
I have the same issue, not just mdf but any dust. End up emptying the bag every 5 minutes to keep it working. Have gone back to standard bags to see if it is just the longlife that has a problem. I assume its because the bag is held from the top so cannot collapse on itself when switched off.
 
Just wondering if taking the bag out and putting inside of a garbage can while you tap the bag or knock it against the side would alleviate the congestion. This was a recommendation from a festool employee in regards to the ct-26 when using it for drywall (dust)?
 
Unless the coating of dust that builds up on the inside of a bag is disturbed regularly then the efficiency of the vacuum will decrease. If the effort to sort this out is such that it is time consuming or creates a dust hazard for the user then one wonders about the viability of the long life bags.

Peter
 
Peter Parfitt said:
Unless the coating of dust that builds up on the inside of a bag is disturbed regularly then the efficiency of the vacuum will decrease. If the effort to sort this out is such that it is time consuming or creates a dust hazard for the user then one wonders about the viability of the long life bags.

Peter
I agree 100% with your post, but also echo the above for normal 'self clean' bags. I have a 36 litre vac dedicated for fine dust but even after a small bit of dust is in the bag, the alarm sounds. The cure is to shake the bag. Completely pointless having the larger capacity, smaller would have meant cleaner bags (which the alarm suggests it needs) quicker.
 
I suspected that this might be a problem with the CTL-SYS, because of the very small bag.
I have had this same issue in the past with compact Dewalt & Millwaukee vacs. 
The only solution is to add a dust separator before the vac or empty the bags very often.
 
The pores in the bags will clog with fine dust on all the models.  The bags were intended for larger chips and have been forever - just do a search here.  That being said there are users who have gotten satisfactory ( for them ) performance in mixed usage or just dust situations.

Personally I don't see it as a tool problem but rather as a known situation and perhaps using the wrong bag in this situation.  Based on the small size of the bag I can see why it could happen more frequently and also why based on the 1.2 gallon size it would be advantageous or desirable to have a reusable bag.

The CTL -SYS is a niche product with limitations based on its size.  Ultra portable but in my mind an ancillary product to an existing and proven line of dust extractors.

Peter
 
As was already mentioned, the longlife bag is not meant to be a direct substitute for a fleece filter bag. It's really designed more for larger chips. If you're primarily going to be collecting fine dust, it may not be a good option for you unless you don't mind periodically opening the CT and giving the bag a shake.
 
I've experienced this with both bags the standard and longlife. I'm very disappointed as this isn't advertised when your purchasing the product.
So I cantuseirfor sanding as its to finer dust, I can't use ittoclean up fine dust hmmmmwhat can I use it for if I can't use it for dust ?
 
I use the CTL-SYS with the TS-55 REBQ and RO150E for MDF and similar, with CTL-SYS directly on a SYS-CART and the wheels locked I softly kick the cart (not the CTL) once when suction gets down and that seems to nudge the dust cake from the bag - does the trick nicely.
 
This gets more hilarious by the day. The solution is to kick my £650 vac [emoji1] I've heard it all now
 
Why can't they make vacs like larger extractors. Mine has 16 filter bags with an out of balance motor fitted to a frame which connects to the top of the filters. A quick blast and all the dust gets vibrated down into the drum. Phones have had tiny vibrating motors ever since I can remember. Surely they could come up with something that actually wiggles the bag instead of letting it supposedly collapse when it's turned off. A long wiggle must be more effective then just letting the air escape, surely.
 
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