CTL-SYS

[L.J]

Well today I tested it out withe the wings and it works perfectly !!! One note though the CTL-SYS doesn't like max suction and causes a flapper inside to keep opening and closing. I remedied this by cracking open the valve on the wings a tiny bit.

What are 'wings' you refer to?

CT Wings if you don't have them get them !!!!

 

[jimbo51]

This is a question about suitability in a specific situation.

I enjoy using my Festools to help build sets for local community theater groups. Dust collection at most places consists of a broom and dust pan after the work day is completed. I sometimes bring my Midi to hook up to my track saw or router. I have used the dust bag on my TS 55 with relatively good results.

The TS 55 is used to cut sheets of thin luan underlayment. A normal work day wold involve less than 150 linear feet of cutting. The router is used to trim luan that is used to face platform. Since the edges of the platforms get rather beat up, the practice is to run the facing a small bit long and then trim flush with a router. About 40-50 feet of cutting with  1/4 inch bit would be normal.

I would like to have the greater portability of the CTL SYS for this work and general small jobs around my house. Would the CTL SYS be able to handle the relatively small amount of chips and dust mention above with perhaps one emptying of the long life bag? 

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=4632]jimbo51[/member], yes it would definitely be able to handle it. And, based on my mental image of your tasks, I don't think you'd even be close to filling the bag.

Edit: Here are the capacities of the various CT models for comparison. This is filter bag capacity.

Model	Liters	Gallons
CT SYS	3.5	0.9
CT MINI	7.5	2
CT MIDI	12.5	3.3
CT 26	24	6.3
CT 36	34	8.9
CT 48	46	12.2

 

[ear3]

Thanks Shane -- this is a helpful chart.  So the 2 litre difference in your chart for the 26-48 vacs represents the lower capacity of the bag vs. the theoretical full capacity of the vacuum housing itself?

[member=4632]jimbo51[/member], yes it would definitely be able to handle it. And, based on my mental image of your tasks, I don't think you'd even be close to filling the bag.

Edit: Here are the capacities of the various CT models for comparison. This is filter bag capacity.

Model	Liters	Gallons
CT SYS	3.5	0.9
CT MINI	7.5	2
CT MIDI	12.5	3.3
CT 26	24	6.3
CT 36	34	8.9
CT 48	46	12.2

 

[Shane Holland]

[member=37411]Edward A Reno III[/member], yes, that's correct. The bag capacity is slightly lower than the container itself.

I guess another way of thinking about it is this...

CT SYS = CT 4½
CT MINI = CT 10
CT MIDI = CT 15

[big grin]

 

[redbirdone]

Picked one up yesterday.  Can't wait to put it through the gauntlet this weekend.  Have to admit that first impression is what a phenomenal design and idea.  Second impression was after pulling everything out and doing a quick 30 second test...how the heck do I get everything back in????  [blink]

Also, it would be a grand slam, out of the park, home run if Festool could make this as an 18v powered vac.  Even if run time was 10 minutes, that's fine by me.  Or have it run off dual 18v packs.  Still a home run. 

 

[L.J]

I would also like to add that though the extractor appears to meet my needs it isn't particularly quiet though.

 

[doctr-dan]

The ct sys has problem in that fine dust gets sucked up against the filter and then reduces the suction and puts strain on the motor (that's what it  sounds like) to the point where I could only fill the replaceable bag to 1.5kg and the long life was next to useless with anything fine.
What I have used it for,
Sanding plywood
Cleaning up plasterboard dust
Cutting plywood
Cutting fibre cement
Don't get me wrong I really really want this machine to not have issues but so far I'm a little worried

 

[Kev]

The ct sys has problem in that fine dust gets sucked up against the filter and then reduces the suction and puts strain on the motor (that's what it  sounds like) to the point where I could only fill the replaceable bag to 1.5kg and the long life was next to useless with anything fine.
What I have used it for,
Sanding plywood
Cleaning up plasterboard dust
Cutting plywood
Cutting fibre cement
Don't get me wrong I really really want this machine to not have issues but so far I'm a little worried

I'm kinda glad the CTL-SYS isn't something of value to me. I think it's a great opportunity Festool got more than a little wrong!

 

[Brice Burrell]

The ct sys has problem in that fine dust gets sucked up against the filter and then reduces the suction and puts strain on the motor (that's what it  sounds like) to the point where I could only fill the replaceable bag to 1.5kg and the long life was next to useless with anything fine.
What I have used it for,
Sanding plywood
Cleaning up plasterboard dust
Cutting plywood
Cutting fibre cement
Don't get me wrong I really really want this machine to not have issues but so far I'm a little worried

Cutting fibre cement I would think is far too taxing on such a small filter bag so I'm not at all surprised the bag clogs up quickly.  Also, if by cleaning up plasterboard dust, you mean sucking up big piles of dust without first broom sweeping, again, I'm not surprised.  However, if sanding/cutting plywood clogs the regular filter bag and/or the long life bag, then that is an abomination.

I really like the idea of this vac but posts like this don't make feel good about this tool.  I will be keeping an eye on all the posts and see what the consensus is. 

 

[DB10]

The ct sys has problem in that fine dust gets sucked up against the filter and then reduces the suction and puts strain on the motor (that's what it  sounds like) to the point where I could only fill the replaceable bag to 1.5kg and the long life was next to useless with anything fine.
What I have used it for,
Sanding plywood
Cleaning up plasterboard dust
Cutting plywood
Cutting fibre cement
Don't get me wrong I really really want this machine to not have issues but so far I'm a little worried

I'm kinda glad the CTL-SYS isn't something of value to me. I think it's a great opportunity Festool got more than a little wrong!

Gotta agree, for what Festool Aus are asking for it down here $600, It would need to be cordless and have variable suction for me to be interested in purchasing one, as it stands at the moment IMO it's just a very small vac with a very large price tag.

 

[L.J]

The CTL is just a supplement to the larger vacs and probably won't suit everyone's needs nor was it intended too.

 

[Woodhack]

I was about to buy this unit for sanding spackle spots in finished units for punch out work where steps are involved.

The fact that there is no suction control in unacceptable.

Cant buy it. Looks like I still have to lug one of my ct 26s around. What a drag.

 

[grobkuschelig]

: Anyone complaining about suction control could just add an adjustable muffle/sleeve to their connection and "Ta-Da"! -> Adjustable suction.

I really like my CTL SYS it's the perfect unit for small things and can really nicely perform on everything you need it to. I never missed any adjustment on it.
Obviously, your mileage may vary. But maybe, you just think you are not able to use something without buzzword & buzzword which you do not actually need...  [wink]

...basically I just want to sell you on the CTL SYS, because I love mine.  [poke]
But on the other hand, I also love my CTM...  [dead horse]

 

[Vondawg]

"Obviously your mileage may vary"
Hey that's DrD's line  haha
I agree ....an adjustable suction fitting works with any vac without the control feature and who can beat the size if needed, plus the systainer fit for travel...

 

[magellan]

I also recently purchased a SYS VAV    I find it performs as good as any FESTOOL vac.  Impressive actually.  I would like to find a way to moderate the air flow if needed.  An adjustable muffle/sleeve was mentioned.  Where does one acquire something like this to adjust the suction? 

Thank you

 

[grobkuschelig]

If you look at the festool range of dust-extraction hand sanding blocks like the 496962, you will see that those have such a muffler built into the dust connector part.
You might be able to find it as a part in EKAT, then it might even be "original". But I think you should be able to find similar parts from anyone doing dust stuff like mirka, etc. etc. as well...

 

[leakyroof]

You could try a different hose.  One that has an adjustable valve at the tool end

 

[live4ever]

You could try a different hose.  One that has an adjustable valve at the tool end

Yeah, the unfortunate problem with that solution is no 90 degree elbow for the non-Festool hose, so you aren't able to keep the CT-SYS in the middle of a systainer stack - one of its nifty features. 

It'd be ideal if there was something that could just be used at the end of the OEM 27mm hose.  Still looking for an elegant way to make holes and add a collar of some sort...

On another note, I wonder how difficult it would be to add some kind of small cord reel to the hose garage.

 

[leakyroof]

You could try a different hose.  One that has an adjustable valve at the tool end

Yeah, the unfortunate problem with that solution is no 90 degree elbow for the non-Festool hose, so you aren't able to keep the CT-SYS in the middle of a systainer stack - one of its nifty features. 

It'd be ideal if there was something that could just be used at the end of the OEM 27mm hose.  Still looking for an elegant way to make holes and add a collar of some sort...

On another note, I wonder how difficult it would be to add some kind of small cord reel to the hose garage.

  I leave the CT-SYS on the top of a stack , and can live with the lack of the 90 degree elbow from the Bosch hose. I've never been happy cramming my hoses into the hose garages for the most part on my larger Festool Vacs, so having a loose, longer than stock hose with the CT doesn't bother me at all. You do have to remove the plastic 'key' on the outside of the Vac end of the Bosch hose,[or a Fein hose since they both use the same hose aligning and retaining method inside their newer vacs], but a quick kiss with a bench grinder and the plastic key is gone, and your hose fits pretty well into the CT-Sys vac inlet hole.
Having that adjustable blast gate to reduce suction as I need it really completes my CT-SYS vac for my needs. The Blue hose from Bosch is Anti-Static as well.