CTL26 sooooo disappointing

[jmbfestool]

I am really disappointed with the CTL26.

Don't get me wrong I do like the vacuum its good at what it does but like many of you already know I have always HATED! the fact you can't remove the hose carriage.

Now after a while I got over it and just lived with the fact its permanent.

BUT THEN! I broke a section of it.
[attachimg=1]
All I did was I leant on it with my hand as a rest while I picked up my hammer which was laying next to it on the floor.  Well that really annoyed me.

BUT THEN! I broke another section of it
[attachimg=2]
All I did was place my TS55 in the hose carriage area and when I lifted it up it caught underneath the hose carriage and broke a section off.

BUT THEN! I broke a section
[attachimg=3]
I went to my van I grabbed my CTL26 and I caught it against my VAN sliding door.

BUT THEN! I made a hole
[attachimg=4]
I had my small router trimmer ontop of my T-loc size 4 which was on the CTL26.  The trimmer rolled off and landed on my CTL26 making a hole.

Now I don't abuse my tools but I do use them.  I have had my CT22 more than double the amount of years I have owned the CTL26 and the CT22 is still perfect solid no broken bits and I often use it as a bench for cutting timber with a hand saw.  I love CT22 for that dead handy.

I personally think the CTL overall is good but its crap for site use because its not heavy duty enough.

I am extremely disappointed with the CTL26 and I honestly think festool need to go back and redesign the hose carriage because its embarrassing how crap it is. 

 

[jmbfestool]

I'll make a video sometime this week and break abit more on the hose carriage to just show you how easy it breaks ........

trust me I'm pretty sure when I stand to close to the CTL26 and I sneeze something breaks off on the CTL26 its that brittle its ridiculous

 

[PA floor guy]

I have the same problem.  I have a 22 and a mini that basically have no upper body left on them. All broke off.  They woke just fine, but look terrible

 

[AlexThePalex]

I broke a small piece from the top of my Mini. Same plastic as the 26, I was surprised how easily it broke off. It is too brittle indeed.

When cleaning my vacs with paint thinner I noticed the grey plastic can stand it easily but not the black parts, they smear (melt a bit). So I guess the top is just ABS plastic while the grey bottom is a tougher type. They should find another type of plastic for the black top.

 

[Jason Kehl]

Me too, I set my OF2200 down on the top of my CT26 and broke a chunk of the black plastic, after that it seems like every bump breaks more. For the amount they cost they should handle a few bumps without falling apart.

j

 

[Laminator]

The hose garage on my mini, which sees very  limited usage,  is broken in 3 different places.  Thin brittle plastic!    I hope that it can be replaced with a t-lock hose garage because on of the places it is broken allows the systainer clip to fall off. (Until I attached a block of wood to it which makes it permanently stick up).

My ct26 is not broken anywhere, probably because it always has the work center attached to it.

 

[duburban]

I'm also sore about this.

Its as if the people that decided on this have no idea how much light-medium and sometimes heavy collision are a daily part of a working man's tool collection.

 

[builderbob]

Here's a result of cold weather and a bump! 

 

[smartcarpie]

I need to get around to replacing my third Midi hose garage. Mostly all from shifting in my vehicle during transport. Getting old.

 

[smartcarpie]

Hey Builder Bob, 

Where are you located in ct?  I'm in the Northeast corner but work all over the state. Currently on a job in Avon.

 

[sicd_steve]

[scared]thats a serious"bump" I have bumped mine plenty of times and hardly have any marks let alone a shattered corner.  I have the CT36 , CT 26 and the Midi and none look like that, perhaps you are pushing the boundary on the equipment durability after all it is a plastic unit. And by the pics it lives a hard life.

Perhaps a little bit care maybe in order they are not bomb proof, and I am a pub designer and I see tradies all day on site that throw tools down and there are those that put them down, the ones who throw them down complain why their tools are not working.

I reckon they are well made and would buy anyone of them tomorrow again.

 

[ishmerc]

[quote author=jmbfestool

Don't get me wrong I do like the vacuum its good at what it does but like many of you already know I have always HATED! the fact you can't remove the hose carriage . 
[/quote]

You can remove the hose carriage ,just get shorter bolt and add a washer .

 

[builderbob]

[scared]thats a serious"bump" I have bumped mine plenty of times and hardly have any marks let alone a shattered corner.  I have the CT36 , CT 26 and the Midi and none look like that, perhaps you are pushing the boundary on the equipment durability after all it is a plastic unit. And by the pics it lives a hard life.

Perhaps a little bit care maybe in order they are not bomb proof, and I am a pub designer and I see tradies all day on site that throw tools down and there are those that put them down, the ones who throw them down complain why their tools are not working.

I reckon they are well made and would buy anyone of them tomorrow again.

The vac actually lives in a very secure spot in my van. The markings you're referring to are just from the running against the plywood wall that houses the vac during transport. It tipped out and fell one foot in the extreme cold weather we had last month. I use my tools every day but I'm certainly far from abusive to my tools!  I was showing a case in point photo!

 

[builderbob]

Hey Builder Bob, 

Where are you located in ct?  I'm in the Northeast corner but work all over the state. Currently on a job in Avon.

I'm in south Windsor. You probably pass my exit in your travels to Avon. I get around all over CT as well. Not as much in your direction. We should meet up!

 

[jmbfestool]

[scared]thats a serious"bump" I have bumped mine plenty of times and hardly have any marks let alone a shattered corner.  I have the CT36 , CT 26 and the Midi and none look like that, perhaps you are pushing the boundary on the equipment durability after all it is a plastic unit. And by the pics it lives a hard life.

Perhaps a little bit care maybe in order they are not bomb proof, and I am a pub designer and I see tradies all day on site that throw tools down and there are those that put them down, the ones who throw them down complain why their tools are not working.

I reckon they are well made and would buy anyone of them tomorrow again.

Bomb proof come on man.... Pushing the boundaries you taking the p iss ?

You are wrong trust me they are far to brittle for trade work I am careful with my tools but a CTL26 needs more than just being careful it needs bubble rapping.

Pushing boundaries bloody heck I bet when you say you have bumped yours you meant a fly collided with your vacuum while you was carrying it.

I know for a FACT the CTL26 isn't up for the job and I say it like it is! If I had dropped it down the stairs or thrown my CTL26 onto the floor I would have expected something to break off and told my self off and lived with it but the fact I have done non of these things and then being told by you I have pisses me off.

In my original post I have described reasons why every part has been broken off and NON are abusive towards the CTL and NON of them should have caused the CTL to break.

DEANsocial had the mini vacuum before I got the CTL26 and he has smashed his and my first thought was bloody heck Dean look after your tools but he said they break easy.  I didn't believe him but I do now.

Like I said I own the CT22 and that does get "abuse" I mean good use and nothing has broken on that.

 

[jmbfestool]

[quote author=jmbfestool

Don't get me wrong I do like the vacuum its good at what it does but like many of you already know I have always HATED! the fact you can't remove the hose carriage . 

You can remove the hose carriage ,just get shorter bolt and add a washer .
[/quote]

Yeah I kno but you see unlike te CT22 the handle on the CTL26 sticks up so I won't be able to place a systainer or T-loc ontop.

 

[jmbfestool]

I broke a small piece from the top of my Mini. Same plastic as the 26, I was surprised how easily it broke off. It is too brittle indeed.

When cleaning my vacs with paint thinner I noticed the grey plastic can stand it easily but not the black parts, they smear (melt a bit). So I guess the top is just ABS plastic while the grey bottom is a tougher type. They should find another type of plastic for the black top.

I agree the white seems alot stronger than the black

 

[Deansocial]

Yeah you thought i was rought with my gear when you saw mine. Same thing as you started it leaning in it anly a bit of weight on it

 

[jmbfestool]

I have the same problem.  I have a 22 and a mini that basically have no upper body left on them. All broke off.  They woke just fine, but look terrible

I does look terrible.  My CT22 is much much older than my CTL26 but if you seen both together you would have thought the CTL26 was older with all the damage.

I would LOVE for festool to return back the the CT22 design flat top which is strong and solid and if people want they can have a hose carriage.   

See another problem I have is that I have the thicker hose and its slightly longer then the one you get normally so my hose does not fit in the hose carriage and trying the squeeze it in actually breaks/cracks more of the hose carriage.

 

[Stephen B]

Yeah you thought i was rought with my gear when you saw mine. Same thing as you started it leaning in it anly a bit of weight on it

[size=14pt]
-------------
* "And I  only leaned on it a bit, then I slipped and it knocked out one of my bottom teeth!"[big grin]
-------------
I have a CT22 and a Midi. So far no damage to the garage on the Midi. Perhaps because Mrs Untidy uses it more than I do!  [embarassed]

But I agree with all who say the CT22  top is more durable and useful as a tool and Systainer rest.
[size=10pt]

* refer to Deansocial's Avitar.