CTM 48 vs CTM 48 AC

Midnight Man

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Mar 25, 2016
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Good day all, and thank you for any insights folks may be able to offer!

I'm looking at a fresh start equipment-wise for a workshop, and will be doing most work with wood.  I'm very new to the Festool range, not having had a need previously to investigate it.  This is not a commercial setup, it's for a hobbyist who refuses to put up with tools and equipment that doesn't perform or last well, and that led be to Festool. 

On that basis, and the fact that most everything will be done in the workshop, I've picked the CT 48 unit as being an appropriate dust extraction unit, and I know it will need to be an "M" rated unit to handle the wood dust.

That's about as far as I got when investigating this on the website - for some reason I'm finding the options for these a little confusing.

I notice there may also be a CTM 48 AC unit - if this exists, I believe the AC indicates automatic cleaning.  Can anyone point me in the right direction to understand more of what this is and what benefit it will provide, so I can make an informed decision?

Additionally, does anyone have thoughts on my impression/choice on unit - I would love to hear from those with experience and who have gone before me so I might avoid some mistakes or pitfalls I haven't realised!

Many thanks again for any thoughts or advice people may be able to offer  [big grin]
 
Welcome to the FOG and congratulations on a good start down the slippery slope.

The AC units are designed to handle the sort of dust, like plaster dust, that tend to cake the filter bag blocking the air flow long before the bag is full. They are used without a bag and the filter is subjected to regular jolts to make the caked on dust drop off. They are used in specialist applications and are not required for wood dust and are much messier to empty.

The 48 is a good choice for a workshop based vac. In my case I went for a 36 and a Dust Deputy to preclean the air so the I wouldn't have to replace the bag often. In fact I have never needed to replace the bag for several years and should have bought the 26 as it was slightly cheaper and smaller with the same suction.
 
Thank you for an incredibly helpful post and useful information!

That set up you describe would be perfect for what I'm looking for, and a very economical solution to the dust problem :)  I also now know exactly which unit to buy.

Thank you sir!

 
I went for the CT36AC + Dust Deputy, and then swapped out the CT36AC filter for a CT36 Hepa filter, and bought an extra green 36 mm hose (both of which are interchangeable between the CT36 and CT36AC).  It's a bit more money up front, but I get a CT36 Hepa equivalent, but have future-proofed the setup in case I ever want to get a Planex drywall sander.
 
I would go for the smaller CT, and apply the savings towards one of the cleaning kits.  Several come with the larger hose, which enhances suction. 

Mine is the CT26, and with the savings, I also purchased the Tradesman/Installer cleaning set, complete with the larger hose, stored in a Systainer 5. 

I have never had a "shop vac" that could touch this unit. 
 
swapped out the CT36AC filter for a CT36 Hepa filter
...
I get a CT36 Hepa equivalent

Forgive me if I misunderstand - is the only difference between the CTL , CTM and CT? the filter?

In other words, if I bought a CTL 36 and decided later on I wanted to (say) do woodwork, could I buy a filter for the CTL 36 that would effectively turn it into a CTM 36?
 
Midnight Man said:
In other words, if I bought a CTL 36 and decided later on I wanted to (say) do woodwork, could I buy a filter for the CTL 36 that would effectively turn it into a CTM 36?

No, they also have an alarm that sounds where airflow is restricted, and it is that that is important for the M classification.

You can put a HEPA filter in a CTL and it will filter to the "M" classification, but it won't have the electronics for the alarm and so cannot be certified and used as an "M" class extractor.
 
GarryMartin said:
No, they also have an alarm that sounds where airflow is restricted, and it is that that is important for the M classification.

You can put a HEPA filter in a CTL and it will filter to the "M" classification, but it won't have the electronics for the alarm and so cannot be certified and used as an "M" class extractor.

That^.
 
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