Cyclone for CT MINI?

[4nthony]

Hi, I'm new to the Festool world, having just taken delivery of a DF 500 after months of waiting. I've been looking into dust extraction and buying into the "system" and the capacity of the CT MINI seems just about right.

A 2.5 gallon MINI paired with a 5 gallon Cyclone seems almost perfect for my needs. Most of my dust is large enough that it would end up in the Cyclone rather than the bag of the MINI. However, I realized the Cyclone is only compatible starting with the CT 26.

Does anyone know if there's been any mention of a MIDI/MINI compatible Cyclone? Are there any 3rd party options that integrate with the systainer way of attaching to the CT?

Thank you!

 

[Svar]

Why is it not compatible with MINI? Mini and 26 have the same air flow and static pressure. If it's a port size then use adapter.

 

[squall_line]

Why is it not compatible with MINI? Mini and 26 have the same air flow and static pressure. If it's a port size then use adapter.

My understanding is that it's because of the location of the hose port on the CT15/Mini/Midi inside the hose garage instead of on the front of the unit.  The hose for the CT-Cyclone is too short to reach it.

I haven't seen any reason other than that given for the incompatibility.

If I had one in hand, I'd probably try to figure out a way to make it work and post it here, but I'm sure someone else will before I can (and I think they already have, from when I searched recently on google).

 

[MitchelKagawa]

I have seen videos online with the MIDI working with the cyclone but they needed to put a hose reducer I believe.  I was actually going to order that combination but the MIDI was not available at the time, so I got a 26 instead.

This is the video showing it going into a MIDI (below). One thing to note is that he said that the cyclone came with 2 right angle connectors and he needed to convert one to a straight to fit the MIDI, but my cyclone came with a hose that had 1 right angle and 1 straight so it should fit the MIDI (or MINI) without any need for an adapter.

 

[Ron B]

I think the Cyclone will work on the newer Mini and Midis, just not the older ones.  An update to the Mini and Midis changed the location of the inlet port.  I THINK this was in 2019.  So don't count this out, just do your research to see if it possibly will fit the newer models.  Again I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE, so I would check with a dealer.  If you google something where it says it will not work, remember things stay on Google forever.  So you might be reading something pre-2019. 

 

[4nthony]

I was reading on the FestoolUSA website where I noticed:

For combining with all Festool CT 26/36/48 dust extractors with and without Autoclean function

I don't know what the date of the product information is for the Cyclone. I also didn't see any mention of Cyclone compatibility on the MIDI/MINI product pages.

[scratch chin]

 

[squall_line]

I think the Cyclone will work on the newer Mini and Midis, just not the older ones.  An update to the Mini and Midis changed the location of the inlet port.  I THINK this was in 2019.  So don't count this out, just do your research to see if it possibly will fit the newer models.  Again I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE, so I would check with a dealer.  If you google something where it says it will not work, remember things stay on Google forever.  So you might be reading something pre-2019.

That video does, in fact, show the new MIDI (or MIDI-I, or sometimes seen as MIDI-2).  The giveaway is the hose garage door/cover, the button controls instead of knobs, as well as the location of the inlet port; the pre-2019 MINI/MIDI inlet is in the back-left corner from the control panel.

Festool-USA, in their current literature, does not list the MINI/MIDI as compatible with the CT-Cyclone for whatever reason.  In the video from Australia, the only incompatibility is with H-class dust extractors.

 

[WillAdams]

I have an older CT Midi which has an Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy --- it's supposed to fit the CT Mini as well (but protrudes slightly as it does for the Midi) --- is the 3rd party option something you'd consider?

 

[mino]

For me the simple rule is:

Do you want/need an uninterrupted anti-static hose connection?

Yes => get the CT-VA
No =>  get the CT-VA or whatever else suits you

The CT-VA will work well with any vac which has adequate suction performance. Period.
The CT-VA will NOT fit with all vacs with its included default bundle so you may need to figure out a connection adapter.

It is designed/optimized for strong vacs like CT 26/36/48 which have a power reserve to spare, so even after the suction loss from the cyclone are still powerful enough.

But, it WILL work with Mini/Midi (with new ones even without adapters) just with a correspondingly lower suction.
That may be enough for sanding, but may not be enough/optimal for e.g. Kapex dust extraction-wise. You can even use it with the CT-SYS no issue. Just again, the max air volume you get may not be adequate for more heavy work - which CT-SYS is not designed for to begin.

Works, but YMMV.

 

[SleepDoc]

I recently got the ct-va cyclone and fit on my new model midi. I had purchased the swivel adapter based on research prior to cyclone purchase but was not needed if you just reverse the 90 degree adapter onto the cyclone and straight adapter into the midi.

 

[4nthony]

Thanks for the feedback and replies. I'll research my options for an adapter to see about getting it to work with a MINI/MIDI.

The CT-VA will work well with any vac which has adequate suction performance. Period.
The CT-VA will NOT fit with all vacs with its included default bundle so you may need to figure out a connection adapter.

It is designed/optimized for strong vacs like CT 26/36/48 which have a power reserve to spare, so even after the suction loss from the cyclone are still powerful enough.

I watched one of the recent videos where Sedge goes through the whole CT lineup and it was mentioned that the main difference in suction between the SYS/15/MINI/MIDI line and CT 26/36/48 was only 8 CFM. I don't know what the percentage drop in suction would be when attaching the CT-VA but maybe that 8 CFM ends up making enough of a difference.

That may be enough for sanding, but may not be enough/optimal for e.g. Kapex dust extraction-wise. You can even use it with the CT-SYS no issue. Just again, the max air volume you get may not be adequate for more heavy work - which CT-SYS is not designed for to begin.

I only have a DF 500 at the moment, but I can see myself eventually getting a TS 55 and maybe a Kapex and sander in the future. I'm not a production builder, just a hobbyist who is building more and more for myself, family, and friends. The Domino is a nice entry into the system and while my old Shop-Vac sort of works, I really like the extra features the CT line offers (Bluetooth, auto-on/off, noise levels, etc).

Maybe I'll just spend a little more and go with the CT 26. I don't need the extra capacity right now, but maybe I'll grow into it as my quantity of builds increases.

 

[4nthony]

I recently got the ct-va cyclone and fit on my new model midi. I had purchased the swivel adapter based on research prior to cyclone purchase but was not needed if you just reverse the 90 degree adapter onto the cyclone and straight adapter into the midi.

Which tools are you using it with and was there any noticeable decrease in performance?

 

[mino]

...
I only have a DF 500 at the moment, but I can see myself eventually getting a TS 55 and maybe a Kapex and sander in the future. I'm not a production builder, just a hobbyist who is building more and more for myself, family, and friends. The Domino is a nice entry into the system and while my old Shop-Vac sort of works, I really like the extra features the CT line offers (Bluetooth, auto-on/off, noise levels, etc).

Maybe I'll just spend a little more and go with the CT 26. I don't need the extra capacity right now, but maybe I'll grow into it as my quantity of builds increases.

For a hobby user, I would say a Mini + CT-VA is an excellent combination.

I say this as a CTM 36 AC + CT-VA hobby owner. *)

When I said that for Kapex you may want a CT26 it was more for the heavy user scenarios - e.g. a Mini + CT-VA dedicated to Kapex may no be optimal. There are people who dedicate a CT26 for Kapex with a 36mm hose just to get the most air volume possible. It was meant in that context. Mini will work fine for a hobby user there.

*) I went with my CTM because I wanted a "universal" vac:
- CTM due to wanting the flow sensor (if I need to work with asbestos etc. I can just pop-in H-class filters)
- 36 as the bag price is just slightly higher than 26 and I did not plan on mobility
- AC as I wanted to be able to use it for drywall and in general concrete/brick wall work
- I got a CT-VA to go along as to save on bags, after a year I am still on my first bag ...

IF, I did not need/want the universality, I would go with a Mini. Way cheaper, portable, and with a CT-VA a pretty economical choice for woodworking usage.

IF I still needed a universal vac, but did not want the asbestos H-class scenario safety, I would go with CTL 26 E AC + BT module instead. Getting a 36 for the big bags was a waste in retrospect given I got the CT-VA to address that.

 

[binettea]

I was facing this exact dilemma a few weeks ago and ended up with the CT-26. I really liked the smaller size factor of the mini/midi and lower price, but didn't want to go with the Dust Deputy Ultimate, mostly because it is not transparent and I liked the idea of seeing through the container as it needs to be emptied. If I knew I could have used the CT-VA hose to connect it to a midi/mini, i would have chosen that instead.

 

[benz240]

When I recently got the CT-VA, the hose that came with it had one right angled and one straight connector, and the length was perfect. I use it with both my CT MINI and CT MIDI.

 

[4nthony]

When I recently got the CT-VA, the hose that came with it had one right angled and one straight connector, and the length was perfect. I use it with both my CT MINI and CT MIDI.

That's great Would you mind posting a few photos of the MINI/MIDI with the CT-VA attached?

 

[benz240]

When I recently got the CT-VA, the hose that came with it had one right angled and one straight connector, and the length was perfect. I use it with both my CT MINI and CT MIDI.

That's great Would you mind posting a few photos of the MINI/MIDI with the CT-VA attached?