Differences between CTL 36 AC and CTL 36 HD AC?

[dnnber]

Hello!

I'm considering buying a CTL 36 AC cleaner, I'm just not sure about the differences between the HD and non-HD models. I understand that the included accessoires are a bit different (e.g. the HD comes with the closing slide, the non-HD model with SYS-dock).

The most interesting difference I could find, which is the reason I would choose the HD model, is that it comes with the 36mm instead of the 27mm hose. I will use the cleaner primarily with a KAPEX 120 and Bosch GTS 10, so the 36mm hose should be more effective?

Are there any differences in the cleaning / filtering performance, or is it the exact same technology? Is the non-HD model a newer version, and the HD version old? Or why is Festool offering these very similar models; are the included accessoires the only difference?

Thanks!

 

[Frank-Jan]

I was planning to get the ctl 26 HD AC for quite some time, and I finally got one last week.

The cleaning/filtering performance is exactly the same, only bodyparts and the scope of delivery is different.

I think the HD stands for Heavy Duty.
It used to be the Protool version of the vacuum,  (Protool was the brand TTS used to cater for the "rougher" construction type work, while festool was more finish carpentry/ painting oriented; a few years ago they decided to get rid of the protool brandname, and some tools switched to festool branding, like the pdc drills, the collated screwgun, the swordsaw,..; some others got discontinued)

The main difference is that the HD version doesn't have the hose-garage, and you have to get an accessory to attach systainers to the top of the vac (And when I ordered mine, there wasn't a T-loc version available yet).

It does have some other features; The top is completely flat, which is handy to put stuff down while working, it's also a bit lower, because of the missing hose garage. It has a fold-down metal wire frame on the front, where you can hang the hose around, and it comes standard with a little accessory storage bin for the back, with a single hook to hang the cord from, and a recess to clip the part with the plug in, where the non HD version has two more pronounced hooks to wrap the cord around (and in the recently updated version, one of those can swivel, to more easily remove the cord).

The 36mm standard hose is also a major advantage, as you pointed out already.
The new smooth hose is very flexible, and I regret not ordering the 36 to 27mm adapter with it when I got the vac. (in the past I couldn't see the benefit of such an adapter for me, because I have a bunch of hoses, and when I needed to use a tool with the 27 mm connection, I would just switch hoses, because the bigger hoses where less practical in use, but with the more flexible new hose I think it is a handy accessory to have.)
The hose garage has been a weak point of the festool vaccuums, because they tended to break easily; with the recent update when they added the T-loc they made it a bit stronger, but time will tell (I have one of those updated hose garages on my CTL 26 (which is the 4th hose garage for that vac since I got it in 2010)

I haven't used it a lot, but so far I'm very pleased with it, my previous vac with automatic filtercleaning is an old spit ac1600 (made by starmix), and it only cleans the filter when you pause your work, this one does it while you're working aswell, and the filtercleaning is WAY less noisy. (The newer starmix version also clean the filter during use, but I haven't heard them in action yet).

Allthough I forgot to order the 27 mm toolend adapter, and I skipped on the systainerdock;  I DID order the bluetooth remote accessory, and I like it.

 

[dnnber]

Thanks Frank-Jan, that has been very very helpful!

 

[Gregor]

I would read the HD as 'high density' as it's taking way less space (as of the missing hose dock).