Dust collection systems differences

[Finleyville]

Hello all!

I was smitten with the RO125 and slowly wish to add to my Festool collection.  My next purchase will probably be DC.  Here are my needs:

1) I am a VERY occasional woodworker without a dedicated workshop.  I have to pull my cars out of my garage just to set ANYTHING up to work.
2) I need tools that are compact and mobile for closet storage.
3) The CD needs to work with non-Festool tools and able to take MDF dust as well.
4) As with anyone price is a factor.  The deal-breaker to justify the cost of the RO125 for me is that it can do 3 tools' jobs well and save space and ultimately money.

Since I do not woodwork very much a smaller collection system will work fine and fit in my already full garage closet. 

Besides capacity what are the other major differences between the CT mini, CT midi, and the CT22?

 

[Brice Burrell]

Fin,
The mini and the midi use non HEPA filters and have a little less suction, but are still great vacs. If money is a problem, you may be better servered with a shopvac and a Festool hose.

 

[Ned]

...you may be better served with a shopvac and a Festool hose.

Only true if you include a CleanStream filter and ear protection. 

And don't forget variable speed.  Being able to control the suction and the noise is a great advantage.

Ned

 

[Finleyville]

Brice, nice to see a fellow 'Burgh'er here! 

Ear protection is not a problem.  I will have to research this Cleanstream Filter.

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi Finleyville,

When making any investment I think it is important to look to the future, not just to the present, for an idea of return on that investment.  In the case of this choice your "return" will come from the pride of accomplishment as you build more things for your home and the knowledge that you are taking better care of your health, both very critical factors for you and your family.  Those have little to do with your present situation which forces placing a premium on compactness or  that your current occasional use moves you towards minimising the cost of the DC.  My guess is if you look even a few years down stream you will invision a time when space will be a bit less of an issue, when you might enjoy doing more hands on stuff around the house, and when you would have forgotten the difference in price between these three anyway.  That said, my suggestion would strongly be for the CT22 because of its superior HEPA filtration, greater flexibility and the ability to use larger hoses as your needs change.  Your lungs and the lungs of your family will be glad you did over the years.  I have and enjoy the mini .... or rather I should say my wife who obsconded with it day two enjoys the mini.... but the CT22 and CT33 are the work horse units in my studio and would be no matter how much or how little space I had available.  Hope this helps.

Jerry

Hello all!

I was smitten with the RO125 and slowly wish to add to my Festool collection.  My next purchase will probably be DC.  Here are my needs:

1) I am a VERY occasional woodworker without a dedicated workshop.  I have to pull my cars out of my garage just to set ANYTHING up to work.
2) I need tools that are compact and mobile for closet storage.
3) The CD needs to work with non-Festool tools and able to take MDF dust as well.
4) As with anyone price is a factor.  The deal-breaker to justify the cost of the RO125 for me is that it can do 3 tools' jobs well and save space and ultimately money.

Since I do not woodwork very much a smaller collection system will work fine and fit in my already full garage closet. 

Besides capacity what are the other major differences between the CT mini, CT midi, and the CT22?

 

[Michael Kellough]

The CT 22 is larger, heavier, tougher, pulls more air through per second, and has a larger debris holding capacity than the smaller vacs.

The CT Midi is the same as the mini except that it is taller and has a larger debris holding capacity than the Mini.

I'd get the CT Midi.

 

[Ned]

I agree with Jerry, and tend toward a CT22 because it's the smallest/least expensive with the HEPA filter.

An advantage of all of the Festool vacs is that they are quiet enough that they are welcome anytime in the living quarters, for ordinary household cleaning.  I got a separate set of tools for house use.  That wouldn't be necessary if you used the vac strictly for woodworking in the shop, but I clean up all kinds of messes and didn't want to risk the sofa upholstery.

Ned

 

[Amateur]

Finleyville,
Go for the CT22 w/ HEPA. Great Vac.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I agree with Jerry and the others who recommend thinking longer range getting a CT-22 - buy once, the best you can get, and enjoy the benefits for a lifetime.  Festool and Fein were unknown in USA when I started with a Craftsman 16 Gallon shop vac which made a lot of noise and put a lot of dust back into the air, and its filter partially clogged almost immediately starting to use it.  And getting shocked by static electricity everytime I swept up the garage floor was no fun, either.  You'll appreciate the CT-22 more as you use it and your other [future] Festools.

Dave R.