Dust Extractors for professionals...

[Electric Trim]

I'm curious to see how professionals on the forum that have at least 6 Festool items use their dust extractors.  I'm thinking about trim crews or small cabinet/millwork companies that have a crew size of anywhere from 2 to 5 guys.  When you're trying to pump out as much as you possibly can in a 8-10 hour work day, efficiency is incredibly important.  When you're workin at the house on the weekend (or all week long for you lucky retired guys), it should be fun and not so intense.  Even still, I'm sure there are some professional grade hobbyist on here that have some great input when it comes to efficiency, so please weigh in too!

In the shop and on the job site...

How many Dust Extractors do you own and utilize during the work day?

How many extractors do you wish you owned (okay... don't say 15, we know you want one for every tool)

Do you have "Y" adapters that you use on your extractors?

How many people do you normally have working with you and using your Festool gear?

What length of hose do you prefer if you've bought extra hose(s) other than what comes standard?

What is your favorite Dust Extractor model?

The main focus in this discussion is to see what number of dust extractors lends itself to the most efficiency.  As far as I'm concerned, not owning the proper tools (even if it's a $400-$600 dust extractor) costs you a certain dollar amount every day whether it's spent in time that you use cleaning up or time spent switching tools around on your dust machines (which I find myself doing a lot)

 

[Brice Burrell]

Great topic and I'm surprised it hasn't come up before. [thumbs up]  

I'm a remodeling contractor so most of my work is onsite.  I"ll be onsite with one or two other guys.  There's always some loss of efficiency a onsite no matter how well you can setup.  I have 3 Festool extractors, a CT Mini, CT 22 and CT 26.  The Ct 22 has a boom arm and it mostly stays at home.  The Mini goes to every job and recently the 26 seems to be going to most job too. Two extractors works reasonably well for me. When both vacs are on the job the Mini will pretty much stay attached to the Kapex and the 26 to the hand held tools.  There are always tools that don't seem to ever get hooked up to a vac, most non-Festool tools.  

I have the Y but I've never used it yet. Favorite vac, the 26 but the Mini is the most used.

My workspace at home I tend to only use the CT 22 but I'm working alone there.  It will be interesting to hear how other guys make all this work.    

 

[Electric Trim]

I'm really more interested in what you guys have to say but I'll answer for me to get the convo going.

I use a CT 36 and Mini.

I think owning at least 2 more dust extractors would be ideal especially on decent production jobs where we are using TS55, Domino, Kapex, Sanders and routers regularly.

I have a Y adapter that I put on my 36 when using it on my Kapex so that I can also run another tool at the cut area.  Thought this was a great idea, but dust extraction doesn't work near as well because the vac is pulling air through 2 openings so I'm thinking vac for each tool is better.

I have 3 guys that work for me (4 man crew, sometimes we'll have a fifth).  I would say it wouldn't be uncommon for 3 of us to have a power tool in our hands at any given time.

We own the hoses that came with the extractors plus one large diameter hose that just camps out on the Kapex and CT 36.

I personally like the Mini better than my 36 because it is so small, lightweight and fits in my truck easily so I can always have it with me.  Don't get me wrong the 36 gets the job done on the saws, but I don't like pulling it off the Kapex and moving it around a lot once I get the work area set up.

I think owning a vac that had more capacity than the mini would be good for the routers.  I'm thinking I'd like to get a Midi next.  Not sure how I feel about buying a CT 26 (since I already have a 36).  I feel like it's bulky enough to just get the 36 so I can own one less bag size.  I'm super excited to hear others' thoughts on this!

 

[upscale]

I have a Y adapter that I put on my 36 when using it on my Kapex so that I can also run another tool at the cut area.  Thought this was a great idea, but dust extraction doesn't work near as well because the vac is pulling air through 2 openings so I'm thinking vac for each tool is better.

I'm guessing there isn't some sort of blast gate attachment that can be connected close to the Y adapter?

 

[mastercabman]

Well for me it depends on where i am.If i'm on a "new construction" house,i don't use DC a whole lot.When i'm on a remodeling job that's a different story.
I use my vac a lot.I have 2 vacs, CT22 and FEIN turbo II.
Right now it's a little hard for me to haul both vacs.I used to havea trailer but sold it last year.So now i am limited with space in my truck.
The CT22 stays home for now and the Fein is doing all the work on jobsite.I would say that 2 vacs on the job should be fine.For me it would be 1 vac on the stationary saws/tools and 1 on power tools(sanders,ts55...).
I do plan on getting a van sometime soon,so then i should be able to take everything i need.
I do work by myself,and I DO NOT LET ANYONE USE MY TOOLS!!!!
I do not own the Y adapter,i don't know if i will ever need it.
As far as what favorite model,i have to say the CT22. 

 

[Electric Trim]

I had a feeling you would ask about that! lol  Yes it does have an attached plug, but I prefer blast gate, I think I'll start calling it that!

I have gotten to where I don't put it on anymore because I basically defeat the purpose in using it by not using 2 tools on it.

 

[Holzhacker]

3 - two for jobsites, one in the shop
One more
Yes - on the 36, one hose to the each of two power saws
1-3, However no one is allowed to use my personal set, don't even ask; Unless I really need you it will get you thrown off the job. If I really need you on the job it will be a harsh reprimand. Want to use Festool besides the CT, buy your own.
Haven't needed to buy longer hoses. I can see where it might be helpful depending on the work environment.
I still prefer my Fein Turbo unit over the Festool. If it weren't for Systainer transport, I probably would have bought more Fein's. Nothing wrong with the CT's I just like the Fein's better.
- Each crew needs its own DC
Hope that helps.

 

[Julian Tracy]

Why don't we get real and call them vacuums...

Anyways - I have two CT22's, one for the shop and one for onsite.
Had a Fein Turbo II and the one CT and liked the Fein better - it's quieter and more durable and the cord wraps easier and the bags are half the cost and larger.

But sold it when I found a great deal on a LN ct22 so that I'd get the VS and the systainer storage.
7 systainers on a CT at the end of the day on a job site makes for a clean looking professional setup and happy clients.

The Festool hose sucks though - why it's so small in diameter is just plain silly.

Julian

 

[upscale]

The Festool hose sucks though - why it's so small in diameter is just plain silly.

Not sure if you're aware, but between 27mm, 36mm and 50mm Festool hoses that are available, one should suit your needs. Or, are you thinking of some other diameter hose?

 

[Bill Chang]

I have a CT22 and a MINI, working onsite.  They get about the same use.  I carry the MINI with me because of the size.  For everything else the 22.

Thinking about getting a 36 when I get the OF 2200.

I have the Y but lack of blast gate means I still have to plug-unplug things because I run the D36 hoses on the 22 [tongue]

My favorite would be the CT22 (it is what I would buy if I could only have one).  The MINI is close second.

I work alone, my tools are for me.

 

[Mauri Motti]

I have a Y adapter that I put on my 36 when using it on my Kapex so that I can also run another tool at the cut area.  Thought this was a great idea, but dust extraction doesn't work near as well because the vac is pulling air through 2 openings so I'm thinking vac for each tool is better.

I'm guessing there isn't some sort of blast gate attachment that can be connected close to the Y adapter?

This is interesting, it shouldn't be to hard (for Festool that is) to design a Y piece that makes use of a valve that opens when a second tool kicks in and shuts when a second tool is being shut down to keep the dust extraction reasonable.. interesting..

 

[meatman]

I have a CT22 and a Mini when I ame making something that needs a lot of tools i plug them all in at the same time I use a trailing lead with six or eight outlets on that is plugged into the vacuum so all I have to do is just unplug the hose from the back of the particular tool and then plug into which ever I need to use next
This system seem to work well and is quite fast but you do have a tangle of leads at the end of the day I normally leave the CT 22 fixed permanently to the CMS with the saw or the router module that is where I use the "Y" piece

 

[AlexThePalex]

I got the 26 and the Mini and lately I find myself more and more in the situation where I have both hooked up to something even though I work alone. The 26 mostly stays stationary with the Precisio and I move the Mini around the place with all other tools. Generally I prefer the Mini because it's easier to move around and has enough suction and bag size for most jobs, but for some jobs the higher suction of the 26 is indispensable and therefore I wouldn't want to be without it either.

Y splitter? Ridiculous thing. Pointless. Don't get me wrong, it's good you can get one if you've got one of those special set ups that really needs one, but most people won't ever need one. Brice only has one because he's one of those addicts that needs to have every single Festool item, even if he doesn't use it.  [wink]

 

[ccarrolladams]

I own a wholesale-only custom cabinet shop, so I personally do not lead a crew doing installs.

I have 6 cabinet makers working full-time, plus a receptionist/office manager. Bookkeeping is done by a contract service.

My shop has a large installed dust collection system for the fixed machine, as well as miter saw shrouds behind the 2 Kapex, a 10" miter saw and an 18" Radial arm saw. Each of those Kapex has a dedicated CT22 with 36mm AS hose. A third Kapex is on a rolling stand we built into which a CT22 sits. It has a 36mm AS hose to the Kapex.

We have 5 4'x10' work, cutting, assembly tables, each with 20mm on 96mm MFT-style holes. 4 of those have dedicated CT22 while the other has a CT36. One of the CT22 has a Festool boom arm with a 36mm x5m AS hose. This is dedicated to the table we primarily use for cutting odd angles on plywood ith guide rails and TS55. For the other work tables we have cradles suspended from spring-reels which serve as boom arms. Normally those have 27mm x 5m AS hose for use with sanders, but we own several other 36mm x 5m AS hose in case we need to use an OF1400 or OF2200 router on those tables.

My theory is that every one of us using tools needs a personal CT. Because the work room of my shop is 62' x 200' we have a bolted down Kapex on each long wall. The idea is so we do not keep walking all over the shop. The one on the rolling stand moves where ever it is needed.

All the large tools (The CNC nested router, the beam saw and the big slider saw) are in a line along the long east wall in direct line to the plant DC system. The shaper, joiner, thickness planer and band saws are in the same line closer to the DC. The CNC router is next to the big door so it is close to the plywood and limber storage area.

 

[Brice Burrell]

...Y splitter? Ridiculous thing. Pointless. Don't get me wrong, it's good you can get one if you've got one of those special set ups that really needs one, but most people won't ever need one. Brice only has one because he's one of those addicts that needs to have every single Festool item, even if he doesn't use it.  [wink]

You're right, I have to get one of everything. [big grin] I was thinking I'd use it with two sanders, somehow that never happened.  I'd guess, it would work fine with sanders, beyond that I'm not so sure.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I own a wholesale-only custom cabinet shop, so I personally do not lead a crew doing installs....

Yeah, but when did you first get into Festool tools?? I'm kidding, it's just one of the very few posts of yours that doesn't start off with: "Back in January of 2006..."  [big grin] 

As always Carroll good post, I appreciate the thought out responses you provide us. [thumbs up]

 

[campbellcraft]

I use my y all of the time. Usually with some clean up attachment on one of the hoses.

I do use a blastgate from Loc-line.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I use my y all of the time. Usually with some clean up attachment on one of the hoses.

I do use a blastgate from Loc-line.

You got pics of that blast gate setup??

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

I have a Y adapter that I put on my 36 when using it on my Kapex so that I can also run another tool at the cut area.  Thought this was a great idea, but dust extraction doesn't work near as well because the vac is pulling air through 2 openings so I'm thinking vac for each tool is better.

I'm guessing there isn't some sort of blast gate attachment that can be connected close to the Y adapter?

This is interesting, it shouldn't be to hard (for Festool that is) to design a Y piece that makes use of a valve that opens when a second tool kicks in and shuts when a second tool is being shut down to keep the dust extraction reasonable.. interesting..

Vote #2 for a blastgate. I use a Y adapter and the vac looses MUCHO power when using it. I would love a blastgate style adapter!

We have
1 ct 26   

1 clarke cav 

and the big boy 

The 26 is for installation,edgers buffers orbitals.
cav is for edgers buffers orbital
big boy is for bug machine and edgers.

oh yeah and 3 of these

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

Y splitter? Ridiculous thing. Pointless. Don't get me wrong, it's good you can get one if you've got one of those special set ups that really needs one, but most people won't ever need one. Brice only has one because he's one of those addicts that needs to have every single Festool item, even if he doesn't use it.  [wink]
[/quote]

Talk about ridiculous. How about your statement.  [tongue]
Have you ever set up shop on a jobsite before? If so I think youd understand the need for a splitter.
When pressed for time i hardly think running over to switch hoses from the miter saw to the table saw is in anyones best interest.
With the y splitter you just either and dont have to worry about switching hoses.

Scheesh. Almost as ridiculous as the "small hose" comment.

Ever run up a set of stairs with the hose and power cord dangling? Well let me tell you when using a 3.5" orbital, that small hose blows the bigger hoses out of the water.