Festool CTL Midi dust extractor help!

[dannydubster]

Hi all,
Im new to Festool and reading all the reviews i thought Festool is the way to go, so i have brought Festool carvex jigsaw, 120 Kapex mitre saw and CTL midi dust extractor.

When using the dust extractor with my tools i was expecting far better results so i must doing something wrong as it don't seem to be sucking up the dust very well at all just put it this way there is far more dust on the floor and sides than is going into the extractor???  [eek]

There is great suction coming from the hose but its not sucking up the dust when using the tools, any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Iv tried fitting the hose in different ways but with the Kaypex there is only one way to fit the hose to the saw and that is to just push it in, unlike the carvex where you line up the arrows push then twist to lock the hose in, am i correct?

Help needed, i can't even get the simple things right... Derrrrrrrrrr!  :

 

[leakyroof]

The smaller 27mm hose that comes with the Vacs isn't the best one for a Kapex or other Miter Saw. Try a 36mm hose instead. Yes, it won't have the 90 degree fitting that your stock MIDI hose has, but should still plug into the Vac inlet hole okay.
For the Carvex, I'd have to see a picture of your Jigsaw set-up and what material you're cutting with it to begin to understand why you're not getting the dust up from a cut with that tool. The 27mm hose would be the correct hose for that tool though...

 

[dannydubster]

Thanks for the advice pal.
Not a happy bunny when FFX tools here in the UK advised me this extractor and now i may need to buy another hose £177 to make it work. Is this deffo the problem with my extractor? as its been snowing saw dust today here in the UK and its summer time!  [tongue]

 

[Doug S]

The way you cut with the Kapex makes a big difference to dust collection. You must pull the blade towards you above the timber then plunge it down in front of timber then make the cut by pushing the blade back through timber. This fires all the dust in to the dust boot. Once you start cutting bevels and mitres the extraction does get a bit random. I find the extraction better then other saws even using the smaller hose.

Can't comment on carvex as don't own one.

The midi is a great little extractor.

Doug

 

[Mark Johnson]

This maybe obvious, but as you are new to Festool vacuums, check that suction power knob is on full.  If you are not used to it or just glance at it, its not always obvious and can you think its on full, but actually its on minimum.

 

[dannydubster]

Cheers Fella's

Power is on full but i agree Mark its got to be something obvious, well i hope it is.

Il try the mitre saw cut you suggested Doug and see what happens but all the video's on You Tube i watched before buying the tools the extraction of dust looked so good not matter what the cut or what saw you use, i don't want saw dust boggis coming out my nose all the time when I'm working  [unsure] reason why i brought Festool

 

[Gary Sosa]

I would suggest, at minimum, a respirator fitted with P100 particulate filters when performing woodworking operations, dust extraction notwithstanding. The amount of dust that escapes even the best collection is hazardous when inhaled, no question. I opted for a Bosch miter saw and use a Rousseau 5000 dust collection tent with a 4" flex hose connected to an Oneida dust collection system installed with 7" main trunk, as well as my CT 36. Still lots of dust, so I wear a Versaflo HIK-600 (requ'd for altitude in the Rockies or I'd use the 300). It's amazing how much dust is generated, extracted, collected, and missed by even the best systems.

The Kapex and Carvex, from what I have read, are the least efficient in the Festool stable where dust is concerned. I have Festool router, Domino, track saw, and sander and am very impressed and aware of the limitations.

 

[rdr]

I'm new to festool and have a CTL Midi. So far its proved excellent for extraction on TS55, OF1010 with 27mm hose. I tried it on my Evolution mitre saw and it didn't fare as well as the dedicated Henry I use for it, I put down to the hose diameter.

Have you got another extractor or even a vacuum to test and see if you get better or worse? might help to start ruling things out.