First Festool Purchase - convince me the CT is worth getting?

BarBuilder

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2011
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88
So - I'm about to take the plunge and drink a rather large glass of GREEN kool-aid. I have my shopping list pretty much set and so far,  it includes the following:

1. A TS55 (and possibly the package deal with a CT dust extractor either a mini, midi or CT26)
2. A 2700mm rail for ripping plywood
3. A set of the parallel guides for the rails
4. a set of the quick clamps for the rails

My primary function will be chopping up BB and veneer ply for cabinets and other projects. I am a former owner of a competitors brand track saw - which had many flaws that I simply could not live with. I made the mistake of going to my local Woodcraft store to try out what i believed at the time to be a grossly overpriced TS55. Boy was I wrong! I discovered that tool is a Porsche in a world of Yugo's.  That being said, I am having difficulty coming to terms with paying >$400 in the package deal price for a CT dust extractor which I initially perceive as not much more than a fancy shop-vac (but I've been wrong before - read previous comment). Please offer your input on this matter and convince me that I can't live without the CT too. Tell me why my existing shop vac is inadequate for the task of trailing the TS55 to eat its dust OR tell me i'll be fine without it. I'm interested to hear the groups opinion on the matter. Thanks in advance for your input.

 
Go and play with them at your local store... that should convince you!
For me it was the noise level, the dust collection, system integration and that they are tool triggered.
Anyhow, I ended up with two CT Mini for there size, but are now working for someone else again and we are running a CTL26. I love them all!
 
Festools are a SYSTEM.  Oh sure, any Festool you pickup is going to thoroughly impress you unlike you could have never expected,  but to realize the true potential and greatness these can really achieve,  the system should be used.
where are you located?
perhaps there are some members closeby that might allow a shop visit???
I'm in SW Florida and I welcome anyone interested to contact me for an appointment to meet.  I don't get offered anything for this, but I feel so strongly about Festool that I will gladly show another Trades Person the advantages of these remarkable tools.
they are worth every penny,  and you will never regret buying a Festool,  BUT!  if you do,  there is the 30 day -no hassle return policy...

Definitely pickup a CT if it is within your means.  You are obviously using this to make a living, correct?
(that is the impression I got, anyway...)
many of us,  on here were reluctant to part with so much $$$ for one of these tools at first,  but once you break-down and give in, you are going to quickly know why so many here are so brand loyal,  to the point,  that even after using some of my most trusted tools for over 20yrs Professional service (PC Porta Plane,  ) and some for nearly that long (various top shelf routers, sanders and the like)  I now am proud to say I use nothing BUT Festool.  as do many many others here on FOG and throughout the World in general.

Besides the CT, you might want to consider the MFT3 table set with a pr of clamping elements,  and as for your plywood cutting needs,  you'll be receiving a 55" rail along with your TS55,  adding another 55" rail,  but one with the LR32 holes might be a worthwhile consideration,  as opposed to shelling out for the long ripping rail,  because the rails can be added together, and do so very quickly, easily and DEAD STRAIGHT...
standard 55" rail + another 55" LR32 rail will offer you the foundation for a 32mm hole drilling system  - when you later add on a OF1010 or OR1400 to your Festool Herd.  
It also costs much less than the LONG rail you are looking at, and will be a lot easier to transport  -just my opinion...  check it out for yourself and see what works for you  8)
I won't go into all the details about the CT's, as I am sure you have already read plenty about this...  as for describing how well they work,  -it really can't be explained in words to be fully appreciated.  you really need to test drive some Festools (as a System) ,  plain and simple!

 
Convince you huh?

Look into my eyes ...

LOOK INTO MY EYES ...

You're getting very sleepy ...

Now - when I snap my fingers, you will wake up wanting a Festool CT.

SNAP!!!

worked on me  [big grin]
 
I bought a CT22 when I bought my TS55 about 3 years ago and I can't imagine using my regular shop vac for that purpose.  Also if you get a Festool sander you will thank yourself for already having the CT.  I love the Festool vacs so much I just got a new Midi to use with my Kapex.
 
BarBuilder said:
So - I'm about to take the plunge and drink a rather large glass of GREEN kool-aid. I have my shopping list pretty much set and so far,  it includes the following:

1. A TS55 (and possibly the package deal with a CT dust extractor either a mini, midi or CT26)
2. A 2700mm rail for ripping plywood
3. A set of the parallel guides for the rails
4. a set of the quick clamps for the rails

My primary function will be chopping up BB and veneer ply for cabinets and other projects. I am a former owner of a competitors brand track saw - which had many flaws that I simply could not live with. I made the mistake of going to my local Woodcraft store to try out what i believed at the time to be a grossly overpriced TS55. Boy was I wrong! I discovered that tool is a Porsche in a world of Yugo's.  That being said, I am having difficulty coming to terms with paying >$400 in the package deal price for a CT dust extractor which I initially perceive as not much more than a fancy shop-vac (but I've been wrong before - read previous comment). Please offer your input on this matter and convince me that I can't live without the CT too. Tell me why my existing shop vac is inadequate for the task of trailing the TS55 to eat its dust OR tell me i'll be fine without it. I'm interested to hear the groups opinion on the matter. Thanks in advance for your input.

Hi Bar Builder and  [welcome] to FOG,

Okay, you have an impressive shopping list.

1.  The TS55 is an ideal plunge saw for breaking down sheet material leaving a glue ready cut. All current Festool CT from Mini up to CT48 have the same fan and motor, so they all can move the same amount of air. What you need to keep in mind is that the Festool system is based on safety, including air quality. So the various CT are designed to effectively extract dust and chips from Festools. By the same token, Festools are designed to work with the air flow produced by the CT. Not only does this keep the dust out of the way, it also cools the tools. I bought a CT at the same time as my first TS55. I have friends who did not use any extraction with their TS55 because they were working outside. My 2006 TS55 still earns me money every day. TS55 owned by friends who did not use extraction have all required extensive service although hardly used.

2.  My first long rail was the 2700mm. At the time I did not own a truck with a lumber rack. I measured my condo and discovered that if I bought the 3000mm rail I could not walk around it in my smaller work room, so I bought the 2700mm, which my dealer delivered. The day after I bought a truck with a lumber rack I picked up a 3000mm rail, which does speed up the long cuts on sheet material. Besides those two long rails back then I also owned 3 of the 1400mm rails (two coupled and one for cross cuts) and a 1080mm LR32 rail. Beside your long rail you will need at least a 1400mm rail, one of which is part of the TS55 deal.

3. The parallel guides save a bunch of time, especially with the long cuts breaking down sheets. They do need room at both ends, which is another reason for the 3000mm instead of the 2700mm rail. While buying your parallel guides, be sure to include the extensions. Even when you are not ripping narrow pieces, those extensions sure help keep the set in place on the sheet material.

4.  Quick clamps are very handy. Unfortunately there are situations where the conventional screw clamps are more effective. Also the screw clamps are available in longer version. I use those when working on a stack of sheet material, with a thin sacrificial layer protecting the next sheet down. The saving in frustration makes those longer screw clamps worth the money.

Assuming you do decide to buy a CT, then buy a 36mm anti-static hose. The 27mm AS hose comes with the CT, and you will need that for sanders, etc. However, the 36mm AS hose collects dust better from the TS55 and also does not get hung up on the rail as easily. The deflector helps tame the hose and power cord. There are two different kinds of limit stops for the rails. You will need at least one of each. I also highly recommend using a cover plate (cat 491 750) to make your dust collection even better.
 
On a more serious not ...

I started off with nothing more than an ETS 150/5 and a CT Mini. It all worked well, stacked/stored nicely ... was always easy to get out and use again. I never thought about buying Festool stuff for years after that - then the other day I had a need to get the old Hitachi compound mitre saw out - but it was dead.

Hunting round I decided on getting a Kapex (there's some knockers of the Kapex on this forum, but for me - the wheel it round, set it up in 2 minutes flat thing was worth its value in my time saved). Dust collection from a sander is a big step away from what comes out of a TS55 or a Kapex - now I've got a CT36. It all stacks, it all integrates, it all "just works".

Since the Kapex a little while ago, I've been "collecting" grey boxes - I'll probably go for an MFT/3, another CT and a boom arm shortly ... as soon as I make some space.

Seriously, we can't convince you - you have to see value in the broader benefits of how everything works together, the reliability and quality, etc all by yourself. All I can say is I saw the value and even though I'm just a DIYer, it's made doing things both a lot more enjoyable and also something I don't try to avoid.

I will be frank and say that for an individual function, you may find a tool that works better than a similar Festool - but I don't think you'll find a brand that is as consistently good across the entire range ... that's probably why I'm happy now just to buy a Festool tool if they make the doodad I want.
 
IMO, the core of the Festool system are the vacs. The tools are excellent on their own.  Hook 'em to a Festool vac and they really excel.

There a few other vacs, like the Fein vacs, which are very good too. If you had one of those, you'd be fine.  These high-level vacs have excellent suction, are high quality, and are quiet.  But that's about it. 

The Festool vacs stand out because of the systemness and flexibility. You can add many options to fine tune them to your needs.  How many companies have over 100 ACCESSORIES for the vacs: http://www.festoolusa.com/accessories/dust-extractors

IMO the single best accessory is the boom arm.  As I described in this review (with pics) it is one of those that you don't appreciate until after you have it!  http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/festool-reviews/75-boom-arm-review.html 

Regards,

Dan.
 
Thank you all for the responses - you are confirming what I suspected when I wrote my original post, that there would be overwhelming support of acquiring a CT dust extractor from the get go. Clearly I was leaning that way as well and didn't really need much "convincing". I guess if all else fails and I find that I haven't received the value I was expecting, I can either return it in 30 days for a refund or just sell it. (seems like used Festool stuff retains much of its original value and rarely sells cheaply on either eBay or Craigslist) I have little doubt that these tools won't live up to expectations. When I see Tom Silva on TOH use them repeatedly without a paid endorsement for doing so - that says a lot. 
 
Dear Barbuilder

I have everything on your shopping list and I have the CTL 26. The tools are brilliant (of course) but the CT is part of what makes them so good. Dust collection, with HEPA compliance, is superb and it is so rugged. Take a look at another thread where some joinery company knock around a pair of CTs, even letting them fall down the stairs and not looking after them at all - they just kept going and going.

Worth every penny.

Peter
 
I am late to this party, but once I got my CT22 to supplement my shop vac I found that I actually enjoyed using dust collection.  The convenience and the low noise made using it a joy versus always contemplating whether or not it was worth listening to my banshee screaming shop vac.

I personally will always have more than one shop vac / dust collector.  One (non-Festool) for the gross hideous stuff and then a Festool for my cutting, routing, sanding, etc.

Peter

 
Hi you do not need to be convinced of anything as Shane points out on a regular basis you can try the machine yourself and if its not for you,
then  return it for a full refund within the 30 days [cool]
 
JeromeM said:
Sorry not correct.
The Midi & Mini can do 99 max CFM
The others can do 134 max CFM  about 1/3rd more air
http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/fes_ct_brochure_web.pdf

Jerome,

As Shane and many of us have discussed, subsequent to publication of the Festool USA 2011/2012 catalog, there were changes made to the Mini and Midi.

Current versions of those have HEPA filters standard. They also have the larger motors.

The disadvantage to using the Mini and Midi with the TS55 is the way the hose connects.
 
Also look at the last page of the CT brochure and it says 3/08, three years before the upgrade to the smaller two CT's.  It didn't mention HEPA either for the small vacs which is a point of pride for the line that wouldn't go without mention.

If you like the cut quality on the demo for the TS 55 then why would you want to spend so much time on cleanup rather than keep working?  Since getting my Ro90 the only dust I need clean up is from the tablesaw throwing dust everywhere.  Once I get the TS55 for myself I plan on working on projects rather than how much time cleaning up afterwards.  The upgraded CT Mini was my first Festool and mounted a Dust Deputy on top, so I won't need to replace bags and makes vacuuming the garage floor much easier.

The TS 55 comes with a 55" rail, so if you get another 55" rail and connectors it will be long enough to rip 8' plywood sheets, and save on the cost difference of the long rail.  use the difference on a Dust deputy and save on bags in the long run.  With that said with all CTs using the same motor you don't necessarily have to get much more than a mini or midi and just empty the dd bucket.
 
JeromeM said:
ccarrolladams said:
1.  The TS55 is an ideal plunge saw for breaking down sheet material leaving a glue ready cut.
I agree.
All current Festool CT from Mini up to CT48 have the same fan and motor, so they all can move the same amount of air.
Sorry not correct.
The Midi & Mini can do 99 max CFM
The others can do 134 max CFM  about 1/3rd more air
http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/fes_ct_brochure_web.pdf

I just bought a Midi after some confusion check this thread and I'll confirm it pulls more air than my old Turbo II. Great vac, not quite as quiet as the Fein but almost.

BarBuilder, if you don't already have a really good auto-start vac you really need to consider the combo and add a Dust Deputy. It'll save it's price in bags in no time.

HTH,
Bill
 
Dangerous waters you are about to enter.  Once you go green, it's hard to go back. I bought the TS 55 first,  now I have a LOT of green tools.  $15K ish

Get the 3000 rail, you'll be glad you did...perfect length for ripping sheet goods in conjunction with the parallel guides.  I'm not a fan of connecting rails together unless I absolutely have to.  Pain to set up and move around.  The seam between rails always seems to get caught on the bottom of the TS 55, too.

I have both the CT26 and CT36.  The only difference I notice is capacity.  The CT36 gets pretty heavy when full.  If I could only have one, it would be the CT26.  Yes, pricey, but a great tool.

You'll eventually want an MFT for cutting rips to length.  I have (2) MFT/3's ganged together end to end and it makes a great cross cutting station.  I rip cabinet parts to width on the bench and slide them over to the MFT's to cut to length.  I use a quick clamp for an end stop for repetitive cuts.  (The flip stop that comes with the MFT has too much give for the weight of 3/4" sheet goods.) Once you get the rail on the MFT dialed in, parts are perfectly square, everytime.  I use the Quas Dogs too.

I love the quick clamps for use with the MFT, but I rarely clamp the rails down when cutting.  There is usually enough friction to hold them in place on their own.  I use the clamps a lot for other purposes.

Welcome to the club...it's expensive, but worth it.  Only the wise dare to join...

 
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