For CT Vacuums: Best floor cleaner?

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Cableaddict

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I use my CT36 for general cleaning as well as for sanding, etc.

I'm looking for a really good "sweeper head" or whatever, for cleaning dust & debris off of hard (wood, concrete) floors.

It's REALLY hard to get fine concrete dust off of a concrete floor.  Ideally, it would have spring-loaded brushes, and maybe replaceable ones.    -  maybe even a spinning head? - or would that get worn down?

Any good suggestions? 
 
Cableaddict said:
I'm looking for a really good "sweeper head" or whatever, for cleaning dust & debris off of hard (wood, concrete) floors.
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I bought the compact cleaning set and added a dusting ball to it. That's what I use in my apartment. All hardwood floors and it works fine. Can't offer any suggestion for concrete dust though.
 
The best one would be a brush style head. I dont think any of the Festool heads would be good for concrete dust though.
I would get the best wand and head to suit the task(non festool), and then make your hose fit the wand end.
 
Back in January 2006 when I bought my first TS55 and CT22, the next day I was talking to a long-time Festool user. He told me he always uses the 36mm AS hose with his own TS55. I live in a condo and in those days I supervised a shift which ended at 4:30 A.M. Daily I would return home still so amped up from work I could not sleep. I had a nearly new Miele home vacuum, but I was afraid my neighbors would hear it in the middle of the night.

What I did was buy the Tradesperson/Installer Cleaning set (cat 497 700) because it includes a 36mm x 5m AS hose. My condo is carpeted in most areas, so I added the Plastic Turbo Suction Brush (cat 450 644) because it works so effectively cleaning carpet, so long as I use the 36mm hose. On the few areas of my condo with vinyl or hardwood floors, that Turbo brush works as well.

Someone on FOG mentioned he uses the Turbo brush with the 36mm hose to clean up concrete and cement dust. I have no such dust so I never have tried that.
 
I use a CT 26 with the Tradesman cleaning set in the shop. We also use a CT MINI with the Universal cleaning set and Turbo Suction Brush in the house. I like the forgiving, plastic tubes much more where things can easily be damaged. That is also why I take the Universal cleaning set when I go on site for interior jobs.

I'm always using a 36mm hose when cleaning, either AS or not - I don't think it really makes a difference when just cleaning. The 27mm hoses restrict the airflow on the Festool CT's, which is good when sanding but not when cleaning.

One note of maintenance about the Turbo Suction Brush... It can get a lot of hair wrapped up on the brush's spinning bar. Periodically, I cut/pull that out because it can make the brush progressively less effective.

Tom
 
ccarrolladams said:
...
What I did was buy the Tradesperson/Installer Cleaning set (cat 497 700) because it includes a 36mm x 5m AS hose. My condo is carpeted in most areas, so I added the Plastic Turbo Suction Brush (cat 450 644) because it works so effectively cleaning carpet, so long as I use the 36mm hose. On the few areas of my condo with vinyl or hardwood floors, that Turbo brush works as well.
...
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, both the Tradesman/Installer and Workshop Cleaning Sets come with D36 x 3.5mm antistatic hoses.  The Universal Cleaning Set is listed as including the non-antistatic D36 x 3.5mm hose, while the Industrial Cleaning Set has the larger, but shorter non-antistatic D50 x 2.5mm hose.

If not upgrading your hose with the purchase of a CT, one of these cleaning sets is a great way to go.  I have the Workshop Cleaning Set, and the the floor sweep included with that set is the nicest floor sweep that I've ever owned.
 
Definitely look at the Miele SBB 400 head BMH linked to, or the slightly smaller SBB 300. By far the best head I've used for uncarpeted surfaces and fits the metal Festool tubes perfectly, as do all Miele attachments.
 
I have made it a policy to only buy AS Festool hose. I have yet to need a more flexible hose, but every hose might on a given day need to be used with a tool.

Just as there is an International Standard for the nominal 50mm Vac connection, there are other standards for the connection of cleaning tools to vac wands. Festool and Miele follow those standards.

I have no personal experience with hair clogging any of my Turbo brushes, It is no secret that I am balding, not to the extend of "The Sedge" but still, I do not shed a lot. Also, I have no pets.

In the 1960s and '70s my late wife and I raised giant anteaters. Only rarely did they stay in the house. Anteaters make little noise and there hair is coarse so it does not shed.
 
bionicus said:
Definitely look at the Miele SBB 400 head BMH linked to, or the slightly smaller SBB 300. By far the best head I've used for uncarpeted surfaces and fits the metal Festool tubes perfectly, as do all Miele attachments.
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This is good to know! I own a Meile Capricorn, it's THE greatest residential vacuum on the planet. Good to know I can use the floor tool with my Midi! I would say though the Meile FLoor tool is a little refined to be sucking up shop refuse, the hair on it is horse hair. But it would do the job very well. We have hardwood in our house and no idea how we would clean them without that attachment. I do think it would hold up to some abuse.
 
+1 on the Workshop Cleaning Set - I agree with Corwin -- this is a great kit and works well in the shop and low-pile carpet.

Scot
 
skids said:
This is good to know! I own a Meile Capricorn, it's THE greatest residential vacuum on the planet. Good to know I can use the floor tool with my Midi! I would say though the Meile FLoor tool is a little refined to be sucking up shop refuse, the hair on it is horse hair. But it would do the job very well. We have hardwood in our house and no idea how we would clean them without that attachment. I do think it would hold up to some abuse.
Click to expand...

My Miele Aquarius does a great job with the SBB 400 head on the wooden portion of my floors.  The SBB 236 powered brush head does wonders on carpet, but needs a very serious cleaning frequently due to the hair and dander left by three large dogs (German Shepherds and a Lab).  I've often wondered how my Mini would perform with the Festool turbo head in the same application. 

 
Great ideas, folks, thanks.

Naturally, this just raises more questions:

I had looked at the Festool 450644 Turbo Suction Brush, but I can't tell if the brushes are spring loaded,  if they are height-adjustable, or if they are replaceable.

All of these things would be important to me in a $110 head.

-  The non-spinning head in the festool compact kit seems to has interchangeable surfaces (thanks, tjbnwi) but I'd rather have a separate squeegee, etc.

tjbnwi,  do you lose much suction with that wand? I was considering a D50 hose, with a 2.5" wand for less loss, then adapting down to a narrower tool for increased air speed. - but I'm probably being overly picky now.  Big wands are a PITA.

----------

Upscale,  What is a "dusting ball?"

------------
BMH,  Yeah, I've seen the industrial nozzle.  I just don't know anything about it.  Hence this thread.  Do you use one?

-----------------

BMH & Bionicus:
The Meile really goes right onto a Festool wand?  It looks like it has some kind of proprietary attachment "bumps."  Well, if it works, what diameter wand (or adapter) do I need?

It seems like the Meili and the Festool turbo get the most votes here.
I will NOT be using this on carpet, as I have a powered carpet  spinning-brush head, from an old house vac, that I adapted to my CT36. 
So, of those two, which might be best for JUST hard surfaces?

I also like what was written about plastic handles being safer around the house. I think I'll go that way, if I can find a plastic wand & handle of sufficient diameter.
 
Cableaddict said:
I had looked at the Festool 450644 Turbo Suction Brush, but I can't tell if the brushes are spring loaded,  if they are height-adjustable, or if they are replaceable.
Click to expand...

This exploded view picture from Festool's online parts catalog EKAT should answer your questions. All numbered parts can be ordered by your dealer.

[attachthumb=1]

Cableaddict said:
All of these things would be important to me in a $110 head.
Click to expand...

Shop around. The same head is sold without the logo for a lot less. Festool sells it for €140 here and my local vac shop sells the exact same thing without logo for €40. One American member recently mentioned he had found the same in America. Don't know which member or thread anymore though.
 
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