How good are festool extractors

Brice, Thanks for the feedback. I?ve checked the things you suggested, everything OK. I still get some airborne dust that collects on the saw and rail. Or can it be the type/quality of the material I?ve been cutting, melamine particleboard?
 
simon said:
Brice, Thanks for the feedback. I?ve checked the things you suggested, everything OK. I still get some airborne dust that collects on the saw and rail. Or can it be the type/quality of the material I?ve been cutting, melamine particleboard?
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The material isn't likely the issue, another possible culprit could be a clogged hose. Sometimes the hose a small obstruction and it can be a hassle to get out. I once had a small piece of cardboard stuck in my D27 hose that caused a big headache. I noticed the suction wasn't up to snuff, I went through the process of checking the filter bag then the main filters nothing. So thought to check the hose, no obvious clog. So I thought I'd try it on my other vac and again the suction wasn't right so I was sure it was the hose. After fooling around for a while I decided to get out the fish tape, success.

I'm not sure your hose is the issue, lie I said it could be your expecting too much. If you have a Festool dealer in your area try their TS55 and compare its dust collection to yours. 
 
Nigel said:
Craig,The extractor in your link will only power tools up to 1600 W.Might be a bit feeble for some tools.
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Nigel  the tool that I would use it with is a Hilti DCG 500 with hood attachment.  It is a 12.5 amp 5" dustless concrete grinder.  The Vac is the Smallest that that company sells. 

Craig
 
Hi nigel,

A lot of good folks have answered your query already.  My response is they are good, bordering on great.  Forget everything about theory and try one in your shop working the way you work. If it is good for you, your family will thank you for your long life.  If it is not good for you, return it for a refund.  Everything else is speculation.  Hope this helps.  Cheers,

Jerry

Nigel said:
Hello everyone.This is my is my first post on this forum.The question I would like to ask is"How good are Festool extractors?"Usage would be daily for drywall/wood sanding,with Rotex.Also hook up to router table, site sawing with ts55 and general site cleaning.The reason I ask is that my current extractor(Karcher NT 35/1 Eco Te) has just burnt out after only 14 months use,( and 2 months out of guarantee!) >:(.It seems to be a similar design to Festool with flat pleated filter but also an automatic impulsion system for filter cleaning.It has been excellent up to this point,high continuous suction, good capacity and sold for industrial use.I reckon the Festool equivalent would be the cleantex 36 ctl.According to Karcher 1 to 2 hours a day is to much for a small machine like this.I know there are bigger machines but are they more robust?I thought I was getting industrial portability.Would Festool be up to it?At least the guarantee is 3 years.Any thoughts would be much appreciated and thanks for a great forum.Regards to all,Nigel.  :)
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Hi Jerry,Your right I'll have to try it and see how it goes.Everyone has been very positive so I guess that answers my question.One final question please:How noisy/quiet are they?The karcher was very noisy with the pulse feature so for that reason I'll be glad to see the back of it.Once again thanks to all who have responded and taken time type.Regards Nigel.
 
They are not that loud.  If your using a sander, TS, OF1400, whatever, you will not know that it's even on while the machine is running.  When you shut the machine off, the CT stays on for a very short amount of time to suck up any remaining dust or chips and you will hear it then.  When you use the vac just for clean up, you will be surprised at just how quite it is.  A lot of vacs are really loud and become annoying but the Festool CT vacs are nice to work with.  At least that is my opinion.

My first experience with the CT was when I used it with my RO125.  I started the sander up and in a couple seconds into it I shut it off because I couldn't hear the CT and didn't think it was on, but it was. 

-Dave
 
ForumMFG said:
When you use the vac just for clean up, you will be surprised at just how quite it is.  A lot of vacs are really loud and become annoying but the Festool CT vacs are nice to work with.  At least that is my opinion.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with this. The CTL22 is quieter than my home vacs and you don't notice it at all when running it with a machine.
 
I'll add that the Festool vacs aren't quiet as Feins. Well that is my experience with the older model Feins.
 
It's a basis for comparison, I can say Festool vacs are quite but you don't know what I'm comparing it to. The Fein vacs are fairly common and he might be familiar with their how loud they are. 
 
Brice, I took it the wrong way as your english was poor.

Quite -  "Wow, that was quite a ball game wasn't it?"

Quiet - "Man, that Fein vac is extremely quiet!"

See?
 
ForumMFG said:
Brice, I took it the wrong way as your english was poor.

Quite -  "Wow, that was quite a ball game wasn't it?"

Quiet - "Man, that Fein vac is extremely quiet!"

See?
Click to expand...

Shoot, a typo got me, sorry about that. I went back and corrected it, thanks for pointing it out.
 
Thanks Dave,Alex and Brice for your replies .Can't say I've ever heard a Fein in action Brice.The noise thing is an issue as clients were always politely interested in the awful thumping noise although I could overide it if it really bugged too much.I'll go for the ctl36 (new model in europe).Nigel.
 
I don't think anybody else has the variable suction Festool has.  As you decrease the suction, the noise goes down, too.  When I'm sanding, I always end up with it (CT33) at half power or less, depending on the sander and the grit.
 
I think you should take a look at the Alto vacs.  I have an older one branded WAP.  The new ones have auto cleaning filters are are designed specifically for drywall vacuuming.  Mine is 18 years old and bullet proof.  I think one with auto cleanin filter, and auto start for the tool is about $900.  Mine is 56db with the same or more suction and cfm as a Festool.  The Festool is 72db which is much louder.
 
I too have an "old" WAP Turbo vac that is still going strong. Mine doesn't have tool start but a conversion kit is available for it. The WAP is even quieter than the Fein Turbo which is quieter than the Festool vacs. Too many little bits of buzzing plastic on the Festools. The WAP doesn't have variable speed though....
 
I'll look at into that,thanks.Never heard of wap but nilfisk/alto are available  here.Had variable on the karcher wino, usually on full.
 
Nigel said:
I'll look at into that,thanks.Never heard of wap but nilfisk/alto are available  here.Had variable on the karcher wino, usually on full.
Click to expand...

nilfisk/Alto bought WAP about 10 years ago. They have since improved on the WAP design.  This is the vac that I think would be ideal for your application.  They have auto filter cleaning, auto start, and HEPA filter options.

http://www.nilfisk-alto.com/Products/VacuumCleaners/IndustrialVacuumCleaners/Single-PhaseWet-DryVacs/ATTIX5/Introduction.aspx

3031.jpg
 
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