How to tell when the CT Midi bag needs changing / emptying?

[QuailRider43]

OK, this is a bit of a stupid question, but are there any tricks to knowing when the CT Midi bag needs changing / emptying?  Tired of randomly dragging it out from under the Kapex and opening it up to check.

 

[mattmass]

Seconded - would love to hear thoughts on this as well.

 

[bertv]

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that my Midi wasn’t working very well. Turned out that not only the bag was stuffed, but there was sawdust in the hose, like two inches in from the connector. Says a lot about the quality of the machine.

And the answer to your question is: when the dust doesn’t get sucked away.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I generally notice when suction is suddenly absent. Suddenly I'm in a big mess!

 

[clark_fork]

I generally notice when suction is suddenly absent. Suddenly I'm in a big mess!

And it is like diapers; you get a warming sensation and an urge to cry...but nobody else notices.

 

[Paul G]

I feel the suction, it's noticebly reduced when getting full. Even some dust types will clog up the bag like drywall sanding and reduce the suction even when not full.

 

[RKA]

When suction starts to drop off or more commonly, you notice more sawdust than normal around your work area, it's full.  The issue you'll find is the drop off is subtle as it fills and once it fills and backs up into the hose the dropoff in suction is drastic. 

 

[Scott B.]

Its terribly intuitive, but I notice when it starts to feel heavy to lift and I crack it open and look inside, feel the bag. It packs in there pretty dense, so you can ballpark % of capacity remaining. I do feel that when it is 3/4 full you can feel a decline in extraction.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Its terribly intuitive, but I notice when it starts to feel heavy to lift and I crack it open and look inside, feel the bag. It packs in there pretty dense, so you can ballpark % of capacity remaining. I do feel that when it is 3/4 full you can feel a decline in extraction.

I use the same "weight" method.  A "full" bag is really subjective on the type of dust, as mentioned above.  Coarse sawdust will make the Midi feel "full" when it's about 3/4 full.  Drywall dust will make it feel "full" at about a half a bag. 

The ability to notice the loss of suction is sometimes very subtle, so you have to pay very close attention to whether things are working as you expect.  If you feel you need to check the suction adjustment knob to make sure you didn't turn it down inadvertently, the perhaps you should check the bag.  And always stuff a replacement bag in the cord pocket and make sure you have more on hand!

 

[Scott B.]

Its terribly intuitive, but I notice when it starts to feel heavy to lift and I crack it open and look inside, feel the bag. It packs in there pretty dense, so you can ballpark % of capacity remaining. I do feel that when it is 3/4 full you can feel a decline in extraction.

I use the same "weight" method.  A "full" bag is really subjective on the type of dust, as mentioned above.  Coarse sawdust will make the Midi feel "full" when it's about 3/4 full.  Drywall dust will make it feel "full" at about a half a bag. 

The ability to notice the loss of suction is sometimes very subtle, so you have to pay very close attention to whether things are working as you expect.  If you feel you need to check the suction adjustment knob to make sure you didn't turn it down inadvertently, the perhaps you should check the bag.  And always stuff a replacement bag in the cord pocket and make sure you have more on hand!

Thats a good tip. I keep a new bag in the bottom of the canister right under the bag that is in use. That way there is no oops moment or time lost locating one.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

Thats a good tip. I keep a new bag in the bottom of the canister right under the bag that is in use. That way there is no oops moment or time lost locating one.

Thanks.  I'd considered doing that, and now I will!

 

[Feelwoodworking]

There is a definite sound difference between empty and full. At the hose and the unit. Get to know the sounds of both