Is the CT26 filter washable?

[woodbutcherbower]

Apologies if this question has been asked before. I've recently been cutting a lot of slate using a Hilti AG115 grinder hooked up to my extractor, and the main filter is now a dirty dark grey colour (despite the best efforts of a fairly low motor speed setting and the standard CT26 filter bag). I've removed it and reverse-jetted it with compressed air to blow off the relatively small amount of dust, but it still looks dirty. Can these filters be washed with water and detergent like many domestic vacuum-cleaner filters can?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Kevin

 

[Coen]

The HEPA filter?

Festool USA says to NOT use compressed air on the filters btw  [tongue]

 

[LooseSox]

Never used compressed air, as it can cause small ruptures to the filter membrane then let dust into your motor - and that becomes an expensive non-warranty repair!

You can reverse blow with an 18V blower or similar from a distance, and/or use a soft bristled paint brush  but this typically applies to the auto clean machines with an exposed filter. A standard CT26 should be getting used with a bag of some description, assuming the white self clean bags, they would capture most of the dust you're extracting. If its just a bit of grey discolouration on the filter that really isn't anything to worry about.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Thanks very much for the replies - it seems that washing isn’t possible. ‘Compressed air’ was a bit of an exaggeration tbh - it was the exhaust from the shop vac. But no matter - I ordered a new filter. Best wishes to all.

Kevin