Long life bags for dust extractors

[theinstaller]

Has anyone had problems with long life bags in there dust extractors ?

 

[Dan Clermont]

No problems at all. Is their a problem?

The only issue I have is dumping the contents once the bag is full

Dan Clermont

 

[theinstaller]

I have stopped using my long life bag in my 33 dust extractor because it has leaked dust since I bought it. My 2 filters had to be cleaned on a daily basis and I had to replace them a couple of times, my dust extractor stopped working and I spent $3oo to fix it. I had it back for 2 weeks and the motor started a high pitched squealing noise so I have gone back to paper bags, now I never touch my filters at all. Not happy about spending nearly $4oo on the long life bag. I work with mdf and solid surface so I guess there is allot of fine dust.

 

[Eli]

I've been using one for a while and like it. CT-22. I've tried to keep it mostly wood, but I've done a bit of plaster work lately as well. I'll keep you updated if it stops working for me.

 

[Steve Jones]

The long life bags are specifically for large chips:

"Economical solution for capturing and eliminating large chips produced by routing or planing"  - (Page 23 in the current Festool catalog)

If you make sawdust (as opposed to chips) you need the disposable bags.

 

[Sean]

how old is you bag?  i use the reusable bag and have no problems with dust escaping into machine.  the reusable bag do not lasts forever, maybe your bag is old and you need to toss away and get a new reusable bag - sean

 

[Tony M]

Are you able to dump the paper bags and reuse them? How many uses can you get? I have a ct mini

 

[Brice Burrell]

Are you able to dump the paper bags and reuse them? How many uses can you get? I have a ct mini

Tony you can reuse the bags a few time. Festool doesn't recommend reusing them, over time the bags filtration is reduced letting more and more dust particles through to the main filter(s). This will reduce the life of the main filter(s). Repeated use can/will cause the bags to fail and you'll have a real mess inside your vac.

I tend to throw them away once filled, once in a while I reuse the bags if I'm routing on the jobsite.

 

[Stefan]

I have a CT33 and have only ever had a reusable bag and no problems at all.

I have owned it for 3 years this November and even used a Planex on it recently. Same filters from new.

The bag has had everything from builder rubble, MDF dust, plaster dust and cat hair. No rips or leaks.

Only problem I have had with the whole machine is one of the wheel brakes is broken, easily replaced when I get a moment.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I have stopped using my long life bag in my 33 dust extractor because it has leaked dust since I bought it. My 2 filters had to be cleaned on a daily basis and I had to replace them a couple of times, my dust extractor stopped working and I spent $3oo to fix it. I had it back for 2 weeks and the motor started a high pitched squealing noise so I have gone back to paper bags, now I never touch my filters at all. Not happy about spending nearly $4oo on the long life bag. I work with mdf and solid surface so I guess there is allot of fine dust.

Would a mini-cyclone connected in series between your cutting tools and the CT 33 help eliminate the expense of many paper bags?  Or would the fine dust clog the CT 33 bags with the cyclone?  (I have no experience working with solid surface materials.  Any stone/brick/tile that I cut is outside with diamond blades.)

Dave R.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I have used a long life bag with my CT-22 for over three years and had no problems.  I have used it with sawdust, chips, regular dust from the house, garage and shop, sand, and other stuff I can't think of right now.  I do empty it outside because I find that some dust escapes when emptying the bag.