Longlife filter bags vs. disposable

waynew

Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Messages
69
Has anyone tried both the longlife and the disposable filter bags that would care to state their preference and reason why.

Thanks,
Wayne
 
I have one for the CT 22.  I figured that I would need to dispose of about 35 bags to justify the cost and in the time I have owned the vacuum (a little over 3 years) I figure I have emptied it about 50 times.  So, I can justify it on cost.

Another justification is that I don't have to remember to take paper bags with me when I work off-site.

Another, is that I am not creating extra garbage with all the bags.
 
Appreciate the response Frank. Do you find dust a problem when you empty the bag or is it relatively easy and clean process. With the disposable bags I would imagine that very little dust would escape.

thanks,
Wayne
 
I have a competetive brand of vac, so I use my Festool vac only for sanding, pretty much.  So it would take many years, maybe more then a lifetime, to get to the 35 bag mark.

But if my other vac bites the dust, that rationale may change!

Loren
 
waynew said:
Appreciate the response Frank. Do you find dust a problem when you empty the bag or is it relatively easy and clean process. With the disposable bags I would imagine that very little dust would escape.

thanks,
Wayne
Dumping is quite easy, but a bit of dust does fill the air.  I always dump the bag outside.
 
  Wayne,

The Longlife bags are more economical if you are creating larger chips, shavings and debris - using the Planer, larger Routers, or lots of general shop clean-up.
With general sanding, sawing, etc., I think you'd find the paper bags would last a long time. Also, the configuration of the bag (square/rectangular) rather than those that wrap around the side of the vac, means you get the full stated capacity of the bag.
Frank does have a convenience point though.
I appreciate the fact that there is no dust when getting rid of tne paper bags - the bags even have a cap to ensure that!
My suggestion would be to see how the paper filter works for you and if it's not meeting your expectations, get the Longlife bag.

Bob
 
There are some cheap tricks:

I've a "Aschefilter" in my shop. They're sold as a accessory for stoves, price is around 30 bucks. I removed the fire-resistant steel-hose so that I can attach a standard Festool-hose. So, if I create larger debris, I use this between my CT-Mini and the tool. This "bucket" catches most of the dust / debris and what he catches goes right away to the stove (at least in winter).

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The other trick is: You can create your own longlife bag - costs around 10 bucks and 1 hour time:

You need something similar to the concept of a "Zeitungshalter" - newspaper holder -http://www.washjeff.edu/capl/record_detail.asp?id=68 in a size that it fits into your Festool CT whicheveryouown. You can use two strips of strong sheet metal and two cable ties for this.

Take a standard (non longlife) bag. Cut the bottom so that you get a bag which is complete open. Fold the open bottom about two times (like you fold a paper bag). Retain the folded bag-bottom with your custom made "newspaper holder" and youre ready to save a lot of money.

I re-use the bags in my CT Mini about 3-5 times without any problems.

Regards
Markus
 
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