I have a newer version MIDI with self-cleaning bag. I know older MIDI may have not been HEPA and had paper disposable bags. However the new self-cleaning bags are sold in packages of five which leads me to believe they are designed to be disposable. I have simply been emptying the bag through the dust hole. I clearly want to use the machine in the manner that it was designed and get the most performance I can. So my question is...simply throw out the bag? Also how do you know when it's time to change the HEPA filter? Mine always looks clean but is there some sort of timeframe that the filter should be replaced.
MIDI Am I missing something?
- Thread starter Df1k1
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AlexThePalex
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If a bag is full, you throw it away. Cleaning it through the hole, well, it sounds disgusting to me.
The HEPA filter will serve you a long time. If you use your vac A LOT, think about replacing it once every 6 months. Bad filters will look very grey, cooked up, or have visible fractures.
The HEPA filter will serve you a long time. If you use your vac A LOT, think about replacing it once every 6 months. Bad filters will look very grey, cooked up, or have visible fractures.
Thanks Alex. Trust me it is disgusting no fun. Dust goes everywhere which makes you think...why am I doing this when its supposed to be dust free? Just to make sure I wasn't losing it I reread the instruction manual. it's really pretty vague I think a lot of people probably do what I've been doing.
Tyler Ernsberger
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I reuse my bags a couple times. I use my Festool hose on my shop dust extractor and suck out the bag. It takes 1-2 minutes to do a hole bag. The Festool hose that comes on the Midi is small enough to fit in side the hole and clean out the dust.
Tyler Ernsberger
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tjbnwi said:
Thats a lot of money in bags. Thats close to $240 in bags a month. If it takes 2 minutes to clean a bag and lets say you pay youself $40 an hour, 30 bags a month would take 1 hour, 1 1/2 for big bags. So thats $40 to $60 a month in labor compared to $240. Thats saving $180-200 a month just by cleaning out the bags a couple times. Thats a lot more money to buy more tools in my opinion. I only reuse the bag 3 times before I throw it away and start over again.
tjbnwi
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Tyler Ernsberger said:
Not worth it to me in any way shape or form. Pores of the bag being to plug/clog the moment dust enters it, I've seen decreases in air flow without the bag bing full after sanding wood or finishes. Decreased collection equals more clean up.
Part of the cost of doing business. Ultimately my customers pay for the bags.
Why create a cloud of dust after collecting it? Change out takes no time at all. If I created mostly chips I'd get the reusable bags.
Tom
Thanks for all the input. again I'm a light user it's just not worth it to me to not throw it away. But it's still kind of funny how ambiguous the instructions are. "After finishing work empty the filter bag and tank". I'll stick to disposing of the bags
pettyconstruction
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if a vac is hepa,then the emptying of the bag would negate that feature.tjbnwi said:
Not worth it to me also,but I have one vac.
Chuck
I throw the bags away once they're full or if too much suction performance has been lost due to "fines" caking the bag. It's so clean and quick to remove the bag, close it, dispose of it, and install a new bag that I wouldn't want to do it any other way. With my larger Jet dust collector for the big tools, I HATE cleaning/emptying that bag. It makes me look for reasons to use Festools instead so I don't have to clean that collector when it fills up. I end up having to dawn a respirator and goggles while emptying that darn thing. Festool has spoiled me.
Kev
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If the cost of Festool bags is a concern and you're prepared to get messy, either invest in a long life bag or even consider a different brand vacuum.
To me, the added expense of the bag is what I happily pay for the added health, safety and personal comfort.
I also choose the most expensive toilet paper ... and only use it once [scared]
To me, the added expense of the bag is what I happily pay for the added health, safety and personal comfort.
I also choose the most expensive toilet paper ... and only use it once [scared]
Holmz
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Kev said:
Depends? ???
I have done the wiggly fingers number on a few occasions... particularly when the bag is getting full and the new bags are at home.
Usually that works better for dust than the big stuff, and the dust is what clogs it more than the big stuff.
The vacuum always breaths easier with less in it and it doesn't seem like an issue.
The only clearly wrong answers are no bag, no HEPA filter, and/or having the bag overflowing and not doing something.
bertv
Member
In the ‘olden days’ the bags for the Midi were made of brown paper. Overfill them and they’d split…
But on topic: disposable bags are for the casual user, imo. Otherwise invest in a cyclone or use the longlife bag.
But on topic: disposable bags are for the casual user, imo. Otherwise invest in a cyclone or use the longlife bag.
I use cyclone. But, that does not capture much dust. I find mostly only chips and shavings in the cyclone. Very little of the fine dust. That almost all goes into the CT bag. I also get a lot of dust caking in the HEPA filters. When using the cyclone, the HEPAfilters seem to cake up faster than the bag fills up. When the suction seems to diminish, I almost always find the HEPA's caked and the bags about half full for the first go around. It is surprising how much dust goes into a pile when I tap out the filters. I continue using the filters and will empty the bag >>> out side in the wide open spaces. I just cut the bottom of the bag and go to good old fashioned duct tape to reseal. Along about Dec 1, I replace filters and bags so I am ready for my busy WoodShop season. Some years, when i don't get into the shop so often, I wait til the next year to make the change of HEPA filters.
Tinker
Tinker
