Midi regret????

[Pdevore]

OK, Guys...
I am new to the Festool world but have been in construction and wood working all my life (I'm 34). I started in the Festools with the purchase of a Midi, and an ETS 125 EQ. I have sense purchased a PSB 300 and have a RO 90 DX on order with Bob.

A couple short questions...
1: Will the Midi collection system be powerful enough t handle the TS55, the HL 850 E, and the OF 1400. I have seen on festools site they suggest the CT 33 or CT 36 for the HL 850. I want to maintain as little dust as possible of work on site and in finished homes.

2: Does Festool or will they ever offer other package deals. I am looking at getting at least 8 more tools this year and accessories for them and really like the 10% they offer on the Collection system packages.

3: STATEMENT... I am very tempted to just get a CT 36 with the RO 125 FEQ. Waht is everyone thoughts on this? or should I spend the money on other tools and keep the MIDI for all dust collection?

Thanks
Pete

 

[Brice Burrell]

Pete, the Midi will handle any Festool tool, however, there are couple of caveats.  You would likely be disappointed with how quickly you'd fill the Midi with the planer or heavy routing.  And, you'll have much better extraction with the larger D36 hose on some of the larger tools like the planers, Kapex, OF 1400, OF 2200 and so on.

 

[Sparktrician]

You'll do fine using the RO125 and TS55 with the Midi.  If you're absolutely convinced that you need a CT36, you can rig it up with a boom arm (and possibly a Dust Deputy) for shop use and reserve the Midi for site work, or even use it with a turbo brush for cleaning your home.  

[Edit]  Brice's comments are 100% on target. 

[smile]

 

[Tim Morris]

I have a midi, among others, and have used it with fine success with both my TS 55 and OF 1400. Based on experience in Lebanon, depending on how much you intend to plane, it's almost better to use the bag for shavings as it will fill any of the CT's in very short order. I was amazed at how well the bag collected chips, and of course it is much easier to empty and reusable.

Festool offers almost all of their tools in packages either with a CT or where appropriate with an MFT. Hope this helps

 

[Alan m]

if you are planning to get 10 more tools this year then another vac could be helpfull. get a dust deputy if you will create a lot of shavings.

 

[jmbfestool]

You'll do fine using the RO125 and TS55 with the Midi.  If you're absolutely convinced that you need a CT36, you can rig it up with a boom arm (and possibly a Dust Deputy) for shop use and reserve the Midi for site work, or even use it with a turbo brush for cleaning your home.  

[Edit]  Brice's comments are 100% on target.  

[smile]

I received my turbo brush today only ordered it yesterday 12oclock fast delivery. Also ordered a tile cutter yesterday from Rex crystals and that also came this morning. My last 4 orders all from different companies have all come the fallowing day it's mint! Any way not what I was going to talk about just was very happy  when I got my new toys. back to the turbo brush sparltrician mentioned!

Well I was a bit worried that the brush would have no power but man was I wrong I can not stop the rotating brush wiv my fingers sounds like a jet engine spinning up.
I tried the turbo brush with my mums dyson the dyson does not have enough suction it only just spins with a little push from me. It just shows how much power the festool ct26 has to spin the brush head so fast and powerfull crazy.

Jmb

 

[Wood_Junkie]

My Midi served me very well for the past 18 months or so.

I recently got a CT26, and I like it very, very much.  Except for carrying it around (especially when full!!)
I was going to sell the Midi, and even went so far as listing it.  But have now decided to keep it for its portability.  It is seriously about 1/2 the total size of the CT26.

The planer will overwhelm the midi with the volume of chips.  I don't think there's any shortcomings with the midi's abilitity to collect them.  It'll just fill up.  A mid-stream chip separator will partly help solve the problem of capacity.  You can put a 36mm hose on the Midi, but then can't put anything on top of it ('cuz the hose sticks straight up). 

I agree with Alan... If you're getting 8-10 more tools, you are probably a professional or serious user.  Another vac can only be a benefit.  For size (esp. height) and capacity I thought the CT26 was the perfect vac.  For only $50 more, the CT36 has about 40% more capacity. 

As a side note, the "bucket" of the CT26/36 is an interchangeable part.  So you can buy just the bottom if you change your mind later.  I don't recall prices.

 

[Alan m]

 

I received my turbo brush today only ordered it yesterday 12oclock fast delivery. Also ordered a tile cutter yesterday from Rex crystals and that also came this morning. My last 4 orders all from different companies have all come the fallowing day it's mint! Any way not what I was going to talk about just was very happy  when I got my new toys. back to the turbo brush sparltrician mentioned!

Well I was a bit worried that the brush would have no power but man was I wrong I can not stop the rotating brush wiv my fingers sounds like a jet engine spinning up.
I tried the turbo brush with my mums dyson the dyson does not have enough suction it only just spins with a little push from me. It just shows how much power the festool ct26 has to spin the brush head so fast and powerfull crazy.

Jmb
[/quote]

be carfull with that jmb. that dyson one says not to use on newish carpet or it will pull threads, what will this do [scared] [wink]

 

[jmbfestool]

 

I received my turbo brush today only ordered it yesterday 12oclock fast delivery. Also ordered a tile cutter yesterday from Rex crystals and that also came this morning. My last 4 orders all from different companies have all come the fallowing day it's mint! Any way not what I was going to talk about just was very happy  when I got my new toys. back to the turbo brush sparltrician mentioned!

Well I was a bit worried that the brush would have no power but man was I wrong I can not stop the rotating brush wiv my fingers sounds like a jet engine spinning up.
I tried the turbo brush with my mums dyson the dyson does not have enough suction it only just spins with a little push from me. It just shows how much power the festool ct26 has to spin the brush head so fast and powerfull crazy.

Jmb

be carfull with that jmb. that dyson one says not to use on newish carpet or it will pull threads, what will this do [scared] [wink]
[/quote]

Lol funn. Didn't know dysons said da.
The dyson has it's own motor brush which is what your on about rite? It would says the dyson is stronger as it's a motor I tried to stop the dyso but it pulled my finger in kinds hurt so I used my entire hand and it's starts to burn.  With the turbo brush it pulls my fingers in so i used my hand and it gets hot but I did manage to start to slow it down but it takes some doing and it's only powered by AIR! But I'm sure it spins faster though.

Jmb

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Lol funn. Didn't know dysons said da.
The dyson has it's own motor brush which is what your on about rite? It would says the dyson is stronger as it's a motor I tried to stop the dyso but it pulled my finger in kinds hurt so I used my entire hand and it's starts to burn.  With the turbo brush it pulls my fingers in so i used my hand and it gets hot but I did manage to start to slow it down but it takes some doing and it's only powered by AIR! But I'm sure it spins faster though.

Jmb

You MUST have been the kind of kid who'd put a penny in the electrical socket not once, but twice.  [laughing] [laughing] [tongue]

 

[jmbfestool]

Lol funn. Didn't know dysons said da.
The dyson has it's own motor brush which is what your on about rite? It would says the dyson is stronger as it's a motor I tried to stop the dyso but it pulled my finger in kinds hurt so I used my entire hand and it's starts to burn.  With the turbo brush it pulls my fingers in so i used my hand and it gets hot but I did manage to start to slow it down but it takes some doing and it's only powered by AIR! But I'm sure it spins faster though..

Jmb

You MUST have been the kind of kid who'd put a penny in the electrical socket not once, but twice.  [laughing] [laughing] [tongue]

Ha funny you say that but was not a penny and it was not twice. This was years ago by the way I was about 7 I think.

My dad changed this light socket which was a moulded socket so he had to just cut it of at the wire. WEL don't ask me y but I decided to experiment and plug the socket in the wall and touch the end of the cable.

I remember it really hurting! My hand and finger felt like its was burning. In holland the sockets are round and my parents had put the Dutch safety things in which are spring loaded so you have to plug the socket into the holes and then turn and push it in further which was designed to make it difficult to poke stuff inside but not to stop you puttin anormal socket in lol

Jmb

 

[j123j]

you'll have much better extraction with the larger D36 hose on some of the larger tools like the planers, Kapex, OF 1400, OF 2200 and so on.

I really dont get why everyone thinks that a hose with a bigger diameter will improve suction power...

The negative pressure at the end of the hose created by the vacume isnt affected with a bigger hose. The volume of air moved by the vacume isnt greater either.
The only gain of a larger diam. hose is that it wont get stuck easily from big chunks. But atleast I havent been able to clog my 27mm hose with anything.

I havent checked these from anywhere so I could be wrong. But this is how my common sense says.

 

[TJ Cornish]

you'll have much better extraction with the larger D36 hose on some of the larger tools like the planers, Kapex, OF 1400, OF 2200 and so on.

I really dont get why everyone thinks that a hose with a bigger diameter will improve suction power...

The negative pressure at the end of the hose created by the vacume isnt affected with a bigger hose. The volume of air moved by the vacume isnt greater either.
The only gain of a larger diam. hose is that it wont get stuck easily from big chunks. But atleast I havent been able to clog my 27mm hose with anything.

I havent checked these from anywhere so I could be wrong. But this is how my common sense says.

Here is more information than you probably ever wanted to know about dust collection, ducting, static pressure, airflow, and health risks of dust.

http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/ducting.cfm#DuctingDiamter

The blower of any given vacuum or dust collector can produce a certain static pressure and air volume.  Everything downstream affects (reduces) this. 

A smaller duct or hose has a higher ratio of walls to interior volume, which increases the friction (static pressure loss) of that duct. Also, air volume is dependent on the size of the duct and the speed at which the air can be made to move.  There are upper limits to how fast the air can go (affected by the capabilities of the blower and the static pressure losses of the pipe), and that at the low pressures dealt with in dust collection and vacuums air doesn't compress.  These factors make a larger duct able to move more air with a lower static pressure loss than a smaller one.

Increasing the diameter of a duct even a little bit can make a pretty big difference in the cross sectional area of that duct, and will greatly increase the performance of the vacuum or collector.

 

[Pdevore]

Well, It sounds like you all answered my concerns. As long as the Midi can handle the work load I will be happy with it. I am not as concerned with how fast it will fill up.

The collection is growing...
Just put the order in last night for my TS55 and RO 125 FEQ, systainer and abraisives.

Thanks

Pete

 

[jmbfestool]

you'll have much better extraction with the larger D36 hose on some of the larger tools like the planers, Kapex, OF 1400, OF 2200 and so on.

I really dont get why everyone thinks that a hose with a bigger diameter will improve suction power...

The negative pressure at the end of the hose created by the vacume isnt affected with a bigger hose. The volume of air moved by the vacume isnt greater either.
The only gain of a larger diam. hose is that it wont get stuck easily from big chunks. But atleast I havent been able to clog my 27mm hose with anything.

I havent checked these from anywhere so I could be wrong. But this is how my common sense says.

Well if you stick a 27mm hose on the CT26 you can see the hose shrink a little this is because it cant draw enough air through the hose has the hole is to small and you can hear to motor change slightly so using the 36mm hose lets the CT suck more air in. I think the 27mm is to small.  I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS clog my 27mm with my EHL 65 and especially the EHL85 so you either dont own a Festool Planer or you never remove any more than 1mm of wood or plywood. Things like MDF wont clog the planers of course.

I would agree that if you had a less powerful vacuum increasing the hose would not increase suction BUT the 27 actually reduces suction. I think!    Well ill soon know as I have ordered a 5 meter 27mm and I just bought a 5meter 36mm so ill have a play with both experiment!

JMB

 

[Pdevore]

Well, I do not own a Festool planer as of yet. I have a bosch unit from a few years ago that has only been used for planeing doors. I do how ever really like the look and functionallity (sp??) of the 850. That won't happen until next year or maybe Christmas.. I guess at that time I should be far enough in that I will go ahead and get the CT 36 also.

The main perpose of this thread was to make sure that the MIDI would be sufficiant for my current needs and the needs of the near future.

Thanks
Pete

 

[jgag]

yes - bought a midi

have now had to buy a CT26 too - primarily for the OF1400 and planer.

Hopefully we'll move - so the CT26 can stay in my workshop and the midi be used out and about with the sanders and TS55 - for which it is excellent

 

[LostInTheWood]

Pdevore,  Last year I was trying to make the same decision you're making now.  The short of it is that you will most likely end up with two vacs.  Initially I bought the ct33.  I figured I would go big because I wanted to use it for everything.  Soon after I saw a ctmini on ebay and bought that for those "in and out" jobs where you don't really need much volume.  Truth be told, the mini gets more use now than the my 33.  It goes with me everywhere.  The 33 I set up on larger jobs where I'll be there for a while or if I'm doing a lot of planing, trimming, etc.    Besides, these machines pack so much material that you'll be happy you have your midi when you need to run up a flight of stairs.  That said, I almost wish I bought a ct22 instead of the 33 because the damn thing gets so heavy before the bag is full.  Just something you might want to keep in mind when it comes time for you to buy a larger vac.

 

[chris mann]

I started out with the 22.  Eventually got the boom arm and got tired of dismantling it and lugging it to the jobsite so ended up getting a Midi last year.  One of the better Festool purchases I've made. 

Now the 22 stays in the shop and the Midi stays in the van.  If there are times that I know I'll be generating  a lot of chips I bring the dust deputy, but usually just switch out bags.  It's much easier on the Midi than the 22.  I haven't had any issues with the reduced CFM and find myself switching to the 36 hose the same as I would on the 22, when planing or routing.

I like that vac so much I ordered another one, reconditioned.

 

[Pdevore]

Guys, I thank you for all your wisdom. I will be holdng off on getting the CT36 till later. Now to figure out which tool will be next as I won't be buying another vac. I'm even considering the MFT/3.

Thanks
Pete