mini, midi, or bigger

[nicholaskasala]

hello, new to the group, i got the TS 75 track saw and caught the bug, so any way i am about to purchase the rotex 150 sander as well as a dust collector, i am looking for info to help me decide what size will be sufficient for my needs. i am looking for some general info on how long it would take to fill the bag on the mini, midi, or the CT 26. most of the collection will be from my track saw and sanding, although i am looking into a connection for my router. Any info would be much appreciated thank you.

 

[mkasdin]

Get an ETS ec 125 or 150. I like the RO 150 but it would not be my first sander. I have the rotax 150 and it mostly lives in the systainer. I don’t think I used it all of 2020. The dust collector is just a matter of do you want portable, dedicated to a Kapex, or domino and how much saw dust or wood chips your producing? Everyone has an opinion on what they like, like ice cream?

 

[nicholaskasala]

oh boy the debate goes on, i was going back an forth between rotex and ETS, for me the deciding factor was it seems the rotex would be better used for polishing, also it seems it would be more useful for work around the house, and i have seen some impressive finishes using the rotex, i might try them at the shop before purchase

 

[mkasdin]

I’ve fixed about 7 houses. Some major remodels other mostly cosmetic. The rotax ro150 is pricey. You’ll get more use out of the others. As a second , third or fourth sander it might be fine. It’s a beast to use and I tend to finesse the work. It’s really a gear driven belt sander?

 

[nicholaskasala]

good to know

 

[Coen]

If the extractor is gonna live underneath -say- an MFT; get the 26*. If you are gonna move it up the stairs... you might want to think about the Midi. If the stairs are more treacherous or you are relative small; Mini.

*or 36

 

[nicholaskasala]

ok i do need the portability of the of the dust collection so i guess i should stick to the midi, thank you

 

[Birdhunter]

I use the 125 Rotex for initial sanding especially if I have to remove lots of material. I switch to the Festool palm sanders for 150 and finer sanding. The Rotex sanders can be rambunctious if not handled with care. I’ve read the 150 is easier to use.

I use the Minis for sawing, routing, and sanding. They nestle under my benches and the bags go a long time.

Look at buying the Domino. You won’t regret it.

 

[nicholaskasala]

I’ve fixed about 7 houses. Some major remodels other mostly cosmetic. The Rotex ro150 is pricey. You’ll get more use out of the others. As a second , third or fourth sander it might be fine. It’s a beast to use and I tend to finesse the work. It’s really a gear driven belt sander?

i should mention i do have a cordless Milwaukee random orbit sander, but its takes a long time to get through epoxy, i would be using (rotex or ets) to clean slab after its flattened with router jig

 

[AlexThePalex]

The Midi is fine for what you describe. The Rotex 150 also. It was my first Festool sander and I did everything with it. Now I got a lot more, but it is still my most used sander after the DTS.

 

[mrboult]

I like a mini myself. But I know that if I ever want bigger , the MIDI/CT15 bottom container can be purchased and swapped in for about £60. And if I want even bigger I’ll buy the festool cyclone add on thingy.

 

[FestitaMakool]

I second that a MIDI is a very good choice. Compared side by side with even the smallest of CT 2/3/4 series, the CT 26, the MIDI has even more equipment, as Bluetooth, blower port + more.
If it’s stationary a CT 26 is fine. But if you’d like to move it around from time to time - the difference is huge. I bought a CT 26 as a second vac for the shop, stationary, the MIDI is the one to haul around - and it’s just as good and even better at most. Rather get a cyclone, Festool’s or others instead if you run out of space for dust.

 

[nicholaskasala]

thank you all for the input, it sounds like the midi will be the best option for me as i want capacity but also need portability

 

[Coen]

I wonder... does the smaller size of the Midi come at the expense of more noise? I find the CTL-26 to be way way quieter than the CTL-22 for example.

 

[CeeJay]

I use the MIDI with a Rotex 150, ETS 150, DTS, routers, SCMS, Domino etc.

Hobby use, probably 3-4 hours a week on average. Was more like 3-4 hours a day over the Xmas break.

I have changed the bag 3 times in the last 12 months.

The big routers fill it up fastest. Rotex in heavy removal mode (eg restoring garden furniture) second fastest. Other sanders, domino, SCMS it lasts for ages.

A friend has an old CT-22. I don’t think the MIDI is any noisier.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Crazyraceguy]

As a second , third or fourth sander it might be fine. It’s a beast to use and I tend to finesse the work. It’s really a gear driven belt sander?

i should mention i do have a cordless Milwaukee random orbit sander, but its takes a long time to get through epoxy, i would be using (rotex or ets) to clean slab after its flattened with router jig

Cleaning up a slab after flattening with a router is the perfect job for an RO 125 or RO150. They can be very aggressive with the right abrasive, but it is no where near like the RAS 115. The RO sanders sand in an orbit which gives them the aggressiveness without the more grinder-like action of the RAS.
Then it can be shifted to regular random for finer grit paper. Then back to orbital again for polishing to a high gloss if needed. They really are a do-it-all sander.
The RO90 was the first Festool sander I bought, mostly for this versatility and because I already had a pneumatic random orbit sander for bigger surfaces. I use it for solid surface countertops or transaction tops on reception desks, edges mostly. I still depended on pneumatic sanders until a few weeks ago, when I got the RO125. I much prefer the RO to the ETS EC. If I had to give up one of them, it would definitely be the ETS EC.  It's a great sander too, but not even close to the same.

As far as extractors, I would say that it depends on what you are using it for. The sanders and saw make fine dust and it takes quite a while to fill the bag, so you can get by with a smaller extractor. If you use it with a router or even a Domino, the chips are a bit bigger and fill one up quicker. How often you are willing to change bags or how much you have to carry it around are the biggest factors. The extractors themselves are not that heavy, but full of chips/dust is a quite different thing.

 

[nicholaskasala]

As a second , third or fourth sander it might be fine. It’s a beast to use and I tend to finesse the work. It’s really a gear driven belt sander?

i should mention i do have a cordless Milwaukee random orbit sander, but its takes a long time to get through epoxy, i would be using (rotex or ets) to clean slab after its flattened with router jig

Cleaning up a slab after flattening with a router is the perfect job for an RO 125 or RO150. They can be very aggressive with the right abrasive, but it is no where near like the RAS 115. The RO sanders sand in an orbit which gives them the aggressiveness without the more grinder-like action of the RAS.
Then it can be shifted to regular random for finer grit paper. Then back to orbital again for polishing to a high gloss if needed. They really are a do-it-all sander.
The RO90 was the first Festool sander I bought, mostly for this versatility and because I already had a pneumatic random orbit sander for bigger surfaces. I use it for solid surface countertops or transaction tops on reception desks, edges mostly. I still depended on pneumatic sanders until a few weeks ago, when I got the RO125. I much prefer the RO to the ETS EC. If I had to give up one of them, it would definitely be the ETS EC.  It's a great sander too, but not even close to the same.

As far as extractors, I would say that it depends on what you are using it for. The sanders and saw make fine dust and it takes quite a while to fill the bag, so you can get by with a smaller extractor. If you use it with a router or even a Domino, the chips are a bit bigger and fill one up quicker. How often you are willing to change bags or how much you have to carry it around are the biggest factors. The extractors themselves are not that heavy, but full of chips/dust is a quite different thing.

ok awesome info, i am a lead engineer at a power plant and when in shift alone i like to do some woodworking, so i will always be transporting to work and back, and that's much longer then i expected, i was worried the bag would fill up in a matter of hours.
also great input on the rotex, it seems like debate of personal choice, i understand the rotex can be clunky and heavy but to me that should not be an issue.

 

[jarbroen]

If you are only getting one vacuum and also need portability, definitely get the Midi.
As others have mentioned, it’s packed with features and has a decent capacity.
I’ve been filling mine up quickly the last week, but I have been routing tons of rabbets on kitchen cabinets.  Otherwise, a bag will last me a bunch of sanding/Kapex/cleanup.
It’s also way easier to lug around when cleaning up house projects or working in different locations. That was the biggest reason I picked up one in addition to my older CT26.

And definitely get the Rotex. I started with the 150 and it’s awesome for bigger surfaces like table tops and hardwood floors.
Once you get that, start saving for the ETSC 150.  Such an easy to use/comfortable sander for finish work.  Compliments the Rotex really well.

 

[mkasdin]

If your using dimensional lumber the rotax ro-150 might be just fine, it is a lot of sander and will remove a lot as well. For sheet goods I would stick with the ETS/ec. I have a Dewalt planer so most of the time the boards just need a quick pass of 120/150/180grit

 

[Stone Message]

hello, new to the group, i got the TS 75 track saw and caught the bug, so any way i am about to purchase the rotex 150 sander as well as a dust collector, i am looking for info to help me decide what size will be sufficient for my needs. i am looking for some general info on how long it would take to fill the bag on the mini, midi, or the CT 26. most of the collection will be from my track saw and sanding, although i am looking into a connection for my router. Any info would be much appreciated thank you.

Hi Nicholas [member=74844]nicholaskasala[/member]

When I was using my CT26 without a cyclone interceptor I was averaging about 3 to 4 weeks per bag. I bought mine about 10 years ago when I was doing a lot of woodwork and virtually no video stuff. I suspect that my bag usage now would be about one every 6 or 7 weeks and I am still doing a reasonable amount.

The amount of dust you create will of course depend on which tools you are using and your TS75 will create a lot more than your other tools. If you are new to the forum then perhaps you are new to Festool as well. If that is the case...

The one tool that has made the most impact on my woodworking over the last 10 years is the Domino DF500. I used to have a large morticing machine but still had to make tenons the hard way. It was especially difficult when I was building a barn with M&T joints for the roof trusses and on the 4 m high doors as everything had to be done in the workshop. With the Domino (DF500 or DF700) you can take the machine to the work which can be a huge advantage.

My other "transformational" tools are the Kapex KS120 (although I really like the KS60), the ETS EC 150/3 and the OF1010 router. Now getting that lot may well be beyond your current budget but every woodworker must have ambition and so set your sights on some of these.

Oh, my CT26 has been the unsung hero throughout as it is super efficient, has never let me down and, with Festool's reputation for excellent dust collection, has kept the air in my workshop virtually dust free.

Peter