Mini or Midi, which Vac do you recommend for a companion to my 26?

[Benjamin]

I planning on getting a Mini to bring around with me and keep my 26 stationary at my kapex and MFT table set up, but I noticed a lot of people have the Midi,

which Vac of the two do you have and why? thanks a lot.

 

[ccarrolladams]

First of all make note that neither the Festool Midi or Mini is approved for sale in Canada. Festool has made no announcement of a resolution to this issue which does not affect the USA.

All current Festool CT extractors move the same volume of air. The difference is in the weight and bag capacity expressed in liters. The Mini and Midi have less capacity to serve as a dolly.

Even in a volume commercial wood shop many tools create a small volume of dust. The savings on bags for the larger CTs often does not make up for the difference in price. Ultimately it comes down to which features are vital to you and nobody else. In 2006 I selected the CT22 vs the CT33 because I could more easily lift the smaller bag and I am too cheap to dispose of a bag not yet full. When the CT26 and CT36 arrived I bought two of the CT36 so I would have pristine ones to go into customer sites. But my employees, who are younger and more robust, lift those. I also bought several good used CT22 from friends who wanted the newer CTs. I like having a reduced inventory of bags, but that just could be me.

 

[Benjamin]

ok thanks, I forgot to mention that I'll drive over to buffalo to grab a vac if I decide on which one.

what I want most is lightness and ease to carry around a job site, so I'm curious if the the mini is a clear winner or if the midi has any thing special that
I'm missing?

PS : does any one know of the closest dealer from the boarder of Niagara falls?

 

[Saskataper]

I had the same decision a few months ago and after looking into it the only real difference is the depth of the tubs from what I can tell. The footprint is the same and the weight difference is negligible. I managed to find a used midi after they were disco nude here and I love it, really easy to carry or roll around even with a couple systainers on top. Now my big ct 36 ac is saved for the big drywall sanding or cleanup jobs.

 

[Jak147]

I chose the midi and absolutely love it. The way I which the hose exists through the garage rather than the front of the machine makes it so easy to pack away without disconnecting hoses.
Make sure you pick up the newer model with the tlock connection on the garage. There are still a lot of the older style sat in dealers warehouses. I missed this and swear at it every time I clip on a systainer!

 

[AlexThePalex]

what I want most is lightness and ease to carry around a job site, so I'm curious if the the mini is a clear winner or if the midi has any thing special that
I'm missing?

Really the only difference between the two is the container capacity, 10 L for the Mini vs 15 L for the Midi.

So if lightnes is your main concern, get the Mini. I have the Mini for the same reason, I want the smallest and lightest package to carry around, and the Mini fulfills that role perfectly.

Just be sure to get the newest model possible, with the higher suction.

 

[Kev]

Mini IMO ... 'coz it's what I did [wink]

 

[jonny round boy]

what I want most is lightness and ease to carry around a job site, so I'm curious if the the mini is a clear winner or if the midi has any thing special that
I'm missing?

Really the only difference between the two is the container capacity, 10 L for the Mini vs 15 L for the Midi.

So if lightnes is your main concern, get the Mini. I have the Mini for the same reason, I want the smallest and lightest package to carry around, and the Mini fulfills that role perfectly.

Just be sure to get the newest model possible, with the higher suction.

+1

I have a 26 for the workshop, and the mini for taking to site.

 

[Wuffles]

Lazy question, but as I am thinking the same thing I was wondering if the hose connections are the same? The 50mm outlet I mean.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Lazy question, but as I am thinking the same thing I was wondering if the hose connections are the same? The 50mm outlet I mean.

Yes, the hose connections are the same across all Festool vacs.

The Mini and Midi vacs have angled connectors instead of straight ones, and that is because their holes are on top instead of the front. But their hoses still fit all other vacs and vice versa.

 

[Wuffles]

Lazy question, but as I am thinking the same thing I was wondering if the hose connections are the same? The 50mm outlet I mean.

Yes, the hose connections are the same across all Festool vacs.

The Mini and Midi vacs have angled connectors instead of straight ones, and that is because their holes are on top instead of the front. But their hoses still fit all other vacs and vice versa.

Thank you The Netherlands. Dix points.

 

[BMH]

I have a CT 22 that was a bear to lug upstairs, got a MIDI and just love it. It is hook up to my Kapex and leaves the shop frequently. The the Mini was my other choice but if you need to do any serious routing or clean up that bag is going to get full very quickly. I could use another Midi, just waiting for another pre-own sale from Festool.

Bruce

 

[RKA]

I chose the mini because portability was my main concern.  The 26 stays in the basement and the mini goes up and down stairs or gets packed in the car as needed.

 

[woodie]

The difference in weight is less than half a pound (0.4 according to the website), and the Midi is only 2" taller. I can't imagine those difference having a major effect on portability. I think the extra 5 liters of capacity is well worth this difference in weight and height, of course that's just my opinion.  

 

[AlexThePalex]

The difference in weight is less than half a pound (0.4 according to the website), and the Midi is only 2" taller. I can't imagine those difference having a major effect on portability. I think the extra 5 liters of capacity is well worth this difference in weight and height, of course that's just my opinion.  

The empty weight difference is negligible. But when you're close to full the difference can be 6-7 kilos.

 

[Benjamin]

Wow thanks for the all the replys

Very informative

 

[RKA]

The difference in weight is less than half a pound (0.4 according to the website), and the Midi is only 2" taller. I can't imagine those difference having a major effect on portability. I think the extra 5 liters of capacity is well worth this difference in weight and height, of course that's just my opinion.  

The empty weight difference is negligible. But when you're close to full the difference can be 6-7 kilos.

Precisely.  I almost chose the midi thinking it's only a little more weight and slightly bigger, but the reality is if I need capacity, I'll use the other one.  The main reason for wanting the smaller one is portability and I'm not planning on using it with a big chip producing tool.  In all likelihood it would be a sander or a saw for a limited number of cuts.  I'd rather have something smaller, lighter and more mobile.  So it depends on your priorities.  If portability is first, and capacity is a close second, the midi is probably the better choice, but if capacity is a distant second the mini may rule the day.

On a slightly different topic, but one the original poster may be concerned with, my only disappointment with the mini is the hose attaches near the back of the unit, but the swiveling wheels are near the front of the unit.  So, if you're moving about and dragging the mini/midi behind you with a tug of the hose (say you're doing a final sweep of the floor after working), the wheels will eventually swivel right or left and the unit will stop rolling in your direction.  You've gotta go back move it yourself.  Manufacturers of canister vacuums have figured this out a long time ago (put the swiveling wheels near the hose attachment), but for the life of me I can't understand what the thought process here was?  Am I missing something?

 

[Stephen B]

The difference in weight is less than half a pound (0.4 according to the website), and the Midi is only 2" taller. I can't imagine those difference having a major effect on portability. I think the extra 5 liters of capacity is well worth this difference in weight and height, of course that's just my opinion.  

The empty weight difference is negligible. But when you're close to full the difference can be 6-7 kilos.

Precisely.  I almost chose the midi thinking it's only a little more weight and slightly bigger, but the reality is if I need capacity, I'll use the other one.  The main reason for wanting the smaller one is portability and I'm not planning on using it with a big chip producing tool.  In all likelihood it would be a sander or a saw for a limited number of cuts.  I'd rather have something smaller, lighter and more mobile.  So it depends on your priorities.  If portability is first, and capacity is a close second, the midi is probably the better choice, but if capacity is a distant second the mini may rule the day.

On a slightly different topic, but one the original poster may be concerned with, my only disappointment with the mini is the hose attaches near the back of the unit, but the swiveling wheels are near the front of the unit.  So, if you're moving about and dragging the mini/midi behind you with a tug of the hose (say you're doing a final sweep of the floor after working), the wheels will eventually swivel right or left and the unit will stop rolling in your direction.  You've gotta go back move it yourself.  Manufacturers of canister vacuums have figured this out a long time ago (put the swiveling wheels near the hose attachment), but for the life of me I can't understand what the thought process here was?  Am I missing something?

[size=11pt]

If you put hose through cut away at front of sustainer/hose garage this problem should be minimised. This is how our Midi is set up. It is used in the house by 'senior management' more than by me, and she is very happy with the performance.  [smile]

 

[RKA]

Ahhh!  I switched to a 36mm hose that doesn't have the right angle connector, so the hose goes up.  I'll have to see if I can swap the angle connector in and get it to work with that cut out.  Thank you!

 

[sancho57]

I got a 26 and then wanted another one for my kapex. So I found a used 22 for sale. I use them interchangeably.

But mines are for shop only