My first FESTOOL purchase, TS55/CT combo.

[emdcksn]

Hello all, this is my first post but have been reading quite a bit here.  I am making my first FESTOOL purchase which will be the TS55/CTxx combo which I will use mainly to break down sheet goods.  I am just not sure which CT to get.  I am leaning towards the CT48 as of now.  My next FESTOOL purchase will be the Domino DF500 and then ?.  I am just a hobbyist and the CT will not leave my shop/garage.  Is the CT48 the one to get or would the CT36 be the better choice? It would be used for the TS55, DF500, compound miter saw etc, etc...

I do have an 18gal 6.5hp Shop Vac, but I don't know if it would provide adequate/correct dust removal for the FESTOOL tools.

Thanks

 

[AlexThePalex]

Get the 36, it is cheaper and still gives you a large storage capacity. Takes less space and will be easier to move around.

 

[Billedis]

I purchased the CT48 for my shop and am pleased with it.  Probably could have gotten a smaller one, but did not know what my future needs might be.  I purchased a OF1400 router, and with knowing the amount of sawdust a router produces felt comfortable with the 48.  I have taken it out on some small jobs I have done for friends, and no problem putting it in the back of my pick-up for transport.  I think I will at some time get the boom arm or consider making one.

Enjoy the machines, they certainly are worth what we pay for them in clean-up time alone. 

Welcome to the FOG.  Bill

 

[Holmz]

Saws and dominos generally do more chips than fine dust.
I would suggest book the existing shop vac to them and see what happens.

If you were to be rolling it around with 2 or 3 sustainers on it, then the FT is great.
I got a CT-26 for a specific mould vacuuming session.
If lt is parked In the shop then the star mix/Metabo might be worth considering?

I can gaurantee that one can surely have a spend up on dominos and extra domino gear, and for that Festool is the only option. more than one group have been doingvacuums well for a while.

 

[ART at WORK]

Welcome to the Fog

Im with Alex on this one. A 36 is big and when full quite heavy. I have mine under my bench with a boom arm over the table. I like this set up. I also have a midi which gets the most use as i take it to the tools where I need them and depending on space where I am cutting material.
You will be surprised how many people ask If you could just help them with a small job at their house when they know you have some Festools. And then the sustainers are in the car with the midi.....

Both have long life bags if you are using less toxic materials.

all the best with your new purchases
Pip

 

[Gary in Texas]

They all have the same suction, so, it's really down to size and what you want to carry, if ever.

I had the CT26, traded up for the CT36.  Don't think I would ever need the 48's capacity, as I have the newest dust deputy hooked up to my CT, so the bag hardly ever sees any dust whatsoever. 

As far as using your current vac or any other brand, they should work just fine with the TS55 or Domino.  It's when you get into the different Festool sanders that you will find a need for regulating the amount of suction at the tool, and the CT will be what you need.

Gary

 

[SS Teach]

Welcome to FOG. You will find tremendous info on tools you will purchase currently or in the future. Be careful of the slippery slope. You could find yourself with more Festools than you expected in a short period of time. A guy in New York state is liquidating the Festools he acquired in a 20 month period. His out of pocket cost was $36,000. It's in the Classified section. You are getting a TS55 and want a Domino, both produce a lot of debris. Get a 26 at a minimum. If you add an OF in the future that's even more chips and dust, go 36. That's what I have. And as has been pointed out once you get Festool sanders you can dial down the suction on a CT. They work so well together. Good luck.

 

[flair woodworks]

Welcome to the forum!

Here are a couple things about the CT48 for you to consider:
1) Although the CT48 holds more dust/chips, I'd imagine that the bags are quite heavy when full.  My CT26 bag is easily manageable when full.
2) The CT48 is taller, so fewer Systainers can be stacked on it before it reaches the height of ______.

 

[AndyG]

A little off subject.. But I love my ts 55 for breaking down sheet goods ...and my favorite trick is 2 inch extruded foam to lay it own ...supports the material and you can cut any direction .

 

[emdcksn]

A little off subject.. But I love my ts 55 for breaking down sheet goods ...and my favorite trick is 2 inch extruded foam to lay it own ...supports the material and you can cut any direction .

I agree. After watching quite a few videos using the same method and seeing it work very well, I plan to do so as well.

 

[alexander]

I got a CT36 with autoclean, while the autoclean feature is not absolutely necessary if you are not sanding drywalls, it's nice to have. I would say a Dust Deputy is a nice thing to have too. Since I have my CT36 and Dust Deputy combo, while it's a bit big to move. That combo goes on and on, almost never losing suction and I almost never need to clean the filters.

So I would personally say. Save the money of the CT48 and get a CT36 with a Dust Deputy. Well that's my point of view. 

Have fun with your tools. My first one was a TS55 too...

Alex

 

[demographic]

I have recently bought a TS 55 REQ and its a revelation to me.
Does far more than I expected, but recently I have been cutting a lot of 25mm MDF up and boy does that thing throw some dust out of the rear port, often into my nail pouch.
At the moment I have a fairly fancy dust mask thing that's OK for me but anyone working close...

So, I'm looking at getting some mobile extraction setup.
Likely out of the Festool stable, I'm a subcontractor who is seeing dust extraction starting to be demanded on sites and would far rather be at the early adopting end of the curve than the last messy barstool on site.

Anyway, the paying for dust bags if kind of offputting (well that and the fact that I can't afford the machine at the moment) so please tell me about this Dust Deputy thing.
Obviously I've just hit Google and know its a cyclonic dust separator but what setup are you lot using and how are you getting on with it?

 

[Holmz]

I have recently bought a TS 55 REQ and its a revelation to me.
Does far more than I expected, but recently I have been cutting a lot of 25mm MDF up and boy does that thing throw some dust out of the rear port, often into my nail pouch.
At the moment I have a fairly fancy dust mask thing that's OK for me but anyone working close...

So, I'm looking at getting some mobile extraction setup.
Likely out of the Festool stable, I'm a subcontractor who is seeing dust extraction starting to be demanded on sites and would far rather be at the early adopting end of the curve than the last messy barstool on site.

Anyway, the paying for dust bags if kind of offputting (well that and the fact that I can't afford the machine at the moment) so please tell me about this Dust Deputy thing.
Obviously I've just hit Google and know its a cyclonic dust separator but what setup are you lot using and how are you getting on with it?

There is dust and there is dust.
For what you are doing I would suggest that you consider maybe starting with DD (Dust deputy), and any old vacuum (As in borrow one, or use any ol hoover with a hose to the DD)

If you were doing sanding and cutting of Asbestos then a HEPA filter becomes a bit more than an acronym.

Where the HEPA side is more apparent is with fine dust. Unless you are sanding you will be having a lot of bigger dust.
So a DD and a hose and any second-hand shop vac may get you 97% of the way there now.
And then you could replace the vac later.

 

[flair woodworks]

I have recently bought a TS 55 REQ and its a revelation to me.
Does far more than I expected, but recently I have been cutting a lot of 25mm MDF up and boy does that thing throw some dust out of the rear port, often into my nail pouch.

Having a dust extractor does wonders for containing the mess.  The cordless tracksaw comes with a bag, which does a very respectable job collecting dust, too.  You might look into retrofitting your saw to work with the bag, if that's an option for you.