Need a little help buying dust extractor

[mark8par]

Hi, new to the forum and Festool.

I am trying to find a good solution for dust extraction in my garage. I have a Dewalt DW717XPS saw and various other Dewalt hand tools, sander, circular saw etc

I would like something I can move around as I still have a few jobs to do around the home, this includes sanding so I need to keep dust to a minimum.  I was wondering if it was worth adding a dust commander or similar as well.

Festool keeps popping up in my searches but I was a little concerned with different manufacturer tools fitting the festool, im sure someone will have a better idea than me.

I have also read that the L class has the same filters as the M class, surely this cant be true but if it is why would you buy a M class for home use?

Not 100% sure on budget, was thinking about £600

Thanks in advance

Mark

 

[xedos]

You may want to read this:
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/dust-extraction-l-class-vs-m-class/

M class has an sensor / alarm system built in to satisfy the H&S guys.  Prob. not be worth the cost for home use.

Most of this board is in N.America and we only have one type of filter that ships with CT vacs here.

 

[Sanderxpander]

I have little personal experience with other brands but if you're going with Festool for home use, a CT mini or CT midi would be great choices. For me personally, the midi hits the sweet spot in the sense that it is still fairly compact (you can carry it upstairs etc.) but its bag is almost twice the size of the mini.

With either of them you could sand until you drop before the bag fills, but if you use it with your saws you'll appreciate the extra volume. The L vs M class was already answered.

It's probably worth getting a cleaning kit, there's one with a metal tube and one with plastic tubes that break down to fit in a systainer. I have that one cause it's easy to take everywhere.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I use my Mini's for home use, they do not have the suction some of the better home vacs have, but their filters are much better.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

@ mark8par Hi and welcome. 
If it's just for home use L rated would be fine, maybe a CTL 26 would be a good option. I buy M rated extractors as I'm trade, and many sites are now checking that the extractors are M rated.
The main difference between L and M is the M has an audible sensor warning.

 

[RKA]

In terms of using it with Dewalt tools (or others), I guess that depends on what size fitting you have on those tools in Europe.  In the US it's definitely a nuisance using metric hose ends with tools that have imperial sized outlets.  My tools are 99% metric anyway, so not many issues with Festool extractors.  If you have imperial outlets on tools, you need to buy adapters to make it work.  I ran into this issue with a dust collection fitting for the Dewalt cordless routers.  My searching led to two possible adapters (one from Bosch one from Dewalt), I bought both and found the bosch worked better.  But it was a nuisance and aggravation and it would be much easier not to have that adapter in the mix at all.

 

[jarbroen]

I can't comment on the M or L rating - like somebody mentioned, that's more of a Euro thing.
I do appreciate that my CT's are 'Full Hepa' rated.  Definitely more reassuring - especially when I'm cleaning up something like mouse turds.  And just for generally keeping that fine dust out of the air.

I've had a CT26 for a while and just recently got the new version MIDI.  I'd say if you're starting now definitely get the MIDI.  The new features and form are great, it's easy to lug around and the bag still holds quite a bit.
The CT26 is great if you're leaving it in the shop - especially hooked up to something like a router table.

As for connecting other tools, that's actually pretty easy.  I've found a lot of other brand tools work with no special adapters needed.  I have a Dewalt sander that I pulled the bag off and the Festool hose fits right over.
There's also a Rockler hose assortment that should cover most other needs.