Need help selecting vac | CT 36 vs. CT 48

[DickyCox]

Looking to buy my first Festool vac.  Am choosing between CT 36 and CT 48.  I realize size / capacity are the principal differentiators between the two models.  I have a small shop, and I don't envision transporting the vac with any regularity.  Anybody have the CT 36 and wish they'd have gone for the CT 48, or vice versa?  Was looking at the CT 48 from the standpoint of higher capacity and fewer bag changes, etc.

Many thanks,
Dicky

 

[SoonerFan]

I have a CT36 and have never wished I had a CT48.  I work out of my garage and like you don't need to take a CT out very often.  I find the 36 has plenty of storage.

Also, welcome to FOG!  Lots of great advise here.

 

[Runhard]

[welcome]

I have a CT48 and I am very happy with it. I also have two CT26's, one for my Kapex and one for my CMS, I use the CT48 for everything else. Since you will not need to move it out of your shop you might as well get the CT48.

 

[SS Teach]

Welcome to FOG. I have a 36 and it holds a lot, 36 liters I believe. I'm a hobbyist so for me it's great. But if you do a lot of routing and or sawing on a daily basis it could fill up faster. The 48 is taller, holds 12 liters more, and costs more. Some have complained about the weight, either moving to another site, or changing out a full bag. Also consider the cost of replacement bags and when the time comes a HEPA filter. That aside it is really nice to be able to saw, sand, and rout and not live in a dust bowl. Which ever unit you get your lungs will appreciate it. Enjoy your choice.
 

 

[Kev]

Only get the 48 in you're absolutely certain it'll stay in the shop. Both are excellent .. as is the 26. If you do need to shift it and the bag is nearing full it could be a tad on the heavy side!!

[welcome] to the FOG

 

[semenza]

Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

    I agree that the CT48 will only be desirable over the CT36 if it is shop bound. The CT26 and 36 share the same upper portions and only the bottom tub portion is larger in capacity  due to being taller. Though the 48 looks the same it is also larger in it's other dimensions in addition to being taller. The empty weight difference between the 26 and 36 is about one pound while the difference between the 36 and 48 is about 6 pounds. All taken together it would be much more cumbersome to carry and transport.

  But for the $50 price difference it is a good choice if you are certain that it won't be transported (it's not like it would be impossible, just a more difficult). You will need to change bags less often and at some point there will be a break even on the cost since the bags cost about 15% more but it holds 33% more. The 48 is on my list to replace the older CT33 that I currently use as my shop vac.

Seth

 

[Holmz]

I have a CT26 and it is as big as I would care to move. A smaller unit would be better for moving it. The CT26 gobbles it all up fine. They run the same motor, so they suck the same on a new clean bag.

If all you are doing is sanding, then smaller may be worthwhile.

If you are doing stuff with more chips then you may even want a bigger unit or a pertinent solution.

I am somewhat cheap, but even I can envision a two vacuum solution where one is a CT26 or a midi to move around, and then later a proper big unit for the shop.

It depends on what you are hooking up to it... Sanders, routers, etc...

Even if you are not planning on moving it, You may be surprised at how often you use it elsewhere...

A friend asked if he could borrow a fan to air out his laundry room from a water leak. When I asked if he wanted to suck up the water first?... His eyes lit up.
There a hundred other dramas like sucking up spiders and debris that seem to materialise into the solution being a vacuum.

 

[fifo28]

I have the CT 36 and it does hold a lot.  It also weighs a lot when its full.  I am a hobbyist and it stays in the shop, but I have never wanted the 48.  I purchased a mini for portability and its great!

 

[nickao]

Have two 33 and a 36 I would get rid of all 3 for a few 48's. Mine stay in the shop, there is zero point to go smaller, its just more time changing out  bags. If you aren't taking it out , get the largest you can, the cost for the extra capacity is minimal. I fill a 36 in a day sometimes, a hobbyist probably won't ever fill the bags that fast though.

To me the only reason to  get anything smaller than the 48 is if it's going to be carted around, dollar for dollar the larger units are a better deal all around, for the unit and the bags.

 

[McNally Family]

Something else you may want to consider is going with the smaller unit, and using the price difference to apply towards purchasing one of the accessory sets. 

I settled on the CT26, and applied the savings towards the Installers cleaning set.  One of the huge advantages to owning the accessories, besides the job site/shop cleaning capabilities, is the fact the larger diameter hose comes included with several of the sets.  The difference in suction performance between the standard hose and the larger version is substantial.  It is also nice to have both hoses for future applications (the larger hose is nice for bigger chip producing tools, while the smaller hose is good for sanding applications).

 

[grbmds]

I love my CT48, but I would probably also love a CT36 if I had bought that model instead. They are just great collectors and I doubt you would regret either. I bought the CT48 for capacity alone. I don't move it out of my shop and, since it is on wheels and doesn't take up significantly more floor space than a CT36, it was a logical choice for me. I personally think either would work for you if it's going to stay exclusively in the shop. You wouldn't want to carry a CT48 around very much, especially up and down stairs.

 

[DickyCox]

UPDATE.  Following the advice I received from this forum, I ended up purchasing the CT 36.  My main reason for not going with the CT 48 was the possibility of me taking the unit to various floors within my house, or perhaps even out to client sites.  The feedback seemed nearly unanimous that the CT 48 is a bit cumbersome to transport. 

Thanks to all who replied for the useful advice!

Dicky

 

[bkharman]

UPDATE.  Following the advice I received from this forum, I ended up purchasing the CT 36.  My main reason for not going with the CT 48 was the possibility of me taking the unit to various floors within my house, or perhaps even out to client sites.  The feedback seemed nearly unanimous that the CT 48 is a bit cumbersome to transport. 

Thanks to all who replied for the useful advice!

Dicky

FYI (on any extractor). If you have to tote the thing up and down stairs within your home or others, take the bag out before you do it. I have a shop bag that fills up quite regularly but have a smaller cleanup bag that I pack in and out as necessary. There is a huge difference in weight between an empty CT and one that is near full!!

Enjoy it.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[demographic]

FYI (on any extractor). If you have to tote the thing up and down stairs within your home or others, take the bag out before you do it. I have a shop bag that fills up quite regularly but have a smaller cleanup bag that I pack in and out as necessary. There is a huge difference in weight between an empty CT and one that is near full!!

Enjoy it.

Cheers. Bryan.

Yup, even with the CTM 26 I have it makes a fair difference.