Need to replace dying CT 33

[Bill Fleming]

I am a hobbyist doing everything from home remodel to advanced furniture work. I have a CT 33 that is 18 years old. It was an expensive purchase but has been a work horse. I have only replaced bags, filters and the temp. sensor.

The other day a rear wheel fell off! Upon closer look much of the black ABS has cracks. I plan to try and fix the top black ABS and remove the optional front hose hook. The bottom is a mess and well beyond repair.

I have found that I can buy a replacement bottom tub for $180 - seems high but not in comparison to a new one - regardless of brand.

Some random thoughts and questions:

1) A new CT 26 would fit my needs - and if we both go for another 18 years we’ll both be worn out

2) I have used my CT 33 hard but not professional hard - I think ABS is a poor material for this use - at this point even the screw posts are so brittle that re-assembly is an art

3) What brand/model should I replace my CT 33 with - I regularly use a range of sander, track saws, and Domino

The sudden demise of my CT 33 has brought many projects to a standstill.

Cheers - Bill

 

[Michael Kellough]

It seems Festool expects the vac’s to be replaced periodically. When brushes wear down Festool recommends that the entire motor be replaced, although they will sell the brushes alone if the model isn’t too old.

I agree that abs is a poor choice of material. I don’t know of any other professional vacs made of abs. I used to have (for 35 years) a WAP Turbo made of thick roto molded polyethylene. It was nearly indestructible and there were no small rattling parts.

I also had a Fein Turbo for decades until the motor flew apart.

There are a few other good vacs but I think Festool is probably the one to get since you already have a bunch of Festools.

 

[ChuckM]

Is bluetooth functionality essential to you (now or in the future)?

If not, a CT15 (now anti-static hose included) -- at about half the price of the CT26 -- can do whatever you throw at it.

Some also favor the MIDI over the CT26.

 

[morts10n]

I have a CT 33 that is the same age as yours, still going strong! I also have 2 MIDI, one dedicated to Kapex, the other for onsite, and a CT 26 for when I use multiple tools together onsite. Love them all

 

[semenza]

  CT26 or 36.  I think the new models have a little better fill % than the older.  My opinion is that a 26 is the closest to the 33 in capacity and physical size.
 
    Even if the remote control is not essential it sure is nice to have. Especially as we start to wear out.  [wink]

Seth

 

[guybo]

Hi, if I had to replace I would go for the 36 or 48 ac an all in one.Here are some pics of a 33,36ac,and a 26.Always good to have a spare.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I'm with ChuckS on this one. Track saws, Domino, and sanders are all small chip/dust producing machines, the lower capacity of the CT15 is not a hindrance with those.
The big ones are great if you need the volume that they can hold, or the AC capabilities, but you also have to carry that big thing around. If you need that, you deal with it, if you don't, there is no advantage to the bigger models.

 

[Bill Fleming]

I ordered a new bottom tub and that may get me back in business. I think if I buy another it will be either the 15 or MIDI. I don’t do anything that really would take advantage of the auto clean feature.

BTW - The bottom tub of the 33 is black ABS - it is only the blank that appears really brittle. My solution to fixing some crack in the black ABS head unit is as follows:

1) Bought some small ABS sheets
2) Cut these into small chips
3) Dissolved the chips in a small glass jar of acetone
4) Used this paste as a glue and applied to increase thickness at the cracke/stressed points
5) May soak a small piece of ABS and apply as a reinforcing patch
6) The result is ugly but appears strong

Also, noticed that the new extractors don’t use the black ABS for the bottom tubs.

 

[Aux2496]

The CT26/36/48 all share the same exact turbine/filter.  The only difference is the bottom bag area.

The CT15/MIDI are designed differently.  The turbine has 6% less air flow volume (CFM) and the filter is 25% smaller.  This will result is somewhat less overall CFM.  It's not critical for things like sander/domino, but for the larger tools and general vacuum duties, the CT26 is recommended.  Unless you have a very limited budget or weight constraints.

 

[mino]

It seems Festool expects the vac’s to be replaced periodically. When brushes wear down Festool recommends that the entire motor be replaced, although they will sell the brushes alone if the model isn’t too old.
...

The motors are a balanced closed assembly where the bearings life determine the motor lifetime. Not sure how it was for the CT22/33/44 series, but from what I gather the brushes live for the CT26/36/48 series is about 1000-ish hours. The motor life is about 4000-ish hours.

This means each motor is good for about 3-4 brush replacements.

Here, in Europe, a motor assembly for a CT26 goes € 170 while the cheapest from the 26/36/48 series vacs start at €600 or so with my CTM 36 E AC being € 1050-ish.

A complete turbine assembly with brushes being between 30%-15% of a vac price is IMO absolutely reasonable.

Besides, the brushes for a CT33 are #452876 and are still available, at least in Europe. Being like 15 years since the last CT22/33 series vacs were made.

2) I have used my CT 33 hard but not professional hard - I think ABS is a poor material for this use - at this point even the screw posts are so brittle that re-assembly is an art

ABS lasts decades, as in your case, and is a very, very tough material when relatively (under 10 yrs) new. Generally tougher /less brittle/ than the materials the newer CT26/36/48 vacs are made from so the vacs can be made lighter when ABS was used.

What ABS does not like is UV light though, so leaving it on the sun or in a flouorescent-lit shop can reduce its lifespan signifficantly.

Looking at the design of the CT22+ and CT26+ series, one can see the Festool simplified a lot, and instead went for more weight allowing a more brittle plastic to be used.

If you wanted to just do a "replace in place with same function" you will be well served with the CT 15. That said, for general hobby use, you want the CT Midi. The Bluetooth remote and the new braided hose are well worth the markup.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip. The turbine has 6% less air flow volume (CFM) and the filter is 25% smaller.  This will result is somewhat less overall CFM.  It's not critical for things like sander/domino, but for the larger tools and general vacuum duties, the CT26 is recommended.  Unless you have a very limited budget or weight constraints.

It is correct that the CT15 has 7cfm less in airflow compared to the CT26 (130cfm vs 137 cfm), but as a prior owner of the CT26 and current owner of the CT15, I have not found any machine operation (including the Kapex and routers) or general use where the CT15 is deemed insufficient or noticeably weaker than the CT26.

As a comparison, the CTC Midi which Festool says is ideal for sawing, sanding, etc. has almost 20% less cfm than the CT15 and CT Midi.

For hobby shop use (as opposed to on-site use), I highly recommend using the CT15 (or any CTs for that matter) with a Dust Deputy (under $100) or the like because it practically eliminates the changing of bags and filters (HEPA filter is over $100 a piece).