New from Festool for Europe - September 2018: CT pre separator with cyclone tech

Joined
Jun 26, 2016
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2,231
Hi,

Festool just dropped this in their Instagram stories:

!All pictures copyright by Festool!

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English (UK Website):https://www.festool.co.uk/campaigns/microsites/ct-va

German (Deutsche Webseite):https://www.festool.de/kampagnen/microsites/ct-va

Kind regards,
Oliver
 
In the 3/4 view of the assembly in use it looks like the collection tub of the CT has been lined with a clear plastic bag. Is this a useful practice? Is it only useful with newer CT’s? Mine are older models.

Regarding the new equipment, it’s nice that it maintains the stackable nature of the Sys/tem.
 
Integrated cyclone is long overdue, but this one looks bulky and no different from Dust Deputy products. I realize it's an afterthought and add-on to existing collectors. Household vacs are way ahead on this.
 
I don't see a picture that shows it but it looks to me that the upper portion attaches to the lower portion when the clear tub is removed. I wonder if the lower then becomes the collection container?

I like the idea of the removable, swap out, tub with lid.

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I was thinking it seemed less bulky?  [huh]

Or at least more streamlined, easy to remove and move since it is really built in to a Systainer, stackable and the cyclone is not an appendage sitting on top.

Seth
 
Svar said:
Integrated cyclone is long overdue, but this one looks bulky and no different from Dust Deputy products. I realize it's an afterthought and add-on to existing collectors. Household vacs are way ahead on this.

Run concrete dust and paint dust through your household vac and it will die very, very early  [wink]
 
SRSemenza said:
I don't see a picture that shows it but it looks to me that the upper portion attaches to the lower portion when the clear tub is removed. I wonder if the lower then becomes the collection container?

Seems like that's the case, but the bottom portion would probably fill really fast and the cyclone seems to extend bellow the top systainer. The buckets are a cool idea. Like many festool things though, unless you are a road warrior, not much incentive to upgrade from a Dust deputy.
 
Coen said:
Svar said:
Integrated cyclone is long overdue, but this one looks bulky and no different from Dust Deputy products. I realize it's an afterthought and add-on to existing collectors. Household vacs are way ahead on this.
Run concrete dust and paint dust through your household vac and it will die very, very early  [wink]
I wasn't talking about job specific post filters. I was pointing out integration of the functional parts into a very compact package with outstanding separation efficiency. All that while maintaining great suction and static pressure.
 
Some thoughts:

Extraction will likely be less than what a DD can archive, especially on the fine dust fraction, as of the geometry:
The cone of a cyclone is ment to accelerate the particles so that they'll have enough momentum to continue on downward and separate from the airstream at its turning point. The festool thing looks like a dustcan type extractor, while these are somewhat OK for bigger particles these usually fail at the smaller/fine fraction. Might be OK to use with the CT in AC mode and a Planex (as depicted), or to collect chips from a router (unless these tend to clog inside the inlet as it has a narrowing section) - but I suspect a DD will overall perform better (especially when sanding with higher grits).

The bins being transparent is good so you can watch the fill grade, question though is if the bag won't simply turn opaque and leaving you non the wiser. I dislike how the bins are stacking though, they're not deep enough to fit the lids, so you can't put a lid on the top one leading to you being unable to stack something ontop as there isn't an even surface (or you'll have to also stack the lids, opposed to how it's depicted). The rim (and handles) could have been created different (smaller, with the latch of the top systainer going into the handle instead of an extra slot) to give a better stacking ratio than 5:2 (excluding the lids that protrude over the topmost bin) that can be deducted from the bin carrying picture.

The bottom adaptor dosn't seem to be able to lock onto the bins, thus there dosn't seem to be a single-hand way (as the handle on the top systainer most likely can't be used) to lift the CT over an obstacle. But it looks like it'll have enough space though to store the additional hose for transport. Possibly it can be used without a bin (just a liner bag in the bottom part) for ~1/3 of the capacity of a bin, but that will have the downside of no visibility at all.

EDIT:
It dosn't look like it's worth spending (all prices as of the german homepage incl. VAT) 416,50€ on it - or 184,45€ on a 3 pack of bins (that's 61,48€/ piece) or 83,30€ in case you buy one in a single pack (that's 3€ less than a SYS-5). Comparing the pricing for the bins to the 41,65 € they call for the part (a socket with short extension and plug) that moves the outlet to the top part of the pre-extractor (which seems to be a must-have in case you want to use a sleeved hose) makes that part look cheap in comparison.

Given that similar sized transparent containers (20L) can be at obtained at IKEA for less than 5€ (which would make them 10€ when molded in thicker to have higher stability) I can only assert that such ripoff pricing dosn't make me want to continue buying their products...
 
What I don't understand is why didn't they make the bottom part as a TL4 or TL5 sized systainer with a side window and just omit the removable plastic monstrosity?

Or even better, just make a T-loc lid with the cut-out and attachment point to be able to fit it to any T-loc body of your choise so one could decide how large of a container they need.

For my woodworking I could probably easily get away with a TL3 as the receptacle under the cyclone module and be done with it - empty once a day and after routing operations.
 
Has anyone seen mention of the capacity?

Using my CT26 with a lunchbox thicknesses it fills up very quickly; I'd like to see a much bigger bin than 26 litres.

Andrew
 
The really short cone of the cyclone makes me question its ability to separate finer materials. The bottom box appears to only function as a housing base. My Oneida DD works extremely well and only costs about $100 but it is clunky. I made a base for the bucket that latches to my C.T. but it is not as nice or easy to transport as the Festool design.
This gizmo might appeal to the professional commercial users but makes no real economic sense for a hobbiest as I can purchase a lot of bags for the approximate $400 cost to this. Will be curious to actual users reporting on how well it works.
 
Roseland said:
Has anyone seen mention of the capacity?

Using my CT26 with a lunchbox thicknesses it fills up very quickly; I'd like to see a much bigger bin than 26 litres.

Andrew

The bins would probably be faster and easier to empty compared to the CT26 bottom. Realistically even 100 liters would fill fast from a planer. I have a CT33 in the shop but even when running the HL850 for a few passes I use an old, big, 16 gallon Craftsman vac due to the fast fill of the CT bag.

Seth
 
I hate to be negative, but this is just another example of Festool coming to the game way too late, and overpriced.
 
A lot of discussion about this new Festool product on this thread and the concurrent thread: “CT CYCLONE Pre-Seperator: Coming To NA...”.
And in them both are a good number of “how Festool SHOULD have done it” posts...
Months before any buyer/users have actually had the chance to use it.
BOTTOM LINE: This is what Festool’s offering. It is what it is. Take it... Or leave it.

When one evaluates the purchase of any new Festool product - It needs to be done in the context of Festool’s GERMAN/European focus on their PRIMARY market - The worksite TRADESMAN - An enormously larger customer base than the woodworkers’ market.
Hence, their clear focus on “mobile” products: MFTs, Systainers, Mobile Dust Extractors, Battery powered hand tools, etc. And now their “add-on” Separator.
IMO - If you’re a “Road Warrior” - Hauling your Dust Extractor from job site to job site -
This looks like a terrific improvement to the present circumstance.
I’d most likely buy one - And 2-3 extra of the collection tubs.

If your woodworking is done “in the shop” - Like me - I for one - Am not interested.
I’ll stick with my -
Oneida ALL STEEL Heavy-Duty Dust Deputy 2" DIY Cyclone Separator ($199)
https://www.oneida-air.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=AXD001002&CatId=%7B2C6BB449-99F9-4CB9-BC27-CAF1BB570002%7D
And my -
Oneida Super Dust Deputy® 17 Gal. Steel Drum Kit $101
https://www.oneida-air.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=SXK170601&CatId=%7BA34256DD-0599-4A53-B7BA-EB8FB4C63260%7D
WHY:
1.
It’s a TRUE CYCLONE - Virtually TOTAL - KNOWN - separation.
2.
It’s an ALL STEEL product - Not a plastic “whanna be”.
And... While I presume Festool has built into their new Separator “anti-static” properties to avoid “frying” the electronics of their Dust Extractors - I KNOW - From years of experience - That my ALL STEEL Dust Deputy/Drum setup is safe for my Festool DE’s.
3.
PRICE - The ALL STEEL - TRUE CYCLONE and DRUM - Costs $199 + $101 = $300
$75 - 20% LESS - Than Festool’s $375 (U.S) PLASTIC Separator.
I know... Not as cheap as the plastic Dust Deputy/plastic bucket setup.
But, if you’re buying Festool tools at measurably higher prices - Why not an ALL STEEL Dust Deputy/Drum. I decided to pay a little more - Do it right - Do it once.
MY CONCLUSION:
My woodworking’s done in my shop. I’ll stick with what’s working for me.
Proven Cyclone “Total” Separation - Known to be Safe for my Festool Dust Extractors - Cheaper.

DISCLAIMER: I don’t work for/receive any compensation from Oneida. I bought the products.

 
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