OOPS...Did I Make A Mistake By Purchasing A Small DE?

[Just F Me]

So I recently purchased the CT26 + ETS 150/3 combo, however, I didn't realize that a CT48 is only $100 more and roughly $90 more with in package.  The CT26 + ETS 150/3 has already shipped and it's on it's way to me  [unsure].

This is my first, and I'm sure not my last Festool, however, did I make a mistake by buying the smaller CT26 Dust Extractor?  [crying]  Pretty much EVERYTHING is on my list to buy...Kapex, Domino, maybe a Rotax 150...

 

[shed9]

I doubt you will regret the CT26, it is a very competent machine. The only difference will be the time between emptying the bag is all. As you probably know, they are all the same other than capacity.

That said, you could always call your dealer and explain your concerns, see what they have to say - can't hurt, especially when you explain your wish list.

 

[roblg3]

Not to mention the 30 day no hassle return policy.  You can easily return and buy the other.  The 48 is huge!  I can't imagine if i had to carry it when full [scared]

 

[wow]

First, you NEVER make a mistake by buying a Festool product - right?!

[big grin]

AND two other comments to add to the excellent ones already posted by shed9 and robig3...

1. If there are as many items on your list as you say, one DE isn't going to be enough.

2. If you find (months from now) that you only need one DE but you want a bigger one, you can always sell the CT26 for dang near what you paid for it.

That's another benefit of going Festool.

 

[RKA]

Unless you're routing or planing all day, you'll be fine.  Sawing and sanding operations won't fill up the 26 too quickly.  I would venture to guess the 48 has the lowest volume of sales of all the DE's because it's not very much fun to move around.

I just use my tools on weekends, and I have a mini dedicated to the kapex and a 26 for the router table/MFT station.  Both DE's fit neatly under their respective tools.

 

[GreenGA]

If it's any help, my first DE was the CT22E and even after a full day of sanding (wood and sheetrock), sawing and some routing, the bag was never more than 1/2 full.

 

[Kev]

Chillax, you'll ultimately need another DE and the 26 is the perfect all rounder. You've done nothing wrong.

 

[teocaf]

Not to mention the 30 day no hassle return policy.  You can easily return and buy the other.  The 48 is huge!  I can't imagine if i had to carry it when full [scared]

my 48 came with wheels and a handle!  about 7 more lbs (empty) but nearly twice the capacity.  always the typical tradeoff to consider depending on your specific use of course, but i personally prefer the largest capacity, especially because of the bag costs.  and for that, i would rather go with the extra inconvenience of having to truck it up a flight of stairs on the odd occasion.  i also have a 33 from when i bought my first package years ago and an additional 33 i got during a refurbished sale.  i would prefer them to be 48s but they were not available way back then.  still, i'm not going to swap them out anytime soon.  i think that at the end of the day you can make any of the units work for you nicely.

 

[Billedis]

My first and only was the '48 and no regrets.  The weight hasn't been a problem when almost full, and I lift it into the back of my Sierra 1500 with the handle quite easily.  Should also say I am '69 and not a weight lifter!

 

[Burn0ut]

Get a cyclone instead of a bigger de

 

[AlexThePalex]

however, did I make a mistake by buying the smaller CT26 Dust Extractor? 

You didn't mention how you plan to use it. If you mainly stay in the shop a bigger vac might be more economical, but if you plan to move around with it, to outside jobs, then I wouldn't want to go bigger than a 26.

 

[Just F Me]

however, did I make a mistake by buying the smaller CT26 Dust Extractor? 

You didn't mention how you plan to use it. If you mainly stay in the shop a bigger vac might be more economical, but if you plan to move around with it, to outside jobs, then I wouldn't want to go bigger than a 26.

I have no plans to take it to a "job site" as all this is just a hobby really.  I just want to build stuff for myself.  That being said, I read a thread before where a guy was asking about DEs and everyone pretty much said "buy as big as you can afford".  I think he was going to buy a mini or something.  This is only going to be my woodworking vac.  I have a Ridgid shopvac that I don't think I'll get rid of.  I don't like how clunky it is, but it is what it is.

 

[AlexThePalex]

If you are a hobbyist I'd go for the 26. It is big enough for the amount of wood dust a hobbyist makes. I'm a hobbyist, I have a Mini and a 26, and I replace the bags on both only twice a year. If you compare the cost of bags between the 26 and the 48, it won't be much you save.

I mostly use my Mini, so most of the time the 26 is just sitting there looking pretty, doing nothing, and being a big lump that always seems to be in my way. A 48 would be even more in my way, so from my point of view, I would never opt for a 48. That big a vac is for somebody who makes a lot of dust, all the time. Not for somebody who uses it occasionally. But each to his own.

 

[truck90278]

I am a hobbyist myself and have had my CT22 for about 4 years.  I also added the UDD. I have only had to change bags 2 times with the UDD.  I have added the CT 26 only because i am working at my son's house on a long term project.  Unless you are doing heavy planning and routing, i would think the CT 26 would be fine for what you are doing.

 

[itchy]

I think if it's not leaving the shop bigger is better. I was going to get the CT26 as a good all rounder and decided on the CT36 last minute in the store. I personally like the taller vacuum as I often stack my systainer on top and I have easy access to what I need at hand. I will say that when full they are heavy.

I will also say that the festool vacuum has change my woodworking experience, I can not stress enough how nice it is to work in a clean environment both in the shop and customers homes.

 

[sancho57]

I have a CT26 and CT22, they are the the right size for me. As a homeowner I do a lot of work around the house. I think it would be  easier for me to haul a CT 26 or CT22 around the house , yard whatever then it would a larger unit., Im even looking at getting  a mini to.
But I would recommend getting a long life bag. i got one for my 22 and Im going to be getting one for my 26 soon.

 

[Sparktrician]

I use the CT 22 in my shop with a boom arm.  It never leaves the shop.  For site work, it's the CT Mini for portability.  In any case, you can't go wrong with the CT 26. 

 

[Coen]

A 26 fits nice under the Precisio. I doubt a 36 would. A 48 will surely not.

A 26 fits under the parcel shelf of a VW Polo 2004. A 36 or 48 will not.

If you are a hobbyist I'd go for the 26. It is big enough for the amount of wood dust a hobbyist makes. I'm a hobbyist, I have a Mini and a 26, and I replace the bags on both only twice a year. If you compare the cost of bags between the 26 and the 48, it won't be much you save.

I mostly use my Mini, so most of the time the 26 is just sitting there looking pretty, doing nothing, and being a big lump that always seems to be in my way. A 48 would be even more in my way, so from my point of view, I would never opt for a 48. That big a vac is for somebody who makes a lot of dust, all the time. Not for somebody who uses it occasionally. But each to his own.

But you and I are both in the Netherlands. When I bought my CT 26 I did the math too on when it would become more economical, but the big difference is in initial costs: where we live it's €250, in the US it's apparently $100

With current "official" Festool NL prices, you would need to suck up 1719 Liters of dust before the CT 48 is saving you money over a CT 26. That would be 71 bag changes for the CT-26 or 37 for the CT-48. The CT-36 reaches that point at 1562 Liters.

If you change the delta Price for CT 26 > CT 48 to €100 in that same calculation, it will start saving at 697 Liters or 29 bagchanges (CT-26).

Not included in the calculation is the fact that you won't always get a full bag. Although the new Selfclean bags are a lot tougher than the old paper bags of the 22; if a bag burst or you clog one up with some fine dust; you don't get a full bag; increasing the amount you need to get economical.

So it's pretty much this:

Want mobile vac: Buy CT-26 (or smaller)
Want stationary vac, low volume use: Buy CT-26
Want stationary vac, high volume: buy stationary vac
Want Festool vac, weight not a problem: Buy CT-26 / 36 /48 depending on amount of use.