Planex and Midi

[Jumping Jack]

Hi!

I asked if I could drywall sanding with Planex and Midi.

I got an answer that is not possible because this bag will clog quickly.

Then why they sell a combo Midi + Planex?

thank you

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Hey, Jack. Welcome to the forum.

Can you use the MIDI with the Planex? Sure. But you will be stopping very often to clean the filter and change the bag. The recommended dust extraction solution for the Planex is the CT 36 AutoClean (AC).

Why do we offer that package? It would be for someone who already owns the CT AC but not a Planex, for instance, and would like a second CT. It gives customers purchasing options while retaining the savings. Sorry if it muddies the waters in deciding which CT to pair with the Planex.

If you have more questions, just let me know. Glad to help out.

Shane Holland
Festool USA

 

[woodie]

I just finished a room and used a Midi with no problem. I have a CT 26 as well but wanted something more portable for the Planex. When finished the fleece bag in the Midi was 2/3's full and I would say there was little, if any, loss in suction. There was also no visible dust in the vac (outside the fleece bag). Of course if you're doing a lot of drywall, replacement bags might become cost prohibitive.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Woodie, did you inspect your filter and does your MIDI have the HEPA filter or the older non-HEPA filter?

Fine drywall dust ranges from 1-5 microns in size. The filter bag filters down to 5 microns. That means that a lot of that fine dust is making it's way to your filter.

I have run drywall dust into a CT 26 with a fleece self-cleaning bag and HEPA filter. There was a noticeable lose in suction when the bag was a little more than half full. The inside of the CT tub was coated in dust. But apparently results may vary. I would be weary of the long term effects on your filter, which is $42 to replace, soon to be more.

Anyway... Like I said, it can be done. Just not optimal, especially if you're doing a lot of drywall sanding. For patch work, a DTS and a MINI/MIDI are perfect.

Shane

 

[woodie]

Woodie, did you inspect your filter and does your MIDI have the HEPA filter or the older non-HEPA filter?

Fine drywall dust ranges from 1-5 microns in size. The filter bag filters down to 5 microns. That means that a lot of that fine dust is making it's way to your filter.

I just purchased the vac so it was squeaky clean to begin with. It does have the HEPA filter. I bought a new filter in advance, thinking this might need to be replaced shortly after. Truthfully, I was surprised to find the inside so clean. Maybe I was just lucky this time.  

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Well, I have to say I'm surprised by your results. I hope you don't take that the wrong way.

I try to be well educated on the tools through personal experience. This is one of those cases where I experienced the difference with and without AutoClean on suction and filter life.

Glad you had positive results, Woodie, and thanks for sharing your feedback.

Shane

 

[AlexThePalex]

Fine drywall dust ranges from 1-5 microns in size. The filter bag filters down to 5 microns. That means that a lot of that fine dust is making it's way to your filter.

I have never used the Planex, but I have done large patches of drywall and plaster using the Rotex 150, DTS, RTS and ETS150/125 with the CT22, CT26 And Mini, and I have never seen one speck of dust on any of their filters. Everything was caught by the bags.

 

[Nigel]

Same here. Done loads with RO 150 and always been impressed with the cleantex and how little gets to the filter.I changed the filter recently after about 3 years just as a pat on the back to my trusty vac.

 

[Mdjagg]

I also use the midi with RO 150 & brilliant 220 paper for drywall with good results, no dust on filter but I also use a dust deputy which helps a lot. There is actually not must that even gets to the vac.

 

[sessler2013]

I Just sanded a popcorn ceiling off and to my surprise with theCT 26; filled the self clean bag 2/3 the way full, not a spec of drywall dust was on the HEPA filter, How do I know this? I took a clean black fleece rag and wiped down the filter to see if it would catch and particulate. NONE

 

[overanalyze]

This is nice to hear. I just bought the RO 125 and midi. I wanted a 26 but the size of the midi will work better for me right now. I do plan on trying the sander/vac for small bath remodel drywall work and patch work!

 

[Scott B.]

Interesting timing of this thread.

I just (finally) put out some field notes on our use of the Planex for the past 18 months. It is here.

Scope of work is the key to this question.

If I strip wall paper in a room and do significant skimming on all 4 walls, would I do a blast through with a Planex and a Midi? Sure.

If I am sanding out all new drywall in a second floor addition/remod, would I take the Planex and a Midi? No way.

I can understand Festool offering that as a small scale option.  I sand drywall all the time with ets/dts/rts on a midi, and I can see some medium weight situations where it would take 8 hours to sand with an ets on a midi, but might only take one hour with a planex on a midi. What is that 7 hours of my time worth? Enough to consider putting a Planex on a Midi in a situation, especially knowing that the Midi is an everyday mobile extractor that I can run all of my tools on. While the 36AC maybe CAN run on all of my tools, it would be cumbersome in most situations.

If the discussion is specific to the Planex, in my opinion it has to be on the 36AC. The volume of drywall dust the Planex produces is FAR in excess of a handheld orbital, and absolutely would overload the Midi before too long on anything more than a pretty small scale.

This has been my experience. Other people's mileage may vary on these tool combo situations.

 

[dooer]

I have both the Hepa and non Hepa filters for my midi.  I'm assuming that I would want to use the non hepa in conjunction with a planex.