Problem with my Festool CT26

[DHSPERRE]

Hi! My CT26 from 2009 began to dropping the vacuum effect and cutting the power to my Festool sander that was connected to the cleaner. I sent it to Festool for a service. They change almost everything in that box, from the electric to the plastic cover.
When i got it back, the problem was still there. Now it is the 4th time it comes back from service and still the same problem. I bought a new Festool CT26 to be done whit this problem and expenses the old festool gave me. I have used the new cleaner for 1mnd. and i get the same problem whit the new! I work as a floor sander and always used Festool and never had any problem before. It seems that the problem occurs when i cleaning the finest dust from the floor (120 grit). The maskin works fine for a while, but after half a day it continues to turn itself on and off. Even whith the new vacuum cleaner and new filter and dust bag.  Anyone having the same problem? 

 

[JCLP]

I had the same problem as well. I figured it out that my sander was clogged and was causing my CT26 to struggle like yours. I removed the pad from my sander and cleaned it out thoroughly and the problem disappeared. Now after a while it returned and then my sander burned out. I took the sander appart and it was caked in dry paint and sawdust. Ended up buying a new sander. Everything works great now. It's not the CT26 it's your sander, from my experience.
Cheers,
JC

 

[Michael Kellough]

I ruined a Festool sander sanding paint too. Now I use a Makita sander for paint.

Only because it cost less than half as much to replace.

 

[JCLP]

I ruined a Festool sander sanding paint too. Now I use a Makita sander for paint.

Only because it cost less than half as much to replace.

Me too. My ETS125 died just a few months after warranty, so I went out and replaced it. Now I use my DTS400 for paint and it too is starting to show signs of it's limitations. When it burns out, it will be replaced with some other brand due to cost.

JC

 

[Gregor]

I work as a floor sander and always used Festool and never had any problem before. It seems that the problem occurs when i cleaning the finest dust from the floor (120 grit). The maskin works fine for a while, but after half a day it continues to turn itself on and off. Even whith the new vacuum cleaner and new filter and dust bag.  Anyone having the same problem?

Do you use the original antistatic hose to connect the sander?

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that someone had similar problems with a CT that vanished after he made sure that no static buildup (that somehow messed with the electronics of the CT) can happen. Sadly I didn't find the post when serarching, so it's only from memory...

That is when parsing 'began to dropping the vacuum effect' as 'switching off like when the connected sander is turned off' - in case something different happens: please elaborate in more detail.

 

[DHSPERRE]

Hey Gregor.
Yes everything is from Festool. The green Festool hose with antistatic, note that its not the big hose but the thin one (3-4meters).

Its no problem with my sanders. The problem are with the Festool cleaner. It happens even when i vacuum the floor.
Can it be the fine dust on the floor?

When i am cleaning the floor with Festool CT26 the power drops and get up again. Just like if you move the switch to off and on agein.
I vacuum 10 square meters and the Festool turn itself off and on 4 times. This is with the CT26 from 2009
It just happen ones with my brand new machine from 2016.
I have CT 22 from 2001 and have never had the same problem, or no problem at all! I hope not Festool use inferior products to earn more.   
 

 

[Michael Kellough]

This happens when sanding or simply vacuuming?

It happens regardless of which main power outlet the vac is plugged into?

Are you sure there isn't an issue with the vac's power cord?
Can you get the vac to cut out from manipulating the cord?

 

[Gregor]

This happens when sanding or simply vacuuming?

It happens regardless of which main power outlet the vac is plugged into?

Are you sure there isn't an issue with the vac's power cord?
Can you get the vac to cut out from manipulating the cord?

That would be my questions too, and maybe asking for an experiment: to vacuum a place that is actually clean (or has 'normal' dirt) to see if the problem persists in a different location.

That wouldn't answer if the dust itself is actually the problem, but should you find a place where dirt is no problem (and where the CT works without problems without the 'special' dust) you could spread some (from a not-yet tossed bag, if you have and) and vacuum it up again - should the problem then manifest a call to Festool would be in order, I would suspect they would be interested to get their hands on the dust you have so they can reproduce the problem at their laboratory.

Most likely it sounds like a broken cord though, I follow Michel to play around with it a bit to see if you can trigger the problem. You could also check it for any damages or strange things (like if a spot of it feels uneven/thicker/thinner/edges inside) by running it through the hand (unplugged).

 

[semenza]

I am gathering that the same thing is happening on two separate CT26s.

And it occurs both with a tool connected and also when just doing clean up vacuuming.

Seth

 

[leakyroof]

I ruined a Festool sander sanding paint too. Now I use a Makita sander for paint.

Only because it cost less than half as much to replace.

Can you elaborate on That?  Which sander and what were you doing exactly ?
I've killed pads before with heavy sanding , but nothing I have sanded or stripped ever ruined one of my Festool Sanders... [eek]

 

[Michael Kellough]

I ruined a Festool sander sanding paint too. Now I use a Makita sander for paint.

Only because it cost less than half as much to replace.

Can you elaborate on That?  Which sander and what were you doing exactly ?
I've killed pads before with heavy sanding , but nothing I have sanded or stripped ever ruined one of my Festool Sanders... [eek]

My first Festool sander, ES 125 E. After a good 7 or 8 years of use; some drywall, and a lot of wood and paint (mostly "latex") a bearing seized. Maybe it was just worn out and paint wasn't really the culprit but I'd been sanding a lot of paint and had to remove some parts a few times to clear the passages so that's what I blamed.

I sent it to Festool and they said it would cost over $100 just to replace the bearing.
I bought a 6" Mirka Ceros sander for wood and a 5" Makita for paint.

 

[leakyroof]

I ruined a Festool sander sanding paint too. Now I use a Makita sander for paint.

Only because it cost less than half as much to replace.

Can you elaborate on That?  Which sander and what were you doing exactly ?
I've killed pads before with heavy sanding , but nothing I have sanded or stripped ever ruined one of my Festool Sanders... [eek]

My first Festool sander, ES 125 E. After a good 7 or 8 years of use; some drywall, and a lot of wood and paint (mostly "latex") a bearing seized. Maybe it was just worn out and paint wasn't really the culprit but I'd been sanding a lot of paint and had to remove some parts a few times to clear the passages so that's what I blamed.

I sent it to Festool and they said it would cost over $100 just to replace the bearing.
I bought a 6" Mirka Ceros sander for wood and a 5" Makita for paint.

  I must have gotten lucky with my ETS 150/5 that I bought in 2004. I eventually sold it when I bought the new EC version to replace it.  Was still going strong to the new 2nd owner.  I put that sander through everything in terms of finishing. [big grin]