Q: Filter Bags Dust Extractor CLEANTEC CT 36 E AC HEPA (576760)

[WestMan_Canada]

#1` Can the Autoclean function of the CT 36 E AC HEPA  be used with the 496186 SELFCLEAN Filter Bag  or  only with the 496215 Disposable Dust Liners?

#2 Is the 496186 SELFCLEAN Filter Bag rated for drywall / plaster dust?

#3  If the  496186 SELFCLEAN Filter Bag is used is the Autoclean function even needed or is the primary benefit of the Autoclean that it allows you to use the 496215 Disposable Dust Liners instead of the 496186 SELFCLEAN Filter Bag  ?

Thanks much.

 

[jonnyrocket]

The autoclean function can be used with either type of bag. There is no damage to the extractor or bags by using it with either. However, when dealing with plaster dust, sheetrock dust, or concrete dust, the SELFCLEAN filter bags themselves will begin to clog and the Autoclean function of the extractor will help some, but it won’t completely unblock the clogging on the bags. The Autoclean feature is designed to clear off the build up on the filter itself, not necessarily the bags.

If you are using the extractor without a pre-separator (whichever of the various options), then the best performance will come from using the disposable plastic dust bags and fully leverage the Autoclean function on the extractor.

I quickly learned this lesson when trying to use my CT-26 as I sanded a wall repair in my laundry room. Even with a half empty self clean bag, the ct26 became clogged after 10 min or so and I was no longer picking up all the dust from sanding. I had to physically remove the bag and shake it around to loosen up the fine dust that was clogging the bag. And I had to repeat this procedure every 10 minutes. I bought a CT36AC the next chance that I could.

The absolute best setup for prolonged fine plaster dust is the festool pre-separator on top of the AutoClean extractor, and using the plastic dust bags. This gives the longest sustained performance and allows the extractor to do what it was designed to do.

 

[bobtskutter]

I've been thinking of getting an AC dust extractor with the pre-filter, then use it with the self clean bag and AC turned on.  Most of the time the vac would be used for wood dust, but would also be used for cement & plaster, even chimney sweeping.  I was hoping to minimise the risk of being exposed to the dust.  Seems like I need to rethink that idea and plan for different setup's depending on what I'm using it for.

How do you empty the plastic bags without getting a face full of dust?

Regards
Bob

 

[mino]

Unless you already have the CT36, consider the Starmix M-Class iPulse vac for drywall/plaster use. Can use the auto-clean with any type of bag fitted, also doesn't damage the HEPA filter.

OK, I see my comments (ab)used for the usual "who is better" discussion.

My mistake.

I have deleted the posts and will repost once have some time to be less ambiguous.

A very short comment till then:
- Do not use AutoClean /with any brand/ with a bag in the vac if you can avoid that situation, it will work, but the bag filtration ability will degrade way faster than normal and, after some time, the main filter will be dirtied prematurely as well due to degraded bag excessively leaking micro-dust.
- To repeat, above is applicable to any automatic pressure-wave-based main filter cleaning. Festool calles it "AutoClean" other call it difefrent. Either way, there is only one physics all the vac makers are subject to. Once the micro-pores in the bag are made bigger from the mechanical stress, they are just bigger, period.

 

[mino]

...
How do you empty the plastic bags without getting a face full of dust?

Regards
Bob

Ideally, you do not. *)

The plastic bags main utility is in a big appartment/office building setting where you may need to carry your stuff over several hundreds of yards till you get to your workplace from your van, and may be forced to dispose of the work-dust on dedicated collection point several tens of miles away. In that case, it really is useful to have something which allows to easily continue working once the tub is full ..

They make little to zero sense for a small one-man show, not to mention hobby users.

*) it is actually preatty easy to take the full bag from the vac, close it, and later get rid of it (including the bag, they are intended as disposable). And it is definitely cleaner than emptying the tub to something in someone's flat .. so one can continue sanding.

 

[WestMan_Canada]

Thanks all.
So far I conclude that:

The autoclean function on the CT 36 E AC HEPA  (576760)  can ONLY be used with the plastic liner bags 496215  Disposable Dust Liners ENS-CT 36 AC/5 .  The reason is that when the filter shakes it releases its duct debris straight down into the interior of vac, which must be open to catch that debris as it falls.  If you use one of the "sack" type bags ( 496186 ), the dust debris just falls down and coats the outside of the bag; when you remove it that dust will then shake off everywhere.  Furhermore the autoclean action might actually rupture the 496186 bag allowing dust already captured to escape!

As I see it the biggest drawback of the  CT36 AC HEPA (576760) using the 496215 plastic liner bags  is that when you open the vac the dust is not "contained" in a closed sack AND the motor unit itself (the upper half of the body) is covered with dust.

The remianing question is: How long will the standard 496186 filter bag last sucking dust?

Episode 84  Bags and Filters of Festool Live shows this problem nicely - scroll to 32:06  and note the white dust on Sedge!=2316s

Here is short video of the interior  CT36 AC HEPA  showing the Autoclean in action

 

[mino]

...
The remaining question is: How long will the standard 496186 filter bag last sucking dust?
...

With normal wood dust (mostly anything except concrete/plaster dust) - until it is completely full. People remove 50lb "bag bricks" from the tubs.

Officially, the CT 36 tub is 36 litres with 34 litres "usable". In practice, folks casually report suction loss when the dust starts being "stored" in the hose..

ADD:

...
If you use one of the "sack" type bags ( 496186 ), the dust debris just falls down and coats the outside of the bag; when you remove it that dust will then shake off everywhere.
...

This is actually not the case ... the video show bag-less operation. If a normal SELFCLEAN bag is used (again, not advised), one would need to place the camera inside the bag to see anything of interest as the hose exits to the bag.

When a plastic liner is used (again, the liner it not really needed, just a convenience), the liner has sides with "permeable" holes which allows it to remain expanded. The liner completely covers the tub and is sealed by the head unit and bu the hose entry in it. The head unit and the filter is messy indeed, but that is just the way it is with bag-less operation. The main filter needs to be able to drop the dust somewhere ..

An additional note:
When used with bags, the "main" filter is actualy only auxiliary. It is there for health safety should anything bad happend to the bag. This is why it is so important to not "dirty" or otherwise compromise the main filter when use with bags. It needs to be factory-clean as that way it causes minimal airflow restriction. If used only with Festool bags, it is normal the main filter lasts for several years without a need to replace it.

With bag-less operation, the main filter is loaded hugely, so does not last anywhere as much as with bags. Hence the comment to "take" always the bag-use filter when one's "bagless operation" one gets used up. That way the main filter for bag use is effectively free, and allways fresh.

GL!