Question Regarding Suction From my CT-26E

[Steing77]

Hello,

I am new to Festool, and I have spending some time learning my way around the tools I own. Question, I do not seem to be getting great suction from my CT-26 E.  I primarlly use it with my Rotex 150; however, I find that there is still a considerable amount of material left on the surface - even with the vacuum set to its highest point. 

Now, my bag is virtually empty, and my hose seems to be free of any obstructions. Does anyone have any suggestions? Take for example, I also use my Dirt Deputy w/ my Ridgid shopvac and the results are flawless.  I am truly stumped.  Help!

Thanks,

Steve [eek]

 

[ear3]

[member=67188]Steing77[/member]

Welcome to the FOG.

The results you are getting are not normal, as in typical operation, the CT26 sucks up almost all the dust created by the Rotex.

As far as diagnosis, first let's talk sanding method:

When you use the Rotex, do you make sure to keep the pad fully in contact with the surface?  The Rotex generates a lot of dust, and if one tips the pad such that part of it gets lifted off, this can throw dust away from the sander and out of the range of the suction.  A similar thing might happen if you are doing a lot of off edge sanding with the unit, though in general, I find my CT26 to still capture a majority of the dust when the pad is operating off edge.

I assume you've also checked to see that the paper is correctly lined up with the hole pattern on the pad, and have inspected the sander with the pad removed to see that that there is nothing obstructing the inflow of air to the back of the sander?

With the CT itself, have you double checked to see that the vac operates as expected when just using it as a vacuum?  I assume the filter is also relatively clean (in normal operation, the filter doesn't usually get all that dirty).

Hello,

I am new to Festool, and I have spending some time learning my way around the tools I own. Question, I do not seem to be getting great suction from my CT-26 E.  I primarlly use it with my Rotex 150; however, I find that there is still a considerable amount of material left on the surface - even with the vacuum set to its highest point. 

Now, my bag is virtually empty, and my hose seems to be free of any obstructions. Does anyone have any suggestions? Take for example, I also use my Dirt Deputy w/ my Ridgid shopvac and the results are flawless.  I am truly stumped.  Help!

Thanks,

Steve [eek]

 

[AlexThePalex]

I primarlly use it with my Rotex 150; however, I find that there is still a considerable amount of material left on the surface - even with the vacuum set to its highest point. 

How much exactly is "a considerable amount of material"? And what sort of job were you doing? How much dust you suck up when using the Rotex depends on a number of circumstances. With some jobs you suck up almost everything, with others a lot less.

As long as the suction of your vac is at the level it is supposed to be, I think you're within normal expectations. But if your vac has less suction then it is supposed to have, there's a problem.

 

[peter halle]

I agree with [member=37411]ear3[/member] that this doesn't sound normal.  If you are getting better result when using your other brand than you are with your Festool extractor then I would suggest this as perhaps a way to diagnose.

1.  without your sander attached turn on CT with suction to full and stick hand on end of hose.  Suction?
2.  turn off CT.  Remove hose.  Turn on CT and place hand at opening on CT.  Is suction drastically greater?  If yes then your hose is suspect with perhaps something partially obstructing it.  If not drastically different than go to 3.
3.  open CT and remove bag.  Close up and repeat 2.  Greatly different equals replace bag and try again.  Pores in bag can get clogged with dust over time.  Test again with new bag installed.  If not drastically different go to 4.
4.  open up and place old bag back in.  Remove filters and try step 2.  If drastically different then your filters may need to be cleaned using low pressure compressed air or replaced.
5.  If none of these steps work to help diagnose then contact Festool and talk to a customer service rep.

I hope that you take this as a testing method.  I have had situations with mine that had me scratching my head and although my situations was different than yours this process helped me.  One of my situations turned out to be paint chips clogging a sander.  Another was that I had used a dust deputy on my CT and although very little dust made it to the bag the super fine dust clogged the pores of the bag instead of settling into the bag.  In other words, bag seemed ok because it didn't have much  in it, but wouldn't allow air out.

Peter

 

[Gregor]

Holding the rotex onto one point (especially in rotex mode) will give you plenty of dust around (among other problems), always keep it moving.

See for some tips, tricks and how it should perform.

 

[sancho57]

When I notice my CT isnt collecting most of the dust, I check 2 things,
1) the bag is empty

2) the CT 26 bag will sometime get twist , scrunched up (thats a techincal term guy) in CT and have to be unscrunched (twisted etc).