Festool has recently introduced the successors of their CT22 and CT33 vacuums, respectively the ctl 26 and 36 cleantex. Due to a more compact turbine, the new vacs have a higher volume capacity and a slightly higher suction performance.
The new vacs also boast a new "self clean" filterbag which prevents the loss off suction caused by small particles clogging the pores of the filterbag, by collapsing into itself when the suction is turned off (thus causing an effect similar to shaking a clogged filterbag).
In this review I would like to share my findings and the experiences I?ve had with my CTL26 sofar, and compare it to my ,now 7 years old, CT22.
Similarities:
-Size: the CTL26 is about the same size as the CT22 with the hose-garage installed (note that the hose garage of the CTL26 is an integral part of the machine and non-removable)
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- They both have onboard cable- and hose- storage, and have a systainer-dock.
-Both have big rear wheels and casters in the front.
-Both feature a flat filter design; which gives a significant advantage in usefull volume in comparison to other vacs with a central cilindrical filter. (The ctl26 has a bigger single filter, like the festool mini and midi vacs, versus the 2 smaller filters of the ct22)
Differences:
- The CTL26 has no flat surface at the bottom off the hosegarage, so it's less handy to temporarily lay aside small things like screws etcetera.
- The powercable of the CTL26 exits the machine from the rear, instead of the side, making it more comfortable to move around when it's plugged in.[attachthumb=3]
- Different opening mechanisms: To open the ctl26 you remove the entire top section, instead of "popping the hood" like on the ct22, which, (allthough it looks cool
) is less practical. For instance, when you have systainers installed on the top, or when you want to check the bag when you have the cable rolled up on the rear storage. Other advantage of this method: The bucket accessory is no longer needed for wet vacuuming (my experience is you have to wipe the interior of the vac dry anyway, even if you use the bucket in the ct22)
The clips on the top part of the ctl26 are double hinged and spring-loaded, so they won't catch on the bottom part of the vac when you lift it off/ put it back on. [attachthumb=2]
- Different stationary brake systems: The ctl26 uses the more practical system that can also be found on the festool mini and midi, which is operated from the front, instead of the more fragile tabs at the rear of the ct22 in between the wheels.
- More solid rear wheels: Allthough the wheels of the CTL26 are still made of plastic instead of rubber, it appears to be a "softer" kind of plastic, and they're not open on the inside; so they don't make the horrible sound those of the CT22 make when rolled over tile for instance.
(The wheels are mounted on a single axle that runs underneath the vac, while the wheels of the ct22 are mounted to the side of the bag-compartiment)[attachthumb=4]
-NO MORE PRONGS: There are no more protruding objects in the bag compartiment, like the waterlevel sensors on the ct22, which can puncture the paper bags if you open and close the vac to check the bag. (Which not only means you'll have to replace the bag prematurely, but clean out het filters aswell [sad]) (The waterlevel sensors are now integrated in the inside "wall" of the compartiment itself, instead of at the end of the rubber prongs, and are located just below the hoseconnection)[attachthumb=11]
Missing features:
-The ctl26 does not have the the filter-raking handle, that's on the rear of the CT22. But this is not something I miss, because it appears to be only usefull if you use the vac without a bag, and with the special M-ply longlife filter. (If you rake the filters with a bag installed, the dust will fall on top of the bag, and will be sucked right back into the filter when you start the vac again)
-The ctl26 no longer has the blower function that was present on the CT22 (if you insert the hose at the port located below the powercord) (Allthough I have successfully used this functionality on a household vaccuum to quickly inflate an airmatrass; I have never used this funcionality of my ct22 on a jobsite).[attachthumb=7]
Added features:
- There's a new modular slot, located next to the standard powersocket, into which an additional powersocket (with or without automatic switch) or a module for compressed air can be installed (so the vac can be switched on automatically when used with an airpowered sander). The installation of those modules is very easy, and the modules are fixed with two five mm hex-bolts (which just happens to be the size of the key for changing the blade on the ts55)[attachthumb=12]
[attachthumb=13]
I bought both types of socket for my vac, but I have only used the continuous power socket sofar, this way I can use the CT as an extensioncord (for instance: cut a piece of board with the ts55 hooked up to the vac, then cut some notches with my fein supercut without switching cables and the vac running when using the fein; or using a corded drill etc)
(I also got an Y-splitter to be able to connect two machines at the same time for when I would use the automatic switching socket, but I haven't tried it yet)
(note that the functionality of the automatic switching socket is also easily obtained for the CT22 by plugging both tools into a three way plug, and plugging that into the socket of the ct)
-Optional accessory-storage: there are bolt-on accesories availbable for onboard storage of nozzles and even pipes. (I only bought the part for the nozzles, because I don't use the floornozzles that often, and the pipes would be in the way everytime I would need to get the hose. (but I liked the fact of haven some nozzles handy because the rubber end of the hose, when used without a nozzle, does leave black streaks, and the nozzles don?t marr surfaces.)
(I haven't used this accessory yet, I only just installed it when taking the pictures, but it looks nicely integrated into the vac's design)[attachthumb=6]
Other findings:
-The downside of the smaller turbine is, that it makes a higher pitched noise; and allthough I haven't really noticed the increase in suction power, I did notice the louder sound.
-I have two types of bags for my ct22, the regular paper ones, and the "vlies" bags, which are more tear-resistant (but also a bit more expensive). The bags for the ctl26 are tear-resistant aswell, but cost exactly the same as the paper bags for the ct22.
The material of the selfclean bags is clothlike and can be folded much smaller than the CT22 bags without leaving lasting creases in the bag; so the spare bags take up much less room in the van. (The selfclean bags also have "hepa" printed on them)[attachthumb=8]
-The changing of the bags is a bit easier, you only have to pull it inward a little bit, and you can then pull a tab that slides the opening closed. (Just like on my electrolux household vac, but than a huge bag, and without it pulling straigth through and leaving the opening uncovered) (I find it slightly more hassle with the CT22, because you have to pull the full bag further away to get the bag out, and I can?t get the cap on easily most of the time)
[attachthumb=9]
[attachthumb=10]
-When I just got the vac, I opened the lid after using it, to see how the colapsing looked (I wasn't really using it, just a little cleanup for testing) and it... well ... didn't (I think it was because there wasn't any dust clinging to the top off the bag.) Because I am under the impression it does really work, I used the vac at a later time for sanding drywall, and for vacuuming brick grinding dust, and I didn't notice any loss of suction (which I would have with the CT22, that's why I normally use a different vac with automatic filtercleaning for such tasks, and I will still use the dedicated vac if I know in advance I have to do such jobs; but it's nice to know this vac is up to it aswell, if need be).
-Allthough I find the non-switching-powersocket a handy feature, I have also mistakenly connected a tool I did want to start the vac with to it.
If anyone needs to know more about the CTL26, feel free to ask (exept if it likes lead-paint, I wouldn't know)
Frank-Jan
The new vacs also boast a new "self clean" filterbag which prevents the loss off suction caused by small particles clogging the pores of the filterbag, by collapsing into itself when the suction is turned off (thus causing an effect similar to shaking a clogged filterbag).
In this review I would like to share my findings and the experiences I?ve had with my CTL26 sofar, and compare it to my ,now 7 years old, CT22.
Similarities:
-Size: the CTL26 is about the same size as the CT22 with the hose-garage installed (note that the hose garage of the CTL26 is an integral part of the machine and non-removable)
[attachthumb=1]
- They both have onboard cable- and hose- storage, and have a systainer-dock.
-Both have big rear wheels and casters in the front.
-Both feature a flat filter design; which gives a significant advantage in usefull volume in comparison to other vacs with a central cilindrical filter. (The ctl26 has a bigger single filter, like the festool mini and midi vacs, versus the 2 smaller filters of the ct22)
Differences:
- The CTL26 has no flat surface at the bottom off the hosegarage, so it's less handy to temporarily lay aside small things like screws etcetera.
- The powercable of the CTL26 exits the machine from the rear, instead of the side, making it more comfortable to move around when it's plugged in.[attachthumb=3]
- Different opening mechanisms: To open the ctl26 you remove the entire top section, instead of "popping the hood" like on the ct22, which, (allthough it looks cool
) is less practical. For instance, when you have systainers installed on the top, or when you want to check the bag when you have the cable rolled up on the rear storage. Other advantage of this method: The bucket accessory is no longer needed for wet vacuuming (my experience is you have to wipe the interior of the vac dry anyway, even if you use the bucket in the ct22)The clips on the top part of the ctl26 are double hinged and spring-loaded, so they won't catch on the bottom part of the vac when you lift it off/ put it back on. [attachthumb=2]
- Different stationary brake systems: The ctl26 uses the more practical system that can also be found on the festool mini and midi, which is operated from the front, instead of the more fragile tabs at the rear of the ct22 in between the wheels.
- More solid rear wheels: Allthough the wheels of the CTL26 are still made of plastic instead of rubber, it appears to be a "softer" kind of plastic, and they're not open on the inside; so they don't make the horrible sound those of the CT22 make when rolled over tile for instance.
(The wheels are mounted on a single axle that runs underneath the vac, while the wheels of the ct22 are mounted to the side of the bag-compartiment)[attachthumb=4]
-NO MORE PRONGS: There are no more protruding objects in the bag compartiment, like the waterlevel sensors on the ct22, which can puncture the paper bags if you open and close the vac to check the bag. (Which not only means you'll have to replace the bag prematurely, but clean out het filters aswell [sad]) (The waterlevel sensors are now integrated in the inside "wall" of the compartiment itself, instead of at the end of the rubber prongs, and are located just below the hoseconnection)[attachthumb=11]
Missing features:
-The ctl26 does not have the the filter-raking handle, that's on the rear of the CT22. But this is not something I miss, because it appears to be only usefull if you use the vac without a bag, and with the special M-ply longlife filter. (If you rake the filters with a bag installed, the dust will fall on top of the bag, and will be sucked right back into the filter when you start the vac again)
-The ctl26 no longer has the blower function that was present on the CT22 (if you insert the hose at the port located below the powercord) (Allthough I have successfully used this functionality on a household vaccuum to quickly inflate an airmatrass; I have never used this funcionality of my ct22 on a jobsite).[attachthumb=7]
Added features:
- There's a new modular slot, located next to the standard powersocket, into which an additional powersocket (with or without automatic switch) or a module for compressed air can be installed (so the vac can be switched on automatically when used with an airpowered sander). The installation of those modules is very easy, and the modules are fixed with two five mm hex-bolts (which just happens to be the size of the key for changing the blade on the ts55)[attachthumb=12]
[attachthumb=13]
I bought both types of socket for my vac, but I have only used the continuous power socket sofar, this way I can use the CT as an extensioncord (for instance: cut a piece of board with the ts55 hooked up to the vac, then cut some notches with my fein supercut without switching cables and the vac running when using the fein; or using a corded drill etc)
(I also got an Y-splitter to be able to connect two machines at the same time for when I would use the automatic switching socket, but I haven't tried it yet)
(note that the functionality of the automatic switching socket is also easily obtained for the CT22 by plugging both tools into a three way plug, and plugging that into the socket of the ct)
-Optional accessory-storage: there are bolt-on accesories availbable for onboard storage of nozzles and even pipes. (I only bought the part for the nozzles, because I don't use the floornozzles that often, and the pipes would be in the way everytime I would need to get the hose. (but I liked the fact of haven some nozzles handy because the rubber end of the hose, when used without a nozzle, does leave black streaks, and the nozzles don?t marr surfaces.)
(I haven't used this accessory yet, I only just installed it when taking the pictures, but it looks nicely integrated into the vac's design)[attachthumb=6]
Other findings:
-The downside of the smaller turbine is, that it makes a higher pitched noise; and allthough I haven't really noticed the increase in suction power, I did notice the louder sound.
-I have two types of bags for my ct22, the regular paper ones, and the "vlies" bags, which are more tear-resistant (but also a bit more expensive). The bags for the ctl26 are tear-resistant aswell, but cost exactly the same as the paper bags for the ct22.
The material of the selfclean bags is clothlike and can be folded much smaller than the CT22 bags without leaving lasting creases in the bag; so the spare bags take up much less room in the van. (The selfclean bags also have "hepa" printed on them)[attachthumb=8]
-The changing of the bags is a bit easier, you only have to pull it inward a little bit, and you can then pull a tab that slides the opening closed. (Just like on my electrolux household vac, but than a huge bag, and without it pulling straigth through and leaving the opening uncovered
) (I find it slightly more hassle with the CT22, because you have to pull the full bag further away to get the bag out, and I can?t get the cap on easily most of the time)[attachthumb=9]
[attachthumb=10]
-When I just got the vac, I opened the lid after using it, to see how the colapsing looked (I wasn't really using it, just a little cleanup for testing) and it... well ... didn't (I think it was because there wasn't any dust clinging to the top off the bag.) Because I am under the impression it does really work, I used the vac at a later time for sanding drywall, and for vacuuming brick grinding dust, and I didn't notice any loss of suction (which I would have with the CT22, that's why I normally use a different vac with automatic filtercleaning for such tasks, and I will still use the dedicated vac if I know in advance I have to do such jobs; but it's nice to know this vac is up to it aswell, if need be).
-Allthough I find the non-switching-powersocket a handy feature, I have also mistakenly connected a tool I did want to start the vac with to it.
If anyone needs to know more about the CTL26, feel free to ask (exept if it likes lead-paint
, I wouldn't know)Frank-Jan
