Shocked at the size of the Midi

[Steven Owen]

I just bought a larger dust extractor so I changed my mind about buying for CT26.  I’ll admit I was a little shocked by the size of the Midi.  I was expecting it to be 3 inches taller and 2 or so inches wider.  It’s very tiny machine.  It was all I really needed for tools in a small shop.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Congrats on your new toy. Now make saw dust  [tongue]

Mario

 

[RustE]

Did you also look at the CT MINI?

I’m just curious because I’m looking to buy a smaller extractor.  I figure it’ll take me a while to fill a bag in either the CT MINI or the CT MIDI with mostly sanders.  Have a Fein Turbo II for the tools that make a bigger mess.

 

[ben_r_]

I would like to get a CT Mini just to use as the vacuum for my house! They ARE tiny!

 

[McNally Family]

I have also considered a second CT, since my current CT has the boom arm installed making it less portable.  However, I won't buy anything until after April 2nd (less than a month away), when the new CT's come out with the new improved hoses and reinforced hose caddy.  I will probably get a second CT26, because it takes all the accessories (think bluetooth), and has the front hose connector for my 36mm hose that I use to vacuum my basement.

I also already have a supply of CT26 bags and the blue filter for sucking up water, so by going with the CT26, it means fewer extra's I need to order.

 

[Steven Owen]

I have also considered a second CT, since my current CT has the boom arm installed making it less portable.  However, I won't buy anything until after April 2nd (less than a month away), when the new CT's come out with the new improved hoses and reinforced hose caddy.  I will probably get a second CT26, because it takes all the accessories (think bluetooth), and has the front hose connector for my 36mm hose that I use to vacuum my basement.

I also already have a supply of CT26 bags and the blue filter for sucking up water, so by going with the CT26, it means fewer extra's I need to order.

I’m pretty sure you can still use the 36 MM hose on the Midi.  The next purchase will the Festool DF700 Domino when I get my taxes back.  I’m sure I’ll need a 36 inch hose for the larger Domino machine. 

I’ll get the Mirka Sanders after that.  The recent price increase destroyed any rational reason to cough up the extra money for the ETS-EC’s given their performance is on par with the Mikra’s. 

Maybe it’s the choice of camera lenses being used in videos on YouTube, the CT Midi looks bigger than it does in person.  The YouTube videos make it look a little taller.

Maybe it’s true, “TV does put on 10lbs”.  At least if you’re a dust extractor.

 

[ArtisanWoodworksAndDesign]

All of the Festool hoses have the same end connector where it plugs into the dust extractor, so yes you can use a D36 hose with a MIDI.  It won't have the right angle on it, so it will come straight out the top of the extractor and prohibit mounting systainers on top.

 

[rst]

I have an Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy sitting on top of my Midi.  Oneida has anti-static right angle connectors # AXD600103.  I have a bunch.  Another place they are useful is to reduce the footprint of the hose coming out the vacs.  If you have an overarm support the the hose sticks way out where it plugs into the vac, the angle connector more than halves that space.

 

[peter halle]

Just a heads up to anyone looking to purchase the Tradesman kit.  Check to see which one you are ordering.  The older one with the ribbed hose and the new one with the braided hose have other changes that you need to research.  I noticed this earlier this week after attending a Roadshow event.

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

Just a heads up to anyone looking to purchase the Tradesman kit.  Check to see which one you are ordering.  The older one with the ribbed hose and the new one with the braided hose have other changes that you need to research.  I noticed this earlier this week after attending a Roadshow event.

Peter

What changes have they made other than the hose?

 

[McNally Family]

Just a heads up to anyone looking to purchase the Tradesman kit.  Check to see which one you are ordering.  The older one with the ribbed hose and the new one with the braided hose have other changes that you need to research.  I noticed this earlier this week after attending a Roadshow event.

Peter

Just from the pictures, I noticed that the bent angled tube is metal on the old unit, and plastic on the new.  Not sure what the advantage or disadvantage is on either. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

Just from the pictures, I noticed that the bent angled tube is metal on the old unit, and plastic on the new.  Not sure what the advantage or disadvantage is on either.

I think they updated the angle unit with a twist lock to fit the new hoses. I guess they didn't update the metal one.

 

[Steven Owen]

Did you also look at the CT MINI?

I’m just curious because I’m looking to buy a smaller extractor.  I figure it’ll take me a while to fill a bag in either the CT MINI or the CT MIDI with mostly sanders.  Have a Fein Turbo II for the tools that make a bigger mess.

I did.  The mini is too small for Track Saw work.  It’s only a difference of $70 dollars.

 

[Steven Owen]

I have an Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy sitting on top of my Midi.  Oneida has anti-static right angle connectors # AXD600103.  I have a bunch.  Another place they are useful is to reduce the footprint of the hose coming out the vacs.  If you have an overarm support the the hose sticks way out where it plugs into the vac, the angle connector more than halves that space.

Oneida says you need to adapt the Ultimate DD to fit the Midi.  Was it all that hard to do?

 

[RustE]

I did.  The mini is too small for Track Saw work.  It’s only a difference of $70 dollars.

I’m guessing too small of bag capacity?  The volumetric flow rates (suction) are the same.

Looks to be an $50 price difference come April 2nd.  The bag capacity goes from 2.0 gal in the MINI to 3.3 gal in the MIDI with only a 2” height increase.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I bought a Mini before the Midi came out. If buying now I’d get the Midi for the reasons RustE pointed out.

The small bag size of the Mini would limit use of the track saw, especially ripping solid wood but I use it with a regular Dust Deputiy strapped to the top so capacity is not a concern.

The only things that bug me about the Mini/Midi are the right angle fitting at the vac end of the hose and the fact that the new Bluetooth remote modules aren’t compatible.

I got around the right angle fitting problem by putting the DD bucket forward enough that the DD exhaust hose turns down and shoots directly into the vac (right angle fitting removed).

 

[rst]

Steve O, I had to do a little judicious razor knife carving and just a ratchet strap to secure it was all.  I used it for awhile without the strap as mine stays at my one cutting table, minor stuff.  I've had mine four years and have yet to clean the filter.

 

[RKA]

I did.  The mini is too small for Track Saw work.  It’s only a difference of $70 dollars.

I’m guessing too small of bag capacity?  The volumetric flow rates (suction) are the same.

Looks to be an $50 price difference come April 2nd.  The bag capacity goes from 2.0 gal in the MINI to 3.3 gal in the MIDI with only a 2” height increase.

To add to that, I generally have to change out the bag at 75% full on the Mini because the dust collection begins to drop off.  It's not terrible by any means, but I'm sensitive to dust and that's about as far as I can stretch a bag.  That extra capacity in the Midi is great for not much of a tradeoff in size.  Next to routers and planers, the saws can generate a fair amount of dust. 

 

[Steven Owen]

I did.  The mini is too small for Track Saw work.  It’s only a difference of $70 dollars.

I’m guessing too small of bag capacity?  The volumetric flow rates (suction) are the same.

Looks to be an $50 price difference come April 2nd.  The bag capacity goes from 2.0 gal in the MINI to 3.3 gal in the MIDI with only a 2” height increase.

To add to that, I generally have to change out the bag at 75% full on the Mini because the dust collection begins to drop off.  It's not terrible by any means, but I'm sensitive to dust and that's about as far as I can stretch a bag.  That extra capacity in the Midi is great for not much of a tradeoff in size.  Next to routers and planers, the saws can generate a fair amount of dust.

I’ll probably swallow the bullet on the Ultimate Dust Deputy.  Does the DF 700 Domino work well with a 27mm hose or does the 35mm hose improve dust extraction with the deeper domino cuts?

 

[rst]

I use the 27mm hose for the 500 and the 700 and have never had a problem.