Systainer won't mount to CT MIDI?

theburninator

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Joined
Dec 27, 2023
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9
Hopefully this is just some user error or confusion. I finally took the plunge and ordered an ETS EC 125 along with a CT MIDI I. I was under the assumption that the systainer from the sander would lock onto the dust extractor, but the way the feet set into the top does not allow the clasps to engage and likewise if the clasps are lined up, the feet no longer line up. Is this intentional and only certain systainers mount to the top of the dust extractor or am I missing something?

Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks for your help in advance!
 
It only goes on one way - make sure the 2 handles (triangle green thing) are on the same side.  Make sure the triangle on the MIDI is pointing down - latched.
Set the systainer on the MIDI by tilting it so the back feet land first and slide to the back - start with it slightly offset towards the front and slide back - the feet should engage - you will see receptacles for the feet
Once the feet engage, rotate the handle on the midi 90deg (in either direction) this locks the systainer to the MIDI

Hope this helps - once you attach the systainer to the MIDI, you can't open the lid on the MIDI unless you remove the systainer.

I can run out and snap some pics but it is COLD out  :)
 
theburninator said:
Hopefully this is just some user error or confusion. I finally took the plunge and ordered an ETS EC 125 along with a CT MIDI I. I was under the assumption that the systainer from the sander would lock onto the dust extractor, but the way the feet set into the top does not allow the clasps to engage and likewise if the clasps are lined up, the feet no longer line up. Is this intentional and only certain systainers mount to the top of the dust extractor or am I missing something?

Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks for your help in advance!

Ok, that makes sense. I was looking at the 4 little green tabs and trying to lock it in place with them isntead of the green triangle. Do you know by chance what the 4 smaller tabs are for?
 
theburninator said:
theburninator said:
Hopefully this is just some user error or confusion. I finally took the plunge and ordered an ETS EC 125 along with a CT MIDI I. I was under the assumption that the systainer from the sander would lock onto the dust extractor, but the way the feet set into the top does not allow the clasps to engage and likewise if the clasps are lined up, the feet no longer line up. Is this intentional and only certain systainers mount to the top of the dust extractor or am I missing something?

Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks for your help in advance!

Ok, that makes sense. I was looking at the 4 little green tabs and trying to lock it in place with them isntead of the green triangle. Do you know by chance what the 4 smaller tabs are for?

Yeah, they are backwards compatible with older systainers - not sure what timeframe - but it has been a while
 
For some reason, the guys in the shop where I work all seem to do the same thing? Maybe it's not so intuitive? but If you place the Systainer to that both of the green T-Loc latches are on the same side, it goes right together.
 
Hipplewm said:
theburninator said:
theburninator said:
Hopefully this is just some user error or confusion. I finally took the plunge and ordered an ETS EC 125 along with a CT MIDI I. I was under the assumption that the systainer from the sander would lock onto the dust extractor, but the way the feet set into the top does not allow the clasps to engage and likewise if the clasps are lined up, the feet no longer line up. Is this intentional and only certain systainers mount to the top of the dust extractor or am I missing something?

Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks for your help in advance!

Ok, that makes sense. I was looking at the 4 little green tabs and trying to lock it in place with them isntead of the green triangle. Do you know by chance what the 4 smaller tabs are for?

Yeah, they are backwards compatible with older systainers - not sure what timeframe - but it has been a while

That makes sense, thank you!
 
Crazyraceguy said:
For some reason, the guys in the shop where I work all seem to do the same thing? Maybe it's not so intuitive? but If you place the Systainer to that both of the green T-Loc latches are on the same side, it goes right together.

I'm definitely good now, I guess I had just assumed that the 4 tabs would be a more secure mechanism, so that's what I was trying to get to work. Didn't consider that there could be a backwards compatibility factor involved!
 
theburninator said:
theburninator said:
Hopefully this is just some user error or confusion. I finally took the plunge and ordered an ETS EC 125 along with a CT MIDI I. I was under the assumption that the systainer from the sander would lock onto the dust extractor, but the way the feet set into the top does not allow the clasps to engage and likewise if the clasps are lined up, the feet no longer line up. Is this intentional and only certain systainers mount to the top of the dust extractor or am I missing something?

Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks for your help in advance!

Ok, that makes sense. I was looking at the 4 little green tabs and trying to lock it in place with them isntead of the green triangle. Do you know by chance what the 4 smaller tabs are for?

The four tabs are for Systainer classic. Frstool switched over to T-Loc in ~2010, but some Classic variants remain to this day + all the stuff that was already sold.
 
Coen said:
theburninator said:
theburninator said:
Hopefully this is just some user error or confusion. I finally took the plunge and ordered an ETS EC 125 along with a CT MIDI I. I was under the assumption that the systainer from the sander would lock onto the dust extractor, but the way the feet set into the top does not allow the clasps to engage and likewise if the clasps are lined up, the feet no longer line up. Is this intentional and only certain systainers mount to the top of the dust extractor or am I missing something?

Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks for your help in advance!

Ok, that makes sense. I was looking at the 4 little green tabs and trying to lock it in place with them isntead of the green triangle. Do you know by chance what the 4 smaller tabs are for?

The four tabs are for Systainer classic. Frstool switched over to T-Loc in ~2010, but some Classic variants remain to this day + all the stuff that was already sold.
Thankfully a number of my systainers are compatible with the Classic style as the Makita storage/organiser cases (Makita 191x80-2) are superior to the new Festool organisers in almost every aspect in my opinion.  If they were T-Loc they'd be perfect.
 
Willy Eckerslike said:
Coen said:
theburninator said:
theburninator said:
Hopefully this is just some user error or confusion. I finally took the plunge and ordered an ETS EC 125 along with a CT MIDI I. I was under the assumption that the systainer from the sander would lock onto the dust extractor, but the way the feet set into the top does not allow the clasps to engage and likewise if the clasps are lined up, the feet no longer line up. Is this intentional and only certain systainers mount to the top of the dust extractor or am I missing something?

Sorry if this is a silly question, thanks for your help in advance!

Ok, that makes sense. I was looking at the 4 little green tabs and trying to lock it in place with them isntead of the green triangle. Do you know by chance what the 4 smaller tabs are for?

The four tabs are for Systainer classic. Frstool switched over to T-Loc in ~2010, but some Classic variants remain to this day + all the stuff that was already sold.
Thankfully a number of my systainers are compatible with the Classic style as the Makita storage/organiser cases (Makita 191x80-2) are superior to the new Festool organisers in almost every aspect in my opinion.  If they were T-Loc they'd be perfect.

Interesting. Did you use both?

In what way superior? Are they sturdier?

The bins are deeper? Are they flat on the bottom? The Festool bins have this weird cross... making them tip over easier.
 
I would suggest that the "Classic" Systainers are superior in many ways to the T-Loc and Sys3 generations. The MakPac Organizer is a great example of this.https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/191X80-2

One of my biggest gripes with the T-Loc and Sys3 systainers is how fussy they are to use with the Sys-AZ drawers. Unless you have the drawers spaced far apart, you need to open the drawer, spin the T-Loc, then access the contents. With the Class systainers, you could leave the front tabs unclipped, pull the drawer open and simply lift the lid.

The MakPac Organizer also has a nice feature where the front handle locks the lid, so if you forget to fasten the tabs you won't dump the contents.

If I could swap out all of my T-Locs for Classic systainers I'd do so in a heartbeat.....
 
Coen said:
Interesting. Did you use both?

In what way superior? Are they sturdier?

The bins are deeper? Are they flat on the bottom? The Festool bins have this weird cross... making them tip over easier.

I have used both.  I have some Festool organisers (which came with other tools) and my installation kit came in a new Festool case as well.  My intention was to standardise my tool and parts storage in to Systainer cases and to dispose of the numerous Stanley Fatmax cases I was using for parts and components but sadly the Festool cases are not the solution for me.  I have bought the Makpac versions since and much prefer them.  The size format suits my vehicle and workshop better.

The Makpac bins are deeper (although the smallest are not full depth) and the larger ones can be sub divided.  There are slots on the left and right hand ends of the case for label cards (unlike the new systainers) which makes identification of each case much easier in both my workshop and vehicle.  There is also a space for a smaller label at the front.  Label cards and covers are provided.  There is a sturdy lift up handle at each end for carrying flat but it also provides a good handle for rolling the sys-carts sideways as well which you cannot do with the Festool version.  Incidentally the Makita carts are exactly the same as the MkII Festool versions apart from the colour and, unsurprisingly, cheaper than you will pay for pre-owned Festool ones on eBay at the moment.  As has been mentioned the front handle secures the lid from opening if you pick it up without the catches secured.  The Makita cases are substantially cheaper than their Festool equivalent in the UK at least.  I'm less keen on the Makita colour but you can't have everything.

Why I don't like the Festool ones - The rattling handles when locked is a well documented issue and the lack of Classic
Systainer lugs means that they're not backwards compatible - or fit on my sys-carts of which I have several.  You can only carry them like a briefcase and the labelling options are limited.
 
Wow. I learned a lot. I didn't know about the locking handle, nor did I ever realize the compatibility with classic was missing from the Festool organizers. I didn't notice the Makita bins can be further divided either.

Willy Eckerslike said:
[...]

The Makpac bins are deeper (although the smallest are not full depth) and the larger ones can be sub divided.  [...]

What depth are they? And how does the bottom, -as seen from below- look? The Festool bins have these weird notches but for the smallest ones that increases their odds of tipping over.

The normal Makita Mbox... I'm not liking it. It's not nearly as sturdy in my view.
 
Coen said:
Wow. I learned a lot. I didn't know about the locking handle, nor did I ever realize the compatibility with classic was missing from the Festool organizers. I didn't notice the Makita bins can be further divided either.

Willy Eckerslike said:
[...]

The Makpac bins are deeper (although the smallest are not full depth) and the larger ones can be sub divided.  [...]

What depth are they? And how does the bottom, -as seen from below- look? The Festool bins have these weird notches but for the smallest ones that increases their odds of tipping over.

The normal Makita Mbox... I'm not liking it. It's not nearly as sturdy in my view.
Sorry about the delay responding to this.  It's the first chance I've had to get some pictures.  I agree about the Makpac boxes - they are not as sturdy.

The pictures show the smallest bin (50mm) but it is only 62mm deep internally.  The second picture shows it upside down
The third picture is of the larger bin (150mm) with sub-dividers I made.  This bin is 86mm deep internally
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