TS55 Shooting Sawdust at Me

[Steve F]

Thanks to the help and information I have gotten from this forum, I am now the proud (and thrilled) owner of my first Festool - a TS55. I am truly amazed at what it can do.  Since I planned on using it outside most of the time, I figured I wouldn't need a vacuum, but wasn't really ready for the stream of sawdust shooting directly at me from the rear port.  No a major deal, just annoying, messy, and different.

So, I am thinking of adding one of the vacuums and will probably get it with a sander, which I think I would get the most use out of.  So I have two questions:

1.  Which vacuum - Mini, Midi, or CT-22?  I really only do this as a hobby, but how I determine which size I should get?  How do I know whether a Mini or Midi will be enough?  Other than price and capacity, are there other reasons to go bigger?

2.  Which sander - Rotex or ETS?  Is there a big difference between the random mode on the Rotex and the ETS?  I try to do as much as I can with hand planes and currently get by with a Bosch 5" ROS.  Is the Rotex really worth the extra money and extra weight? 

Thanks

Steve

 

[Warrior]

Deffinately the CT-22 over the midi. That is a no brainer. midi is so weak. If someone gave me one I would imediately sell it and put that money toward a CT22.

I would say the ETS150 for sure. More bang for your buck. The rotex is great for taking down alot of material fast but is deffinately not a finish sander even in RO mode. I have a rotex and do like it but it never comes out of rotary mode. heavy sanding for quick material removal or polishing is all I use it for since I got the ETS150. Although in rotary mode going thru the grits and making sure you dont skip one and get all the previous grits scratches out you can achieve a good surface just in rotary mode just take it to 400 and then a quick hand sand with the grain and your good. Maybe just as fast or faster than finish sanding with the ets150 but deffinately more work making sure you hold on to the beast. the ETS you hold by its tail as you walk it across the work.

 

[justinmcf]

as you already own a 5 inch bosh sander.
put all your money together and get the ct-22.
no buyers remorse, guaranteed!

i waited 10 years to buy festool vacs, now i would not consider anything else.

justin.

 

[image132]

Deffinately the CT-22 over the midi. That is a no brainer. midi is so weak. If someone gave me one I would imediately sell it and put that money toward a CT22.

I would say the ETS150 for sure. More bang for your buck. The rotex is great for taking down alot of material fast but is deffinately not a finish sander even in RO mode. I have a rotex and do like it but it never comes out of rotary mode. heavy sanding for quick material removal or polishing is all I use it for since I got the ETS150. Although in rotary mode going thru the grits and making sure you dont skip one and get all the previous grits scratches out you can achieve a good surface just in rotary mode just take it to 400 and then a quick hand sand with the grain and your good. Maybe just as fast or faster than finish sanding with the ets150 but deffinately more work making sure you hold on to the beast. the ETS you hold by its tail as you walk it across the work.

Which rotex do you own, the 150? I have the 125 and I have to disagree. As I've said in my review of it the 125's finishing quality is of nothing I have seen before compared to my old metabo. Using just a Brilliant 2 120grit I could get the pine to reflect shapes and slight light. To be fair Festool doesn't consider the rotex as a "fine" sander so I can't imagine the finish the ETS150 would give you. However Steve if it is your first sander I would get the Rotex. You will not be dissapointed and you can use it work on removing lots of wood/varnish/paint whatever quickly in rotex mode and then do fine sanding in random orbit. Choice is yours in the end but I would say go with the Rotex, however I have not used the ETS150 :/

 

[Peterm]

A lot depends on what you're going to do with the vacs - will they be essentially static i.e. workshop based, or are you going to cart them around from site to site? The Mini and Midi differ only in capacity (10 vs 15 litres) whilst the CT22 has greater capacity, it is a much bigger unit to move around. I have a CT22 in the workshop and a Midi for on-site use, and whilst the Midi certainly shifts less air, in my actual use I find little to choose between them. I've had a Midi hooked up to an 8" floor sander and it did the job just fine - filled a lot of bags though

There are more accessories for the 22 (HEPA filters, handle and boom arm, long-life bag etc...) and if you're not going to be moving it around much then I don't think anyone would argue against it as a great first vac.

HTH, Pete

 

[rnt80]

A lot depends on what you're going to do with the vacs - will they be essentially static i.e. workshop based, or are you going to cart them around from site to site? The Mini and Midi differ only in capacity (10 vs 15 litres) whilst the CT22 has greater capacity, it is a much bigger unit to move around. I have a CT22 in the workshop and a Midi for on-site use, and whilst the Midi certainly shifts less air, in my actual use I find little to choose between them. I've had a Midi hooked up to an 8" floor sander and it did the job just fine - filled a lot of bags though

There are more accessories for the 22 (HEPA filters, handle and boom arm, long-life bag etc...) and if you're not going to be moving it around much then I don't think anyone would argue against it as a great first vac.

HTH, Pete

I agree with Pete, it depends in what capacity your going to be using the vac.  I've had a CT22 for awhile now and just recently picked up a midi.  The 22 stays in the shop and the midi goes on the road.  I found the 22 a little to cumbersome to be dragging to installs, the midi is the perfect size for that.
I used to have a rotex and while I loved it's capability it is a pretty stout sander and isn't exactly condusive to long periods of sanding.  That's where the ets150 shines.  As Eiji pointed out you can walk that thing across the work, it is a pleasure to use.  I sold my rotex 6-8 months ago and while it would be nice to have one in the arsenal there really hasn't been a job since then that 150 hasn't been able to tackle.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Put a dust bag on that 55 from another miter saw or something.

It fills up fast but, it keeps the dust out of your face while cutting.

 

[jvsteenb]

For a saw, I'd prefer the bigger vacs - 22 and up.

For sanding, I'd love to have a Mini - I've been on a ladder with my CTL 22 several times, (lots of flat roofed buildings and extensions over here) and I think a Mini would be handier and perhaps even cheaper then all the extra hoses I'd have to buy if I want to leave the CTL 22 at ground level.

Regards,

Job

 

[Michael Kellough]

The bigger the better from the suction point of view.
But, the Mini/Midi is very compact and easily transportable.
The bags do fill up quickly with debris from a saw. However,
I've been using a Mini with a Dust Deputy sitting on top for weeks
and haven't filled a bag yet. I've emptied the bucket a bunch of times.

It's interesting having a semi-translucent bucket.
You can see the level of debris increase with each cut.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Your tool purchases are following my path -- I bought a TS75 last year with no vacuum.  When my Fein started to go out, I opted for a CT22 -- more CFM was a better choice for me since I work out of my shop 99% of the time and rarely need to take my tools offsite.  I also bought it with a sander and I opted for a Rotex.  This would compliment what you already have with your 5 inch Bosch and the Rotex is such a versatile tool that would allow you to go from rough grinding to polishing. 

Scot

 

[paul_david_thomas]

I've used my TS55 / Midi combo to refurbish / rebuild 4 houses now.

If you're moving around from site to site the Midi is as powerfull as you need. The only thing I would suggest is going to a larger 36mm hose if your using a router (I've got a eq1400).

Works fine with the Rotex and RTS400...

If your shop bound, then perhaps CT22.

But if your humping it... Midi.

 

[Steve F]

Thanks for all the feedback.  Mobility with the vacuum is not an issue, since the farthest I would ever take it is into my back yard.  MY woodworking is just for play.

The Rotex 150 vs 125 issue is interesting.  In random mode, I don't get why the 125 would produce a finer finish that the 150.  Isn't the size the only difference?  Also, has anyone used the 125 with the Abranet sanding disks?  I really like them, but don't think they come in a 6" version.

Thanks again,

Steve

 

[Warrior]

I use abrenet disks all the time with my ets150 and they do come in 6"

 

[ajones]

Thanks for all the feedback.  Mobility with the vacuum is not an issue, since the farthest I would ever take it is into my back yard.  MY woodworking is just for play.

The Rotex 150 vs 125 issue is interesting.  In random mode, I don't get why the 125 would produce a finer finish that the 150.  Isn't the size the only difference?  Also, has anyone used the 125 with the Abranet sanding disks?  I really like them, but don't think they come in a 6" version.

Thanks again,

Steve

does the ro 125 have a smaller random orbit??

 

[Corwin]

does the ro 125 have a smaller random orbit??

Yes.  3.6mm on the 125, and 5mm on the 150.