Ultimate DD vs long life bag

[Dave on the Mount]

Hi all;
As a tool junkie I have a fair number of Festools including a 26 and 48 DE. My question to the experts is what would you get to contain dust and stuff on the 48, particularly when using a Domino? The Ultimate Dust Deputy and a long life bag are essentially the same price +/-. The idea is to collect the waste and probably dispose of it as mulch. So which would be most convenient? Thanks in advance for your input.
Regards,
Dave

 

[Kev]

I'm not a DD fan, they're big ugly, clumsy things to me ... others like them. But they are certainly efficient!

It would be daft to attach a DD to your 48, a mini would do the same job. Most go with a DD on a 26 that I've seen ... but it's still a towering Dalek like contraption.

A CT48 bag full of fine dust is very heavy ... consider that and also the time it'd realistically take to fill it. That say, you're not wasting a back if you entry a long life when it's only half full.

BTW, you'd be cutting A LOT of dominoes to fill a 48 bag!!!

 

[ericbuggeln]

I have both, get the Long Life Bag, Eric

 

[mouppe]

Rockler Vortex. $65. You can use it with other tools and vacs too if you like.

 

[whitesys]

You should be able to pick up the UDD at Woodcraft this Friday/Saturday for 15% off.

 

[hhh]

==> BTW, you'd be cutting A LOT of dominoes to fill a 48 bag!!!

or about an hour at the bench with a hand plane...  that is why i got the UDD.

 

[zapdafish]

Don't know if he has any more left

http://festoolownersgroup.com/classifieds/festool-ct22-e-long-life-reusable-filter-bag-(2-available)/

 

[mdorsam]

Interesting responses so far.

I'm a firm believer in the DD - I have both the shop vac version (DD) and the SDD (as an integral part of my main DC). The purpose of the DD/SDD is to extract material prior to your filter media; thus optimizing the filter media by keeping it clean and breathing. By relying on the long-life bags, you diminish your CFM each time you put more dust in it.
Mike

 

[Kev]

Interesting responses so far.

I'm a firm believer in the DD - I have both the shop vac version (DD) and the SDD (as an integral part of my main DC). The purpose of the DD/SDD is to extract material prior to your filter media; thus optimizing the filter media by keeping it clean and breathing. By relying on the long-life bags, you diminish your CFM each time you put more dust in it.
Mike

This is exactly the case - think of it as "bulky" pre-separator. On this - I am surprised that Festool hasn't introduced a cyclone style of DC.

 

[mdorsam]

In my setup, the DD/SDD have allowed me to upgrade the filter media to HEPA (sub-micron) level. Without the DD/SDD, the HEPA filter would clog after minimal use. I have the Fein shop vac - I use the DD as pre-filter, the 5 micron basket in the machine, and the HEPA (0.5 micron) canister inside that. While it sounds like overkill, the DD keeps the two filter bags clean, and the CFM high. For the main DC, The SDD allowed me to upgrade a run-of-the-mill Delta single-stage to a Wynn Environmental HEPA filter.
Mike 

 

[ceddy]

I have a CT22, so I went the DD way. I figured that with a planer and such, I will be filling up CT bags so quick it will still be a pain to empty a long life bag. The bags for the DD cost next to nothing.

I planed some white cedar for 4-5 hours and ended up with 2 large orange trash bags full of dust and chips...

But as others have said, you will mortise a million tenons to fill a CT48 bag.

 

[mdorsam]

I agree - if the primary application is for Domino use, the DD doesn't make sense.

In my shop, I almost always start with rough-cut lumber - I do little plywood panel work; though, I use extensive MDF for templates. The rough-cut follows the general theme of planing & jointing - chips galore; and the MDF vaporizes when cut. Most of this goes to my main DC, given how I have my shop ducted. The shop vac is essential to my Domino, sanding, floor & equipment sweeps, and the drill press.  The volume to the shop vac is several orders below the main DC; however, I do believe the DD plays an important role at the shop vac level - whether you use the Thein Separator, Clear Vue's 'mini-cyclone', or some other pre-filter, the concept is sound, and the results are effective.
Mike

 

[Dave on the Mount]

Hi all;
Thanks for the input. I ordered the UDD from Woodcraft. The shipping to Canada is a killer but all tolled it's still about $70 cheaper than purchasing it locally. Besides it will be a nice tall monolith to look at in the shop. I expect delivery to be 3 to 4 weeks. Again, thanks for all the advice.
Regards,
Dave