Does anyone else have the experience of the wheels of their Festool vacuums and cord leaving black mars on floors? While I've learned to be very careful (and so have minimized problems) I would certainly prefer the vacuum wheels and cord were non marring (like my Italian Ceno, or even my pacific steemex has non marking grey caster wheels,maybe they are interchangeable ? they also rotate better than the directional wheels on the Festool vacs. But nowhere as quiet or clean. Each has it's benifits i know, but the black marks and even dents if the vac is pulled sideways was an unpleasant surprise with a otherwise phenomenal machine.
I've taken to using my Midi on all my finish coats of jobs under 1000 square feet. It pleases me to no end how well a quiet small vacume performs with the sanders and as a finish coat capable machine. when i tack after vacuming i get almost no dust at all, very very impresive. Knowing that the moter does not blow dust out is a joy.
I did / do also have a intermitint problem with my swithch on the CT22, it's a "kick start" sometimes it works, sometimes it needs a tap. . .
I opened it up under my reps direction (GREAT SUPPORT ZACK) and got a guided tour of the wireing and i think it helped. I am very impressed after taking the machine apart at how well it's sealed and insulated and engineered. It's fun to know what all those little knock out's on the front are for now, although i do wish the vac had a bag sensor like my Mielie. It does have the capacity although it's not configured that way for the US market, I understand that the European model senses the hose diameter and tells you when the bag or filter needs changing. I'm so charmed my my Midi i have not used the CT22 since i toyed with it. I was surprised that the CT22 does not have an filter on the air intake / bypass circuit. The intake housing is stamped "filter" but none was there. I cut up a Mielie intake filter and folded it a few times and am looking forward to an even cleaner housing. I actually bought a Mielie because it had better water lift and cfm than the Fein. While it's a little small for much commercial work, it was actually less expensive than the Fein with the carpet tools added on. I also like the fact that the Miele tools all fit the Festool, I can take the Mile wand or attachments and the fit the stock hose on the ct & midi and of course being metal or carbon impregnated, they are static free!
Back to the "issue". I guess i could change out the wheels, but buy that time I've dropped another $200 bucks between wheels and cord, not to mention time. I dislike covering the wheels with blue tape (tacky) and yet don't know what else to do (paint them)? I mean if i'm super careful, i don't have problems, but training my techs to be considerate with the vacuum is asking allot, I'm more concerned about them getting the floor clean. and the old 80/20 rule is so true. I think they will learn after scraping out the mars, but on a stain job, they don't show till I'm staining or finishing so it's an unpleasant surprise.
A gray non marking cord will cost me a fair bit, not a bad idea at the same time, to up the gauge on the vac's cable to 12 considering the load i may apply using if i hook up a 15 amp floor edger to the vacuum, after replacing the on board plug (faulty), I'm more than a little concerned, while the power cable is sufficient for use with a orbital sander or the relatively short term load of a saw, the interior wiring connections do not appear as if they are designed for constant 15 amp load on the switch circuit. The interior wiring is not more than 14 gauge or even 16 to my eyd, please correct me if anyone knows.
I do not imagine such a load is good for the vacuum or my edger in the long term with the existing wiring, so while it's a little disappointing, using a separate circuit and manual switch, i think in the long term I'm better off if i don't up the wiring harness on the CT22 for use with my edger.
Any other floor sanders out there with experience with this issue? Just out of curiosity, how many of the fog members are hardwood flooring contractors? Can / has anyone ever done a poll by trade or specialty? somehow i imagine there are allot of cabinet makers and finish carpenters, but hey let's find out ! All supportive suggestions or commiseration is appreciated.
Thanks
I've taken to using my Midi on all my finish coats of jobs under 1000 square feet. It pleases me to no end how well a quiet small vacume performs with the sanders and as a finish coat capable machine. when i tack after vacuming i get almost no dust at all, very very impresive. Knowing that the moter does not blow dust out is a joy.
I did / do also have a intermitint problem with my swithch on the CT22, it's a "kick start" sometimes it works, sometimes it needs a tap. . .
I opened it up under my reps direction (GREAT SUPPORT ZACK) and got a guided tour of the wireing and i think it helped. I am very impressed after taking the machine apart at how well it's sealed and insulated and engineered. It's fun to know what all those little knock out's on the front are for now, although i do wish the vac had a bag sensor like my Mielie. It does have the capacity although it's not configured that way for the US market, I understand that the European model senses the hose diameter and tells you when the bag or filter needs changing. I'm so charmed my my Midi i have not used the CT22 since i toyed with it. I was surprised that the CT22 does not have an filter on the air intake / bypass circuit. The intake housing is stamped "filter" but none was there. I cut up a Mielie intake filter and folded it a few times and am looking forward to an even cleaner housing. I actually bought a Mielie because it had better water lift and cfm than the Fein. While it's a little small for much commercial work, it was actually less expensive than the Fein with the carpet tools added on. I also like the fact that the Miele tools all fit the Festool, I can take the Mile wand or attachments and the fit the stock hose on the ct & midi and of course being metal or carbon impregnated, they are static free!
Back to the "issue". I guess i could change out the wheels, but buy that time I've dropped another $200 bucks between wheels and cord, not to mention time. I dislike covering the wheels with blue tape (tacky) and yet don't know what else to do (paint them)? I mean if i'm super careful, i don't have problems, but training my techs to be considerate with the vacuum is asking allot, I'm more concerned about them getting the floor clean. and the old 80/20 rule is so true. I think they will learn after scraping out the mars, but on a stain job, they don't show till I'm staining or finishing so it's an unpleasant surprise.
A gray non marking cord will cost me a fair bit, not a bad idea at the same time, to up the gauge on the vac's cable to 12 considering the load i may apply using if i hook up a 15 amp floor edger to the vacuum, after replacing the on board plug (faulty), I'm more than a little concerned, while the power cable is sufficient for use with a orbital sander or the relatively short term load of a saw, the interior wiring connections do not appear as if they are designed for constant 15 amp load on the switch circuit. The interior wiring is not more than 14 gauge or even 16 to my eyd, please correct me if anyone knows.
I do not imagine such a load is good for the vacuum or my edger in the long term with the existing wiring, so while it's a little disappointing, using a separate circuit and manual switch, i think in the long term I'm better off if i don't up the wiring harness on the CT22 for use with my edger.
Any other floor sanders out there with experience with this issue? Just out of curiosity, how many of the fog members are hardwood flooring contractors? Can / has anyone ever done a poll by trade or specialty? somehow i imagine there are allot of cabinet makers and finish carpenters, but hey let's find out ! All supportive suggestions or commiseration is appreciated.
Thanks
