Vacuum upgrade

[Bruno Banani]

I´m thinking of turning my midi sucktion into a 26ctl.
Can anyone give me the run down as to the benefits and the not so good aspects of such a shift?

My own thoughts is that the 26 ctl seems 3 x larger than the midi and probably heavier aswell, to carry to third or fouth floors, and to be realistic that is where half the jobs are in four story buildings. 
As far as I have understood you still need to upgrade the hose to 36mm to fit on the extererior of tool connections (recommended on the kapex mitre saw) but that hose I have already bought to the midi.

Workshop considerations are wellcome here also.

Thanks

 

[Kev]

I wouldn't suggest it's a good idea to carry a CT26 up stairs with a full bag - that's just not clever. Empty the CT26 and CT36 aren't to heavy in my opinion.

The Mini, Midi, CT26 and up all take 36mm hoses - you have that choice regardless of DC unit.

My suggestion would be (if you have the space and funds) is to keep the midi and add the CT26 ... then make your deployment decision based on site and need!

 

[MrToolJunkie]

The CT26 and larger allow the use of other accessories such as the handle and Boom Arm, Work Center, etc... if those accessories are important to you.  They all have the same motor and CFM so capacity is the other big difference.  I agree that having two CT's is great to enable you to switch less often between tools.  The Midi is going to be easier to tote around if you are on the move or do site work, but the CT26 is not all that heavy IMHO.  I have a CT22 and CT26 and for me it is a perfect set-up...can leave one set up on the Kapex or planer and then use the other on saws, routers, etc... in a project -- much faster than switching tools around.  I have one with the Boom and one without and that makes it easier to maneuver for vacuuming the car or bringing it to different areas of the house for a project.

Scot

 

[AlexThePalex]

I don't think there's a downside to owning either of them except the weight difference when carrying. As Kev said, carrying a more loaded 26 upstairs is no fun to do. On narrow stairs the bulk of the 26 is also a factor to consider, it works, but it can be a bit of a task. I have both the Mini and the 26 and I'd advise everybody who uses a vac a lot to have both types so you can get the best one for the job at hand. If you're sanding a lot the Mini/Midi is ideal, but for jobs that generate more dust like sawing, planing and routing the bigger 26/36/48 works better.

In the past we'd also have to point out that the Midi has lower suction than the 26, but luckily that difference is almost reduced to zero when Festool introduced an upgraded Midi. Unfortunately I am stuck with an older type, and if you also have an older one, the higher suction of the 26 is definitely worth getting.

 

[Timtool]

I would get another mini/midi, one with the 36mm hose for the kapex or OF 2200 and the other one for the rest.
On site i don't find the capacity of my mini to be a problem, when full it is already heavy enough. What i am bothered with is that one vac is annoying because i need to switch the hose constantly between the 27mm tools and the  36mm kapex.

 

[Bruno Banani]

Thanks Kev, ScotF, Alex and Timtoool.  Great answers all.
I think it´s funny you all recommend getting one more vacuum be midi or ctl 26 rather than replacing the excisting. Must be that festool fever having a stronghold. [big grin]

I can see the point though, running the midi on jobs and having the 26 primarily in the shop with a 36 mm hose on router and saw. And if needed deploying which ever is the most relevant. (or which has the most emty bag) [embarassed]

Does anyone have a quick fix as to how a 36 mm hose fit nicely with a cleaning set (the sys 1 set) integrated in the vac mobility.
The 27mm fits, we all know, in the vac itself, but the 36mm connection goes straight up in the midi and is too fat to be coiled down.
Was thinking of modifying a sys 3 or 4 to contain the bigger hose and cleaning set, and have that permenantly mounted on top of the vac, with a 40mm hole drilled through the systainer, so that the hose, coming out of the on-clicked sys, is allready connected through that hole in the bottom, down to the vac suction outlet.
How does that sound? Any ideas?
No doubt 36mm is the way to go with the kapex when first the difference is experienced. I´m sure that goes with the circular saw also.
Great forum.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

The hose fits in a Sys 4, but a Sys 5 is even better.  If you have not already bought your cleaning set then you might consider buying on of the sets that includes the cleaning accessories and the bigger D36 hose.

Scot

 

[Bruno Banani]

[sad]
Well I allready have both the hose and the small cleaning set. But I see what you mean.

 

[ccarrolladams]

I bought my first TS55 and CT22 on a Friday, along with rails, space blades, clamps and so on. My dealer told me that on the 1st and 3rd Saturday mornings a bunch of experienced woodworkers hang out at his shop, drinking coffee and conversing with those who came by. At his previous shop I remembered meeting many of those people, so I stopped by that Saturday.

A really well-respected woodworker who has since passed away suggested that I would be happier with a 36mm AS hose for my TS55, but I needed to keep the 27mm AS hose which came with the CT22 for sanders and small routers. He advised me to buy a cleaning kit including the 36mm AS hose, but to never again coil the hose into the Systainer 5. I have experience removing the kink from new cables and hose.

I did that with both the newish 27mm and the brand-new 36mm hose. Even when I was just working in a spare room of my condo, I left the hose not being used stretched out on wall brackets in my living room. When one or both needed to go to sites, I coiled them loosely and carried them separately, over my shoulder, Firefighter-Style. To this day the hoses we take on sites are kept hanging from the over-head trusses in the shop and loosely coiled minutes before leaving for sites.