vacuums, ct mini vs ct 22

[dan]

Im interested in purchasing the ts55 and vacuum combo, Im not sure which vacuum is a better choice.
I am a cabinetmaker and millwork installer. I would like the vacuum for both the shop for portable power tools and for bringing to jobs to cut down the airborn dust. Id like to hear from someone who own either or both vacs. About how many ln/ft of cutting 3/4" will it take to fill the mini's bag. I dont want to have to replace the bag more than once a day. how about cleaning the filters on the mini? I also use a power planer alot on site and would like to w/o clogging the hose or  having to change 12$ bags 3 times a day. any info is appreciated

 

[Bob Marino]

Im interested in purchasing the ts55 and vacuum combo, Im not sure which vacuum is a better choice.
I am a cabinetmaker and millwork installer. I would like the vacuum for both the shop for portable power tools and for bringing to jobs to cut down the airborn dust. Id like to hear from someone who own either or both vacs. About how many ln/ft of cutting 3/4" will it take to fill the mini's bag. I dont want to have to replace the bag more than once a day. how about cleaning the filters on the mini? I also use a power planer alot on site and would like to w/o clogging the hose or  having to change 12$ bags 3 times a day. any info is appreciated

  Dan,

A power planer will very quickly fill the bags - and with  the MINI's 2.8 gallon capacity (CT 22 - 5.8 gallon/CT 33 - 8.7 gallon) you'd be in trouble. The Longlife filter bags, if you ever choose to use them, are not available for the MINI. The 22 and 33 have more suction as well as HEPA's.
I'd opt for the 22 or 33.
  Bob

 

[dan]

The planer i use is a hand held not a thicknesser.I use it for scribing. What are the long life bags and how would you rate the ct22 for portability. Are the Hepa filter for hazerdous material of just for finer filtering?

 

[Bob Marino]

The planer i use is a hand held not a thicknesser.I use it for scribing. What are the long life bags and how would you rate the ct22 for portability. Are the Hepa filter for hazerdous material of just for finer filtering?

Dan,

Yes, I assumed a handheld planer. Theey can fill a filter bad quite quickly - the shavings are large and fluffy. Here's the Lonlifr Filter bags
http://www.festoolusa.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProdID=456737&ID=6
The HEPA'S are for fine dust filtering.

Bob

 

[Norm St.Onge]

CT22 portability is fine. It stows in the back of my van (fits beneath a shelf so the aisle stays free) and is easy enough for me to carry in/out of clients homes - up to the 2nd or 3rd floor if needed. The new hose garage is very helpful, too.

I have no experience with the mini.

-Norm

 

[Dan Clark]

Dan,

Check out my review of the Boom Arm review here:http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=324.0 and my Hose Garage review here:http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=333.0.  Both contain pics and specs. 

For more portability, you might want to just use the Hose Garage.  However some people use the Boom Arm at a job site since the overall height of the Boom Arm is 53-3/4" when disconnected. 

Regards,

Dan.

 

[mysterium]

Hi Dan & "Welcome to the FOG"

I considered the Mini for the site vacuum for it's lighter weight & smaller size....

However I went with a 2nd CT 22; more power thus greater suction (will handle a router where Mini will not) larger capacity, same bags, will use all my vacuum accessories (36 mm hose), and when I looked at the Mini although it was smaller... it was not that much smaller.  Plus the Mini looked like it could tip more easily with a stack of Systainers do to the smaller size & casters...

jim

 

[Tinker]

As Jim, i had originally thought to get the mini for its portability.  i already had the 33 which is, for all practical purposes, anchored to my MFT where it gets most use, even being used with my HL 850.  i needed a smaller vac for projects around the house and was afraid the 22 might be too heavy to tote up & down my cellar stairs.  They are not stairs in the normal sence, but classified as a ladder stair, being very steep in height and shallow in front to back.  after discussion with Bob Marino, and looking at the weights between 22 & Mini, i decided on the 22.  I cannot lift like i useter, and it is definitely more of a chore, back trouble being factored in, to get the 22 up and down my cellar stairs.  i can do it without help.  If you are spry enought to consider using either vac as a site vac to be hauled in your truck, you will be very happy with the 22. If you have the possibilty to check in person on the 33, and seeing as you want to use it with your planer (I have used both 22 & 33 with my planer and smaller 27mm hose), you might want to look at the 33 for further comparrison.  I would not want to tote that one around, but i am sure that ten years ago, (I'm now 76 yr,... er ahh....39 & 140 lbs) it would have been very doable for me.

Tinker 

 

[Brice Burrell]

  I have both the CT Mini and the 22, love them both. I'm a general contractor, so I move tools for a living I concider both lite enough to take to the job and my 22 has a boom on it.

  First the mini, I have used my 36mm hose and a router with the mini, no problems. Also stacked two or three Systainers on it and I don't worry too much about it tipping over. But, I generally use it for smaller jobs because you can fill the bag fast if you are making chips not dust. Anything that makes chips, like a handheld planner, larger router bits, jointer are not recommend for the mini. The TS 55/75, sanders, Domino and routers used with smaller bits works well. Works OK with my Installer Cleaning Set (36mm hose). Easy to carry to a 3rd floor.

  The CT22, I have the boom arm and hose garage on my 22, I park it next to MFT all the time, on the job or at home. The 22 with the boom arm is a GREAT TOOL, more power, capacity and reach with the boom. I also have the dirt trap for the 22, I use it and the non-HEPA filters when I know I will be using my Jobsite tablesaw, thickness planner, jointer or other large chip producing job. With the dirt trap the 22 is like any other shop vac the dust/chips cling to the main filter. It dose make a mess inside the vac (again, think shop vac) no big deal just use your mini to clean it out once in a while. ;D

  All of this stuff did cost a few bucks, I and my clients think it is money well spent.
Brice

 

[mysterium]

Brice,

You answered all major questions I had when I looked at the Mini; the use of the 36 mm hose, use with a high volume device like a planer & if it was in danger of tipping with a stack of Systainers.

Good feedback... although I am no longer in the market for the Mini.

jim