What to do with a 6 year old ct22.

[Chris Hughes]

I bought my ct back in 2006 as a package with my rotex and both tools have served me well.  This last weekend I started to fabricate a solid surface top and noticed an unusual amount of dust flying everywhere.  I shut the tool down ad to my disappointment the vacuum was not running.  "Weird", I thought.  So I switched from auto to manual, no dice.  No warning signs before failure. 

Well it's not the first Festool I've had to have repaired, but by far the most expensive.  I definitely have a a tough choice.  The estimate for repair included a new upper case, filter housings, cord, and motor.  Grand total, 450.00 including shipping of course.  Obviously I'm not going to pay that much to repair a ct when I can spend another 100 bucks for a new ct26.  I talked to the greatest repair manager ever, Lester, and got it down to 260 to replace just the motor.

So what do you guys think?  Chuck the unit?  Full on repair?  Or the minimal repair so I can buy a new ct?

 

[mouppe]

Maybe you could sell it for a couple of hundred bucks and put that towards a new CT? I wouldn't want to spend anything on repairing it in case it is just the start of a series of repairs.

 

[mastercabman]

Get a new one!
And sell the 22 for parts?

 

[semenza]

I'd be leaning towards a new one.  Curious , does the $260 include shipping?  If not then  your probably over $300.

Seth

 

[AlexThePalex]

New one, 260 is way too much to put into repairs for such an old and probably well-used machine.

 

[Chris Hughes]

I hate the idea of not repairing the machine.  My though was to pay the least amount to have a back up and buy the new vacuum.  I never thought about selling the 22 for parts.

The repair estimate included shipping and it cost me 44 dollars to ship to Indy.

 

[mlfaber]

I would spend the $260.00 to fix.  Does the new motor have a warranty on it?  Are the filter housings or upper case cracked?

 

[Chris Hughes]

Housing is cracked but not leaking.  The unit appears to contain dust and up until the motor failed I had no idea there was any issues dispite a small fire last year.

 

[dltflt]

I would bite the bullet and get a new one.

 

[PeterK]

Hey Chris--
Instead of fixing the CT22 for ballpark $300 with shipping just to have for backup - I would buy a new Fein Turbo II for the same price as they just went down in price. Great vacuum that would be new and under warrantee. Have seen them for around $270. The Festool hoses fit perfectly.

 

[CharlesWilson]

Just curious. How did the motor fail?

 

[mlfaber]

Housing is cracked but not leaking.  The unit appears to contain dust and up until the motor failed I had no idea there was any issues dispite a small fire last year.

What are the chances that leaving the cracked housing would greatly shorten the life span of the new motor or worse lead to another fire?  If any of this is possible I would not fix.  And, actually I think there have been a few lightly used ones posted here for around $300.00

 

[Chris Hughes]

I have no idea what may have caused the failure.  The fire last year was caused by a bit slipping making contact with a concrete floor while cutting a radius on a long radius.  I caught the file quickly and was able to get the bag outside. A little clean up and replacement parts, the vacuum worked as good as new.

What sucks is that within the next month I was set to pull the trigger on a new 26 but I don't think I can get through the month without a vac with speed control.  Maybe I'll look for a used unit.

 

[Kev]

Try the loyal customer card with Festool and see if there's any price relief.

Also, could it be time for another Festool? - a package deal means a slightly cheaper CT.

... and is the 26 the best size for you moving forward?

A new CT mean a new filter and a fresh 3 year warranty. Further ... You still have the 22's hoses and kit to leverage.

Just give the 22 a respectful burial  [big grin]

 

[Alan m]

id look on ebay etc to see if you can get a second hand ct22 or33 . it might be cheaper than fixing it. if not get a new one . your insurance company wouldnt like to know your using a ct that had a fire in it. strip out the old one for parts ( maybe offer it up to the fog to see if anyone wants parts . try and keep the assemblies together.
you would have the tub assembly , hose garage ? , filters (new after fire) , hose (sell new 27mm but keep the rest) etc
im sure if you put the repare cost and the money from selling a few parts towards a new one you wouldnt be far off.
the peace of mind knowing that your vac wont (shouldnt) break  and is covered for 3 years.

 

[spikfot]

I have a friend who works for a construction rental firm, they keep +/- 20, CT22s on the shelf. The life expectancy for one of theirs is 3 years, keeping in mind that these machines are subjected to constant ritual abuse of the worst kind.
My CT22 is 5+years, replaced the rhiostat once under warranty.
Considering you do SS work, the fire and it's age, it seems to me that it's seen it's day.
I'd go with a new one

 

[JPF Woodworking]

If I was faced with this dilemma I would elect to repair the ct22 (now or in the future) and dedicate it to my Kapex. I would buy the ct26 because it is a better unit and down the road you can't go wrong with the extra power and capacity. I own a ct22 and I find it to be satisfactory but soon (I hope) I will get the ct26. I spend a lot of time connecting and reconnecting the dust extractor so having the second unit would be a great step up for me. I constantly check Craig's list for some like you who is selling their unit. Maybe I'll see you ad soon! Best of luck! John

 

[Kev]

id look on ebay etc to see if you can get a second hand ct22 or33 . it might be cheaper than fixing it. if not get a new one . your insurance company wouldnt like to know your using a ct that had a fire in it. strip out the old one for parts ( maybe offer it up to the fog to see if anyone wants parts . try and keep the assemblies together.
you would have the tub assembly , hose garage ? , filters (new after fire) , hose (sell new 27mm but keep the rest) etc
im sure if you put the repare cost and the money from selling a few parts towards a new one you wouldnt be far off.
the peace of mind knowing that your vac wont (shouldnt) break  and is covered for 3 years.

Based on this I'd box it and send it to Ireland (Sorry Alan).

Something I didn't say before is really cost your time ... if you have a lot of free time, by all means - do the hungry dollar thing. But if your time is money - just get a new CT.

 

[tiralie]

Or the minimal repair so I can buy a new ct?

I would go with minimal repair (if you can afford it) and buy an new one. I'd like to have more than one tool as back up in case something happens....and something always happens.
Tim

 

[Holzhacker]

If you don't need systainer mobility buy a Fein Turbo II or spend the dough on a new CT26. Either way, I would turn the existing CT into a mobile systainer cart and working platform. That's my working plan when my CT dies someday. No reason to chuck a very handy mobile cart.