Which CT ?? or offbrand for start-up small hobby shop

[IWANTBLUE]

About to purchase my first few Festool bits and pieces to start outfitting my new shed/workshop, I'd assumed I'd need the Midi or CT26  can someone point me at the differences/reasons for one over the other, So far I'm seeing an extra 5Liters of capacity and the extra power bay for the addons/additional socket etc.... anything else? and is that bay and extra capacity necessary for a small hobby workshop with basic saw/router/Drills etc around the shop??

is the extra outlay worthwhile and if so why? just time saved re-emptying? or the additional bay making the Ct so much more user friendly?  or are there Off Brand options I should look at much cheaper? or is the CT quality more than worth the additional cost?

Cheers, Nick

 

[Rustys]

I just started my journey with Festool in my hobby workshop and choose the CT 26. I had planned on purchasing a Dust Deputy some time in the future but the expansion bay is the deciding factor for me. On my old shop vac, I had a remote switch and a long hose. The new CT 26 has a much shorter hose and I move it a lot. When I'm using it for a power tool that isn't plugged in to CT, it was a pain to keep turning on and off. Doesn't seem like a big deal until you start drilling a few holes on the drill press. With the expansion port, I was able to install a remote (MaxiSys). So much better and it's on board the CT26, no external boxes to move around. Size is good for me and seems to hold systainers Better (if you need that). The CT26 is a much better dust collection system than my old Rigid shop vac and sound level is lower.

Just my opinion and you should get many more to help you decide. Good luck.

Russ

 

[Grakat]

Hi there,

I am also in a hobby shop and chose to purchase the CT26. I found it was better for locking systainers to it, and it is HEPA rated whereas I believe the smaller CTs are not, at least in Australia anyway.

 

[Holmz]

About to purchase my first few Festool bits and pieces to start outfitting my new shed/workshop, I'd assumed I'd need the Midi or CT26  can someone point me at the differences/reasons for one over the other...

..or are there Off Brand options I should look at much cheaper? or is the CT quality more than worth the additional cost?
...

You can not wrong either way. The smaller is easier to tote around, and the 26 has more capacity. After the 26 they get a bit more bulky.

The Starmix is interesting as it runs the vac for a lot longer after the tool is shut off. Whether that is better depends on the user.

The Bosch unit also works. I assume the Bosch has anti static.

Basically all the vacuums and all the tools work these days. But there is some legal wording about non Festool tools on a Festool vac, or only Festool vacs are only tested with Festool tools.

I do not have a boom arm on my CT, and that would preclude storing the tool in its tight storage space. The Starmix and the Festool both take systainers on the top.

Sanders do not need a lot of suction, and routers and any planner jointer needs a lot. So ideally it is probably the mini for sanders, and then a more powerful vacuum than a CT for other tools like routers... Track saws work fine on a CT/mini as does a domino.

 

[Kev]

Generally CT26 if you just want one for everything, but still don't want it to get too heavy. If you start to use a router a lot you'll appreciate more capacity.

I have a 36, but I've also got a mini for stuff away from the workshop and sanding, etc round the house.

 

[chris s]

I have a small shop (one car Garage) along with a mini. That I use with a TS55, RO90,Kapex and Dominio. It works well. I plan on getting the new CT Sys shortly for portability.

 

[rst]

My first quiet vacs after what seemed like centuries of Sears' sonic ear-splitting, were three three Feins, Two IIs and a III.  All three have adjustable suction and auto start.  Two are connected to steel Oneidas sitting on 20 gallon steel grease cans.  All work great, one of the IIs we use in our house .  I also have a Midi that I got for agreat price for comparison and put an Oneida on that also.  I recently bought a CT 26 and put a work center on it.  If I had to over I would buy a Midi or CT 26 with an Oneida on top so you never lose suction from a full bag.  Just so I don't seem quite as crazy, I have vacs in three separate locations.  Plus, I still have two of the small wall mounted Sears vacs that are dedicated to a miter saw and the over head vac over my table saw blade.  Oh, maybe I am crazy...just got a CT SSYS vac for the van.  [crying]

 

[shaun.mcc]

Size vs bag cost is something to consider...I chose the ct 36 over something smaller do I would consume as many bags therefore lowering my cost...dust deputy didn't appeal to me for portability reasons.

 

[HarveyWildes]

Size vs bag cost is something to consider...I chose the ct 36 over something smaller do I would consume as many bags therefore lowering my cost...dust deputy didn't appeal to me for portability reasons.

Exactly.  It just rolls around my shop, so the incremental size over a 26 was not an issue.

 

[DTSaskatoon]

If you decide to go with the Festool 36AC, you have the Auto Clean option that can be turned off if you don't need it.

 

[Michael Kellough]

My first quiet vacs after what seemed like centuries of Sears' sonic ear-splitting, were three three Feins, Two IIs and a III.  All three have adjustable suction and auto start.  Two are connected to steel Oneidas sitting on 20 gallon steel grease cans.  All work great, one of the IIs we use in our house .  I also have a Midi that I got for agreat price for comparison and put an Oneida on that also.  I recently bought a CT 26 and put a work center on it.  If I had to over I would buy a Midi or CT 26 with an Oneida on top so you never lose suction from a full bag.  Just so I don't seem quite as crazy, I have vacs in three separate locations.  Plus, I still have two of the small wall mounted Sears vacs that are dedicated to a miter saw and the over head vac over my table saw blade.  Oh, maybe I am crazy...just got a CT SSYS vac for the van.  [crying]

I too have several good vacs (despise noise and dust) and I second the suggestion of the 26 and Ultimate DD.  If money is a concern get the Midi and regular DD but you'll need to do a little light rigging a make it all stable.

 

[Tayler_mann]

I have a Fien turbo ii (the old style), a mini, and a 36. I can safely say I love all of them but the bulky 36 wish I would have gotten a 26. To me it all depends on what you want it for. If you're going to tote it around everywhere than the midi or 26 would be nice. The newer Fien vacuums are garbage so stay away from them but I think the 26 would suit your needs nicely.

 

[rst]

What Micheal said regarding the Oneida is true, I shaved the Oneida's clips to fit the Midi better and put a rachet clamp aroundView attachment 1 the two to make it more moveable friendly.

 

[ear3]

If you're doing any routing or plan to hook it up to a mitre saw, I would get the 26 both for the extra capacity and suction.  Also, if you aren't going to be adding a dust deputy, another factor to consider is that the 26 also has the option for the long life bag, which the Midi doesn't.  The long life bag may be an unjustifiable additional cost depending upon what you're doing, but over the long term it will eventually save money.  You can also accelerate that process depending on whether you add additional vacs.  I now regularly use my 26 to vacuum out the bag of my large shop-vac when it fills up with debris from the planer, Kapex or shop cleaning, so I'm saving on bags for both vacs. 

 

[IWANTBLUE]

Fantastic replys, Thanks Guys... but you've just given me more options to research ROFL.... [eek]

Seriously thanks, despite the extra reading the general consensus is slightly towards the Ct26 or larger rather than the midi although There are options for every version in there LOL.

I hadn't considered bags/long life and or Add-ons to be honest as i just assumed that stuff would come later but I was concerned that the midi seemed to have the different control board and no module.. I think the easyclean/autoclean option is out of my price range tbh but will revisit it and read-up..

RST...Duuuude....If ever I feel an urge to purchase more Vac's I know who to ask for suggestions   You seem to have hit on a well liked option in that little lot though so I will pay particular attention to that suggestion,

I haven't sen the midi in the flesh only a mini and ct26/36 I think the 36 is probably too big for me in reality particularly if I persue the add-on option, but will research it first, I'm trying to keep the initial costs down also though so initial thoughts are CT26 for future upgrade ability, but I'll read up first.

Thanks for all the suggestions..

 

[Holmz]

What do you expect on a Festool forum?
(A Bosch or Fein also sucks the same)

 

[IWANTBLUE]

What do you expect on a Festool forum?
(A Bosch or Fein also sucks the same)

??? I expected what I got??  lots of options within the festool brand as expected but a couple of others like I'd hoped regarding whether Other Brands were considered in the same league or not (Like yours   ) Thanks , I think even on a fanboi site when the tools cost as much as these do there's usually a common sense element that is willing to tell it like it is and not just follow the Fanboi line, and From what I've read here there are quite a few posts/threads regarding either complimentary brands that do certain things better as well as the odd comparison that people state they like the off brand better for some reason Mafell for instance.

As I've lived my whole professional life without a proper works-pace at home  I'd never looked into some of these tools before so getting other peoples opinions is all I have to go on and a shiny brochure..I want to get some gear bought so rather than researching every brand I figured People could point them out if they felt strongly enough against the Festool in comparison.

I'm propper gutted at the moment as I had built a list and at one time had discounted Toolfest as their prices werent any better, then Saturday I obviously clicked the With /without VAT button so the page clearly said WITH VAT INCLUDED, unfortunately the list I had copied and priced were the NON VAT prices, but because it clearly said including on the page when looking at a different session, I had assumed (yes I know...) they were inclusive prices.... so all my picking and choosing items from different places and getting my local dealer to try and price match, I now realise my mistake and feel a right  Male Hen

Thanks for the comments guys

 

[Holmz]

Well I have a CT26 (my first Festool), so there you go.

The domino is unique.
The TS55 is not the most expensive track saw, but unless the next choice was a Bosch GTK55, the. It seems a good choice.

After that it maybe useful to just hook up other routers and sanders to the vacuum. They will not affect the outcome of the projects, assuming you can some that used or cheap enough (and useful enough) to be adequate for the task at hand. It is easy to go overboard as the Haus-Boss will attest to.

 

[IWANTBLUE]

Cheers HolmZ

Are you suggesting the GTK would be a better choice ??

I have rushed into the Festool thing a little bit  but only because I had researched a few years ago but balked at the price now needing some more tools and a table saw potentially I saw the CMS- unit and thought that was a way of justifying the TS55 that I had allwaYs wanted....I had previously decided on dewalt xr for brushless drills etc...as having used the previous versions in an industrial environment I knew they were hardy and liked the feel etc... but although the dewalt 520Track saw is much cheaper I never was convinced by the 'action' and back then there were other makes Bosch SeaStar or something? ? Or something cheaper generic brand but festool was considered as good or better at the time...I haven't revisited the track saw options in general as the CMS- option made sense to me for instant Now/portable tablesaw in future/modular integration with both the MFT/3 and my fixed bench once built.

Original idea was the 745 dewalt table saw or the bigger 7109?? (I forget and am on phone)  but the cost of these and still not being ideal for sheet goods made the TS55 seem  more feasible. ,  The CT's was the natural progression rather than a researched one but as I've always also liked the MFT/3 for the (same)reasons above I was basically now firmly on the slippery slope to Festooldom. ... maybe I need to take complete stock and see if there's much cost difference to going with a cheaper brand to acieve similar aims I will never be using them in a proffesional/paid for role as I'm an Electrician/Electro-mechanical engineer by trade but that also means I appreciate a good tool and differences between good and ok ones. ..

I'm also particularly 'carefull' when it comes to large outlay on tools but once justified. , happy to spend the cash. ..

Part of the 'rush' to get the order in is before the old careful me talks me out of this slightly out of character rash purchase spree

Sorry...another 'war and peace' post...

Nick

 

[bertv]

Another point to consider: the way the Mini/Midi are constructed (with the hose opening on top) you will have to buy a special adapter in case you want to run 50 mm hose of them — which is IMO is a must when using a Kapex or other big waste producing machines. Using that adapter means you can’t fit a Systainer on top, which is a bummer.

(As you maybe can tell I own a Midi… and am seriously considering getting a CT26 or larger.)