Which dust extractor?

[secutanudu]

So I'm in the market for a festool vac. My first thought is the CT26 - but in actual dust collection, how is it (if at all) any better than the mini or midi? I cant find an advantage it has over the smaller vacs, aside from capacity. The capacity won't be that important long term, because I plan to put one of these oneida cyclone filters on it.

Is there anything else I'm missing as to why I should spend $150-175 more on the CT26 over the mini or midi?

Thanks.

 

[Wuffles]

My theory is Midi at a minimum, but I also believe the Earth is doughnut shaped.

I'm about to spring for a Midi to compliment my CT26 which can no longer leave the workshop due to technical obesity. I also use a home-made cyclone and probably should have got a Midi in the first place, some ropes and longer hoses instead of a boom arm and all the other gubbins.

 

[SittingElf]

Capacity primarily.  All Festool CT's have the same power.

The other feature of the 26 and larger CT's is the availability of various accessories and additions, like boom arms, and organization/storage features.

Cheers,

Frank

 

[secutanudu]

The other feature of the 26 and larger CT's is the availability of various accessories and additions, like boom arms, and organization/storage features.

Ah, can the mini/midi not handle boom arms?

 

[SittingElf]

The other feature of the 26 and larger CT's is the availability of various accessories and additions, like boom arms, and organization/storage features.

Ah, can the mini/midi not handle boom arms?

There are two boom arms available. One for the 26/36 and one for the 48.  There are no factory boom arm options for the mini/midi.

Cheers,
Frank

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

In my opinion its what your using it for.  I had a ct22 and it was a pain to take into clinets homes, especially carrying up stairs.  I bought a midi and its awesome for taking into clients homes.  The ct22 worked better in the shop where I didnt have to carry it so much.  Either way you cant go wrong.  I also have been looking at the dust deputy,  it will save a few bags.

 

[Greg M]

I've got 3 CTs.  The first one I bought was the 48 solely because of capacity.  Found it too heavy to bring to the site even though I wasn't the one lugging it around.  I then got a midi and it now stays on the van.  I recently got a 36AC when I got a planex for obvious reasons.

The 48 stays in the shop used with various festool products.  I like the large capacity bags because they hold a lot and it can go longer between emptying the bag (bags aren't cheap and emptying the bag prolongs it's usefulness).  The 36AC is used in the shop connected to my Kapex.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I've got two vacs, the Mini and the 26. Perfectly happy with both, though the Mini gets by far the most use due to portability. The Mini goes wherever I go, and the 26 always stays at home. Capacity is not a must for me, as a hobbyist I only fill up 4 bags per year among the two. Portability is.

I still have the older Mini, and that one doesn't have the suction power the new one has. My plan is to sell both my current vacs and then get a new type Mini as my only vac.

 

[secutanudu]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Portability isn't a major issue, since it always stays in my shop. That being said, I plan to put an oneida cyclone separator before the vac, so capacity is no concern.

I'll probably go with the MIDI or MINI and call it a day. Thanks!

-Andrew

 

[ifit]

The ct26 is available in M rating where the midi is only L

 

[AlexThePalex]

The ct26 is available in M rating where the midi is only L

That system is not used in the USA.

 

[grbmds]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Portability isn't a major issue, since it always stays in my shop. That being said, I plan to put an oneida cyclone separator before the vac, so capacity is no concern.

I'll probably go with the MIDI or MINI and call it a day. Thanks!

-Andrew

Just a comment based on my experience with the Oneida Dust Deputy. First I'm an Oneida fan. I think they make great dust collectors. However, I bought Deputy Deluxe kit and got it set up with my Fein vac. i found the Deputy in that configuration to be a pain and it now sits unused. When I bought a CT I bought the biggest capacity possible,  a 48, because I didn't want to mess with the Deputy. I suppose, if you buy the Deputy that sits on the CT, it isn't a separate drag along accessory. I just find the concept of having to empty the Deputy and create a lot of dust doing it contrary to the whole HEPA concept and the it counteracts the high level dust collection with the CT's. Each to his own, but I wouldn't use the Deputy. The 48 has such a large capacity that, since I use a regular dust collector for the planer, jointer, router table, the Domino and sanders don't fill the 48 in a very long time.

 

[jacko9]

The Oneida product your link points to is the Ultimate Dust Deputy that sits on your ct but, I think you need the CT26 to accommodate that unit (you need to check to know for sure).

I have the Oneida sitting on my CT22 but, it for shop use only and compliments my Oneida V-3000 which is set up for my major machines.

Jack

 

[jbasen]

The mini with an Ultimate Dust Deputy is a great combination now that Oneida has solved the static issues.  You get the capacity of a much larger vac and you pretty much never have to replace a vac bag.  I check mine bag periodically and it always seems to be empty  [big grin]

Two downsides:
First, as others have mentioned, is that you can't use the boom arm with the mini.
Second, with the UDD the Mini becomes much less portable.  I really only recommend this setup for a vacuum in your shop that isn't going to be transported back and forth the job sites.

Another advantage of the UDD is that you can attach all kinds of brackets to it for holding your vac hose, coiled up cord for the vac, etc.  I've even put a tray on the top so it can hold tools and other stuff to make it a poor man's WCR.

I would really like to figure out how to adapt a boom arm to the mini/UDD combo but none of the dealers I've visited have had one on display for me to study to figure out if I could make it work.   

 

[leakyroof]

Shop based vac, go for the CT 26 or 36.  If you need to be mobile at times, then MIDI as a compromise.  I have my UDD mounted on my Auto 36 and my CT-26 is my 'small' vac when I need to be portable.  A full or mostly full CT-22 or 26 isn't as light as a MINI or MIDI, so there are times i wish for a MIDI instead of the 26 that I bought.

 

[grbmds]

Shop based vac, go for the CT 26 or 36.  If you need to be mobile at times, then MIDI as a compromise.  I have my UDD mounted on my Auto 36 and my CT-26 is my 'small' vac when I need to be portable.  A full or mostly full CT-22 or 26 isn't as light as a MINI or MIDI, so there are times i wish for a MIDI instead of the 26 that I bought.

If you are using it exclusively in your shop and don't need it to be mobile except to move around on the shop floor, I think the CT48 is a great option. I bought the 48 for capacity alone. It's a little taller and the footprint a little larger, but not significantly larger. I think, just because it has a little more weight it's more stable with the boom arm attached. I love it.