Who slits, dumps, then tapes up their paper vacuum bags for reuse?

[Frank Pellow]

I have 2 Festool vacuums, a CT 22 and a CT Mini.  I have a cloth bag for my CT 22 so that is no prpblem.  But cloth bags are not available for the CT Mini, so I slit the bag, dump, it then tape it up again.  I have had the CT Mini about a year now and am now in my 4th (and I expect last) use of the second bag.  The first bag also lasted 4 fills.

[attachthumb=#1]  [attachthumb=#2]  [attachthumb=#3]

 

[jeffinsgf]

Frank,

Looks like you should be in the market for one of the various mini-cylcones.  [big grin]

On my little single stage dust collector I have taped and taped and taped on the bag, but it is an odd-ball no longer available size.  I've got a couple left, and want them to last until I can't work in the shop any more.

 

[mastercabman]

I tried that but it was a nightmare!!!! [mad] [mad] [mad]

 

[Frank Pellow]

I tried that but it was a nightmare!!!! [mad] [mad] [mad]

What problems did you have.  It seems to work very easily for me and I raise hardly any dust in the process.

 

[bobbobbob]

That Oneida Dust Deputy is definitely worth every penny.  You only need to get the cyclone only and use doubled up 5 gallon buckets.  Especially if you already have a boom arm, as the large tube fits to the intake easily.  My CT33 stays put in the shop, so the mobility isn't an issue.  I've emptied my buckets over ten times now and still am on the same filter bag and the filters have not been filled either.  Much easier to dump a 5 gallon bucket!  Here's a link:  http://www.dustdeputy.com/  I have noticed that Rockler and Woodcraft around here now carry the full kit.  Just a thought...

 

[bonesbr549]

I thought I was the only one who did that.  I slip it into a plastic bag upside down slip the bag out no dust! 

 

[Frank Pellow]

I thought I was the only one who did that.  I slip it into a plastic bag upside down slip the bag out no dust! 

Right, that is exactly what I am doing in the second photo.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Frank, I tend to use a new bag almost ever time but I'm not paying for my bags. I don't want to deal with the mess. On rare occasions I'll reuse a bag but I just dump the dust out of the inlet hole. If Festool made a re-usable bag for the mini I'd consider getting one.

I voted but I'm not sure of the usefulness of the poll. 

 

[Frank Pellow]

Frank, I tend to use a new bag almost ever time but I'm not paying for my bags. I don't want to deal with the mess. On rare occasions I'll reuse a bag but I just dump the dust out of the inlet hole. If Festool made a re-usable bag for the mini I'd consider getting one.

I voted but I'm not sure of the usefulness of the poll.   

Thanks Brice, I am not at all sure of the usefulness of the poll either.  :-[  But, I am not sure of the usefulness of most polls.  [scratch chin]

 

[stvrowe]

New bag every time for me.  I figure cutting the bag and dumping the contents kind of defeats the purpose of keeping dust out of my lungs.

 

[EcoFurniture]

I put a new one in about twice a week.... Don't like doing that at all, but the mini is what I have ( actually I have two) and therefore have to deal with it. In the beginning I was shaking the dust out through the hole, but that only works when the bag is only half full and most times ended up in a mess. After a while I gave up and started buying the bags....
If I would have to do it again, I would get myself two CT22 with the reusable ones.

 

[Frank Pellow]

New bag every time for me.  I figure cutting the bag and dumping the contents kind of defeats the purpose of keeping dust out of my lungs.

But, using the technique I showed in the second photo above, there is virtually no dust.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have done it twice, both times when I had no spares with me. 

Now I carry a spare bag in each sandpaper and cleaning kit systainer.

I buy the big packs and usually figure in a bag per job.  It's not hard to add 6 bucks to somone's bill.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I have done it twice, both times when I had no spares with me. 

Now I carry a spare bag in each sandpaper and cleaning kit systainer.

I buy the big packs and usually figure in a bag per job.  It's not hard to add 6 bucks to somone's bill.

It is hard when the someone is yourself.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have done it twice, both times when I had no spares with me. 

Now I carry a spare bag in each sandpaper and cleaning kit systainer.

I buy the big packs and usually figure in a bag per job.  It's not hard to add 6 bucks to somone's bill.

It is hard when the someone is yourself.

Ok, I understand that but, 4 bags a year for the mini, that is not very much money to be saving.

I dont want to deal with the fine, powdery dust though.

 

[mastercabman]

I tried that but it was a nightmare!!!! [mad] [mad] [mad]

What problems did you have.  It seems to work very easily for me and I raise hardly any dust in the process.

Dumping the dust out was one thing,but the tape job that i did.Did not hold up,and it took me a long time to clean out the vac.
It's not a bad idea but you need to make sure that whatever you do it's going to hold.
Now,i have done what Brice did,Removing the content from the filling hole and reuse the bag,but i only did it because i was out of new bags.

 

[jonny round boy]

I haven't tried reusing a bag, but I once sucked up a screw which flew into the bag (of my CT Mini) & pierced it. I taped it up.

Unfortunately the tape didn't hold for long, and weeks later when the vac made strange noises I opened it up to find a hell of a mess inside. Took about an hour to clean it all out - it didn't help that I didn't have access to a second vac to clean up the mess. That put me off ever trying to empty & reuse the bags - it's just not worth the saving for the risk of the tape failing.

Recently however, I was down to my last bag and did some planing which filled the bag very quickly. I had no other option but to try & re-use it, so I pulled the shavings out through the inlet hole. That worked quite well, but for me doing that with anything other than long shavings is not an option. That bag is still in the machine.

I've just bought a box of 20 bags here in the UK for GBP32.95, which seems to be quite a good price. That works out at just under GBP1.65 each (about USD2.75). With the rate I get through bags, that should last me a couple of years so I see no need to try & re-use any.

If you're happy re-using your bags, then great. But I won't be - it's just too much effort (and risk) for such a small reward.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Johnny, I can see that there is risk in the tape not holding.  I wrap duct tape all the way around the bag and (so far) it has always held.  Thanks for the warning and next time I will probably use even more tape.

 

[mwhafner]

figure in a bag per job

And most customers will gladly pay it, especially when working in an occupied home. 

I do reuse the bags in my CT22, but it generally stays in the shop.  I use the method Bruce described, and make sure I empty them outside.  I keep intending to order the reusable bag and maybe a Dust Deputy, but haven't gotten around to it. 

I use the CT Midi for site work, and it gets a new bag each time.

 

[Peterm]

I've just bought a box of 20 bags here in the UK for GBP32.95, which seems to be quite a good price.

That's a very good price - can I ask where from JRB? As far as the poll goes, it's a new bag every time in my Midi; I tried taping up a split bag once and it was an unholy mess inside when I went to empty it - never again!

Like JRB, my bag usage is pretty modest so the cost isn't a big deal - especially as the client's usually (but not always) paying

Cheers, Pete