Thread: A not so nubie trying to catch up......?

Hi aj, so far I can only give you a 48 hour impression but, to give you my first insight, I had to keep turning the sander off to hear if the CT26 was even running!
I am about to embark on a lot of Australian red cedar sanding and I didn't want to continue to use my old vacuum which was simply acting as a transfer device to take the dust from the workpiece and distribute it to the walls!
I chose Festool after trialling one at a fellow forumite's and to ensure compatibility with my Festool sander and domino.
I 'll post again after some serious use.
fletty

Are you using the single-use bags, or one of the reusable bags?

I'm a bit concerned about the cost of the bags. Then again, I guess the whole idea is to capture the dust and be rid of it. The reusable bags seem to be difficult to empty without the fine dust going everywhere, according to the youtube videos I've seen.

I need to do more with my dust collection generally. It's a mediocre system at best. Getting a new shopvac for the Festool sander and domino would be a good start.

Looking forward to your review.

cheers,

ajw

Apparently, according to those around me, I'm an 'impulse buyer' but, this time, I actually did some homework!
I had decided on Festool and the CT36E, checked comparative prices and went to VEK at Smeaton Grange ....and bought the CT26 with a reusable bag for the same price .....research is highly overrated!

fletty

I have been using the 36 and have been very happy. I really like the ability to lock a systainer on top of their vacs. They also sell a combo cable/hose which is a neat solution for powertools. The bags last forever...


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hi fletty, sorry to hear of your rash, but that red cedar is well known for adverse reactions - have a look at the Ubeaut Bad Woods website - it scares the hell out of me, particularly resawing 200mm wide boards of it for veneers - bandsaw dust collection is very poor with only a single 4" outlet.

Anyway, the other big dust maker is the SCMS. I am lucky enough to score a 2nd hand Festool KS120 saw which has reasonable dust collection. I use a 37mm hose from the saw to a Clearvue cyclone which sits on top of an old sealed 5 litre paint tin in the shed near the saw. This cyclone is then connected to one of those noisy office cleaner type portable vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter in it. Very rarely do I need to clean this filter or empty the vacuum cleaner bag - it is always empty because the little Clearvue does such a great job. ( I think ?)

My Carbatec 2hp DC sits outside the shed, and is connected to a Thein cyclone in a 44 gallon drum next to it. This cyclone is connected to my mobile machines via 2 - 3m lengths of 4" flexible hoses - not good, but it is all I've got. 6" hoses everywhere would be much better according to BobL.

I get good dust collection with the router table fence and the drum sander connected to this cyclone, but not very good with the table saw or bandsaw. Hardly any flow with the 4" hose connected to the tablesaw, the sawdust just builds up in the bottom of the cabinet. It will clean out when I hit it with an air compressor with the DC and cyclone running. Not sure why it does not collect this dust under normal operation.

Very rarely have to empty the lower plastic bag on the DC, it all goes in the 44 gal drum, leaving only very fine dust in the plastic bag.

Originally Posted by ajw

The reusable bags seem to be difficult to empty without the fine dust going everywhere, according to the youtube videos I've seen.
ajw

Hi aj'
Some years ago I worked at a factory that had a small crating shop. The way they handled the collected dust issue was to cut a hole about 90mm dia in the lid of their wheelie bin, put their hand through the hole and hold the opened bag, close the lid and shake the bag inside the bin. A quick fine spray of water from a hose through the hole then finished the process.
I will probably do the same thing at home but I was going to add a flexible flap to the hole to seal the bin?
I imagine the Council however MIGHT take a dim view of this

fletty

Originally Posted by routermaniac

. . . . . .The bags last forever...

The bags might seem like they do but my testing suggests otherwise.
Of the dozen or so high end vacuum cleaners I have tested that were more than a couple of years old, all emitted significant amounts of fine dust. damaged/dirty filter and bag housing seals, cracks in the plastic bodies, and tiny holes in the bags were all contributors. The post bag filters are supposed to catch the fine dust but that relies on the unit staying airtight which none of them were. The problems seem to arise from, the way VCs (and mobile DCs) are towed around inside a shed where they collide with other machines etc, and just generally poor maintenance of dust collection gear..

Unless the VC is located outside (or enclosed in a sealed chamber that vents outside) a shed I would suggest at least replacing the bags periodically even if they look OK.

VCs (and DCs) are probably one of the most poorly maintained machines in a workshop.

On a VC the following would be a minimum regular (i.e. depending on use) level of maintenance
1) Take the VC outside the shed and remove and empty the bag and filters and using compressed air blow out the motor cooling loop (a significant source of fine dust even when the VC is not collecting sawdust) for at least 5 minutes. If this has never been done the motor may need to be exposed as it may have become sticky and need a more direct application of compressed air.
2) Inspect all seals, If any are damaged or badly creased they should be replaced. If seals are OK they should be cleaned and rejuvenated with a suitable product e.g. rubber seals with Armorall
3) Inspect housings for cracks and repair as required e.g. the rubberised superglue is a good product for use with the typical plastics uses on VCs
4) Use indirect jets of compressed air to clean filters, i.e. blow the air across and not directly onto the filter

Picked up a CT26E today from Sydney Tools (Penrith store). They guy there told me that Festool are going to change their pricing policy, so that all stores must sell at the same price. Those who "discount" will get warnings, then be removed as sellers of the Festool gear. I think Meile does a similar thing. He indicated that it's a good time to buy now, while you can still negotiate the price. I got a reasonable discount, and a box of the filter bags thrown in.

Will set it up tomorrow and give it a go.

cheers,

ajw