Festool Dust Extractor - from me, to me

[eluxca]

I have a great appreciation for commercial vacs that can clean up after a day of woodworking, or clean the house Saturday morning. This is a machine that fits the bill. The Festool CT 26 is made to integrate with Festool hand tools, like routers and sanders, which I plan to get in the future. Yet it's quiet enough to use in the home. As I've found out, anything on the floor is fair game for it. Here are some pics of the unboxing.

 

[tolivac]

Very elegant peice of machinery!I would like to get some Festool machines,too.Esp a track saw.But these come at a price!!!But they are among the best.Does the Festool vacuum use a bag-would hate to clean out that drum if it was full of fine sanding dust or drywall dust.The Festool vacuums are made to start when you turn the tool on connected to the vacuum.Then when you are finihed making a cut with the tool-you turn it off and the Festool vacuum runs for like 10 sec to clear out the hose and tool of sawdust.NICE!!!The Festool system makes me think of other tool "systems"-like Shopsmith.

 

[eluxca]

Rex, it does use a fleece bag. It's very quiet to use in the house. I was told by a cabinet maker that the variable motor speed has to be turned nearly as low as it can go, or it will suck the power tool down to the wood! We also have an Alto Wap Attix 5 that is impressive. I bought it in 2006 after the Wap SQ 10 was discontinued. It has a 2 stage motor and runs quieter than today's one stage high RPM motors. At some point I would like to try out a Fein Turbo for comparison to the Festool and Alto.

 

[kirbysthebest]

What a cool vac

You will have to make a movie of it running sometime.

 

[tolivac]

Is the fleece bag reusable or disposable?Good the vacuum has variable power.

 

[eluxca]

It is a disposable fleece bag and holds 6.9 gallons. There is a permabag option, one that can be reused, for $250. A box of 6 disposable bags is $36.

 

[tolivac]

Good-like the idea of a disposable bag for a working shop type vacuum-worth it.The bags are not that expensive,either.

 

[gsheen]

I love them. I have the older slightly bigger model. They work so well. I will say I use mine so much it doesbt look pretty any more.

 

[eluxca]

Is that a CT 33? I know of one locally that been used hard in a shop for over 10 years and it is still running strong.