Festool574837 Dust Extractor CT MIDI I HEPA

Like many Festool products, initial cost of acquisition leaves you wondering about retirement savings... But after 4 months of use, I can now say this is one of the best tool investments I've made. Suction is really great, anti-static hose works extremely well (Makita track saw was causing all kinds of static shocks and dust pile-up on the outside of the non-antistatic Ridgid hose and vacuum previously), and it's only moderately noisy. It's like a little robot in the garage, very easy to pull around by the hose with great wheels that just work without hassle. A must-have is the Bluetooth button accessory 202098 that fits on the end of the hose. With that magic button, you just keep the hose handy wherever you're working and you can turn the hose on/off without ever going back to the main unit. In 4 months, I think I've touched the front panel maybe 3 or 4 times, total. Seriously. Upgraded to the 36mm hose (bought the vacuum kit 203409) which I've found has better suction than the 27mm hose. Also bought the accessory handle kit 204310 which I highly recommend - gives you nozzle storage and a much easier way to move the vacuum around when you need to park it or store it. The handle is collapsible too so you can fit it into cubby holes with no problem. If I were to do it over again, I would probably buy a CT36 or higher model, for one main reason - they are able to accept various Festool vacuum accessories like the hose boom arm, etc. The CT Midi I supports none of those accessories, which I am finding frustrating. If not a concern for you, then you won't be disappointed with this little workhorse. It is one great vacuum for shop use and woodworking.

If I were to design a dust extractor with all the features I needed or wanted, it would end up being very close to a Festool. Their products are clearly top of line and work amazing.The accessories are GREAT, their support has been fast, and the product (So far) has worked incredibly.So, what can I complain about? PRICE.There will understandably be those who say, "If you love it so much, it's worth the price", and I partially agree.This has been worth the price so far, but I decided to go with the CT Midi instead of the 26 or 36 because I just couldn't justify the exponentially higher costs. I already felt the CT Midi was expensive, but since it is an important tool for my needs, I decided it was worth a try.These are already twice the price of similar units that would be adequate for most normal jobs; But just aren't nearly as nice. It is a tool that makes my work a little easier to manage, but does not help save me money or generate revenue for a job. For that reason, it is my only major complaint.PROSForm FactorStorageBuild QualityPowerFilter CleaningBluetoothAvailable AccessoriesCONSUnit PriceHose dimensions - The hose is great quality and their connection system is solid, it just requires additional adaptors to be purchased if you want to use it with other brands that are not Festool.Accessories Price - Like the unit itself, the accessories can be pricey. Even just a simple hose boom is almost 500 dollars.Accessory limitations by product - Some of the cool features like auxiliary bags, gates, etc. only work with the more expensive models. It would have been nice to have on the CT Midi, but they are not offered unless you buy the more expensive models starting around 900 or more.

For a portable dust extractor, this worked very well for me. I 3D printed a bunch of adapters as I primarily have Dewalt tools. Works great. I particularly like the power sense for my table saw. Don't need to manually turn it on and off, it'll sense the motor power draw and turn on automatically. The little remote works great at the end of the hose for hand orbital sanders.

If you were like me drooling over this for months and pacing back and forth trying to justify your need to fork over the cash for this. Then I’m here to tell you it’s worth every penny. I came from a large, loud, and bulky rigid vacuum for many years and finally got tired of it.The Festool CT Midi is significantly quieter, smaller and more efficient than my Rigid shop vac even though it’s not in the same category. The bluetooth remote feature is a must have since I use this extractor with all dewalt tools. It works so well with my sander where a mask is no longer needed.