Festool’s CT SYS dust extractor, 584174, gave rise to mixed feelings initially, but I’ve grown to really like its portability and versatility.
It’s a portable dust extractor fitted to 2 Systainers tool boxes. Technically, all you need is the bottom section – that’s where the vac system and dust collection bag live – but the top section makes hose management a lot easier.
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There’s a long-life bag available, but I prefer to use the disposable bags.
It’s got a HEPA filter.
There’s automatic tool start, so you can connect a tool and have the vac turn on and off as needed.
It’s equipped with a Festool-standard tool dust port nozzle, and also comes with a small wide nozzle and a crevice tool. These work okay. I often find myself using my Festool cleanup kit ($93 via Amazon) with the CT SYS vac. I do most cleaning with a larger rolling vac, but the CT SYS is good for quick and small cleanups.
It’s highly portable, and comes with a carrying strap. I haven’t used the strap, I simply tote it around by the top handle.
There’s ample room (just barely) for hose and cord storage in the top compartment to allow for additional Festool T-Loc Systainers to be placed above. And there’s of course no problem connecting the CT STS on top of other Systainers and Systainer-compatible accessories.
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It’s not loud, but not quite quiet either. I don’t like the high-pitched squeal, but 9 times out of 10 I’m wearing hearing protection since the vac is being run with or around the use of other tools.
Like most Festool products, the CT SYS dust extractor is expensive – currently $375. Is it worth it? I’ve wrestled with this question.
On one hand, I wish it was cordless. It’s portable but not cordless. Still, it saves effort compared to carrying my Festool CT 26 dust extractor up or down stairs, and it fits better in the car for on-location work.
And if it were cordless, there would be no automatic mode, which I find very useful. I’ve used the CT SYS dust extractor with my Festool sander and in testing their Domino joinery machine. For use with a router, circular saw, or other tool that creates lots more chips and dust, I’ll use a larger vac. As mentioned, I’ll also use this for quick cleanup tasks.
On the other hand, this vac has capabilities that others lack.
It’s HEPA-rated, which can’t be said for a lot of other compact portable vacs. Then there’s the automatic mode and tool connection port. If you’re already working with Festool tools or storage products, the Systainer form factor is going to be a big convenience.
It does also have a manual mode, which I use for cleanup work or non-auto tool use, such as with cordless tools.
So if these are features you need, you’ll cringe at the price once but the benefits will make it worthwhile. That’s how I see Festool tools. Very pricey, but sometimes justifiable.
Price: $375, will be $380 starting April 3rd, 2017
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See Also(2018 version with updated hose)
Bags are $20 for 5 or $80 for 1 long-life filter. The long-life bag can only be used for harmless dust. A replacement HEPA filter is $64, and it looks like there’s a cheaper filter for $22 if you don’t need HEPA-level filtration.
Would I have purchased one? Probably not, because I own a Festool dust extractor that sees a lot of use. I’ll bring a cordless vac when I need portability. But having this test sample available, I’ve been using it quite a bit, finding it to be quite handy. If If I was able to share my current experiences with my past self, prior to receiving the test sample, I still wouldn’t have bought one. It’s a convenient product, but it solves problems I don’t regularly have.
That said, I definitely do recommend it – if its features would be of strong benefit to you.
You have to ask yourself: Will this help my work? For me, the answer is not really, but I’m not a contractor and don’t do most of my work off-site or on-location. If for you the answer is a strong yes, cry once and enjoy the benefits over time. (That’s pretty much my typical pricey tool philosophy.)
I’ve been testing and using this vac for around 6 months. I’ll try to report back in another 6 months with any new impressions or experiences, and hopefully photos. (That’s why I’m calling this a quick review.)
If cleanup is your top priority, there are other corded and cordless solutions that’ll do about the same job but for far less money. Here are some HEPA-rated cordless and corded vacs I’ve posted about in the past:
Dewalt Compact Cordless HEPA Vac Review (DCV517)
New Milwaukee M18 Cordless Compact Hand Vacuum with HEPA Filter
Dewalt Cordless Vac Review (20V Max, 18V, AC)
Thank you to Festool for providing the review sample unconditionally.
Blythe M
Semi related, but not really, I can’t find a good review of the m18 vacuums. I realize it’s wet/dry toolbox vs hepa canister. More after real world comparison of runtime, suction and capacity ( compact seems like it would fill really fast), etc
As far as this one, if you’re often working in jobs accessed by elevator or many stairs I can see adding it to a stack of systainers. Otherwise, too much coin for a small vac, imho
julian
I’ve got the Milwaukee 18volt “toolbox style” vacuum. Though I have modified it to work with Makita batteries, that doesnt really affect my end opinion as there shouldn’t be any difference in it’s basic operation.
– It’s loud, so ear plugs are essential.
– Great pleated filter that shakes out easily – not cloth, maybe a Gortex-style fabric?
– Nicely designed accessory tool storage as well as an integrated hose coil holster on the side.
– Good runtime, but I only ever choose to use it for quick pickups, etc; it’s to small and loud to be of much use for much else.
– I find it’s especially handy for sucking all of the water from toilets in order to remove them; much less mess.
– in a pinch, I’ve hooked it up to my Festool domino or pockethole jig or sander, but that’s a bit of fooling around with the hose connection and the hose length isn’t very practical for those usages.
Overall, I was looking for something to use for quick pickups and all Makita had at the time was their stick-vac (which is pretty much perfect for what it is), and I had used the older Dewalt style but remembered it had the loudest high-pitched sqeal when it was turned on.
I picked up the Milwaukee for free after buying a combo kit, so it was a no risk battery modification, just ripped out the milwaukee battery holder and built one for the Makita batts.
At some point, I’ll buy one of Makita’s new little vacs; this milwaukee is just too damn loud.
If you use milwaukee tools, I can’t see why you wouldn’t buy it. lots of times youre on the job site and need more than a stick vac but less than a plug-in larger model.
fred
Maybe this would appeal to someone who would want to stack it with a Festool sander – so they could roll the whole kit onto the job as 1 piece. Otherwise I would think that one of the less expensive options, like those you mention, would be more appealing.
Tim
I want one but noone can seem to answer one question definitively.
How does it pair with sanders with the lack of adjustable suction?
Do they run smooth or is there buffeting due to too much suction/not as good dust pick up due to too low suction?
Stuart
It worked well in my experience, but I haven’t tested it with different grit sizes and materials.
There might be a risk of too much suction. I’ve got a project coming up I can test this with.
z2w
I’ve been thinking about this. Adjustable suction is an important feature of expensive high-end dust extractors, but it seems like it should be possible to adjust the suction by inserting a restrictor-plate in-line with the hose. It could be just a flat piece of plastic with a hole in it, so that there’s more air flow resistance. Seems like it should be possible to make something out of PVC and whatever 1/8″ or 1/4″ plastic sheet is lying around.
On-the-fly adjustment would be better, but something like this should be good enough for DIY applications.
Stuart
There are also adjustable vented attachments, but the added complexity and clunkiness might start to negate some of the vac’s benefits.
fred
The Fein adjustable suction hose end is pretty compact and straight forward. It has an open window that can be exposesd(more or less or not at all) by turning a collar
http://www.rockler.com/fein-tool-coupler-with-suction-control-for-turbo-i-and-turbo-ii
Tim
You cannot restrict the flow on a vacuum like this, only vent as the motors use airflow for cooling.
I currently use my ridgid shop vac with either the fein adjustable suction attatchment or the adjustable suction attatchment off an old bissel canister vac that I had (works better than the fein and just happens to fit the outlet on my rotex perfectly) but neither is ideal as they require constant fiddling to maintain proper suction and add to the length of the roted which is not good on stairs.
razl
Last year I had to sand and repaint a bunch of wood siding on our house on both the first and second floor. I used my 150 Rotex with the CT-36 while on the ground floor, but the CT wasn’t easily usable on the second floor with the inclined roof.
I ~could~ have had the CT inside, opened a window, and run the hose out to the Rotex, but didn’t want to have to get on/off the roof as much as I progressed from window to window.
Like Stuart I probably wouldn’t recommend it at it’s price on it’s own, but as an augment to an existing festool lineup, it’s a great addition.
The CT-SYS was great for this, just plopped it down on the roof and used it right there. Although it wasn’t as clean as the 36, it was 85-95% as good which was great. I wasn’t so much concerned about the dust making as mess as much as I wanted as little of it left on the wall as possible to minimize prep before repainting.
That was why I initially got it, but I’ve now come to like having it for a lot of other small uses. Since I’ve got a decent stable of Festool tools, it’s great having a portable vac for the smaller jobs. Heck, it’s cut my full CT use in half.
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Tim
This was very helpful.
Chance
I’ll stick with my DeWalt DCV581H corded/cordless vac with reusable and washable HEPA filter, onboard attachment storage, and nice integrated cord and hose wraps, for about $100.
Seriously, $375 for a small vac and the accessories cost almost as much as my DeWalt vac?? No thanks. Another reason I vow to never buy a Festool product.
And not trying to criticize, but it made me chuckle a bit, how can something be just barely ample? Lol!
Stuart
Just barely ample. =)
There’s room, but you have to fold everything in nicely. The cord had to be routed around the perimeter, and the cord neatly coiled and placed between the centered handle and the hose.
fred
Done with very precise German engineering – as compared to rough and tumble real world use – fat fingers and all. Maybe they should give you a set of instructions on a DVD for how to pack everything in. I’m still contemplating how or if I should apply a $50 off (doesn’t go very far) Festool voucher that I have. I don’t think that this is it.
Will
Better use it quick because they are doing the annual price increase in April. That $50 might pay for the increase lol.
Oh and remember the Pro 5 sale? Well I was told shipping in late march and I contacted them several times.the guy told me the shipment was delayed a few days because of weather but not to worry it will be there soon. Then a few days later tool nut sent an email saying April 28th.
They have great service but I am having issues with a sander I bought before it was on back order and here I am 6 months later and no sander!
David
Well to the DeWalt tool development guy reading this, make a tough case vac that has Bluetooth turn on to work with all my cordless saws and grinders. Why your at it make a nice little four wheel cart that allows it to follow me around. It should have dual power capability. Funk out.
fred
The Festool 495020 – 4-wheel dolly seems to be popular among the aficionados – and can be had for $91 – before the April price increase or $94 thereafter. BTW the CT SYS (584174) – goes up from $375 to $380 in April
Stuart
I had noted the price change in the post, but you have to look carefully to see it – sorry.
I saw one person using the CT SYS with the 4-wheel dolly, but that seems silly to me. At that point, why not buy one of Festool’s compact rolling vacs?
fred
I would think the dolly might come in if you were stacking a sander or a Domino machine systainer and domino assortment systainer with the vacuum. As Blythe M says – the NYCity contractors/elevator riders might find the combination appealing.
Ed S
I witnessed a flooring contractor setup and 90% of his tools were Festool.
The work was completed and it was…like no one was there. No dust, no vapors, nothing.
Now he has the larger vac, with tool plugin. Boy, the router he had…to replace damaged inlays… Festool..I wish I had the budget…
Off to find a jigsaw … maybe Bosch… 😉
Joe J
$400 for a boxy shopvac.
Okay.
Stuart
With teeny tiny capacity.