Festool CT MINI Vacuum

Robert Robillard

9 years ago

Festool CT Mini HEPA Dust Extractor 584156 Review

At ConcordCarpenter we are remodeler as well as mobile contractors. That means that we sometimes travel from one job to the next, sometimes doing two or three jobs a week. That also means setting up and cleaning up a few times a day.

Having tools that easily transported and stored is imperative in these situations. With this in mind we looked at the Festool CT MINI vacuum as a possible portable job-site solution.

Festool CT MINI vacuum 584156

The Festool CT MINI vacuum is a tool activated, HEPA vacuum that is compact, lightweight, easily carried with a built in handle and has a low center or gravity with easily maneuverable wheels.

Measuring a manageable 17-1/2 by 13-1/2 by 16-1/2 inches (D x W x H) and weighing in at 19.2 pounds, the CT MINI is easy to carry upstairs or lift into your vehicle for transport to remote job sites.

The vacuum can be operated wet or dry and has a 2.6 gallon capacity with a suction capacity up to 99 CFM. When operated in wet mode the unit will shut off when the reservoir reaches capacity.

Controls

There are very few controls on this vacuum, making it simple and very user friendly. The front interface has an outlet to plug in your power tool for tool activated dust extraction, a power knob and an air flow adjustment knob. The air flow adjustment knob allows you to control the suction and when set to low the unit will operate at 62 decibels.

The top handle area also stores the hose and cord storage as well as accommodates Systainer container attachment.

Versatile, Easy-to-Transport Design

When you get it in position, an easy-to-operate foot brake prevents the CT MINI from rolling off and pulling on attached tools as you work. The foot brake is also ideal for transport, since it ensures that the extractor won’t roll around in the back of your truck.

Antistatic Hose and On-board Storage

Like all Festool CT dust extractors, the CT MINI comes with a standard antistatic hose measuring 1-1/16 inches in diameter and 11-1/2 feet long.

Temperature control

A heat-triggered limit switch turns off the Festool CT MINI vacuum to protect against overheating. If this happens, switch the dust extractor off and let it cool for approximately 5 minutes

1-Micron Filter Bags

The Festool filter bags have filter to 1-micron, and are designed to be self-cleaning. The bags inflate and deflate with the cycling of the unit for maximum suction force and efficiency.

During normal use, fine particles of dust cling to the inner lining of the filter bag resulting in caking. This coating of dust lowers the effective suction power dramatically resulting in poor extraction efficiency and performance. Caking can also cause additional strain on your dust extractor’s motor and contribute to premature failure.

The Festool fleece filter bag prevents caking and is easily removed. From what we’ve seen, the HEPA filter outlasts the filter bags at least 10 to 1. We’re currently on our 5th or 6th vacuum bag and the filter is only starting to show slight discoloration.

Using the Festool CT Mini Vacuum

We’ve been using this unit for a year now and find it perfect for cutting, sanding and domino work. We will occasionally use this unit to vacuum sawdust off the floor but prefect use a different vacuum for that.

The unit is extremely effective at collecting dust and keeping it in the unit.

Improvements

There’s not much to improve on this unit – we were impressed. My only pet peeve is with the hose and cord storage area on top. In order to secure a Systainer unit on top of the vacuum you first have to meticulously wind the cord tightly around the top handle to get it out of the way. This step takes time, and is often skipped by my crew.

I’d prefer if the storage area were slightly larger to accommodate a larger, looser cord wrap storage.

Professionalism

The biggest takeaway for our crew surrounds Festool CT Mini’s compact size , extreme portability and HEPA dust extraction at source capabilities. These qualities allow us to perform our work faster, more efficient and cleaners.
The end result is that we leave a lasting positive impression with our clients that we care clean, efficient and professional. That leads to less call backs and more referrals!