No worries.

Hi,

Having the CTL-SYS since November '15 I thought I should add/share some thoughts of my longer term experience with it, especially since it is now also available in the US.

The CTL-SYS has become my most used vac during the last 6 months. I use it with my jigsaw, oscillating-multitool, rotary hammer and cordless drills/drivers. I use it to clean the cars and on various occasions as of lately also as an air blower. Whenever I need a vac I reach for the CTL-SYS first and only in a couple of cases where I needed more dust/debris-collecting-volume I reached for a bigger vac, never because the CTL-SYS lacked power/suction or for any other reason.

After what Brice said I didn't/don't use it without a filter bag. It's not that they would cost an arm and a leg anyway and if it saves me hassle/repairs later on - totally worth it. Plus it's a lot easier/cleaner to trash a sealed bag than the contents of a container.

What I didn't realize as special at first is that the vac runs a little longer after the tool stops drawing power from it in automatic mode, I kinda expect this because it if very useful - especially when drilling. But a pro who borrowed and used my CTL-SYS when he was working for me was actually pretty excited about that among other things like: size, weight, connectivity and power. Seems not every (shop) vac with integrated outlet runs a little longer than the tool does. I guess we have another convert, he definitely wanted to ask his boss to buy one.

The truth is that everyone who I showed this little vac to was pretty excited about it and I'm too till this day.

I really didn't come across anything new that I didn't like.

As I didn't use it yet while sanding/grinding I really can't tell if the lack of variable suction is really that much of a problem, sooner or later I will find out obviously and make my decision on that.

Until then I'm tempted to say that the CTL-SYS really is a perfectly well executed little vac.

Kind regards,
Oliver

I have a little time left in the 30 day return window on my CT-Sys, and I am still on the fence about it.  I got it as a more portable option for the occasional site work I do, and as a complementary vac in the shop to save time between switching the hose among various tools (especially when I'm moving back and forth between the 36mm and the 27mm hoses).  The lack of variable suction is an issue for me as it prevents working effectively with the RTS400 and the HSK sanding block.

Just this morning, though, I moved a bit more into the pro/keeper column, when I did a quick cleanup in the house.  I've previously hauled in the CT26 from the shop to do this, but thought I'd test out the CT-Sys for this operation.  Hooked up to a 36mm hose it ended up having plenty of power to do all the necessary house cleaning tasks, and it was great to be able to carry it on my shoulder and maneuver around the tables and chairs instead of constantly banging into their corners as would happen with the CT26.  I didn't get a chance to test out the turbo suction brush on the carpet, but am gonna try this later today and see how it goes.

It does work with the CT Wings also.

Agree with all the comments made, across various threads, wrt inability to reduce suction. 
Why, why, why - not included. 

Richard (UK) 

It's 496112, though NAINA (it would be fairly simple to import though through someone who ships to the US).

Quote from: Edward A Reno III on June 02, 2016, 07:14 AM

Ended up returning my CT-Sys yesterday to the dealer, a couple of days shy of the 30 days window.

I think the main thing is that looking ahead over the next year, I'm simply going to be too busy to take on much site work, and so I can't really justify having another CT for the couple of times when I might be called on site.   If it had variable suction, I think I might have still kept it, as it would be a great adjunct for some of the regular sanding tasks I have in the shop.  But the lack of variable suction limits which sanders I can use it with, and excludes the HSK in particular, which I use a fair amount.

Festool used to have small hose fitting that allowed you to manually adjust the airflow via a hole with a rotating cover. Wouldn't be hard to make one if variable suction was all that was holding you back.

Here is my variable suction solution. I use PVC end caps which fit inside the Festool Y adapter. I have three caps each with a different sized hole. The larger the hole in the cap, the lower the suction is at the tool. Here are a couple of photos from a drywall repair/paint job. The hand sanding block works perfectly with a 1 3/8" sized hole in the cap. There is just enough suction to remove the sanding dust but not so much suction that the block sticks to the wall.

Welcome to the forum! 

There's one solution.

Seth

In the meanwhile, the CTL-SYS felt me so good I purchased another Festool extractor.
The little compact CTL-SYS is nice to have always in your car or van. I take it to all small jobs like to drill holes in a wall, sanding small things, holding things with CT wings etc etc. Personally I've no problem with not having the variable suction, the suction is low enough for sanding.

But for bigger and longer then one day jobs I've bought a CTL 26. Five reasons: better suction with woodwork, due two electric points two machines on one extractor, as extrator for mitre saw or table saw,  I already had a very small extractor so didn't need a semi compact one and bags are per litre cheaper.

Here is my variable suction solution. I use PVC end caps which fit inside the Festool Y adapter. I have three caps each with a different sized hole. The larger the hole in the cap, the lower the suction is at the tool. Here are a couple of photos from a drywall repair/paint job. The hand sanding block works perfectly with a 1 3/8" sized hole in the cap. There is just enough suction to remove the sanding dust but not so much suction that the block sticks to the wall.

  But you already have the adjustable valve at the end of your sanding block. Was that not enough or did you not want the noise of escaping suction right next to you with the port open on the sanding block?

Wasn't quite enough for the hand sanding block. It was sticking a bit even with the valve fully open.

. That makes sense...