If all your dust extractor does is provide suction to collect dust and other waste you're missing out. With Systainer connectivity more tools can be stored in less space moving your equipment is faster easier and more secure and work is more efficient.
Transport
If your dust extractor is equipped with a docking system for Systainers it doubles as a cart for moving tools from place to place whether around the shop house or onto site. Simply stack Systainer toolboxes on top of the dust extractor and use the integral latches to lock them in place so nothing slides or shifts. Most of Festool's dust extractors have a foot brake to ensure that it doesn't roll when you don't want.
Easily accessible tools and accessories
How do you keep your tools close at hand? Ears are good for pencils but Systainers are the best storage and organization system for everything else. When you're working on a project build a stack of Systainers on top of your dust extractor so that your tools are at a convenient height. Make a three foot tall stack if you are working standing up place your abrasives Systainer on top of the extractor if you're sanding floors or just use the flat top to set down tools. With wheels under your tools it's easy to move them around with you.
Which dust extractor is right for me?
Each dust extractor comes with a hose power cord disposable dust collection bag and filter. Some models include conveniences such as storage for the hose and power cord foot brake and external or automatic filter cleaning. Most have tool-activated auto-start variable suction and some offer remote control via an accessory Bluetooth remote.
When comparing dust extractors consider how you will use it.
- If you frequently navigate long flights of stairs a lightweight and compact extractor make sense (if you encounter only a few stairs, adding a handle to a large dust extractor makes it easy to pull it up a few stairs).
- If your workplace often has power cords and hoses laying on the floor choose a dust extractor with larger wheels that will roll over them.
- If you need it for use with saws routers planers and other tools that product larger chips consider a dust extractor that holds more than 20 litres to reduce the frequency that it needs to be emptied or consider using a separator accessory like Festool's CT Cyclone.
- If you sand a lot of drywall or use a large electric drywall sander like the Planex look at the CT 36 E AC which was designed for drywall dust.
- If the dust extractor will mostly live at a bench consider one of the CT 26 36 or 48 models and accessory boom arm to get the hose and power cords up overhead.
