Reduced the number of dust bags needed by using cyclone technology to deal with a lot of dust and debris.
Maintains high suction power as a result of cutting down on the amount of dust on the main filter.
Because of a stackable collection container with small dimensions and a strong design, it’s easy to move.
A tool-free design means that you can work with or without a CT cyclone pre-separator in any situation.
All HEPA dust extractors can use this.
For people who work with a lot of dust and debris, the CT Cyclone pre-separator is the easiest way to make your CT dust extractor work more efficiently and cut down on its long-term costs. All in a small package that fits perfectly into the Festool mobility system. When used with a Certified CT dust extractor*, the CT Cyclone is an Anti-Static** three-step Filtration system that separates and collects large debris and coarse dust before it reaches the Mobile dust extractor. This means that you won’t need to buy as many filters and dust bags to keep your CT running smoothly. Besides that, the CT Cyclone reduces the total amount of dust on the main filter and keeps the suction power high throughout the work process. It can be used with all CT dust extractors and is a highly portable and compact Cyclone solution that can go with you wherever your work takes you. Designed to last a long time.
If you’ve ever tried to make something out of wood, you know that I’m a big fan of Festool. I think that the brands’ focus on a simple experience and high-quality work makes the extra money worth it. Many of my tools are made by the company Festool. I’ve been using the Oneida Festool Dust Deputy for a few years now, and I was excited to get my hands on the Cyclone system.
Aesthetically, the Festool Cyclone is great. It is a lot shorter than the Oneida, and it’s also a lot less heavy and bulky as well. On the CT line of vacuums, it fits very well. You can also buy an extra plug for $40 that slides into the front of the Cyclone and allows the plug-it cord to be next to the hose (note: this is not needed for the system to work but is helpful if you purchased a sleeved hose that encases both the hose and plug-it cord).
Everything else doesn’t work for me because of the way it looks, and that’s why this unit doesn’t get a single star from me.
The Oneida Dust Deputy doesn’t have a Thien Baffle like the Festool Cyclone does (the Wood Whisperer touched on this in his review video; worth checking out for more detailed measurements). You can put the Thien Baffle in the case, and the outlet for this piece is a very small plastic tube. Ports that were about 2 inches wide are now about 1 inch wide. I’m not in my shop to measure, but it’s at least half the size. In order for Festool to fit all of the parts needed to make this baffle into a compartmented unit, they had to give up the suction of the unit a lot. This happens when the bag is full and there is no cyclone. It’s like when the bag is full and there is no cyclone.
When I use the Rotex 150 to sand very quickly, I’ve noticed that some of the dust doesn’t get caught by the vac when I use the Cyclone. When you don’t use the cyclone, it’s almost dust-free. When I use the OF1010 to cut an edge profile, I don’t have to worry about dust. When I use the Cyclone, there’s a noticeable amount of shavings that don’t get sucked up.
In short, I’m not happy. In terms of price, you’re looking at a unit that costs more than $200 more than its closest competitor and isn’t nearly as good. Because the Oneida isn’t as strong as the Festool, it doesn’t have as much suction left over.
There is a reason why Festool is so popular: its “ecosystem” and how it encourages a clean work space. Because the Festool has a two-stage separator, you’re going to lose suction power when you use one. The drop off with the Festool is both extreme and a result of poor engineering. For that reason, I could not recommend this product in good faith and would instead recommend the Oneida if I had to choose between the two, even though it had the above problems.
