Festool - Cleantec (CT) 33 Shop Vacuum

Editor's Review: Tool-Triggered Shop Vacs

The Festool Cleantec (CT) 33 allows you to dial down the power demand of the vacuum motor, thus allocating more amps to the tool you're using. It can be modified to draw as few as 3 amps or as many as 10 amps.

The vacuum's tubular-metal rear handles and large rear wheels enable it to be maneuvered much like a hand truck. However, upending it, which must be done to empty the canister if a bag is not used, is awkward. Water is collected in a storage tank that needs to be removed for emptying.

The vacuum's internal filter-cleaning system consists of a large handle and shaft that are slid manually in and out of the rear of the machine. Attached to the shaft are several fingers that rake across the pleats of the vacuum filter to dislodge any debris. This was the only vacuum tested that comes standard with a HEPA filter.

The Festool stands out for other reasons as well: it has the best accessory kit of the vacuums tested, it is the only machine tested that has a blower, and it has an antistatic hose that improves safety when used with tools that generate a lot of static electricity, like a shop planer.

Editor Test Results:

More In-Depth Information

Tool-Triggered Shop Vacs A crew of carpenters reviews five machines that make cleanup easier by capturing dust before it hits the floor by Rob Wotzak