Festool CT 22 HEPA

*Est. $450

Sturdy construction
Variable speed (3 to 10 amps)
Easy to move without tipping over
Includes HEPA filtration

Expensive
No cleaning tools or extension wands are included
No drain, makes emptying liquids difficult

Where to Buy

McFeely's
for $505.00
for $505.00
for $505.00

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Our Analysis

Reviewers recommend the 5.8-gallon Festool CT 22 HEPA shop vacuum for collecting dust from portable tools drawing up to 10 amps (or higher if suction is turned down) -- but not for general workshop use to collect larger debris. For that, top honors go to the Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III shop vac (*est. $400), which can also collect dust from heavier portable tools up to 19 amps. In addition, most reviews consider the Fein shop vac quieter than the Festool vacuum. While the Festool CT 22 with its included HEPA filtration is excellent for dust extraction, its high price is a drawback. However, reviews confirm its high build quality, making it a good long-term investment. For general cleanup, reviews recommend the less expensive 14-gallon Ridgid WD1450 (*est. $100).

The Festool CT 22 HEPA Dust Extractor adds HEPA filtration to its immediate predecessor, the Festool CT 22 E -- for which we found six in-depth reviews from professional woodworkers. We rank Bill Esposito's review highest, not only because it's the most current, but also because he notes a few drawbacks and details not mentioned in the other reviews. Although we found no large comparative reviews that include the Festool CT 22, the recent Fine Homebuilding review of tool-triggered shop vacs covers a larger Festool shop vac.

Where To Buy

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Our Sources

1. Wood Magazine Details/Subscribe

This review compares the Festool CT 22 with three other tool-triggered shop vacs. Senior Design Editor Kevin Boyle says he's sold on it despite its high price - praising it for its suction plus its ability to make full use of a 20-amp circuit. The only drawback he finds is that it can be a problem to attach it to power tools not made by Festool.

Review: Wise Buys: Tool-Triggered Vacuums, Editors of Wood Magazine, May 2008

2. About.com

This hands-on review of the Festool CT 22 E shop vac praises it not only for quiet operation and easy maneuverability, but for how well the dust bag system works. The dust bag captures the dust extremely well and it's very easy to change bags.

Review: Review of the Festool CT 22 E Mobile Dust Extractor, Chris Baylor

3. Taunton's 2008 Tool GuideDetails/Subscribe

A larger but similar Festool shop vac, the Festool CT 33, is ranked at the top by both editors and readers in this review. The editors' review of five tool-triggered shop vacs is essentially the same as the review published in the June 2007 issue of Fine Homebuilding.

Review: Tool-Triggered Shop Vacs, Rob Wotzak and Taunton Press Editors, Sept. 2007

4. Fine HomebuildingDetails/Subscribe

Carpenter Rob Wotzak and his crew give top ranking to the similar, larger Festool Cleantec CT 33. The review compares the Festool shop vac with four other tool-triggered shop vacs. This review measures noise levels, and each vacuum also gets ratings for power, convenience and overall design.

Review: Untitled, Rob Wotzak, June/July 2007

5. NHWoodworker.com

This review covers the earlier Festool 22 E shop vac rather than the newer model with HEPA filter. The review is well illustrated and many specifications are included here that aren't mentioned in other reviews. Esposito praises the Festool 22 E as "a finely engineered tool," saying the lack of drain is its only drawback.

Review: Festool CT 22E Mobile Dust Extractor, Bill Esposito, Feb. 10, 2006

6. Woodworker's JournalDetails/Subscribe

Tool expert Rob Johnstone reports on his December 2006 visits to European tool manufacturers, including Festool. In his weblog, Johnstone notes that to test durability, Festool "employs an entire staff of people whose only job is to break Festool tools by misusing them."

Review: European Power Tools, Rob Johnstone, Apr. 2007

7. The Woodshop

Woodworker Jack Loganbill tests the Festool CT22E shop vac. At its lowest speed, he finds the Festool quieter than the Fein Mini Turbo shop vac. The review praises the Festool for its internal filter cleaner and variable speed, significant advantages over the Fein shop vac.

Review: Festool CT 22 Dust Extractor Review, Jack Loganbill

8. C John Herbert.com

This review covers the Festool CT 22 in the context of the whole Festool system, showing how it integrates with the circular saw, guide rails and other accessories. He's delighted with the way the Festool Dust Extractor keeps jobsites clean no matter what kind of cutting is needed.

Review: Festool System -- Festool CT 22, C. John Herbert, Updated Apr. 14, 2005

9. OnlineTool Reviews.com

The author, a woodworker, praises the variable-suction control on the Festool CT 22 shop vac, noting that a lower suction is especially useful for vacuuming the workshop. While this reviewer considers the Festool CT 22 a good value, he finds it louder than the Fein shop vacs.

Review: Festool CT22E Dust Extractor, Dean Bielanowski

10. Benchmark

Woodworker Phil Bumbalough compares both the Festool CT 22 and the smaller CT Mini with shop vacs by Craftsman, Shop-Vac and Fein. He finds the Festool much more pleasant to use than the consumer-brand shop vacs, and says it's even quieter than the Fein.

Review: Festool CT22e Vacuum Review, Phil Bumbalough

11. Taunton's 2005 Tool Guide

Tests here comparing ten shop vacs praise the Festool filter design, not only for its self-cleaning feature but for the way it saves space and maintains good air flow. The Festool shop vac tested here is the largest model, the Festool 33, but the Festool CT 22 HEPA is similar.

Review: Shop Vacuums, Roland Johnson and the editors at Taunton Press, Jan. 2005