Festool CT33 HEPA Review

The Festool CT33 HEPA adds HEPA filtration to its immediate predecessor, the Festool CT33E. This largest Festool Dust Extractor is tested thoroughly in various comparative reviews of shop vacs for woodworkers, including a recent roundup by Taunton Press, the publisher of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding magazines. Fine Woodworking magazine compares the Festool CT33 shop vac with twelve other wet-dry vacuums.

Reviewers say the 8.7-gallon Festool CT33 shop vac is an excellent choice for collecting dust from handheld sanders and other small power tools that draw up to 10 amps. Experts praise the Festool CT33 shop vac’s overall build quality, as well as its quiet performance. The Festool has variable suction, and reviewers say it’s easy to clean. However, the Fein Turbo III (*est. $250) not only costs less, but can also double as an all-purpose shop vac to collect workshop debris.

Festool CT33 HEPA review highlights

What the reviewers like:
Experts consistently praise the sturdy construction and quality of Festool shop vacs. A separate filter door and internal filter-shaker make the Festool CT33 easy to clean, and it comes with a HEPA filter. The top is flat, with a recessed area to hold small tools and parts, and its controls are easy to use. Variable-suction and speed can reduce the sound level from 72 decibels to 58.5, and reviews say Festool shop vacs don't have the annoying high-pitched whine of competing models.

What the reviewers don't like:
The main drawback is that the Festool CT33 is so much more expensive than its competition. Although the Festool CT33 can vacuum liquids, it lacks a drain. Also, its 10-amp limit on power tools plugged into it is much smaller than that for Fein and Bosch shop vacs, which also offer larger capacity for vacuuming larger debris.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

Festool CT33 HEPA Reviews

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Taunton's 2005 Tool Guide
Untitled
Roland Johnson and the editors at Taunton Press (publishers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding)
Jan. 2005

This roundup compares seven pro-level shop vacs with three budget models, and it includes survey results from over 6,000 readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding. The Festool shop vac reviewed here is the earlier Festool CT33E (the newer CT33HEPA shop vac has a HEPA filter). This is the best, most comparative review we found for the Festool CT33E shop vac.

2. Woodworker's Journal
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European Power Tools
Rob Johnstone
Apr. 2007

Johnstone reports on his December 2006 visits to European tool manufacturers, including Festool in Germany. While no specific shop vacuums are tested here, the article gives an excellent sense of the build quality and research behind power tools in the European market.

3. Fine Woodworking
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Shop Vacuums
Roland Johnson
May/June 2003

In this excellent comparative test, Roland Johnson evaluated 13 shop vacs for endurance, adaptability and ergonomics by using them in a variety of workshop situations. The Festool shop vac included here is the CT 33 rather than the CT 33 HEPA, but the conclusions are still applicable.

4. Benchmark
Festool CT22e Vacuum Review
Phil Bumbalough

This well-illustrated review goes into detail about the smaller Festool CT 22, but Phil Bumbalough also discusses the Festool CT33 as an option for workshops needing larger capacity. Woodworker Phil Bumbalough is a true Festool fan, praising these shop vacs’ quiet performance, variable speed, anti-static hoses and compact design.

5. Power Tools for Geeks
Festool Dust Extractor
Brian Marks
Jan. 2006

Brian Marks usually explores tools with technical expertise, but this brief review of the Festool Dust Extractor seems more like an advertising blurb than a genuine review. Marks does note some special features of the Festool, like the antistatic hose and the ease of switching between wet and dry vacuuming.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

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