496170 Main Filter Element for CT 26, CT 36 & CT 48

Festool CT26 and CT36 dust extractors use a dust bag and a filter. CT 36 AC can use either a dust bag and a filter, or a pastic liner instead of the dust bag when it is used for drywall dust. Festool dust bag is capable of cleaning the air off particles with sizes over 5 microns. All smaller particles are captured by the primary filter. There is only one filter in the unit. CT26 and CT36 ship from the factory with a HEPA filter (pn 498994, $85 until March 31, 2015, $88 starting from April 1, 2015) which captures 99.99% of particles down to the size of 0.3 microns. The autoclean version of CT36 (which is normally used with the Planex, which is Festool's dry wall sander) comes with a different filter which is better suited for violent shaking during autocleaning process. This is this part. It captures 99.97% of particles down to 1 micron in size, and therefore does not meet the HEPA requirements, i.e., is not suitable for removal lead containing dust. It is exactly the same size as the HEPA version, and dimension-wise is fully interchangeable with the HEPA version (pn 498994). If you need a filter for CT 36 AC, and plan to use it with drywall dust and plastic liner, this is your part. If you need a filter for CT26, or for CT36, or for CT36 AC to use it as a regular dust extractor with a regular bag, this is a non-HEPA, lower cost alternative. It is not HEPA-compliant and is not guaranteed to capture dust in the 0.3 to 1 micron size range, but it is less than half price of the HEPA filter. It will fit into your CT26 or CT36 perfectly, just as the HEPA version. However, as long as you will be using this filter, your dust extractor will not be HEPA-compliant and cannot be used for RRP (lead removal) work until you swap the filter to HEPA rated. The way how I think about it - if you are not working with lead containing dust, i.e., if you use it for regular woodworking, then even Festool tools do not capture all dust. Depending on the tool, 1% to 10% of dust still remains outside of vacuum. It is perfectly feasible that the amount of dust which this basic filter would not capture compared to the HEPA version is much less than the small fraction of dust that is left in the air from regular tool operation. Festool dust extractor with this filter is still better (if not way better) than most regular shop vacuums. I like and prefer the best filter available, i.e., HEPA, but if I had to, I can work on my hobby projects with this filter as well. On the other hand, density of particles increases with decreasing particle sizes logarithmically. The difference between 1 um threshold and 0.1 microns threshold may not sound like much, but it translates into a big difference in density of particles which we cannot see (but sometimes can smell). This is why if you have a HEPA filter at hand, and if you use your dust extractor in a small room (e.g., in a garage) go ahead and use the HEPA version. You lungs will thank you for that.

I replaced the original Main Filter Element with this one. It fit exactly and was very easy to install.

It fit perfectly

It's a filter. Cost more than I'd like to pay.

Great OEM quality

Can't get excited about a HEPA filter, but it came quickly and fits really well. I can get these locally some times, but mostly have to order online.

Original product and seamless transaction.

I don't have anything against this specific filter - however, I fell into a trap and ordered this item by mistake when I needed to replace the original Festool filter that came with CT36. Search for the filter on Festool site comes up with this filter first, but this filter is *not* a HEPA filter. The correct part # for the HEPA filter is 498994.