Help, I need a new Shop Vac!

1Garageman · Feb 14, 2011

My damn shop vac broke on me yesterday and I need a new one. I wasn't to fond of it anyway because it wouldn't pickup and deposit nails and screws off of the floor anyway.
So please give me some advice and info on shop vacs. I am looking for somewhere around a 12 gallon shop vac.

Thanks!
All and I'd like to keep it under $100, but I'd also like to get one that will last me more than 3 years!.

boiler7904 · Feb 14, 2011

I've had a Ridgid WD1450 14 gallon vac for 4 years. Price was around $100 when I bought it if I remember right. My main uses are for cleaning our vehicles and for dust collection from portable power tools. It has sucked up everything I've thrown at it with no problems - nails and screws included. I've got a Cleanstream filter that seems to perform better than Ridgid's standard paper elements.

Kevro · Feb 14, 2011

Whatever you do, make sure you get one with a 2.5" diameter hose, not the 1.25" one that chokes on anything bigger than a nickel... :rant:

Falcon67 · Feb 14, 2011

Don't remember right off what size my Craftsman is, but it has the big hose and that makes a HUGE difference. I think it's the 12 gallon model. Had it a few years, still working very well. I like the filter system too, much better than the old 9 gallon shop vac.

A1an · Feb 14, 2011

Can't remember what size it is, but I have that Rigid that was on sale for dirt cheap on Black Friday. Great vac for me and I believe it has a lifetime warranty.

mp23 · Feb 14, 2011

the shop vac brand is nice beacuse it has the ability to pump water out through a hose. A very handy feature when you have water issues.

1Garageman · Feb 14, 2011

boiler7904 said:
I've had a Ridgid WD1450 14 gallon vac for 4 years. Price was around $100 when I bought it if I remember right. My main uses are for cleaning our vehicles and for dust collection from portable power tools. It has sucked up everything I've thrown at it with no problems - nails and screws included. I've got a Cleanstream filter that seems to perform better than Ridgid's standard paper elements.

Thanks for the info guys.

I am definitely going to look for a nice one like this that will pick up nails/screws that always pissed me off about my old one. It was 5hp peak and this one that boiler is talking about is a 6. So I will definitely look for a 6hp.

ETravis · Feb 14, 2011

I've had good luck with Ridgid shop vacs. I used a WD1956 at my old company and that thing would **** up anything when it had a clean filter. Its a little more than you're looking to spend but its a damn good vacuum. The stainless looks good too.

jameswood · Feb 14, 2011

Hey, these Rigid are decent all around shop vacs- not the quality of a Fein or Festool, but for the price they can take a lickin. Few years back I was at H depot and saw a closeout on the whole vac for 15.00ea! Needless to say I bought all they had. Think it was 8 qty.The new rigid with removable blower head was just being introduced so they wanted to get rid of the old.

Was kicking myself later for not buying every one in town.

I beat these rigid vacs to death (really) and these things just keep working. Never have replaced a filter only blow them out and keep the filter dry.

BPJOOP93 · Feb 15, 2011

Ridgid, decent, affordable, pretty tough.11-12 years on mine no major problems yet.

brianh · Feb 15, 2011

Another Ridgid recommendation here, great for the price. I also have a Fien it pulls a little more but costs 4 times the Ridgid.

sammm · Feb 15, 2011

+1 for Ridgid. Bought it after my Shop-Vac crapped out on me.

rieferman · Feb 15, 2011

I got one of the shop vac's at Lowes at christmas time, they were on sale for $28... First, I went to depot and tried to get the $29 deal on the Ridgid but they were sold out. This shop vac is such a piece of junk I'm literally going to just put it on the curb with a "free" sign on it. Poor suction, and the switch sticks already after light usage. Every buddy I know that has the Ridgid is happy with it.

NUTTSGT · Feb 15, 2011

Like said above buy the bigger one with the 2 1/2" hose, not a little one. make sure to keep the filter clean, this can make the difference on the life of your shop vac. I've had my Craftsman for about 8 years and it's stil going strong.

FWIW, I'd buy a decent one, not a cheap one or a expensive one. I consider a shop vac (general term, not brand) to an expendable tool. Considering what I use it for, it ***** up anything and everything. It's going to die sooner or later and I'll buy a new one.

SM Racing · Feb 15, 2011

I just bought one of these (955-36-00) at Lowes.:

http://www.shopvac.com/wet-dry-vacs/default.aspx?feature=8&featureName=Stainless+Steel+Tank

Its a nice piece stainless tank, 2.5in hose, nice long cord (18FT), quiet, etc. I am happy with it so far.

slickgt1 · Feb 15, 2011

I personally have a Rigid that has been on every construction site with me. No problems ever. I do like the new Craftsman one because it has built in storage for all the hoses and stuff.

milner351 · Feb 15, 2011

Only complaint I have about the large rigid I have is ITS LOUD. but it sure does work.

I have a "quiet power" shop vac at the house - it's OK but has the smaller diameter hose which I should have known from the begining was a mistake.

oldno3fan · Feb 15, 2011

does rigid make snap ons shop vac look pretty close except name

tdkkart · Feb 15, 2011

Shop vacs are one of the few things that Craftsman actually gets right. I think we've got 3 of them right now, the oldest one is 20+ year old and has had damn near everything imaginable through it.

brownbagg · Feb 15, 2011

I bought a shop vac brand from lowes couple years ago, its the blue and white one. only thing I use it for is to vaccum the car maybe once a month. It is the biggest piece of **** I ever own. not just a lemon but it was **** before it left the store. It has to be china made. its only two year old and worn out. maybe used twenty time. And I like Lowes. It is not worth the money to pay for it, its not worth the gas money to go look at it.

seagravedriver · Feb 15, 2011

I bought a Shop Vac at Home Depot about 8 years ago. 2 or 3 years ago, the switch on the motor stuck. I called them, and since it was a sealed unit, they sent me a new motor at no charge. I also got the "quiet version". That is a feature I really like. Unlike a lot of people here, Shop Vac has worked well for me, and it is one of the most used items I own. I guess even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

1Garageman · Feb 15, 2011

Ok, I think I'll look for a good deal/sale on Ridgid 6hp plus vacums then. I desperately need once for the garage. That is were I do all of my work pretty much; wood working, fixing things, build things, yard stuff, hide from the wife, etc...

I hook it up to my router table I built, clean up saw dust every where and what ever else hits the floor. Hope to find a sale or a good coupon!
Thanks Guys!

Groovy · Feb 15, 2011

My 16 gallon Craftsman is 12 years old works great. I made the rollers for the nozzel I found on this site. A smart dude posted a tip to put small rollers on the wide flat nozzel with about a 1/4 inch gap thats what I did anyway works GREAT. I sprung for a Hepa filter it was spendy but does a great job too. I use it for wood working hooked up to saws, sanders, etc,water removal, on an on, I use it all the time. I have a small one to take up on boats its called a stinger it works great too its small and light my wife grabs it all the time for cleaning stairs, her bimmer etc

toyotadriver · Feb 15, 2011

Recommend the Craftsman. I have the one that you can take the vaccum motor off and turn it into a blower. That blower is REALLY handy when cleaning out the garage.

I'm sure Ridgid is a good one but Craftsman is excellent too. Think I paid about $100 about 3 years ago.

Steevo · Feb 15, 2011

+1 for Rigid shop vacs. I have a 16 gallon 5.5 hp unit that I bought in about 2001 that is still going strong after numerous remodel projects, drywall dust, garage cleanups, leaf duty in rain gutter cleaning, etc. I have replaced the pleated filter twice so far, and cleaned it a hundred times.
This thing is as close to indestructible as it gets.

Steves32 · Feb 15, 2011

I have 2- Rigid 16 gal shop vacs. Work great. I like the locking hose so you can drag it around by the hose & it doesn't pull out. Wife bought one of those Shop Vacs at Lowes when on sale. It lasted 2 weeks. Took it back for a refund.

Kevin54 · Feb 16, 2011

DO NOT buy a ShopVac brand. I bought the largest that Lowes had. 6.5 horse, 20 gallon I believe. The gray and blue plastic on. Not much balls to it at all. My contractor has a Craftsman, same size. I used it one evening cleaning debris off of a plywood floor. The tip I had on let it **** down and I could hardly pull it off. I had to make sure I kept it tipped slightly so I was able to move it along. I kick myself for buying the Lowes ShopVac and wish I had gotten the Sears Craftsman instead. Way more vac for the money.

acamato · Feb 16, 2011

What ever you get , look at getting a Cleanstream filter for it. They are made of GoreTex. To clean it you just pull it out rinse it with water and reinstall it. I have one in my Shop Vac and it is great.

http://www.cleanstream.com/

Even though the filter is easy to clean, I usually use the vac bags in my vac so the filter won't get clogged, especially when sucking up find dust.

RonM3 · Feb 16, 2011

I bought one at Home Depot about 5 Years ago. I don't remember the model # it looks just like a Ridgid model WD1956. I have been very pleased with it. It has picked up everything I have thrown at it. Liquid or Solid. The Blower output has been great for blowing leaves off of my deck. Absolutely no complaints.

1Garageman · Feb 16, 2011

I am so damn glad I put this question up here and you guys are giving me advice! I shop at Lowes all the time, because it is real close to the house, and I am glad you guys gave me the warning!!! :beer:

1Garageman · Feb 16, 2011

I have found this one on Craigs List for $60 OBO.
I am going to see what model it is and make sure it has at least 6hp.
Any body have any input or knowledge of it by the picture?

slickgt1 · Feb 16, 2011

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00917971000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

That right here is a beast. And it keeps all the attachments, cord, the hose on board I believe.

If someone were to buy my Stainless Rigid, which is nice also, I would snap this vac up right away. Just don't feel like taking a loss on the Rigid, so will have to use it till it dies, which might not happen in my lifetime.

chief ben · Feb 16, 2011

Many years ago I had a Girl Friend that could **** a Golf ball through a Garden hose, She Had A Vacuum, :rocker:

IndyGarage · Feb 16, 2011

I recently bought the Shop Vac "heavy duty" 12 gallon with the stainless steel tank and the "super quiet" motor. I think I paid $109 on sale at Menards. I haven't used it a ton, but so far I like it a lot. It has decent suction, it's pretty quiet, and it rolls around nice with it's larger wheels and "hand truck" type handle.

http://www.shopvac.com/wet-dry-vacs/default.aspx?feature=8&featureName=Stainless+Steel+Tank

I've got a couple of older craftsman ones that work OK, but they are as loud as a jet engine and the tiny wheels are always getting hung up on something.

I would agree with the recommendation on clean stream filters - seems like shop vacs are like some other products in that they make an outrageous profit on the filters. The clean stream filters even more than the outrageous price for the standard paper filters, but once I finally sprung for one I've never bought anything else. .

milkovich · Feb 16, 2011

Shopvac really shoots themselves in the foot with the "Lowes" units.

m.james · Feb 16, 2011

Rigid

sellersrodshop · Feb 17, 2011

had a rigid for years & lost it in the fire (it evaporated without a trace) purchased a new rigid last night & the new ones are much quieter than my old one.

yevangelis · Feb 17, 2011

I have a rigid, my older brother has a rigid, we're happy.

younger brother has a ShopVac, we all hate it

i dont know what the deal is with the new blower tops but that one you posted looks like a mighty fine vac

99_xc600 · Feb 17, 2011

I actually have 2.

This thing is great, I use it for the car's and clean to the workbenches in the garage. Has a great reach.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00917925000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

Also have this one for when I need to pull it out of the garage

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00917762000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Tdbo · Feb 17, 2011

Ridgid or Craftsman (whichever you can get cheapest.) Both are made by Emerson Electric. Have a 16 Gal 5.5 horse Craftsman I received as a gift in 1994, and it still runs strong. Have 2 16 gal Ridgids, a 12 gal Ridgid, and a 2 gal Craftsman. Use all regularly and they are great. Only Shop Vac brand that I have ever had that has held up is a 1gal that I use for the cars.

Help, I need a new Shop Vac!

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