Best Shop Vac model ever made?

[rdoaner]

I got Shop Vac 500a in the early 90s that has proven to be an absolute workhorse to this day. It got me thinking two things:

1. There's no new shop vacs you can buy today that are worth a **** or that even compare
2. There probably exists even better Shop Vac models from that era or earlier (the older metal ones look indestructible)

What are your thoughts? What is the greatest Shop Vac model ever made? Any that have achieved legendary status in your mind? Let the battle begin!

 

[mepstein]

Maybe not the best but I love my Milwaukee twin battery vac. Great for the same reason cordless tools are more convenient than corded. Just flip a switch. No cords to unwind, plug in, then wrap back up.

 

[Kuma601]

I have a stainless QSP from the late 90's that is going for me. This got a new motor last year when the old one died, the new motor was ~$55 from Shop Vac.. Watched Project Farm's reviews and didn't see any I was willing to pay for.

 

[RTM]

My dad had a 70s era metal Shop Vac, horrid little thing, top heavy, noisy, tiny hose.

My current user is a Craftsman from about 1992 or so, 113.177490 16 gal. I’ve emptiedJacuzzis, sucked up ceramic tile chunks, leaves, rocks, rainwater, sawdust, Christmas tree needles. Blow leaves, sawdust, etc. Only weakness is the attachment for hard floors, the ears wear out too quick on concrete, causing it to stick. All plastic bits, body etc.

 

[ronkz650]

I've had 5 or 6 dating back to 1993 or thereabouts. I don't remember any model numbers, but they all suffer the same fate, the brushes wear out. I liked my oldest one the best. I'm surprised someone bought a motor from shop vac, as for all intents and purposes they sell zero parts. Try to buy brushes, AC cord, on/off switch, ect. Any part even on a brand new vacuum they still sell, all parts are "obsolete" "no longer available". Bull sheet, the parts are still used building new vacuums. When the "motor" goes bad, it's the brushes. You can buy aftermarket brushes, but life is a matter of months, vs years from the factory brushes. Too bad factory brushes are "obsolete".

 

[WildBill]

I have a Hilti with auto cleaning hepa filters, it's far better than anything else I've ever used. I got it second hand for super cheap. And it always scares people when it starts violently cleaning the filters, sounds like somebody stuck inside it with a 10 pound sledge hammer. So that makes it even better.

Next is an ancient sears model with a monster but super smooth and quiet motor, think it's 8hp. Had to change brushes on it after pulling it out of a garbage pile, works awesome now. Sounds kinda like a jet spooling up, but in a good way.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have three Shop Vac. Only the largest yellow model came from a store. The other two were garage sale finds. My stainless SV was very heavy hen I bought it. It was full of ice and bottles of Canadian beer. I am thinking this may the reason why the seller's husband was chasing me as I sped away from the garage sale.
Do you know that a vacuum does not ****? The vacuum pump reduces the pressure in the tank by pumping air out and the now higher pressure outside of the Vac blows air up the hose at an increased velocity.

 

[Madjik Man]

Bought a Rigid in 2002. Have abused this thing endlessly. Been through two full house remodels. Many ugly clean ups. Even used it for 8 hours straight, non stop, sucking out mucky water when my crawlspace was flooding in 2013.

Hasn't lost a single beat.

 

[Earp69]

Idk if there is a best, just matters what you're doing. I've got a nice stainless shop vac brand I've had for years now, works great for the big jobs and house demo etc. But last week I got the m18 Milwaukee vac as I wanted something handy I could leave by the drill press and lathe to vac them off quick. I tell you what, I've used that sucker more the past week than I'd ever imagined for all kinds of stuff,almost wishing I'd of spent the extra 75 bucks and got the fuel version now.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Still have a couple small craftsman 3.5hp 5 gal that use 2 1/2" hose. To me anything less than 2 1/2" hose is useless, they just seem to clog easy. Can't find a small powerful 2 1/2" vac anymore. The two I have left are probably early 90s and still going strong.

 

[Davefr]

I have most of the large older Shop Vacs. (CM, Shop Vac, Kobalt, etc). IMHO they're all about the same if properly maintained and I've never had one fail. They are all around 16 gallon/2.5" hose. I think my favorite is the Shop Vac QSP.

If money were no object I'd look at Festool but I don't care if I miss sucking up the last little sub micron dust particle.

 

[TriumphFan]

I'd just like one that can roll over its own cord without tipping over

 

[four.cycle]

I feel vindicated knowing that I am not the only one who has unapologetically abused the hell out of many, many, shop vacs.

When the crew had to come in here in 2014 and rip my entire house apart after a roof leak, they brought this puny little "mini" shop vac in to clean up the mess.
I say "Boys, you want a real vacuum cleaner so you can get this job done?" and pulled my (last) Craftsman 16-gallon beast out of the garage and rolled it into the living room and said "Go for it."
Most people would call that "commercial use". They ran it for two weeks, picking up big chunks of plasterboard, old carpeting, dirt, rocks, nails, or anything else that hit the floor.
I've used them to vacuum up the pea gravel that migrates from my neighbor's yard into mine under the fence. Vacuumed a good portion of the back yard one day trying to retrieve a bushing from a Toro lawnmower (never did find the damn thing.)
Most of the failures on the first four Craftsmans were the bearings in the drive ends of the motors - when you use them as a blower and are shaking them back and forth and dropping them repeatedly the bearings and aluminum impellers tend to fail prematurely.
Replace three impellers on one unit. Kept a spare in the garage for quick repairs.
Craftsman changed the design and did away with the "convertible" option (where the motor could be used for a blower) so the last one I bought was a Ridgid ($150 out the door at HD) and I've been abusing it in the worst ways imaginable for about 6 years now.

It's a tool. Like all tools: you use them until they're hopelessly worn out, and buy new ones.

YMMV

 

[mike93lx]

I have a stainless QSP from the late 90's that is going for me. This got a new motor last year when the old one died, the new motor was ~$55 from Shop Vac.. Watched Project Farm's reviews and didn't see any I was willing to pay for.

I love my stainless QSP and will be pissed when it dies.

I had to replace the switch a few years back, but great otherwise

 

[mike93lx]

I have most of the large older Shop Vacs. (CM, Shop Vac, Kobalt, etc). IMHO they're all about the same if properly maintained and I've never had one fail. They are all around 16 gallon/2.5" hose. I think my favorite is the Shop Vac QSP.

If money were no object I'd look at Festool but I don't care if I miss sucking up the last little sub micron dust particle.

What is proper maintenance for a shop vac?

 

[Davefr]

What is proper maintenance for a shop vac?

#1. Keeping the filter clean and using a secondary filter for the really fine stuff. I like to rotate between filters and always have a clean one on hand to swap over.
#2 Empty out the drum frequently especially when you **** fine dust (sheetrock dust) and/or liquids.
#3 Don't keep running it if the hose gets clogged.

 

[mike93lx]

#1. Keeping the filter clean and using a secondary filter for the really fine stuff. I like to rotate between filters and always have a clean one on hand to swap over.
#2 Empty out the drum frequently especially when you **** fine dust (sheetrock dust) and/or liquids.
#3 Don't keep running it if the hose gets clogged.

Ok wasn't sure if I was missing something.

I always run a filter and a bag together, unless I am sucking up liquids, then it's a mesh sock.

The filter says pretty clean and gives a little protection if a bag rips or comes off.

 

[four.cycle]

When they transferred me from Yelm to the 38th Street store, I told them there were two conditions: (1) We had to have hot water in the building so I could get it cleaned up. (Cost us damn near $5K after the entire main box had to be replaced.) and (2) we had to have a decent vacuum cleaner. (This was an old wood-framed structure that had been added onto a dozen times over its 80+ year lifespan.)
This was about... 1982... I went down to "Big Vac" and told the salesman I wanted a vacuum cleaner that would pick up a 3/8" x 6-inch bolt and could be rolled down two flights of stairs and still work. He sold me $442.00 worth of a "commercial" all-steel vacuum cleaner that performed exactly as I expected and wanted.
Sent a new hire upstairs with it and he spent two weeks up there vacuuming up 40-year-old dust bunnies. We ran the hell out of that thing.

Other than having been made of metal, and doubtless being constructed much sturdier than these plastic units we're buying at the big box stores, my "Ridgid" does pretty much everything that high-priced model did, and I can vacuum WET with it. (The commercial one wasn't suitable for "wet".)

Just my two cents.

 

[rdoaner]

When they transferred me from Yelm to the 38th Street store, I told them there were two conditions: (1) We had to have hot water in the building so I could get it cleaned up. (Cost us damn near $5K after the entire main box had to be replaced.) and (2) we had to have a decent vacuum cleaner. (This was an old wood-framed structure that had been added onto a dozen times over its 80+ year lifespan.)
This was about... 1982... I went down to "Big Vac" and told the salesman I wanted a vacuum cleaner that would pick up a 3/8" x 6-inch bolt and could be rolled down two flights of stairs and still work. He sold me $442.00 worth of a "commercial" all-steel vacuum cleaner that performed exactly as I expected and wanted.
Sent a new hire upstairs with it and he spent two weeks up there vacuuming up 40-year-old dust bunnies. We ran the hell out of that thing.

Other than having been made of metal, and doubtless being constructed much sturdier than these plastic units we're buying at the big box stores, my "Ridgid" does pretty much everything that high-priced model did, and I can vacuum WET with it. (The commercial one wasn't suitable for "wet".)

Just my two cents.

Do you remember which model the steel vacuum was?

 

[four.cycle]

I can call them in a couple hours and ask. it was yellow and had a brushed steel top.
The REASON I wanted a vacuum that could be rolled down two flights of stairs was because the crew at that store had repeatedly destroyed several vacuum cleaners by doing exactly that - rolling them down the stairs. (The building was a pig pen.)

 

[rdoaner]

I can call them in a couple hours and ask. it was yellow and had a brushed steel top.
The REASON I wanted a vacuum that could be rolled down two flights of stairs was because the crew at that store had repeatedly destroyed several vacuum cleaners by doing exactly that - rolling them down the stairs. (The building was a pig pen.)

Please do, be interesting to hear!

 

[Kuma601]

I love my stainless QSP and will be pissed when it dies.

I had to replace the switch a few years back, but great otherwise

The switch on mine is due to be replaced as well. It has a dead spot that doesn't allow it to easily go on-off.

As above, keeping a clean flowing filter will keep these happy. I run the HEPA types.

 

[bassJAM]

I've only owned a few, a 15 gal Kobalt I bought around 2008 which I gave to my roommate when I moved out a few yearl later because it was so bad, and I have a small 2.5 gal Armor All I've had for 10 years which isn't terrible for small jobs.

But about 4 years ago my FIL gave me a metal Shop Vac 600c and it has incredible suction. I wish it was more stable, the wheeled base it came with cracked (it was probably 30 years old at that point) and it's ear-piercingly loud so I don't run it for any amount of time without ear-pro, but I really like that shop vac. Looks just like this one selling on ebay right now for $100.

 

[mepstein]

I'd just like one that can roll over its own cord without tipping over

That’s the beauty of the M18. You can just keep walking around and it follows you like a pet. No cord to think about.

 

[zendriver]

I have a 5hp 12 plastic unit that I got for $27, at a black Friday at Menards, probably 13 year ago.

It's probably sucked up 1000 gallon of basement seepage water and ran for several hours straight, sucking in mini yellow jackets, from a nest in the basement.

Wife said I should have recorded it for an ASMR, since it look so relaxing to watch. nozzle was fixed near the nest opening. every minute or so a new scout would leave the nest opening, hanging on for dear life for a second, then floop in it goes.

Regular price on the unit was $49

 

[four.cycle]

@rdoner -

the brand I bought for the store was a Mastercraft.

the other BRANDS he recommended for a US made heavy-duty shop-vac were:

euroclean (might be EuroKLEEN) (made in US?)

KENT

and RIDGID (go figure, huh?)

 

[LopezBart]

I had the big Craftsman one for many years; it finally died after about 30 years of use. I now have a stainless Ridgid 16 gallon vac which has worked very well, and is more powerful. It's cleaned up a lot of playa dust from Burning Man w/o missing a beat, and eats chips out of the lathe pan w/o complaint. And it's less noisy than the old one...

 

[rdoaner]

@rdoner -

the brand I bought for the store was a Mastercraft.

the other BRANDS he recommended for a US made heavy-duty shop-vac were:

euroclean (might be EuroKLEEN) (made in US?)

KENT

and RIDGID (go figure, huh?)

I'll be darned, Mastercraft still exists, and makes the stoutest looking vacuums I've ever seen! I know Euroclean makes a great vacuum (the GD930), but it's not a wet/dry vac. But damn that Mastercraft, there are still good shop vacs being produced!

Sidenote I've heard that old 600C is a fantastic vacuum, bassJAM you're lucky!

 

[jhendric]

I have a craftsman circa 1999, it's old enough to still have a shiny metal on/off switch. IT's been abused as badly as any tool I've ever owned...still runs strong and I can still get filters for it. I had a second home for a bit and bought a second Craftsman circa 2008. That one lived and died within the original vacuum's life. If my craftsman dies I'll probably get a Ridgid. ....they don't make em like .....

 

[four.cycle]

^ Nice thing about the Ridgid I have is almost ALL of the accessories for those old Craftsman will hook up to it - I have 36 feet of hose.
Much easier to clean rain gutters when you don't have to climb up and down the ladder to move the shop-vac.

 

[imagineer]

Funny this topic came up.

Being gift giving season, Mrs. Imagineer asked if I needed anything for the workshop, like a new shop-vac. She's witnessed me ranting over, or kicking around my circa 1995 Craftsman unit. Mine looks like this model...

It's small, loud, top heavy and the wheels can't roll over even the tiniest item. I'm on the 3rd or 4th power cord and have replaced all the hose accessories . . . but the darn thing still works fine.

 

[rmack898]

#3 Don't keep running it if the hose gets clogged.

When the hose gets clogged the RPMs of the motor increases because the clog has cut off the are flow and reduced the load on the motor. If you put an amp meter on the vacuum and plug the hose you can see the amps drop significantly.

I've got a plastic Rigid vac that's at least 30 years old and still going. I beat the **** out of that thing and it keeps coming back for more.

 

[Davefr]

It's small, loud, top heavy and the wheels can't roll over even the tiniest item. I'm on the 3rd or 4th power cord and have replaced all the hose accessories . . . but the darn thing still works fine.

The caster wheel axles tend to get clogged up with dog hair and other ****. Once you pluck all that **** out of the casters and give the axle a shot of silicone spray it should roll effortlessly from one end of the shop to the other.

 

[mike93lx]

The caster wheel axles tend to get clogged up with dog hair and other ****. Once you pluck all that **** out of the casters and give the axle a shot of silicone spray it should roll effortlessly from one end of the shop to the other.

Is that similar to removing hair from shopping cart wheels?

 

[four.cycle]

^ every vacuum cleaner I've ever operated had undersized wheels/casters. don't ask me why. my Hoover "Celebrity" has casters that are about 3/4" in diameter - it won't roll over its own cord.

 

[Bubba Fett]

"Shopvac" branded wet/dry vacuums are not what they used to be. Ridgid has good ones.

For dry-only stuff, I like Metrovac vacuums and blowers.

 

[Davefr]

Is that similar to removing hair from shopping cart wheels?

Probably but I'll leave that task up to the supermarkets.

At least Shop Vac provided easy to remove axles so we could quickly clean out this ****.

 

[rdoaner]

Probably but I'll leave that task up to the supermarkets.

At least Shop Vac provided easy to remove axles so we could quickly clean out this ****.

Yeah, that is a plus to my Shop Vac 500a!

Seems like there is also a lot of fondness for the old Craftsmans. Back in the day, were they considered as good or better quality than the old Shop Vacs?

 

[seber]

I've had 5 or 6 dating back to 1993 or thereabouts. I don't remember any model numbers, but they all suffer the same fate, the brushes wear out. I liked my oldest one the best. I'm surprised someone bought a motor from shop vac, as for all intents and purposes they sell zero parts. Try to buy brushes, AC cord, on/off switch, ect. Any part even on a brand new vacuum they still sell, all parts are "obsolete" "no longer available". Bull sheet, the parts are still used building new vacuums. When the "motor" goes bad, it's the brushes. You can buy aftermarket brushes, but life is a matter of months, vs years from the factory brushes. Too bad factory brushes are "obsolete".

Years ago I bought a bag of very large carbon brushes. I file those down to fit whatever motor is in need. It is way faster than trying to order the exact thing for any given motor. I've never had to replace one of my own. I can make them extra long if there is room in the housing. That makes them last far longer.

 

[CGarage]

Best shop vac?

The 1995 Monica Lewins……


My Bosch 1702