Best Shop Vac?

[DetachedGarage]

Fathers Day was good to me this year and I picked up a new battery powered M18 Milwaukee 2 gallon shop vac. I'm thinking about doing a comparison test between this one and my current Dewalt corded vacuum. What are you guys using for small vacuums in your shops?

 

[Firefighter1406]

I used the small Ridgid corded vac. Have two of them, work awesome. One in my job trailer and one in the garage. I carry the 2 gal Milwaukee in the job trailer also.

It is this Ridgid without the wheels.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...-Filter-Hose-and-Accessories-WD4070/202077241

 

[lugnut71]

i have the 5 gal shop vac one, used to be called the brute, i use it all the time, in fact just bought two more last week for work. Light and strong. I use a bag in mine all the time.

 

[txvwnut]

I've got a 5 gallon Rigid that I bought 10 or more years ago and recently bought an M12 hand vac. The M12 is only good for sucking the charge out of the battery.

 

[Firefighter1406]

I've got a 5 gallon Rigid that I bought 10 or more years ago and recently bought an M12 hand vac. The M12 is only good for sucking the charge out of the battery.

Which Milwaukee one did you buy? Just curious. The 2 gallon one I have I run on a 12ah battery and it isn’t a replacement for a larger one but does awesome for quick cleanups on jobs.

 

[JeepinMike]

Until you said small I have a Festool CT36 that I'll use for most stuff. I have had my eye on the Milwaukee cordless vac, just Javen't gotten a project worth needing it for.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have way too many, not sure how or why I accumulated them. I do have the M18 and it is amazing for what it is. Definitely not a replacement for a corded, but with a 8.0 or 9.0 battery, it does a pretty good job of small cleanups and would only be better with a 12.0, but I don't have any of those. As posted above, the M12 hand held was junk. I had one for about two weeks before I threw it in the dumpster. The old school similar sized dust buster would kick that things ****.

 

[TheLawnRanger]

I have a Stanley I got as as gift a couple of years ago. It does a good job. I do have to use ear protection though.

 

[MAYOR28]

I have a metal version ShopVac that I bought from lowes.

I have no more HATED tool in my shop. It is just junk.

But I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

 

[jrhaas60]

I have a ShopVac that I like and used for years but it’s been in the attic since I shifted to Makita 18V tools and got a hand held vacuum. With just a 3 car garage the floor space trade and convenience of the Makita keep the ShopVac in the attic.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I use a festool midi and ct15 and have zero complaints other than the cost.

 

[IndyGarage]

I have a metal version ShopVac that I bought from lowes.

I have no more HATED tool in my shop. It is just junk.

But I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

I bought one of those on black friday for, I think $40. I used it quite a bit the last two weeks - it's not the worst I've ever used, but not that good. At least it doesn't rival a jet engine in sound like the old craftsman vacs did

It's not the brand that is bad, I've got another stainless shop vac that is pretty good.

The real problem with so many vacs these days is the cheap skinny hose they put on them. It can get clogged up very easily and kinks when you bend it tight. .

 

[jd_1138]

I have the small Craftsman Clean N' Carry 2 gallon portable that I've had for ten years. Thing's a little beast -- cleans the cars well, messes inside the house/shop, anywhere. I also have a large Shop Vac regular one that was only like $5 at a yard sale.

Cordless will be my next purchase, as that will make it even more convenient. No more having to break out the extension cord.

 

[txvwnut]

Which Milwaukee one did you buy? Just curious. The 2 gallon one I have I run on a 12ah battery and it isn’t a replacement for a larger one but does awesome for quick cleanups on jobs.

The POS in the link is the one I bought. I used it once and it seemed to do pretty good. But the more I use it the more I realize its not that great. The debris containment area is not big enough to really hold anything and there is a flap to keep the **** in when not in use that causes clogs when using it. Its really a poor design of what could be a decent idea.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Vacuums-and-Fans/Compact-Vacuums/0850-20

 

[racerboy]

I have a Craftsman 5-gal shop Vic that has to be 20+ years old. I’m notoriously bad at changing the filter, but it’s still going strong!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[davethorik]

The real problem with so many vacs these days is the cheap skinny hose they put on them. It can get clogged up very easily and kinks when you bend it tight. .

I bought the smallest vac Ridgid makes that takes the 2.5" locking hose, specifically because I hate clogged shop vac hoses. It has been awesome.

Not perfect. It is loud and the itty bitty casters will cause the unit to tip if it's empty and you run over anything larger than a grain of sand. I wasn't expecting perfection at the price point.

 

[JBurt]

I've got a 4 gallon 5 peak HP rigid that I really really like.

 

[Retroman]

Went with the Vacumaid garage vac pro 50 wall mount. Added a remote on/off switch to the end of the 50' hose. Went with the yellow as they don't have a green one. Works great!!

https://vacumaid.com/product/garage-vac-pro/

 

[Specracer]

I have 2 Fein vacs. Very happy with them, quite quiet. The 1st one I got over 10 years ago. The second I got within the last 6 months.

 

[rustyjames]

Fein (HEPA) for me too. Expensive but worth the money.

 

[DetachedGarage]

I'm building my test rig to do a side by side with the Milwaukee M18 and the Dewalt corded.

I'm thinking suction only right now. Any specific test you guys would want to see?

 

[Trapps]

I've donated my mediocre performing ShopVac and need a new machine. Can anyone comment on Fein Turbo I vs Festool CT15? The Fein is about $90 cheaper and has a larger container; I am leaning that way. I can see (hands on) the Festool locally, but not the Fein. Use is general shop clean up and connected dust control for certain tools (Bosch sanders & saws so I know I'll need hose adapters regardless of which way I go). There are several reviews of the larger units from Fein, Festool and others, and I am open to looking at other options, but based on performance, noise, price and other online reviews, the Turbo I and CT15 are the short list.

TIA for any insights!

 

[Trapps]

I bought the Fein. It really *****, and I mean that in the best possible way. While not exactly quiet, it makes far less noise than my old Shop Vac. Surprise bonus: The Fein and Bosch connectors share DNA and mate together just like family.



Meaning I can put the Bosch tool connector on the Fein hose. That, combined with the auto on/off, makes the system, easy to use for dust collection.

 

[CGarage]

Bosch and Fein are best.

 

[vavet]

I have a 20-ish gallon Ridgid that I bought 20+ years ago. I hear the motor waver every now and then when it's running and I keep thinking maybe I should start thinking about a replacement, but it keeps going.
I also bought the 18V cordless Ridgid vac about 10 years ago. It's super handy for small clean up jobs, but there is a noticeable difference between the suction of that and the corded unit. It draws down a 1.5ah battery in less than 5 minutes. You really need at least a 4ah battery to get any serious work done with it.
I also have one of the 18V units for work. Ridgid replaced it once under the LSA. The second unit has been great.
I've got a couple other Ridgid corded vacs I've bought for work in the last 5 years. They've all been fantastic.

None of the one I use are quiet.

 

[tig]

What do folks think of using whole-home vacuums in shops? I'm considering buying a used system...

 

[MarcSeattle]

I have a Festool CT 15 for dust collection and small stuff because it's quiet and it has a HEPA filter. It's worth the price tag and it will last. The only negative to the Festool is that it has a smaller diameter hose that optimizes the speed of the air flow and the suction power but it also makes it hard to pick up larger things like leaves that blow into the garage. For those I use my ancient craftsman shop vac with a large hose. It's loud, it's dusty, I hate it, but it works.

 

[Trapps]

Just a follow up. The Fein Turbo I *****!

 

[paulsomlo]

Just a follow up. The Fein Turbo I *****!

Apparently - where is all the dirt? And clutter?

 

[Ing3018]

Just a follow up. The Fein Turbo I *****!

I would agree. I have Fein Mini Turbo vac (NLA) that has been a Rockstar performer for me since the mid-1990's.

 

[Trapps]

Apparently - where is all the dirt? And clutter?

We have a 3 car garage. The 1x side is my shop. There are no pics of the 2x side.

 

[RTM]

What do folks think of using whole-home vacuums in shops? I'm considering buying a used system...

I'm always afraid of small diameter hoses and pipes on anything shop related. 1-1/4" hoses stink for construction clean up, leaves, branches, etc


I just jammed my 2-1/2" hose when a chunk of concrete fell into my path. Sucked it up before I could move away. Fortunately I had the 5' landscape bar handy to push it back out.

 

[tarbellb]

It's simple

Heavy duty nasty clean up- Ridgid

Extractor for everything else

and don't sleep on Nilfisk, they are the OEM for multiple brands

 

[neophyte]

An important note about vacuums are suction for dust collection.
Ultra high suction can be problematic when used on tools like sanders, unless the vacuum has a variable suction dial on the vacuum, or unless you have one of the “suction force regulators”, that allows you to adjust the maximum suction.
I only realized this years ago with my original Fein Turbo II vacuum, when the suction fir was do high the multimaster I was using for sander started melting paint due to the high suction.