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Best Wet/Dry Vac?

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works4me

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Aug 11, 2011
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Houston Texas
Sorry if this has been asked a billion times before - I could not find anything doing a simple search.

I'm looking for a *really good* wet/dry vacuum cleaner for my garage/workshop. I'll be picking up wet metal shavings & other machining tailings, so I want something robust that really ***** ;). And I'd prefer something with a long hose that I can leave in one spot most of the time.

Currently I have a Hoover wall-mounted vacuum. It has fairly good suction, decent design, but kind of cheap attachments. Unfortunately it is not a wet vac:

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/garage+utility+vacuum.do

Some of the choices I've been exploring are the Craftsman 20 gallon 6.5hp vac:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-20-gal-wet-dry-vac-6.5-peak/p-00917762000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

I like the remote control and wall-mount design on this 5hp Craftsman:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00916825000P

Or a much more expensive "German Engineered" option is a Fein Turbo:

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/fein+turbo+i+wet-dry+vacuum.do?sortby=ourPicks

But reading some user reviews, I'm not convinced the Fein is that much better than the Craftsman (it may be worse suction, and doesn't have the capacity of the larger Craftsman vac). Overall I'm not really thrilled about anything I've found yet.

Anyone have any suggestions/thoughts/opinions?

Thanks in advance.
 
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TejasBimmer

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off I-35, TEXAS!
I have the Shop-Vac 12 gallon stainless steel drum version.
6.5 Ho peak
Bought from lowes years ago.. About 4yrs
Used it to help a fellow neighbor major water leak in their master bedroom.
Clean up the garbage during wood projects, when we were making a craft room.
It has never failed and works like a dream.

Cost about $100
 
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enginerd364

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Dec 14, 2012
Messages
8
I recently purchased the following, it seems to be the same quality and design as most shop vacuums offered in hardware stores. I recently started remodelling my house and it has kept up with everything I have thrown at it. Additionally, there is one feature I like that the others do not have, and that is a detachable blower. The entire motor assembly detaches from the lid and you can connect the necessary accessories to turn it into a blower. Its not going to be as powerful as a two-cycle unit, but its perfect for getting the dirt and leaves out of the garage.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023EY052/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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jackfork

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Nov 24, 2012
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110
Location
Springfield, MO
I have three wet-dry vacs. I have the metal Shop-Vac from Lowe's mentioned in a earlier post. A 16 gallon(I think) Craftsman that I have had for going on 20 years, and a Fein Turbo 1. The Fein works best when connected to a power tool, far far better than my other two. It's like a night and day difference. However, it doesn't do well as a general shop vac. It's very heavy and because of the handle design uncomfortable to carry. It does have 6 wheels and is easy to roll if you don't need to carry it. It has a long small diameter hose that because of the strong motor will **** something to big that gets stuck about half way. The Shop Vac and Craftsman both work about the same and very well as general shop vacs. I'm not buying new Craftsman tools but wouldn't have a problem buying another vacuum from them. I think that if you do buy the one with the remote only you will want one with wheels sometime in the future. But no one said you only had to have one, and you could buy both Craftsman vacuum's you mentioned and still have money left over vs. the Fein.
 
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Monte

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Dec 23, 2008
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Germany
Bosch 3931B-SPB

bshn3931b-spb.jpg
 
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MattPersman

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Indiana
What makes that Bosch better than ridgid? And is it even available in the USA?

I suggest a ridgid
 
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tncatadjuster

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Memphis, TN
I have three Ridgid wet/vac, and can say all of them are very good compared with the other brands that I have gone through over the years.
Ridgid with dust deputy, gives outstanding performance with dry material, add a bag and you have very good results. The bags won't hold up to the metal chips though.
 
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works4me

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Houston Texas
Wow! Thank you all for the great information! That gives me several great options to explore.

I love this site! :D
 
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IndyGarage

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Indy
I've had a couple of craftsman shop vacs over the years, which worked OK but were insanely loud.

A couple years ago I bought the Shop Vac quiet vac with the stainless drum and it's much quieter than the sears and overall better.

My biggest problem is keeping the filters from getting clogged. I'm always picking up sanding grit and stuff and it cakes on the filter and that stops the vac.

I've been meaning to make a cyclone collector for mine in order to lessen the problem.
 
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Davefr

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OR
works4me said:
But reading some user reviews, I'm not convinced the Fein is that much better than the Craftsman (it may be worse suction, and doesn't have the capacity of the larger Craftsman vac). Overall I'm not really thrilled about anything I've found yet.

Anyone have any suggestions/thoughts/opinions?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I've always bought the cheap <$100 shop vacs (CM, Rigid, Shop Vac, etc) and never had one go bad or be disappointed. (2-1/2" hose, 12-16 gallon)

There are plenty of tools where buying high end is the best strategy. Shop vacs are not one of them IMHO. Just make sure you get a good cleanable cartridge filter like a Cleanstream.
 
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SMKS

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5,832
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USA, planet Earth
I like the Euro vacs, but they aren't cheap. Two of the cheapest options are Nilfisk-Alto vacs rebranded by Stihl and available at Stihl dealers.

Noise is a big thing for me, and the Euro vacs are often quieter than the US brands. My second choice was one of the Ridgid models with the quiet exhaust system. The Stihls are made in Hungary. The Ridgids and Craftsman are made in Mexico.

I paid $179 for my Stihl SE-61. They also have a larger model for just over $300.

Pics/info in this thread
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=172713


Stihl1.jpg
 
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works4me

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Houston Texas
This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for! I have a lot to more choices to work from now! Thanks!
 
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MattPersman

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The Bosch being $450 is crazy money compared to the 100$ ones being referenced in most of this thread.
 
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enrare

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Oct 17, 2011
Messages
425
Have you considered looking into a 2 or 3 stage vac? More power and quiter than your standard box store offerings. Look at the CFM and sealed pressure inch of water / static water lift specs if powerful suction is important. Several years ago I purchased a 2 stage ShopVac QXL30ATS from OverStock.com on close-out and have been very happy with it over the Craftsman's I had prior. Recently I picked up a Milwaukee 8912 wet/dry vac in very good condition from a construction company going out of business for $80. All it needs is a new hose and the swivel connector to make the hose to vac connection (current set-up is hose duct-taped to vac). I can tell you the 3 stage Milwaukee is a beast compared to a standard shop vac.
 
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Danglerb

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Sep 6, 2007
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SoCal
Craigslist, somebody is always selling a beat old metal can ShopVac for $20 or less. Its on my list of stuff to buy.

I already have a nice Sears brand, forget what plastic tub roll around Shopvac, but I would like a smaller footprint and only the older ones don't have poke out a foot legs.

For the long hose Rocklers and other places sell a car vac attachment for there shopvac with a nice long skinnier hose and car vac type nozzle. Brand is Mr Nozzle and it works great combined with a normal shopvac hose.
 

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Danglerb

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No love for the Snapon vacuums?
 

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SMKS

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mayday0017

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Houston Texas
I have the craftsman 20gal 6.5 peak and LOVE IT, best wet/dry vac I've ever used hands down. I have had 2 different friends that have used it before and both went and bought one just like mine. For the money there isn't anything better in my opinion... They are a little loud, but I'm not using it for 8 hours a day, and I can toss some hearing protection in if I will be using it for very long periods.
 
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