"bucket head" shop vac any good?

[stage20]

i have a big 16 gallon ridgid. its in the way. i only use it a couple times a week. im pretty sure i can fit a bucket head in my truck tool box and free up some much needed bed space. i carry too many tools already.
while i understand its probably not the best for trying to vacuum all the sand out of carpet in a car, im not using it for that.

i need it to vacuum up small amounts of tile and thinset for fixing cracked and broken tiles, and also sucking water out of toilets for removal. once in a blue moon i may need to scrap and vacuum under baseboards.

when i have large jobs i have my big vac, but im just tired of moving it from the truck to the trailer and not using it.

 

[Ign]

Aren't they like $20? Have you priced smaller shop vacs? I just remember last time I looked I realized the bucket thing was very little savings for a cobbled-together deal.

 

[stage20]

Aren't they like $20? Have you priced smaller shop vacs? I just remember last time I looked I realized the bucket thing was very little savings for a cobbled-together deal.

bucket head is 20 bucks. sears actually has a small nice shop vac on sale for 24.99 with more hp, but i still have to carry all that around.

i lay tile, so ive already got plenty of buckets taking up space.

id still be interested in the bucket head even if it was 50 bucks. i just dont want to buy it and have to take it back. hate returning things.

 

[Ign]

So you're thinking the bucket head is easier to carry than "all that" of a small shop vac? I'm a little confused, can you define "all that?"

Are you into a cordless platform & interested in cordless? I love my Milwaukee on jobsites for quick jobs, and no cord is a huge bonus IMO (esp for "quick" jobs as dragging around and rolling up cords tends to be the antithesis of quick). I think either the M18 or M28 is $99 on Amazon

 

[Zeke]

BH only uses the small hose. I like the big hose sometimes. I'm always plugging the smaller one when I should be using the big one. Also I like to join hoses for a long reach and the big one doesn't lose much suction at like 3X the stock length.

 

[stage20]

So you're thinking the bucket head is easier to carry than "all that" of a small shop vac? I'm a little confused, can you define "all that?"

Are you into a cordless platform & interested in cordless? I love my Milwaukee on jobsites for quick jobs, and no cord is a huge bonus IMO (esp for "quick" jobs as dragging around and rolling up cords tends to be the antithesis of quick). I think either the M18 or M28 is $99 on Amazon

with the ridgid 16 gallon i have, its huge. takes up bed space. if i put it in the trailer, its in the way of everything i need to take out. i take it out and put it up everyday and do not use it on a regular basis.

diamond plate toolbox on my truck bed. i cant put a small shop vac with its own canister in that toolbox. i had a small 2 gallon or whatever it was without wheels and it was too tall. the bucket head will lay in there at an angle and the hose is a non issue. it can snake in there and find a hole. got a stack of 5 gallon buckets in the trailer already.

its a space saver, IF it will pick up some thinset and **** water out of a toilet. thats its min priority. i have a foxtail and a dustpan for big debris, its just nice to have a vac to **** everything out.

i have a cordless dewalt (also 110v) that i use at home. its a 2.5 or 3 gallon. takes up too much space too.

its the bucket head, or ill just keep handling the big ridgid everyday.

 

[doan]

I had a bucket head, it was very handy for small jobs. the bearings failed pretty quick, it did not have many hours on it.

it's a good concept, but falls into the "father's day present" category

 

[LEVE]

I have two of them... and I like them. I keep one in the house for small jobs like cleaning out the pellet stove. The other is kept in the garage and I use it for cleaning cars and other things needing cleaning.

They're inexpensive and I can get filters for them without a problem that don't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[cheechi]

I have the bucket head. Here's some things I have learned by having one for several years.

They both list the same HP and all. That being said the HD one isn't as good as the Lowes (at least as of when I bought mine). Friend of mine has the HD one and yelled at me when he used mine as its much better than his.

The hose has a 90 where it attaches to the unit and that might matter depending on what you're doing. Hasn't affected me for **** or blow.

The filters are not really all that great. Its basically a blue shop rag that you put over the (thin) sponge filter for wet pick up. You want to use it even if you're only doing wet; it prevents any dry stuff (sawdust in my case) in what you've picked up blowing right back out.

I use mine exclusively for wet now. Both of my bigger ones have the front spout on the bucket but I find it quicker if I'm sucking up water to fill up a bucket till the motor starts choking then changing buckets. Less down time and about the same sucking power. For what it is, it's good. I had at one point a Shop Vac brand 2 gal/4hp unit, it was not as powerful as this 6.5A (whatever inflated HP that equates to) that I sold and bought this. This is much better than it, though its taller its the same footprint. If you're keeping it in a work truck it's a great choice I think.

 

[rtole]

I would like to hear how they work from some more people as well, i need a shop vac at work, just for small stuff....air filters, cabin air filters are often filled with leaves. I dont want to spend much.

 

[slyonedoofy]

I would like to hear how they work from some more people as well, i need a shop vac at work, just for small stuff....air filters, cabin air filters are often filled with leaves. I dont want to spend much.

I don't recommend Craftsman vacs often but the 5 HP 3 gallon? works awesome.

It's small yet has huge power. easy to store.

I've had it for about 4 years and no problems.

Runs about 45 bucks on sale.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

I absolutely hate my bucket head it does not have the power ineed for cleaning cars shop messes or even the shop floor the l a ck of wheels makes me knock it over then it makes another mess

 

[PBCampbell]

I had to look up what you guys were talking about and I have to say I'm liking the idea as a "wet" dedicated vac. A regular bucket would be easier to empty than the often convoluted containers on most vacs. Prices aren't bad either.

 

[stage20]

I absolutely hate my bucket head it does not have the power ineed for cleaning cars shop messes or even the shop floor the l a ck of wheels makes me knock it over then it makes another mess

All which I know it won't do. Lack of wheels is fine. I bought the shop vac brand per recommended above. Ill post back and let you know how much I hate it.

 

[Hammer1963]

I use mine for policing my work area while I'm sanding panels or grinding welds for body work. Yes the filter is crappy but easy to brush off into a garbage can and get back to work

 

[xyster101]

I've had mine about three years on a 7 gallon bucket. It is good for what it is. I use it for drywall dust, cars, in the house projects. It's small size is much easier to drag around. The hose is smaller which clogs on big chunks, but it is easy to maneuver inside, unlike the huge stiff hose on large vacs. It ***** decent but the filter is not great and it will blow dust out especially drywall dust. They are top heavy but are great for $20.

 

[kctyphoon]

I don't own one, but wasn't impressed with the one they had hooked up in the store. I choose to get the smallest vac they had instead (2 gallon?) and it does pretty good for the little stuff I use it with. Although I have a bigger vac that I use as the primary one for home. Ever think about going with the dewalt or milwaukee portables?

 

[ChristinaM]

I probably don't fit on this forum. I don't have a garage, but I am a jewelry design artist and I do fused glass and lampwork glass bead making and other glass work. I have an art studio I built out of 2 two 20 ft shipping containers, and love my work space!!!

I have a bucket head I have used for years and it works great. I am getting more safety conscious in as I get older. Shop vac paper filters that slide on with a rubber band fit it. My question is:

Has anyone used a "shop vac tear resistant Hepa filter" in a bucket head? Does it fit?

 

[Air21]

I use mine to clean out the car, vacuum up dog hair, sheetrock dust, bugs, you name it. Anything I can't pick up with the floor vac. I've had it for almost five years, use it at least once a week and it hasn't given me any problems. I picked up some atatchments a while back and it's been good to go

 

[6PTsocket]

I have the bucket head. Here's some things I have learned by having one for several years.

They both list the same HP and all. That being said the HD one isn't as good as the Lowes (at least as of when I bought mine). Friend of mine has the HD one and yelled at me when he used mine as its much better than his.

The hose has a 90 where it attaches to the unit and that might matter depending on what you're doing. Hasn't affected me for **** or blow.

The filters are not really all that great. Its basically a blue shop rag that you put over the (thin) sponge filter for wet pick up. You want to use it even if you're only doing wet; it prevents any dry stuff (sawdust in my case) in what you've picked up blowing right back out.

I use mine exclusively for wet now. Both of my bigger ones have the front spout on the bucket but I find it quicker if I'm sucking up water to fill up a bucket till the motor starts choking then changing buckets. Less down time and about the same sucking power. For what it is, it's good. I had at one point a Shop Vac brand 2 gal/4hp unit, it was not as powerful as this 6.5A (whatever inflated HP that equates to) that I sold and bought this. This is much better than it, though its taller its the same footprint. If you're keeping it in a work truck it's a great choice I think.

I just tried to find a Bucket Head or something similar on Lowes site to see what you bought and came up dry. Either it is no longer available or I used the wrong search terms.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[rk_tek]

I have a HD Bucket Head that I bought about 7 years ago when I was a carpenter. After my SUV blew a transmission I was working out of a Mazda RX-7 hatchback so space was at a premium and we always had 5 gallon buckets on the job site. It worked ok. I kept a brick in the bucket because it would tip over so easily. The hose is pretty short so you usually had to carry the vacuum in one hand and the hose in the other. I recently got a 12 gallon ShopVac at a sale and it is much better at dust collection when hooked to my power tools.

For what it is, it does the job and like me, space seems to be a priority for you.

 

[davewo]

I bought a bucket head when they first came out and still have it tucked away in the shed. I ended up making a circular base with wheels and posts to hold the attachments. This was back when there was no competition in $20 shop vac range.

 

[Tduby]

i Use mine exclusively for sucking up water out of gross places and it works great for that otherwise I think it’s a gimmick for a shop vac that doesn’t have many pluses

 

[Lynden]

If you want a good 5-gallon vacuum, wait for this Ridgid to go on sale.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CN3ojdnX5N0CFU6PYgod298Elg

 

[dnschmidt]

Know nothing about a "Bucket Head" vacuum but Bucket Head the guitarist is fantastic.

 

[LB-1911]

I just tried to find a Bucket Head or something similar on Lowes site to see what you bought and came up dry. Either it is no longer available or I used the wrong search terms.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Your 1st thought appears to be correct -

DISCONTINUED: Shop-Vac® Wet Dry Vac Head
Catalog No. - 6004511 Model No. - 600BH150

https://www.shopvac.com/product/shop-vac-wet-dry-vac-head-catnum:6004511

 

[DakotaMan]

I use the bucket head on a 3 gallon bucket and I really like it. I mainly use it to clean up the garage or cars. The hose being longer would be helpful.