Need a new shop vac - recommendations?

[JeeperAz]

Ok, I have a crappy 12gal, 3.5hp Shop-Vac brand shop vacuum. I think I got it at walmart a few years ago. I need something better!!

What I hate about it:
1. Replacing the round, pleated style cartridge filters at $10-$15 a pop. I go through them pretty quick.
2. Cheap plastic hose kinks all the time and is starting to split in places.
3. Lightweight. If I pull on the hose to try to reach something, often the vacuum will tip over because it's so light weight. It also easily hangs up on an extension cord. Would like something that rolls easier and is more stable.
4. A little more suction force wouldnt hurt.


So I would like to hear from anyone who might have a tip about a better shop vac.

Also, is there a better (and cheaper) style filter than the cartridge type?

Any thoughts/ideas?

 

[PurdueSD]

Craftsman 6.5 hp will out perform anything I have ever used. I love mine. We have a bunhc of "shop vac" brands at work. When i first used one i thought....youve got to be kidding me these are joke. Dayton isnt any better.

 

[Moltar]

If you can afford it the Alto Attix vacuums are the best. I've owned the old style WAP series and nothing else even compares. I believe they're made in Germany.
http://www.ultimategarage.com/WAP.html

 

[-lecroix-]

$1295 for a vacuum? You gotta be kiddin' me!

 

[SteveU]

I have a Fein mini turbo which works well, is quiet & has replaceable bags & a 1 micron filter, long hose & plenty of suction. I hook mine up to my belt sander & random orbital sander when doing woodworking gets 95%+ of the dust. There is a turbo 2 & turbo 3 which are larger and have a plug which turns it on when you start up your tool so it doesn't have to run all the time. I have a 25 gal shop vac which is powerful but rattles your brain it is so loud.

 

[Jeeper]

I have a Craftsman 5hp. It's lower profile so it won't tip and it's got good power. I like the power enough that if i bought another, I'd get whatever was the max, which I think is 6.5.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

For the money........ I doubt you could go wrong with a Craftsman. They are noisy, and probably not the best, but they have good suction. Again, I said.... for the money........

I have a 16 gal, don't remember the HP, enough for what I need. I recently got tired of the original stiff black plastic 2" hose and bought one of the grey, super flexable hoses. $40 but worth it if you are really going to use the vac.

Charles

 

[MAD]

There are dust collection bags for shop vacs (and Craftsman) that you use in addition to the filter. If you use the fine dust /drywall bags for dry pickup the filter lasts almost forever.

see link:

http://www.shopvac.com/dept.asp?id=21

 

[OldCarGuy]

I purchased the stainless steel contractor wet/dry series a year ago. Works great and is rather quiet compared to other models of theirs and other brands that I have used. It uses a cartridge filter that is rather cost effective and works rather well. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=195966-20097-9341411&lpage=none

 

[Bill K]

I also recomend the Sears, mine's a older 2.0 six gallon model. It will out do most of the the bigger units. It will **** up golf balls nails and wood scraps. I like the large dia hose, less clogging. Now if you plan on sucking up a lot of water go for a bigger unit. Hard to beat at around 50 bucks
I don't mind the pleated filter. I just beat the **** out of it in the garbage can then blow it off with air, good as new. You can steal some of the wife's old hose to go over the filter that helps in cleaning. I haven't bought a new filter in a couple of years.
Bill

 

[bmwpower]

There are dust collection bags for shop vacs (and Craftsman) that you use in addition to the filter. If you use the fine dust /drywall bags for dry pickup the filter lasts almost forever.

see link:

http://www.shopvac.com/dept.asp?id=21

That's what I normally use. Cleaning the cartiridge filter *****. When you fill a bag, just unhook and throw it away. The bags aren't terribly cheap, but they last a while unless you're picking up really fine dust.

However, I'm on my 3rd Craftsman in 5-6 years. I killed the first 2 during the construction of my house. They didn't fair well to picking up drywall dust all week long. When you hear the dreaded bearing whine when you power it down, time to find your receipt...

 

[boiler7904]

I've got a Ridgid Pro Series WD1450 (14 gal, 5 hp) that I picked up about a year ago. Quiet, plenty of suction, long cord, 7' locking hose (crush proof hose is available), and great lifetime? warranty are all plusses. New filters at about $20 each *****. Want the say mine was about $100 before using gift cards to buy it at Home Depot.

 

[Willy Victor]

I just got a Sears 20gal. 6.5hp. Very quiet. I love it. Bought the pump out accessory, have'nt used it yet.

Willy

 

[Down Under Bloke]

I have one of these very happy with it; except most off my tools are to big to use the inbuilt power outlet that turns the vac on automatically.

http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=220_10030_10070_1872

 

[evintho]

I have a 16 gal, don't remember the HP, enough for what I need. I recently got tired of the original stiff black plastic 2" hose and bought one of the grey, super flexable hoses. $40 but worth it if you are really going to use the vac.

I've got the 16 gallon Craftsman, also. Very loud but great suction! I too am sick of the cheap black plastic hose. Where did you get a grey super flexible hose? $40 is alot for a hose, but I use mine to death!

 

[the intimidator]

I thought on the last shop-vac discussion we decided the ridgid brand from home-depot was the one to buy? It has a lifetime warrenty was quiet and had good suction.

 

[Coach James]

I'm on my second Craftsman. This one's a 9 gallon and it works great. Earlier this year, my wife asked me to rinse out some of our baby son's clothes in the utility sink while she went somewhere. I let the sink overflow badly while I was watching football. That 9 gallon got it all up before my wife came home.

I also hate that black hose. When I use it, I feel like Marlin Perkins fighting a python.

Coach

 

[TonyMazz]

While I know that everyone does not like the shop-vac brand but I have a 5hp 16 gal and I think it 's great. I use the cartridge, sleeve and bag...I change the cartridge about once per quarter or more...and bags of course more frequently. I like the bags as it keeps dust down...
Mostly used for sawdust - woodworking, / car detailing / cob-webs....

After 2 years the motor went south....took it in...warranty repair,new motor and a 50 foot cord...runs great....
I will use it till it dies......

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have a Fein mini turbo which works well, is quiet & has replaceable bags & a 1 micron filter, long hose & plenty of suction. I hook mine up to my belt sander & random orbital sander when doing woodworking gets 95%+ of the dust. There is a turbo 2 & turbo 3 which are larger and have a plug which turns it on when you start up your tool so it doesn't have to run all the time. I have a 25 gal shop vac which is powerful but rattles your brain it is so loud.

The newer Fein Mini turbo also has the power tool switch. I almost bought the old style when they closed them out for $150.
Instead, I recently picked up the Turbo II for $250. I also added a Cleanstream hepa filter from Lowes (Craftsman Red label one, sold there, cheaper then anywhere I found locally $29. Compression fit). I picked up some bags when I bought it, but found out other brands work too (and are cheaper). I have used my regular shop vac hose in it, and wonder about that Mr Vac hose (orange hose, more crushproof).

The newer, larger Ridgid vacs have soundproofing material in them and are a lower pitch. (MUCH improved) I would still use bags and a better filter (Cleanstream is washable, and about 1.5 times the cost of a regular better filter. Gortex material).
A Sears employee on another newsgroup, has and uses a Ridgid vac, in his workplace.

What are you going to use it for? You might take Bill Pentz drawings/plans, for his mini cyclone, and make that (google clearvue and check out the video link through the order page, on the mini cyclone).

 

[strizzy]

Have used two different larger Ridgids at the shop for 6 years running. They have done it all, fiberglass/gelcoat dust, sawdust, wet leaves, ****, and tons of water. The largest has been left out in the rain numerous times (left behind the dumpster to drain and add to the lovely "dumpster juice") and still works like new. No problem with power, I believe the largest is 5 or 6 hp and gets used on a 25+ ft hose.

 

[Gallick]

I have a 6.5 hp Craftsman and home and it works great. We have 4 or 5 at work in different sections of the building (machine shop, metal saw, shipping with saw dust, etc.) that I use frequentl as well and they stand up pretty well to the conditions. I don't think you can go wrong with them. Except they are very loud.