Shop Vac Recommendations

[Schwartzint1]

I purchased my first house last winter and have slowly been building my tool collection. One thing I always seem to be borrowing is a shop vac. I think its time I get my own. The one I have borrowed is a 6.5hp large rigid. I hear great things about the rigid vac and think they are priced well. I would like something smaller as it is just for clean up of small projects around the house and garage. I am looking at the 9gal 4.25hp wet/dry model. Is the difference in hp the great? I know bigger is better, but I really prefer something easier to store. The cost is also a good amount less on the 9gall model. Is this one of those don't waste your money on the medium range product or no? Thanks for any response.

 

[SMKS]

Check out these two threads:

Here's a shootout of some vacs.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=226762

Here's some info on Shop-Vac's new country of origin labeling. They sell some vacs with 80% US content, which is pretty good, if you care about that sort of thing.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=261817

 

[Schwartzint1]

Thank you very much. I did a search for "shop vac" and nothing came up. Fantastic input on both threads. Thank you again for posting.

 

[enrare]

Have you considered a 2 stage vac? I got a small 9 or 10 gallon 2 stage ShopVac brand several years from Overstock.com. It cost more than your standard box store shop vaccum, but the quietness, extra suction power, all metal wand and attachments is worth it to me. Things can get pricey when you start getting into 3 stage vacs, self cleaning filters, etc.

 

[moonley]

I've used the 5 gallon/5.5 HP version like this for about 6 years: http://www.lowes.com/pd_549708-20097-5872511_0__?productId=50159057&Ntt=5.5+shop+vac&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3D5.5%2Bshop%2Bvac&facetInfo=

Its about the same size as a household canister-style vacuum, I keep it on a shelf in my garage. It works great for everything I've thrown at it. The only thing I think you would want to go bigger for would be dust recovery such as for woodworking or sandblasting.

Edit: I see now that my link isn't working and I can't fix it, but the vacuum is the 5 gallon 5.5 peak HP Shop-Vac, Lowes item # 549708.

 

[route246]

I have been through a lot of shop vacs. I use them for everything, including sucking dirt out of holes I'm digging or for sucking the dirt out when digging out a stump. I also use mine for cleaning up the landscaping as an alternative to a leaf blower which makes a mess in my yard. For this, I need power. The latest one I got was a Ridgid 1452 (no longer available) and is currently sold as a 1450 model (1452 was a Labor Day promo with car detailing kit). 14 gallons, 6 HP, plastic, etc.

I needed a replacement for my Craftsman which is getting tired. The Ridgid is very powerful, relatively quiet as shop vacs go but I love the ergonomics. Full width handle on top which also serves to wind the cord around. The can separates and empties well. The wheels are wide-wheelbase (stick out and some comments complain about this). The hoses and attachments are standard cheap plastic. I have more hoses and attachments left over from old shop vacs than I can count.

I found the detachable blower units as totally lacking in power. Be careful and don't get trapped by this "convenience" because I don't think it is worth it. I have a Shop Vac branded one and it can't even vacuum out my car's nooks and crannies.

 

[exmaxima1]

Have you considered a 2 stage vac? I got a small 9 or 10 gallon 2 stage ShopVac brand several years from Overstock.com. It cost more than your standard box store shop vaccum, but the quietness, extra suction power, all metal wand and attachments is worth it to me.

I've had a ShopVac 2-stage model for over 20 years now and it works great. VERY quiet (less than most home uprights), much better suction, and the filter last nearly forever---it's a felted cloth filter the diameter of the tub, and you can clean it/re-use it. 2-stage models are ideal for long hoses, and picking up bulky debris.

 

[boiler7904]

I've actually got two wet-dry vacs. One is a 14 gallon Ridgid that I use in the garage for general use, cleaning cars, and dust collection through an Oneida Dust Deputy right at wood working tools. It has a reusable CleanStream filter that doesn't have to be removed for wet use. Filter is 6+ years old and still going strong. I also have an iVac switch for tool activation.

This summer I bought a small 3 gallon Ridgid that is easy to carry into the house for small tasks during remodeling projects. It has plenty of power for drywall dust, sawdust, and other misc. dirt that it came across so far. My only complaints are that it has limited accessory availability and CleanStream doesn't make a filter that fits it.

 

[Just F Me]

I'm not sure how much you're looking at spending, but I recently bought a Festool Dust Extractor (what we know as a shop vac). It comes in various sizes, but be prepared to drop some coin. The one I got was $625, which includes the vac, a bag, and the anti-static hose (which is neat as dust doesn't stick to it). It's a true HEPA vac with wet and dry capabilities, uses a bag, the hose and cord store neatly and has adjustable suction. When I use it to clean my car, I just have it on low. I can actually have a conversation with someone while using the vac.

Oh...another blow...at $625, you don't get any accessories. That's another $130 for the set (comes with a bigger hose too), or you can buy random pieces for about $20 bucks. If you're sucking up large large amounts of dirt/dust/****, the hose is a bit small as it's only 1 1/4" in diameter I believe.

This Festool one seems pretty crazy doesn't it?

I also have a Ridgid vac and it works well. I have an old model so it doesn't use bags, which dumping is a pain because it's so...well...dusty. It's also loud as all hell, and you really need to buy the PRO hose as the one that came with mine sucked ****. The pro hose is another $40 bucks. I hate how i don't have a place to really store the hose and the cord wrap is kinda lame.

 

[jacked_72]

I've had three shop vacs since buying a home in '92. Two have been the Shop Vac brand and one was Rigid. Both the Shop Vacs have died due to something going wrong in the electric motor. Both made a screech of death when being turned on and off for a couple of weeks before their demise. I don't think that I got 2-3 years of light use out of either. The Rigid is still going and has long out lasted the Shop Vac brand for me. If I were to buy another, it would be Rigid. Also, the Shop Vacs I had came with smaller diameter hoses and stuff kept getting stuck in them.

 

[Just F Me]

Do the Ridgid vacs come with lifetime warranty like their tools do?

 

[volleyball]

I've got 4 but if I didn't I would get one of those ridgid backpack models. The powerful one. It is not that I seem to need bin space as it usually doesn't have much in it but the filter is an inch thick of debris.

 

[SMKS]

Do the Ridgid vacs come with lifetime warranty like their tools do?

Yes.

The cordless power tools have a "lifetime service agreement," not a lifetime warranty. If that's what you're referring to.

But the vacs claim to have a type of "lifetime warranty."

https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/wet-dry-vac-warranty