Shop Vac

[jimed43]

I have a 10 year old Craftsman, 16 gallon, with a 6 hp motor. It seems cheaper to replace with a Home Depot, then to goto Sears for filters. 3 Filters is about the same as a new one. Any thoughts? Is there any advantage to buying newer machine? Other than the fact, I can get filters 5 minutes from the house.

Thanks

 

[mcgyverit]

well if you arent in any hurry, usually around black friday HD has a sale on Ridgid vacs for around $25 or less. those are usually good deals to get you in the store.

 

[Thomas^2]

Sorry, I may be stating the obvious, but you can reuse the filters by just washing them out. I just have 2 and switch them out.

 

[HandyManny]

Sorry, I may be stating the obvious, but you can reuse the filters by just washing them out. I just have 2 and switch them out.

Yup that's good advise. I do the exact same thing. Simply tap out the filter on the sides of a plastic garbage can (outside of course) then attach the hose on the blower side of the vac and blow off the filter. I only replace the filters when the get a hole in them or are noticeably weakening or getting fatigued. Mine is a Craftsman as well.

 

[Major Ramifications]

THe CleanStream filters by W.L. Gore are made to be washed and re-used. I've been using mine for years.

 

[HandyManny]

What do those go for in price?

 

[Stephenw]

I like the Shop-Vac brand because you are not tied to one retailer for replacement filters. I'm also using the GORE-TEX filters. They work great and are washable.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I just did a quick check, and Amazon has the CleanStreams starting at $14.30

Check 'em out at http://www.cleanstream.com/products...TC|17888|clean stream filters||S|b|4616383452

 

[strnjss]

I'm not one for Sears stuff, but I have to say the Shop-Vac brand are incredibly durable. We've had one for over 20 years, and it still is great.

It has run for hours at a time "pumping" out a flooded basement and everything without much of a break, besides emptying it out every once in a while, and putting it right back into duty.

The filters are cleanable, but I can never get mine very clean. It's a hepa filter, and dust all sticks to it like crazy. Even hosing it off made a huge sticky dusty mess. But like you, I'm like a half hour away from a Sears, so I'm forced to clean it more often than replacing it.

 

[DougB442]

Sears shop vacs were/are made by Emerson Electric.....AKA Rigid...the filters are probably the same....

 

[Major Ramifications]

I'm not one for Sears stuff, but I have to say the Shop-Vac brand are incredibly durable. We've had one for over 20 years, and it still is great.

It has run for hours at a time "pumping" out a flooded basement and everything without much of a break, besides emptying it out every once in a while, and putting it right back into duty.

The filters are cleanable, but I can never get mine very clean. It's a hepa filter, and dust all sticks to it like crazy. Even hosing it off made a huge sticky dusty mess. But like you, I'm like a half hour away from a Sears, so I'm forced to clean it more often than replacing it.

I'm confused. Do you have a Craftsman or a Shop Vac brand?

 

[jimed43]

I have a Craftsman Model 113.877770. Cleanstream does not make filters for it. If the Rigid filters fit, it would be great, as home depot is less than 2 miles away.

 

[mhulbrock]

I just purchased a new Shop-Vac brand vac less than a year ago. The vac istelf is great, however the wheels are HORRIBLE. They always fall out of the plastic mounts, and are now ruined. The older style shop-vac was much better.

 

[strnjss]

I'm confused. Do you have a Craftsman or a Shop Vac brand?

Shop Vac from Sears. It's the only retailer that I have ever seen that carry Shop Vac brand.

 

[Garage_Mahal]

Lowes carries Shop-Vac brand. I just picked up one for sawdust collections that clips to the top of a 5 gallon bucket. $20.

 

[Vinko]

I have a Craftsman Model 113.877770. Cleanstream does not make filters for it. If the Rigid filters fit, it would be great, as home depot is less than 2 miles away.

113 is an Emerson code. I don't know if Ridgid are still made by Emerson or not. I know they're made in Mexico now. Did Emerson go off shore?

 

[Rockaholic555]

Wal-mart carries the Shop-vac brand now. I recently got a Ridgid at HD and they have 3 different filters that fit them I think. Got a good price for it and it seems to take a beating well, time will tell.

 

[DougB442]

Originally Posted by jimed43
I have a Craftsman Model 113.877770. Cleanstream does not make filters for it. If the Rigid filters fit, it would be great, as home depot is less than 2 miles away.


113 is an Emerson code. I don't know if Ridgid are still made by Emerson or not. I know they're made in Mexico now. Did Emerson go off shore?

Sears shop vacs were/are still made by Emerson Electric.....AKA Rigid...the filters are probably the same....

 

[LEVE]

I ended up getting rid of my Craftsman wet/dry Shop Vac, it was huge, the filter cost a fortune and the hose and extensions were a PITA. I found I hardly used it. But that meant I needed a replacement. For my use (infrequent) I found that the "Homer Bucket" and the "Bucket Head" were a perfect combination.

It's small enough to be out of the way and easily moved to vacuum up anything I need to clean out. So far, so good.

 

[KVillers]

Hello,

I have an older shop vac (around 2002-3). It's about 8 gallons. Anyone know where to find dry filter bags for it? Thanks.