Wanna know what REALLY *****!!

[Hottrod]

Hi all, am looking for input regarding a garage vacuum.

I'm deep into a new build (see here) and would appreciate the collective wisdom on what the best vacuum to buy for detailing and general purpose use in the garage.

I'd ideally like something that is very powerful and that is easy to clean, does not require disposable bags, and that can also blow CLEAN air. The capability to do wet work would be nice too.

I'm leaning towards a wall-mount as opposed to a wheeled Shop-vac, but would consider both - the units I'm looking at right now are the Hoover GUV, the Metro HRS83 (aka, the Black Baron) or the Bissell Garage Pro.

Would welcome any input, thx much.

 

[Fastback]

I have the bissell and while it would work fine in a normal garage for cleaning out cars or in a wood shop, it did not do a great job for me last winter while I was car building. It had trouble picking up small metal bits from the hole punch and the filter bag gets overloaded easily with dust.

I almost went with the GUV since it is more metal, but If I was doing it again I would try an industrial central vac.

 

[wssix99]

Try Grainger. I think they sell heavy duty shop vacs that give you the option of using a bag, or not.

If you have an air compressor, that should give you cleaner air.

 

[Hottrod]

I have the bissell and while it would work fine in a normal garage for cleaning out cars or in a wood shop, it did not do a great job for me last winter while I was car building. It had trouble picking up small metal bits from the hole punch and the filter bag gets overloaded easily with dust.

I almost went with the GUV since it is more metal, but If I was doing it again I would try an industrial central vac.

This is exactly the kind of input I'm looking for, many thx!

 

[graffix000]

I have the GUV for the past few years and am happy with it for general garage work. Still have a heavy duty shop vac for bigger projects. The GUV comes with a 30ft hose that makes it nice to reach just about anywhere. Will pick up metal and other heavy things pretty easily. I am happy with the purchase and like that it is up on a wall and out of the way of everything else. I bought it through Amazon as it was considerably cheaper then other places I had seen it.

PM me if you have any specific questions on it.

 

[Mmfh]

I have a few but my go to unit for a few years now has been my big Ridgid unit.
Now don't take that the wrong way.

Its the orange one, 4 1/2 hp, on wheels, blows and *****. Man its hard to describe vacuums without mind wandering a bit.

This thing is so versatile I've really come to use it for everything. I hook it up to the table saw and router table, works great.

Vacuum out the cars, works great, sump pump quit and needed to get gravel out of sump and the water as well. Worked great!

Need to get the pine tree needles out of the gutters, worked great!
Wanted to blow the leaves off the sidewalk before company came over, worked great. Clean junk out of the bottom of my surface grinder and mill, worked great.

If you want something that will pretty much work for everything and not complain at all, I'd recommend the Ridgid. Bigger the better!

I actually used to use a "Shop Vac brand and also a Hoover brand shop vac in the wood shop for the saws and routers, they both burned up fairly quick. Everyday basic stuff they were fine but running non stop for 15 minutes and sucking up saw dust was more than they could take.

Bigger the Better!

Mm

 

[nmanitou]

I bought the Bissell GP, but looked hard at the GUV. I love, love, love the wall mount style. For car clean up, blowing out the floor, and 93.7% of all the jobs I need it for it can't be beat. I haven't had any issues with plugging the filter.

Either one will likely meet your needs. Like others have said, for the real dirty/heavy objects I still keep my big *** craftsman shop vac on hand, but the wall mount is WAY more convenient.

 

[J Persons]

I have a large ShopVac brand vacuum, it has a 2" dia hose with several attachments and will pick up just about anything, including bits of steel and even ball bearings. I use it for everything, from cleaning out the fireplace to general cleaning around the garage and the car. It has replaceable bags, but if you want it to pickup water, just remove the bag and sweep up the water.
I got it at Home Depot about 9 years ago, and it's still going strong.

 

[Hottrod]

Thx all for the input, most appreciated indeed! I think I may go with the wall-mount unit for day-to-day stuff, (probably the GUV) and the Ridgid shop-vac for the heavier stuff.

Nothing beats a advice based on little first-hand experience, thanks again!

 

[MoonRise]

Don't know about current units, but my C-Man 16 gallon wet-n-dry blow-n-**** vac (must be at least 10 years old by now) with the detachable blower is still going strong and *****-n-blows about as well as the best of them. Noisy beast though, hearing protectors really needed with it.

Of the actual Shop-Vac brand I've ever tried (a few, but certainly not every model), they stunk because they didn't really **** (well).

Best purchase EVER to go along with that was a Gore CleanStream filter. Works wet or dry, when dirty just hose it off (literally) and shake or blow off the water and back to work. Best ~$30 (??) spent with that vac.

Still going strong, vac AND filter (knock on wood).

For real 'blow jobs' though , the backpack blower gets the nod. That thing can blow leaves around at idle (short range) and the next step up in blowing power wouild have to be the landscaper 30inch-6HP roll-around blowers.

 

[shanty shaker]

bucketvac works great powerfull www.speedclean.com