Which Ridgid shop vac?
- Thread starter SCWOOD
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Mohawk Dave
Well-known member
From construction I've always bought and used big ones. Then at my buddys house I used a smaller one. SO MUCH EASIER TO LUG AROUND! Since then, I have picked up 3 different smaller size ones.
It depends on what you are using it for. Are you picking up gallons of construction demo=big one.
Just cleaning up shop=smaller one.
Car detail=even smaller.
Bigger is not always better. I only lug out my big ShopVac or C-Man when doing demo. YMMV. Good luck.
EDIT: for the shop, this looks really nice. It can stack on the shelves with the other tool boxes. They are both 5hp peak, with the 16gal being 10 amps and the 4.5gal being 9amps. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...ct-3-_-202017225-_-100638389-_-N#.ULJgmob_Lkc
It depends on what you are using it for. Are you picking up gallons of construction demo=big one.
Just cleaning up shop=smaller one.
Car detail=even smaller.
Bigger is not always better. I only lug out my big ShopVac or C-Man when doing demo. YMMV. Good luck.
EDIT: for the shop, this looks really nice. It can stack on the shelves with the other tool boxes. They are both 5hp peak, with the 16gal being 10 amps and the 4.5gal being 9amps. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...ct-3-_-202017225-_-100638389-_-N#.ULJgmob_Lkc
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Dieselbutterfly
Well-known member
i have the wd16650 16 gal rigid,also the engine turns into a leaf blower.this thing has more sucking power than car wash vacuums it is bad ***.their customer service is good too
from what I have read most everyone said to stay away from shop vac brand.Ridigd was the go to brand for shop vacuums. I had a shop vac brand die on me had not been used much!
2manytoyz
Well-known member
Had a Shop Vac brand at work. Yea, it sucked alright. Absolute junk. Maybe they used to be good. Or maybe we had a crummy model. Either way, it's in a landfill now.
I've got a Ridgid vac in my shop. Works well, and isn't near as loud as a Craftsman vac I had previously.
I've got a Ridgid vac in my shop. Works well, and isn't near as loud as a Craftsman vac I had previously.
metaldad
Well-known member
I bought a Ridgid 8 gal. years ago.
Threw away the 2'' hose, and used a 1 1/4 off another unit I had.
The Ridgid had the air exhaust pointed at the ground, which, when cleaning up saw dust, is kinda counter productive. I blocked those vents, and hole sawed a couple of vents into the handle facing up. Works more better
Threw away the 2'' hose, and used a 1 1/4 off another unit I had.
The Ridgid had the air exhaust pointed at the ground, which, when cleaning up saw dust, is kinda counter productive. I blocked those vents, and hole sawed a couple of vents into the handle facing up. Works more better
neonnblack
Well-known member
I have a 30 ish gallon ridgid, awesome shop vac, i use it all the time. Have had it for at least 3 or so years with no problems.
I have the 12gal with the removable motor for a handheld blower. link A few times a year they put it on sale for $50 or less. Got mine F-day sale a few years ago for $38.
This one doesn't tip over. Maybe it's happened one time to me. If I pull on the hose, it rolls to me. Small ones don't do that, even smaller ones on wheels. This makes it worth the floor space it takes. The removable blower is great for cleanup, I originally thought it was just a gimmick, now I'm so used to it I have thought about buying a replacement for it before it dies and just store it. Another nice thing is this one has the drain plug so no carrying it wet necessary. I try to use it for dry cleanup in the garage than wet stuff. I don't mind it but I try not to have to clean up the 'mud' that you get when you use one vac for both; I don't have water in the garage so it's not easy to do it and I don't want to make the whole garage smell bad when I need to use the vac.
Here's what I have to say about the big vs small suggestions. I had a small 2.5 gal and it was ok to carry a full one dump it, its more awkward than 'too heavy'. If I was working with mixed dry/wet stuff or needed to take it a lot of places, I'd still have one of those. I sold the small one to a friend and got the bucket top style for wet stuff. Easier to carry a bucket handle when its 'full' of water (prob 4 gals) and I have a stack of 5 gal buckets anyway. Also I don't have to remember which filter is in which vac or change it mid-job if something spills, etc.
Based on my experience with Ridgid & Shop-Vac, I would buy a Ridgid every time. The Ridgids are also the same as Cman most of the time so the filters are great items to add to get 'free shipping over $**' or to make sure you get hose/attachments without needing adapters.
This one doesn't tip over. Maybe it's happened one time to me. If I pull on the hose, it rolls to me. Small ones don't do that, even smaller ones on wheels. This makes it worth the floor space it takes. The removable blower is great for cleanup, I originally thought it was just a gimmick, now I'm so used to it I have thought about buying a replacement for it before it dies and just store it. Another nice thing is this one has the drain plug so no carrying it wet necessary. I try to use it for dry cleanup in the garage than wet stuff. I don't mind it but I try not to have to clean up the 'mud' that you get when you use one vac for both; I don't have water in the garage so it's not easy to do it and I don't want to make the whole garage smell bad when I need to use the vac.
Here's what I have to say about the big vs small suggestions. I had a small 2.5 gal and it was ok to carry a full one dump it, its more awkward than 'too heavy'. If I was working with mixed dry/wet stuff or needed to take it a lot of places, I'd still have one of those. I sold the small one to a friend and got the bucket top style for wet stuff. Easier to carry a bucket handle when its 'full' of water (prob 4 gals) and I have a stack of 5 gal buckets anyway. Also I don't have to remember which filter is in which vac or change it mid-job if something spills, etc.
Based on my experience with Ridgid & Shop-Vac, I would buy a Ridgid every time. The Ridgids are also the same as Cman most of the time so the filters are great items to add to get 'free shipping over $**' or to make sure you get hose/attachments without needing adapters.
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Helios
Active member
I've got a WD14500 that has been in use since May. I've been happy with it so far. Blasted thing is quieter than most indoor vacs that I've used in the past (not sure how it compares to current gens).
chris fresh
Well-known member
i'm due for a new one,and it will be a ridgid.i have a shop vac brand now that is complete junk,it's about a year old and i've always maintained the filter.after a year the bearings are sqealing like maria carrie stuck in a bear trap.i've takin it apart twice and the fix lasted for about 6 minutes.
a friend has a ridgid going on 5 years in the construction world with not so bright helpers and still works flawlessly.my money will be going to ridgid within a few weeks.
and then i'm going to make one last attemp to fix the shop vac,and that's just enough to make it sell at the local auction.
a friend has a ridgid going on 5 years in the construction world with not so bright helpers and still works flawlessly.my money will be going to ridgid within a few weeks.
and then i'm going to make one last attemp to fix the shop vac,and that's just enough to make it sell at the local auction.
Got a big Rigid shop vac probably 15 years ago now, for I think $40 at the time. Still works great. Has vacuumed everything from water to drywall dust and chunks to metal chips. I don't have any experience with the newer models but this old one is great.
KPSquared
Well-known member
I have a 12 gallon with the detachable blower. It has been absolutely awesome. Great suction, tough as hell and the blower is awesome for cleaning, moving snow, and pretty much everything else.
Most of the shop-vac branded machines I've used have been terrible if they've been built in the last 15 years. . .
Most of the shop-vac branded machines I've used have been terrible if they've been built in the last 15 years. . .
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I will respectfully disagree with this completely; compared to Ridgid Shop Vac is a toy... (I've had both and destroyed several Shop Vacs, and they didn't have 1/2 the power of the Ridgid)
Eagle Point
Well-known member
I bought the Ridgid #1450 vac and it works great plus the noise level is so much better compared to the other garage vacs out there. 
That may be the case with your vacuums. Which ones do you have? I have these two:
<img src="http://www.shopvac.com/images_products/9662611.jpg"/>
<img src="http://www.emersontoolcompany.com/en-US/Products/Ridgid/PublishingImages/WD1956_beauty_R-Z.jpg"/>
And the only time I ever take the Ridgid out of the cabinet is when my friends (who all have Ridgids) borrow my Shop-Vac because it's the meanest vacuum in the neighborhood by far.
I'm not saying Ridgid is a bad vac. But I also think we call every Recip saw a "sawzall" because Milwaukee did it first and does it best. We call every circular saw a "skilsaw" because Skil did it first and does it best. And we call every wet/dry vacuum a Shop Vac because...well you get it.
Unless we're comparing any of the plastic bodied vacuums from any brand. They're all junk and I don't even know why someone would waste their money. When it comes to the stainless contractor vacs, I have both, and I love the Ridgid brand, but my ShopVac is just a better product in my experience.
Skil definitely doesn't do it best anymore. Milwaukee does it best in the sense they have a 15 amp version which is better than all the lower amp versions and I think nobody else still offers one, unless Makita maybe. We call them by those names more about them being first than best.
Regardless of the body, if you compare equivalent price or performance models, I've seen way more Shop Vac motors burn up than Ridgid ones. I have replaced a Shop Vac due to a cracked (plastic) bucket, and my dad still has a running Douglas (also plastic) from the late 70's that still runs, and has outlived I think 3 Shop Vac brand ones.
Regardless of the body, if you compare equivalent price or performance models, I've seen way more Shop Vac motors burn up than Ridgid ones. I have replaced a Shop Vac due to a cracked (plastic) bucket, and my dad still has a running Douglas (also plastic) from the late 70's that still runs, and has outlived I think 3 Shop Vac brand ones.
JASTECH
Well-known member
I liked the old shop-vacs I've owned years ago, but the newer one is awful, sounds like a jet and they tip over too easy. Last I looked everything is China built or parts.
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I would suggest looking into Festool Cleantex CT26 or smaller if needed. They won't tip over easily, they have Hepa filtration, Oneida Cyclone system built for it. Noise level = 73db, I don't think shop-vac or Ridgid can get close to Festool quality.
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I would suggest looking into Festool Cleantex CT26 or smaller if needed. They won't tip over easily, they have Hepa filtration, Oneida Cyclone system built for it. Noise level = 73db, I don't think shop-vac or Ridgid can get close to Festool quality.
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I respect your point of view on the vacuum thing but I wanted to ask you:
Does someone actually make a better skilsaw than Skil's 15 amp US-made magnesium worm drive?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
No I wasn't confused as to what you meant as "shop Vac"
I have the 12 gallon Ridgid, and the Shop Vacs I had except for the little one gallon are in the land fill. Those were the typical plastic ones commonly sold, and were junk. Both of the ones you showed appear to be pro level vacs? Apple and oranges... if you want to made a sweeping statement like you did you should qualify it, as the crappy red and black ones are probably 98% of their market.
I have the smaller "carry" model Ridgid and it works flawlessly. For what we use it for, we don't need any more power and capacity. I use it mainly around the house and for the cars, and I highly recommend it. With a few attachments it'll do practically whatever you need it to. Parts aren't cheap, but what is these days?
I didn't think you were. You said you have ridgids and all your shopvac brands are in the landfill for being inferior. I was saying I recognize that that may be the case with the shopvac/ridgid models you have, but not with the ones I have.
So if it is apples to oranges and we're talking about the basic plastic models (which OP is, of course), they all ****; it's like saying "this orange turd is only slightly less stinky than that blue turd." They're both turds.
But considering that the ShopVac brand is the one that Lowe's carries, I'm not surprised the consensus seems to be that it's shittier than the HD offering. Man I hate that store.
I'm sure someone would say Festool. I would say Milwaukee & Dewalt are both more stable/sturdy. Skil's circ saws are the same as the Bosch ones, and while they aren't terrible I'd say that's a tool where Bosch lags behind the other two.
Do you mean the worm drive or the traditional circ saw btw? In either case I have used both in Skil but wouldn't buy one again. My dad has my old skil circ saw now.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Your getting responses from different people confused. I said mine DIED and went land fill, someone else said they were landfill due to being inferior. Paraphrasing, I did say that after getting the Ridgid I have now, their was no comparison, and there isn't for the class of Vac being discussed by the OP.
KPSquared
Well-known member
Pretty sure the OP wasn't asking about steel can, contractor grade vacuums. . . Shop-vac may have the edge in that market, I don't know. In the average garage of the average homeowner, Rigid is ahead by a mile for performance and quality.
This is what I wanted to know! Not all of us need or want to spend a fortune on a vacume for our garage!
Andrew LB
Well-known member
I've owned a 12 gallon 5.5hp lowes shop-vac for about 6 years now and it's been fantastic. I use it all the time for cleaning my garage, demo cleanup, drywall, and it's always hooked up to my Bosch ROS20SVK sander for hours at a time while refinishing furnature or sanding smooth joint compound. Never once has it over-heated or shown any sign of throwing in the towel.
I have used Ridgid in the past because friends and my neighbor owns them and I personally don't think anyone claiming a shop-vac is a cheap toy compared to the Ridgid is being honest with people that come here looking to make a solid purchase.
I have used Ridgid in the past because friends and my neighbor owns them and I personally don't think anyone claiming a shop-vac is a cheap toy compared to the Ridgid is being honest with people that come here looking to make a solid purchase.
PowerGenGuy
Well-known member
Get Ridgid! I got one in my wood shop, boy does it ****!
Andrew LB
Well-known member
It seems I spoke too soon. Yesterday while sanding a table top with my shop-vac hooked up to the sander, i smelled something hot and when i turned to look at the shop vac... out of the rear exhaust port came the thickest smoke i've ever seen. By the time I stood up, yanked the power cord, and got to the fire extinguisher which is mounted to the right of the door which goes from my garage to the TV room... i couldn't even see. I hit the ground as fast as i could, and stuffed the extinguisher nozzle into the shop-vac and blasted away.
Long story short... the shop-vac is dead. I'm suffering from a moderate case of smoke inhalation, my garage stinks like a house fire... and i'll be buying a Ridgid WD1451 today for $99. It's a great deal since it comes with the car cleaning kit.
kevin47
Well-known member
WTF...? GO directly to Home Depot and buy the Ridgid 6 hp, 14 Gallon, W/Scroll Noise Reduction Motor...It is the quietest vacuum I have ever owned...I highly recommend it...! You won't be sorry, I swear...Do not buy a "scream'n" Craftsman..!
Andrew LB
Well-known member
Just got home from HD with my brand new Ridgid WD1450 and the Premium Car Cleaning Kit and spent the last hour cleaning up all the fire extinguisher powder coating EVERYTHING and I am VERY VERY pleased with the purchase. First off, this Ridgid WD1450 is easily a good 6 to 9dba quieter than the 5.5hp Shop-Vac 12-gallon that almost killed me. They seem about equal on suction, but probably because I'm using the 3-layer pleated paper filter in the Ridgid and my shop-vac had a much better HEPA filter that was a lot like a K&N filter and had very little restriction for how well it stopped fine particles. Hopefully I can find a similar one for this vacuum.
Construction of the WD1450 is much more solid than the Shop-Vac, and the tool holder was actually designed by someone who actually tested to see if it held the tools. The Ridgid has a much lower center of gravity due to the way the casters are inset , and didn't even come close to tipping over when yanked by the hose.
All in all... I'm quite pleased so far. Now lets hope it will out-live the shop-vac which was around 8 years old.
Construction of the WD1450 is much more solid than the Shop-Vac, and the tool holder was actually designed by someone who actually tested to see if it held the tools. The Ridgid has a much lower center of gravity due to the way the casters are inset , and didn't even come close to tipping over when yanked by the hose.
All in all... I'm quite pleased so far. Now lets hope it will out-live the shop-vac which was around 8 years old.