WTF Shopvac?

[jeffj78]

So what happened to Shopvac? I stopped by my Lowes on the way home to pick up a few things one of which was a new brush nozzle for my older Shopvac. The brushes pulled out of the plastic mount, and I could've crushed the thing in my hand it was molded so thin. Flimsy cheap-**** quality.

I also looked at some other pieces and everything had "Made in China" stamped on it (yes, that explains a lot). The 2.5" hose was really poor and unlike the older one. One of the Lowes guys was walking by and said "sad isn't it?"

Now knowing this, I'm going to pick up an additional Oreck horse hair brush nozzle tomorrow - at least it's sturdy and the bristles stay in the plastic. I have an adapter to fit the smaller diameter.

Anyone else notice this from Shopvac lately?

 

[5-0stank]

I have been wanting a newer shop vacuum, and I just don't know what to get. Everything seems so crappy for the money.

 

[Ritter4.0]

One word describes a lot of things today.

Disposable

 

[Ford12508]

I have a big old metal contractor shop vac. I would love something a little smaller(It is the size of a garbage can practically), but everything now it plastic and flimsy like you said. My boss has a couple of shop vacs I use, and they really are ****. The thing gets 2" of water in it before it stops sucking, and that tiny weight causes the vacuum to bow out when lifting it. It weighs about 15 pounds with the water in it and can hardly hold it.

 

[PSU Engineer]

I also looked at some other pieces and everything had "Made in China" stamped on it (yes, that explains a lot).

So are you saying that the vacuums are made in China now too? I went and looked at my 3 year old one, and nothing on the tools or hose says China on it. I remember opening the box and in the lower corner it had the Made in USA. So I was always under the assumption the vac and tools were made here.

Hell, I have been telling everybody that was looking to buy a new Wet/dry to buy a ShopVac because they were the only American made one.

Tony

 

[jeffj78]

Tony, I didn't check the actual vacuums but judging from the accessories, everything was made in China and really poor quality.

 

[Stuey]

Time to check out Ridgid shop vacs!

Although, I'm sure that ShopVac's higher end or pro models must surely be of better quality. *crosses fingers*

 

[mrb]

i wouldnt blame shop vac as much as lowes, im pretty sure those are lowes exclusives that just happen to say shop vac. look for one somewhere else and compare.

 

[jmh21586]

Ridgids have ShopVac beat hands down in quality.

 

[need more tools]

I also have a ridgid shop vac from the depot and it is great.I use a lowes brand at work and its ***** Glad I bought the ridgid for myself.

 

[chevydriver37]

I have a couple of ridgids. All work great. I picked up that little rectangular shaped one this last spring, and they don't carry it anymore. Almost looks like the Dewalt one. Wonder why they discontinued that vac?

 

[sselander]

last time I looked, Ridgid & Craftsman shop vacs were made by Emerson Electric.

 

[78fj40]

....I use a lowes brand at work and it *****....

Isn't that the idea?

 

[JohnFreeman]

One word describes a lot of things today.

CHINA

 

[briggsguy17]

Problem is that we are living in a box-store world. Box stores dictate the prices that they will pay and if manufacturers want to sell to the boxes they will do whatever necessary to get to that price point. It is really our fault for demanding rock bottom prices over high quality.....apparently you can't have both anymore. You can have quality or cheap but you can't have both!

 

[dsan]

Try a Fein if you can't get a U.S. made shopvac. Not American but German or Italian.

 

[Sterff]

The Craftsman and Ridgid shopvacs are pretty good. I have one of each and they work well!

 

[american lockpicker]

Try a Fein if you can't get a U.S. made shopvac. Not American but German or Italian.

I think festool is made in Germany.

 

[fr0mastaj]

I have never been too fond of the shopvac brand at lowes either, always seemed cheap compared to Ridgid... My 6 year old Ridgid has been bulletproof.

 

[mrholeshot]

I can buy a new shop vac cheaper than buying the filter the sell the shop vac for 1/2 price of new at Flea Market "needs new Filter"

 

[tonydanzah]

the minuteman stuff is expensive but commercial grade quality

 

[jeffj78]

I don't have any issues with my Shopvac - I just wanted to replace some worn attachments. My vacuum is probably 10-12 years old and was made in the USA. I bought it before Lowes was even in our area...

 

[Keep]

I bought a shop-vac a few years ago. I used about 15 times, and the upper motor bearing burned out. You cannot replace or order that part you have to replace the entire motor assembly.

I bought a Craftsman a year ago at Christmas, the thing runs great and the accessories are well built. Have a look at Sears.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Whatever you buy, get a Gore Cleanstream filter and you will never buy another filter for it. Made of the GoreTex fabric, it washes out with a garden hose and looks like new. Never brush or scrape one, it damages the surface of the material and doesn't filter properly after that.

http://www.cleanstream.com/

Be sure and get the Cleanstream PRO. It costs about the same as two Craftsman regular filters, but will last the life of the vac with a little care.

Charles