Which Shop Vacuum to buy?

[Crachian]

I'm sick of burning up a too-loud, too top-heavy Craftsman/Shop-Vac vacuum cleaner every two years. Anyone have recommendations? Maybe it's more economical to buy a $70 model every two years than to buy an expensive one (e.g., Alto or Fein) and be done with it. It's just that they always burn up when I'm using them, which is when I need them, which is a pain in the arse.

[LakeCleElum]

I made the mistake of letting my wife pick one up at Home Depot. She shows up with the six hp monster....When I use it to vac. my car, it pulls the carpet away from the floor. Takes up a ton of space - I told her I'm gonna put it in her pantry instead of the garage.

I say get the small $40 one. My old one always had more suction than I needed......

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by Crachian
I'm sick of burning up a too-loud, too top-heavy Craftsman/Shop-Vac vacuum cleaner every two years....

What the heck are you doing with your Vac that you are burning up the motors? Sucking up ball bearings continuously?

I've had a Craftsman shop vac for YEARS and I'venever come close to burning it up. I finally gave a away the huge one I had because it too up too much space and went with a smaller Rigid one from Home Depot, works fine.

[Crachian]

Well, these monsters are not rated for continuous duty, it seems. So when I use them to vacuum carpets or something that continuously loads the motor, they go ka-put in short order.

[TerryH]

I too, have used the same Craftsman 6 gallon 2 hp vacuum for decades. You must be unlucky or they don't make them like they used to.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by Crachian
Well, these monsters are not rated for continuous duty, it seems. So when I use them to vacuum carpets or something that continuously loads the motor, they go ka-put in short order.

Yeah, okay but what are you running, a commercial car wash? When I wash and vac my two cars (almost every weekend) I run the vac continuously for what? 20 minutes? How long can it take to vac a car? Oh well, best of luck. Let us know what you end up buying and how it works

[Crachian]

Ok, I bought the $40 6-gallon Craftsman model. I care less about the capacity than I do about it being in the way all the time. And I'm cheap.

Maybe I don't change the filter often enough and that's why I destroy them. Seems ridiculous that the vacuum is $37.88 out the door with a paper filter that costs $16.99 to replace.

Thanks for posting the CR page.

[pwd72s]

I bought the biggest Craftsman, 6 plus horse motor...named her Monica for obvious reasons. I was really after the "gutter cleaning kit"...which is really some extensions, and a U shaped piece that goes into roof gutters. It's work to use, but I figure better than the old ladder and hand method I once used. I hose out the filter quite often...I also keep the unit clean. Sucks too hard vacuuming the car? There is a sliding ring I can open to reduce the suction.

This is my 2nd one...I was using the first's leaf blower set-up, Placed it on the ground, did another project. Forgot where it was, backed the pickup over it. I guess I can't blame Sears for that one.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by pwd72s
... I guess I can't blame Sears for that one.

'Ya think?

I had a piece o crap top of the line $350 lawn mower in the mid '80's that also didn't stand up to my then-wife backing over it with our van.....flimsy pile!

Needless to say, I replaced it with a $119 Orchard's Hardware cheapo.

Yeah, the price of the paper filters is ridiculous. I emptythem and beat the hell out of it on the side of the trashcan. When its getting near the end of its life, I wash it with water....cleans it, but it wants to fall apart soon thereafter!

[VINMAN]

Never had a problem with my Crafstman Its going on 13 yrs now. Its used constantly, a few times a week. I have a little 1 gal Shop-Vac. that I bought last yr. The things awesome. Way better than lugging the big one around all the time.

[89911]

I've had this for a few years:



What I like best about it is that it comes with a long hose and you just flip the button and you can generally reach any part of you cars and garage. Just wrap it up when your done.

[trekkor]

Ridgid...


KT

[nota]

shopvac
they did invent the concept
and less then 1/2 price at a big lots near you
for a factory rebuilt unit
I got a wet/dry with the hose pump out for $60

[Hugh R]

Originally posted by pwd72s
I bought the biggest Craftsman, 6 plus horse motor...named her Monica for obvious reasons.

Can it suck start a Harley?

[RallyJon]

I've been thinking about this one: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Wet-Dry+Vacs&pid=00917776000

Big motor, small tank and small overall size.

IMO, there are serious design issues with most of the ones out there. I have a 6 gal one now that tips over whenever I pull on the hose to move it.

What I really want is the power and durability of a shop vac with the convenience and features of a home canister vac. How about a retracting cord? How about tool storage that isn't just a couple of holes or clips?

And who came up with the filter design? The guy making money from selling filters, obviously. Seems like half the contents of the tank end up caked on the filter.

Need a better mousetrap...

[Spin City]

Fein is what the pros use. They aren't cheap but you'll never need to buy another shop vac.