Shop Vacs

Anonymous Poster · Feb 5, 2003

I have had a Craftsman 5 hp. 16 gallon vacuum for several years . It has always been great . I use for the car,garage on the house and My 24 x 46 garage.

No problems with it whatsoever. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Will_C · Feb 5, 2003

I'll have to agree on the Sears unit. I have the 16 gallon model. I bought it about three years ago and have not had any problems.Pete sure has the garage cleaning figured out. I just fire up the Stihl backpack blower and away I go!!
Will

Bird · Feb 5, 2003

I'd always thought Shop Vac brand was good (and still do), but 8 years ago, using one to clean up the shop building when I first bought the little farm, I burned one up in less than a month, and was given a new one to replace it. That one lasted about 4 years and when the motor burned up on it, I just bought a new motor assembly (easy to change out) and learned in the process that there was an "optional" filter available. The original was a foam rubber "sleeve?" and then a sheet of blue paper over that. The "optional" filter was a litttle expensive, but looked like a large car air filter. Never had another problem with it. However, since it was a 10 gallon vac, I sold it when I sold the farm and now have a 2 gallon Craftsman. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

BB_TX · Feb 6, 2003

Richard - If you bought it from HD, it is probably a RIGID. I bought one (12 gal, 5 hp) about 3 years ago and have been very happy with it.
Bill

Richard · Feb 6, 2003

Dat's it!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

mikim · Feb 6, 2003

I got a new "shop vac" brand from Lowes -- works good so far - I'd look for one that does more than just suck ... get the detachable motor for leaf blowing, or one like I got that sucks up water and blows it right out through a hose for continous pumping, -- there are a lot of different "extras" you can get on one - find one that fits what you need - but it's nice to have the double duty features.

Anonymous Poster · Feb 6, 2003

I to use my Stihl backpack blower in my Separate garage as I have a 13 foot garage door on one end and a 8 foot one on the other..... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

boustany · Feb 6, 2003

I have a Sears for me and bought a Rigid for my wife.

I know what you were thinking, but it was her birthday.

Anyways, I think the Rigid (Home Depot) ones are made by the people who used to make the Sears one, and I have no idea who makes the Sears ones anymore.

Both work great. What I was writing to tell you about, however is to get a Goretex shopvac filter. The only place I have ever seen them is Lee Valley Tools.

I think these are the ones

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=46449&category=1,42401,42402&ccurrency=2&SID=

You can reuse them forever, usually they clean up just by tapping them a few times - the dust just drops off the sides. They are water washable. I've had the Sears one for about 6 years, and just bought the Rigid one for my wife (anniversary) the Sears size fits Rigid.

Strongly recommended, especially for things like drywall dust.

gobbler · Feb 6, 2003

I'm going to second Rat's Fein. I've got the same one he has and until you actually hear one running, you'll never believe that a vac can be so quiet.

Jim