It's about over - and a burial service will be held shortly at the town transfer(dump!) station for my 23+ year old 16 gallon Craftsman shop vac. It has served its' time well - early in life my son filled it full of water several times cleaning out the boat of suspicious debris, neglecting to drain it as well as remove the filter - it rusted solid - plus a $17 filter each time. Then of course it has been set on fire, again early in its' life when cleaning out the wood stove we used to use - little damage - except another @#$% $17 filter - again, my son (yes, he did survive my occasional wrath and grew up and is now raising 3 'problems' of his own).
Now it's time to look for a new shop vac. I've seen 14-16 gallon versions from $79 to $600++. I don't want a pro level expensive vac - just a nice $90 - $125+/- vac that will survive an occasional 'incident'.
This brings up my question - another Crapsman? a Home Depot Rigid?? some other brand???.
I have the Home Depot Rigid and it works great, plenty of suction, only draw back is the filter. You can replace them or blow them out, I use a smaller vac to clean it with no problem. Got it on sale just before newyears three years ago.
How's the noise level? My Craftsman vac sounds like a 737 at WOT when I use it. Hearing protection is a must. I'm ready to toss it, and find something else. There has to be a replacement out there with a reasonable noise level. I just hope I can find it !! ain:
Mark - That is really some contraption you have - I do like the idea of just changing out a plastic bag as I too make a fair amount of wood dust. It does need to be a bit more portable then I believe you is though. I do have a big JET dust collector for my wood tools when I decide to use it but it is a real PITA to clean so usually just use my shop vac to clean my wood dust mess. Is that Shop Vac brand doing a good job??
Sounds like the Rigid does a good job - and yes, my ancient Craftsman too does sound like a 737 at WOT, so maybe I'll listen to whichever I buy (plus check replacement filter pricing - $17+ a shot is hard to swallow just on general principle - even though I do clean it as well)
I have a rigid shop vc and honestly have forgotten how much I paid for it whcih has served me welll..I got some extra hose so I can reach the entire inside of a car without moving the vac..I even rigged a Dewalt sander with a vac attachment to it for sanding drywall and that worked out well..Only vac I have..
I have the ShopVac 14 gallon and it works great for me. What I don't like about all of them is the base is smaller than the top and they tip over easily, especially when I'm inside a car vacuuming ain: .
For those interested in a quiet vac look at the Fein models, they are about the quietest things out there but are more expensive than a typical shopvac. First time I heard one in action was at a woodworking show where the guy was running one hooked to a 6" ROS sanding a board having a conversation with me in a normal tone of voice & not shouting. I wound up getting the mini turbo which I hook to a ROS, belt sander, & also cleaning out the foam filters on the home AC. Much more pleasant to run than the 747 winding up for takeoff ie the 25 gal shopvac.
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