new shop vacuum

[mike_wood]

My old Genie shop vacuum gave up yesterday so I need a new vac. I have a Fein for dust extraction so I need something to pick up floor debris. Seems the Shop Vac QSP Pro is getting good recommendations so I am leaning that way. If anyone has any good/bad experiences or recommendations I will appreciate it. There were two things about my old vac I did not like: (1) noise - it sounded like one was standing next to a jet, and (2) the top tapered where the motor mounted - emptying it was a pain - holding it upside down (often it was pretty heavy) and shaking it to empty was not fun.

 

[zippymbr]

I have the large Rigid vac from HD and love the thing. It came with alot of attachments. I use it for everything. I have had it for 9+ years of heavy use without one problem. The only things I have bought as accessories are a noise muffler, an extra length of hose to make it longer, and a steam clean filter. The steam clean filter is a great addition. I wish I would have gotten one sooner and thrown away the paper filter in the begining. I use it every other day to vac out nasty customers cars and vans, cleaning the shop floor, and as a portable dust collector of hand tools. When it breaks I will go right out and buy an new Rigid.

 

[b4man]

I too have a Rigid vac and would put it way above any other shop vac's I've had. I do need to check into the other filter, thanks zippymbr!

 

[mike_wood]

Zippymbr, thanks for the info. I will check it out tonight. I don't know what a steam clean filter is. Can you enlighten me? Thanks.

 

[woodguy1975]

If you really care about the noise I'd get a Fein vac. Otherwise the shop vacs and Rigid vacs are all about the same. The Rigid vacs I've used were noisier than my shop vacs, but Rigid does make a silencer for them.

Good Luck,

John

 

[toolferone]

Okay, I will say it. All shop vacs suck!!:lol:

 

[chris99z71]

I've got a Crapsman shop vac. I've had it for about 7 years with no problems...other than the time that I sucked up a hot ember and set the paper filter on fire...picture smoke billowing out of the exhaust port into my apartment. Pretty funny in retrospect...especially considering that I'm a firefighter and I'm supposed to know better....:roll:
My only complaint is how loud it is - which I didn't even realize until the first time I used my DC.

 

[Ray Martin]

Okay, I will say it. All shop vacs suck!!:lol:

Tom,

It's something that just had to be said... :rolf:

Ray

 

[mike_wood]

I have a Fein and enjoy it for dust extraction but I don't want to pay that much for a vac to clean the floor. I was leaning towards the ShopVac QSP as reviews claimed they were fairly quiet. I agree they are pretty much alike that is why I am shopping around for one that is a bit quieter and easier to dump contents.

 

[McRabbet]

I have a 16 gallon, 6.0 peak HP Shop Vac that is much quieter than my old 10 gallon Craftsman. I got a second hose and coupler for it and use Dry wall filters in it when I'm doing any sanding (oscillating sander, stationary drum/disk sander or random orbit sander) and it is quite tolerable. Of course, I wear my Peltor ear muffs because the combined noise approaches 85 dB. The dry wall filter takes even the finest particulates out (I leave the regular filter in place) and that way I don't need a dust mask, too. It has also served me well for wet pickups on that rare occasion for water spill cleanup.

Rob

 

[zippymbr]

Steam Clean fliters look just loke the stock paper filter but can be washed out with a hose since they are made of a syn material. My paper filter was getting too dirty to clean and I had seen them at HD. It was a little expensive at $25 for a filter. But it sure boosted by vacs power and ease of cleaning.

 

[Gofor]

I have the 14 gal 6 hp Ridgid. Its quiet, and the filters are washable (even the 1 micron). Occasionally they have a sale and you can get them at a good price. I recommend them based on my experience. I also use it as a blower to clean off the riding lawnmower/driveway. etc. Works great because of all the power. Oh yeah, it really sucks, too!!:lol:

 

[peteb301]

I agree with Toolferone - "Shop Vacs suck".
Had one for about a year till it burned up last month. The thing that sold me after a lot of research on the web was it was much quieter than others. That part was true. and that was the only positive thing I can say about Shop Vac. The thing I really hated were the latches between the top and bottom pieces, they are plastic, and unreliable. Whenever I moved the thing by lifting the top handle, the side latches would always come unlatched and I'd come away with the top only in my hand and sawdust all over. It was a 16 gallon model and really I'm glad its gone, due to frustration with the latchs. Its replacement is a Crapsmen 20 gal , on sale of course for $90. Suprise, suprise its quieter then the Shop vac due to a muffler that came with it. Went back to Crapsmen as the one I had prior to the Shop Vac lasted close to 10 years, the Shop Vac lasted just past one year.