Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

On Dec 13, 11:57 pm, wrote:
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

What do you consider good? Powerful, quiet, portable, versatile,
large, small, etc.?
Fein is supposed to be about the best, but they're very expensive. If
noise isn't an issue (if you're wearing hearing protection regardless),
the Ridgid 9gal with HEPA filter I have works fine. Just noisy, but it
does suck like it's supposed to. Not too expensive. The 12gal is
supposedly quieter. I'm not sure Ridgid is any better than any of the
others; I think Craftsman is made in the same factory. "Shop Vac"
brand is a different manufacturer, and they might be quieter, but of
the consumer-grade ones, I don't think there's much difference in
performance (once you get a HEPA filter). A bag might be nice to
facilitate cleaning and add another layer of filtration - my Ridgid
doesn't have that option.
Good luck,
Andy

On Dec 13, 10:57 pm, wrote:
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

I have two of the craftsman jobs, a 3.5 and 5 horsepower (don't ask how
they come up with those figures) and they both have super suction, but
are horrendously loud. Most vacs like this are loud. Ridgid is the
same as Sears (emerson electric I belive) but I'd look for the one with
best warranty, accessories, wheeled base and most importantly, hose
retention. Can't count the times my hose has come loose at the vac and
I've had to stop to reattach it.

I have beaten the living daylights out of these things doing a home
renovation where I was removing a house full of plaster, lath, etc. and
they keep going and going. I had a beam fall on one unit and it is now
crippled as one wheel is broken off, so that one looks a bit injured.
The impressive thing about these units how they can suck up nearly
anything - insulation from Romex, cat poop, gravel, nails, bolts, shop
rags, etc (watch where you point it). You quickly learn that they are
far superior to any broom or such.

One time our house keeper flushed a rag down the tolit and stopped it
up. I scratched my head for a while but then got out the shop vac and
wrapped a towel around the end for a good seal, then stuck it down in
there and it got the water and then removed the rag - saving a big
plumber bill and time.

Good luck

On 13 Dec 2006 20:57:20 -0800, wrote:

Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!


I currently have two RIDGID vacs A large and a small. Quite happy with
both.

wrote:
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

If by good you mean good suction and longevity, I've had my 3 HP? 16
gal Craftsman for about 15 years or so now. I was the most powerful
they sold then, so I suspect the only thing that's changed is the bogus
way they compute horsepower. When the filter is reasonably clean it'll
suck the curtains off the walls (well, it would if I had curtains in my
shop). But the shreik it puts out has an annoyance factor second only
to a cheap router mounted in an aluminum table. I expect you'll have
to do some research and spend some dollars to get a quiet vac that will
equal its performance though.

DonkeyHody
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit
there."

In article om, wrote:
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

Yes -- the ShopVac brand, Contractor Series. I bought the 12-gallon, "5.5 peak
HP" (yeah, right -- with a 120V 15A cord??) model at Lowe's this spring for
about $75 or $80.

Strong suction, lots of hose, long cord (maybe 20'), QUIET.


--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

On 13 Dec 2006 20:57:20 -0800, wrote:

Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

As others have mentioned, in the consumer grade there isn't going to
be an enormous difference in quality among the bigger names (ShopVac,
Rigid, Craftsman (sears), etc.) I would be more concerned with
features based on your needs. I have a sears vac that I have been
happy with. It has an exhaust outlet on top for the hose that turns it
into a wheel based blower. Some units don't have that capability.
Others are designed to allow you to take the motor off and turn it
into a "portable" blower. If you expect to use the wet capability,
look for a drain cock in the body (mine does not have one but I have
never used the wet feature anyhow). Unless you spend big bucks, your
vac WILL be loud.

Dave Hall

On Thu, 14 Dec 2006 06:26:48 -0500, Joe Bemier wrote:

On 13 Dec 2006 20:57:20 -0800, wrote:

Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!


I currently have two RIDGID vacs A large and a small. Quite happy with
both.

I've got a Craftsman that as long as I don't clog up the filter with
drywall dust and remember to empty it once in a while works a treat. When
I got it I noticed that Home Depot was selling what appeared to be an
identical unit (and the design is funky enough that that's not likely to
be a coincidence) under the "Ridgid" label.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Dec 13, 11:57 pm, wrote:
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

I agree with Doug Miller that the ShopVac Contractor series is an
excellent choice. I spent the extra on the stainless one but that may
be over-kill for a putterer. I like that vac as much as a couple of
'pro' vacs I own, which I use for specific sanding applications. (HEPA
down to 0.3 micron)
ShopVacs are cool because you can get bags and stuff for them
everywhere and they're almost all upgradable to HEPA standards.

I don't know what's up with these new-fangled combo units with
leaf-blowers, water-pumps, hairdryers, lawn-ornaments, surround sound,
'tastes-like-butter' attachments.

r

The last time I bought a shop vac, I went to Sears (gasp!) and chose a
Craftsman 6hp (!) model. They were also selling Shop Vac brand and I
compared noise levels. IMO, the Craftsman was quieter. In the store
display.

I also picked up a Cleanstream filter for it while I was at it.

My previous shop vac, also a Craftsman is now out in the garage.
Still working.

But that's what's worked for me. What do you really need to do with
yours? Buy accordingly.

On 13 Dec 2006 20:57:20 -0800, wrote:

Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

I'll tell you what I don't like about Ridgid: the way the hose attaches
to the vac. ShopVac has a very nice screw-on hose, whereas Ridgid has
this little piece of plastic that holds onto a lip...something that's
bound to break off or wear out.

Mike

wrote in message
ps.com...
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!


Having worn out a couple of different brand shop vacuum cleaners I can
honestly say that a dust collector kicks butt for not too much more money
and offers a lot more capacity and much less noise.

"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 14 Dec 2006 06:26:48 -0500, Joe Bemier wrote:



I've got a Craftsman that as long as I don't clog up the filter with
drywall dust and remember to empty it once in a while works a treat. When
I got it I noticed that Home Depot was selling what appeared to be an
identical unit (and the design is funky enough that that's not likely to
be a coincidence) under the "Ridgid" label.

IIRC both brands are/were manufactured by Emerson.

Leon wrote:
Having worn out a couple of different brand shop vacuum cleaners I can
honestly say that a dust collector kicks butt for not too much more money
and offers a lot more capacity and much less noise.

I have a 1.5hp dust collector, but I'm considering using a shop vac
also. The reason is that the volume and air velocity differences
between the two are different enough that I think a shop vac might be
better suited to certain jobs while a DC might be better for others.
For example, the jointer and planer definitly need a DC. But for
hand-held tools, I would opt for the shop vac.

I tried to attach my DC to a reducer, then to a hose, then to the leigh
dust collection router attachment thingy. I wasn't too happy with the
results. It just didn't seem to suck hard enough to get all the chips.
I think the difference is the amount of dust created vs the size of
the area where the dust is being collected. On a planer, the cutter
head area is sort of large compared to the bit area of a router or the
space under a ROS. I'm sure someone can chime in with the science
behind volume vs velocity.

I also like the idea of attaching the DC to the cabinet of my router
table, but attaching a shopvac to the router fence. I need to
experiment more. Or maybe I just need a bigger dust collector. :-)

brian

wrote:
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

Does anyone have that Hoover GUV? Amazon has good reviews for it. I'm
sort of leaning toward that paired with the oneida dust deputy together
in an enclosed roll-around cabinet with a built in extension cord.

Is there any way to tell which ones pull harder? A chart or something?

brian

If you have a Farm & Fleet nearby, I recommend this one:

http://www.farmandfleetmodeling.org/catalog/product.aspx?i=465746&h=050104005&p=1

It's an awful lot of utility vac for the price, and I couldn't find
anything comparable at that price level from anywhere else.

wrote:
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

On 14 Dec 2006 08:27:42 -0800, "brianlanning"
wrote:

Leon wrote:
Having worn out a couple of different brand shop vacuum cleaners I can
honestly say that a dust collector kicks butt for not too much more money
and offers a lot more capacity and much less noise.

I have a 1.5hp dust collector, but I'm considering using a shop vac
also. The reason is that the volume and air velocity differences
between the two are different enough that I think a shop vac might be
better suited to certain jobs while a DC might be better for others.
For example, the jointer and planer definitly need a DC. But for
hand-held tools, I would opt for the shop vac.

Well on my jointer the shavings just fall down the chute into a box, I
don't see the point in hooking anything up to it. But then I
generally just edge joint with it, maybe face jointing produces chips
too fast to fall out on their own.

I tried to attach my DC to a reducer, then to a hose, then to the leigh
dust collection router attachment thingy. I wasn't too happy with the
results. It just didn't seem to suck hard enough to get all the chips.
I think the difference is the amount of dust created vs the size of
the area where the dust is being collected. On a planer, the cutter
head area is sort of large compared to the bit area of a router or the
space under a ROS. I'm sure someone can chime in with the science
behind volume vs velocity.

The impeller will have a relationship between CFM, how much volume of
air it moves, and static pressure, how much resistance from the size
and amount of ducting/hose it has to move the air through. A dust
collector is designed to move a high CFM at relatively low static
pressure. A vacuum is designed to move a lower CFM at relatively high
static pressure. If you choke down a dust collector to a small hose
it will move hardly any air.


-Leuf

wrote:

Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

I have an older 16 gal Shopvac (30+ yrs). still works great. The wife
just bought me a new 2 gal Craftsman Wet/Dry for $15 (sale ends today)
that I can use on our boat as the bigger one was a little awkward. Jim

--

"brianlanning" wrote in message
ups.com...
Leon wrote:
Having worn out a couple of different brand shop vacuum cleaners I can
honestly say that a dust collector kicks butt for not too much more money
and offers a lot more capacity and much less noise.

I have a 1.5hp dust collector, but I'm considering using a shop vac
also. The reason is that the volume and air velocity differences
between the two are different enough that I think a shop vac might be
better suited to certain jobs while a DC might be better for others.
For example, the jointer and planer definitly need a DC. But for
hand-held tools, I would opt for the shop vac.

I tried to attach my DC to a reducer, then to a hose, then to the leigh
dust collection router attachment thingy. I wasn't too happy with the
results. It just didn't seem to suck hard enough to get all the chips.
I think the difference is the amount of dust created vs the size of
the area where the dust is being collected. On a planer, the cutter
head area is sort of large compared to the bit area of a router or the
space under a ROS. I'm sure someone can chime in with the science
behind volume vs velocity.

I tried that too with less favorable results. Eleminate the small hose and
keep the hose large until it attaches to the tool if possible. I have my DC
attached to my router fence and if the collection of debris is possable no
chips get away. Not all situations permit collection regardless of what vac
or collector you use. The fence has a 2.5 to 4" adapter.

I have had a 12 gal. 3hp Shopvac brand for over 10 years now and not a drop
of trouble. The filters are available everywhere and when I remember to
clean it, it can suck the chrome off a trailer hitch. I bought it on sale at
Lowe's for $49

Allen

wrote in message
ps.com...
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

wrote in message
ups.com...
Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!


Regular wet/dry ShopVac works good for me- the only thing is, if it
comes with a narrow hose (and I think most of them do these days,)
it's well worth buying a larger one to go on it. It's been a while
since I bought it, but I think the smaller ones are 1.25" diameter,
and the large hoses are 2" or 2.5". The larger ones don't clog very
easily, and have plenty of suction for just about anything.

Brian,

My DC is a Harbor Freight (same as Grizzely) 2hp model that kicks butt
at the router table. My dust port is in the fence, however, so if I'm
not doing a fence operation dust still flys. I have a "big gulp" that I
use at floor level to sweep floor dust into the DC. Gotta figger a way
to attach it to the router table for those unfenced operation.
For sanding, I built a perforated topped box and hooked the DC to that
box. Works great for cabinet doors and other smaller stuff.
BTW, the cyclone lid by Lee Vally on a 30 gal trash can is worth every
penny. I don't cringe at hearing a chip hitting the impeller any more.

Gene

I have a 1.5hp dust collector, but I'm considering using a shop vac
also. The reason is that the volume and air velocity differences
between the two are different enough that I think a shop vac might be
better suited to certain jobs while a DC might be better for others.
For example, the jointer and planer definitly need a DC. But for
hand-held tools, I would opt for the shop vac.

I tried to attach my DC to a reducer, then to a hose, then to the leigh
dust collection router attachment thingy. I wasn't too happy with the
results. It just didn't seem to suck hard enough to get all the chips.
I think the difference is the amount of dust created vs the size of
the area where the dust is being collected. On a planer, the cutter
head area is sort of large compared to the bit area of a router or the
space under a ROS. I'm sure someone can chime in with the science
behind volume vs velocity.

I also like the idea of attaching the DC to the cabinet of my router
table, but attaching a shopvac to the router fence. I need to
experiment more. Or maybe I just need a bigger dust collector. :-)

brian

On 13 Dec 2006 20:57:20 -0800, wrote:

Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

This is slightly off-topic but I have been considering using a shop
vac - not the portable one but a "chip vac" or central unit, I guess
it would be, for my house.

It would, I think, be cheaper and much more powerful than the "name"
household vacuums.

I suppose it would be noisier than the domestic setup - but if
anchored in solid concrete and enclosed in a sound -deadening
arrangement, this would be largely overcome.

The other thing is I don't understand why I should bother with
filters. What if I simply piped the outlet outside to my compost
pile? That should give it better performance - less back-pressure.

Anyone done something like this?

Somebody wrote:

Can you recommend a good shop vac for an at-home puttering type not a
pro............price a consideration too!

SFWIW, I buy the small $40 unit when it goes on sale for $30.

Get about a 12-18 months out of one since I really abuse it sweeping up
fiberglass dust as well as working outside.

Works for me, YMMV.

Lew