Best and strongest shopvac

Don't forget sound level. A loud vac is one you will be reluctant to use as often as you might need to.

I have a couple of the older ShopVac "QSP" models (which were a HUGE improvement at the time) but they are still a bit loud. Other vendors have gotten the message, and many brands have at least a little attention paid to sound level now.

Doug White

Not related, don't work there, etc.

Have gotten long years, abusive miles here:

Concrete, drywall, construction debris, sewer and rain water clean up; and the one we are using had been a daily custodian issue for ten or more years before we got it as a broken down hand me down. A little tlc, some new brushes, switch, and cord..

We have a couple of the predecessors of the designer 4, we call our every day one R2D2. ______________________________ Keep the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) snipped-for-privacy@7cox.net

I had some friends who were bored after painting a room

my sh>Not related, don't work there, etc.

On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 23:22:35 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, Brent Philion quickly quoth:

R2Suck2?

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The strongest are by Ridgid/Emerson, such as the Sears Kenmores. I don't know if Home Depot sill sells this make. If you want something that can't tip, get a low boy version. And if you don't wear ear plugs, either get the quiet model or build a muffler from PVC. The only bad thing about these Ridgid vacs is that the hose just presses in and can pop out. Otherwise get a Shop Vac brand.

At least one brand, Genie, requires different filters for wet and dry, and the wet filter is just sponge and doesn't block dust very well.

Ridgid makes a muffler, HD sells them for not much money. They help a bit.

Mine has a plastic retaining button

That would probably be my old Silver King. I bought it used from a salesman who swore it would "suck the dirt out of an electrolux" and then proceeded to prove it. It will also suck the parts right off of a printed circuit board if you're not careful. If I use a crevice tool and put it near a neon lamp, the lamp lights from the ionization of the air flowing past at high speed.

The filter is a simple 12 1/2" piece of filter paper.

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:

I researched this a while back and ended up with the Fein Turbovac.

you have to stand next it when using it, it's the best. It has good suction, but I don't know it if it matches the monster shop vacs. It also has a plastic body, which might turn off some people, but it's still rugged, won't rust or leak, and the top always seals well. You'll notice it is also not cheap, but I really had no choice because I needed to have lower noise. When I bought it, Coastal Tool had the best price, but they seem no better than list now. Hunt around for price.

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:

--Silly idea time: has anyone tried building a "muffler" for a cheaper vac?

My built-in home vac has a muffler. Basically a box with foam on the inside walls. Check your local central-vac dealer for parts, I don't remember it being expensive.

I have always liked Dairy Vac(made by Electro Groom).

They can be found used for a reasonable price. Turn on both motors and it can nearly pick up a bowling ball. Seriously. It will easily pick up 3/8" nuts and bolts and a lot of other stuff you would maybe rather not. It has a seperation chamber that heavy stuff dumps into and then the "light" stuff gets caught in a dust bag.

My wife doesn't like it. She says it is too powerful.

I have accumulated 3 of them over the years. My Dad likes to tell the story of the Rainbow saleman that came out once. He challenged him to put them "head to head". He sucked the water out of the Rainbow. Guy tucked his tail between his legs and left somewhat sheepishly.

We had a Kirby salesman out recently. He had his little "meter" to show how much better his machine was then ours. I challenged him to hook his little "meter" up to my Dairy Vac. He wouldn't. Kirby does make a pretty good home vac, but his test was very biased. Take a "typical" home vac with full filters and hose vs a Kirby with no hose and a paper "plate" filter and compare airflow. Who do you think is going to win?

JW

On 25 Apr 2006 15:03:42 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, steamer quickly quoth:

Some day (it's on a 99 line project list, right?), I'll build a double U-shaped box (plus a lid for my old Grants vac and one for my HF compressor. They'll be made of plywood and the inside surfaces lined with old carpeting or sound-deadening foam, and will be flat on top for storage. 5" swivel casters on the bottom will help them be easily moved, a very worthwhile $20 investment.

_______ | _______ | | | noisy | (top view sans lid) | tool | |_______ | ________|

By positionining the walls of the openings about an inch apart, it should keep the noise down considerably while allowing plenty of airflow. A foam-lined hole with a toggle stick will be connected to the power toggle switch via rubber hose to allow movement.

Hoses and cords naturally trail out of either side opening.

For the compressor, a U-shaped hole in the inner box and padded door on the outside box will allow viewing and setting of the regulator (infrequent.) A swivel door in the bottom plate will allow access to the petcock for drainage.

More ideas for those who'd rather buy than build:

Mufflers were also discussed on the Wreck, so Google for "vac muffler".

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I've asked WAY too much of the poor thing too

As i turn it off it MOANS in agony

I will not recommend it for be>">I had some friends who were bored after painting a room