Wet/Dry vac suggestions

[BrazosJake]

LOML picked up what looked like a bargain: almost new 12-gal Craftsman vac (17920) at a garage sale for $20, causing me to give away my ancient 16-gal Cman that screamed like a banshee, but would suck the chrome off of a trailer hitch. Something is up with this thing, though, not nearly enough power despite a new filter (also discovered filter-retaining collar is missing), so looks like a new vac in my future.

My driveway is a perfect funnel for leaves in the fall, which I continually have to clean up in the garage (along with dust). My old vac would digest red oak & cottonwood leaves without a hiccup, but this sorry thing will barely pick them up off the floor, much less suck em down the hose.

Any suggestions?

[dbhost]

I am very happy with my Ridgid 12 gallon, but you might consider the 16 gallon with a detachable blower http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/WD1670-16G-Blower-Vac/EN/index.htm(Model WD1670)

Lots of folks are using these vacs and love them. Combine this with the HEPA filter and a Thien Cyclone, and you have good dust collection from your small connector tools like sanders, benchtop planers...

[jhart]

Any idea of what the rated hp is? Would make a big difference. My first shop vac was about 2hp which I thought was ok until I bought a 6.5 hp/combo blower. Also have a couple of Ridgid, 5hp units bought on sale a couple of years ago when they were 29.95. I wouldn't get anything under 5 hp anymore.

[BrazosJake]

It's 5hp rated, but then we all should know what that means (not possible to generate 5 hp on a 110).

I'm afraid I may have damaged the motor by using it without the filter collar, causing it to suck a bunch of dust into the motor (it was leaking dust pretty badly). Seems like the suction was much better when I first tried it.

It had quit working, so I took it completely down yesterday, blew out as much dust as I could with the compressor, and brushed the switch contacts, which were dirty. Now it runs again, but it sucks, and not in a good way:-(

[cabinetman]

Did you check the hose for obstructions? I have HD's 12 gal, that works pretty good. A good vac for the money.
.

[RAFlorida]

Ridgid 12 gallon, is a good vac.

Kind of wish I had a bigger unit sometime though.

[BrazosJake]

Did you check the hose for obstructions? I have HD's 12 gal, that works pretty good. A good vac for the money.
.

Yep. Besides, if the hose was clogged and the vac moving sufficient air, the hose would collapse. I could make my old vac follow me around the shop by putting a hand over the hose, collapsing it and making the vac roll to me.

[Tom Slick]

I can highly recommend this vac, it is oustanding for a sub $200 vac. It is quiet and the large rear wheels and handle make it much better to roll around on rough ground and over cords. It also keeps up with my ridgid planer.

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/WD1851-16G-Vac/EN/index.htm

[pelligrini]

I've been really pleased with my Ridgid 16-Gallon-Vac-Blower. It's not the cheapest around, but I love the versatility. I can quickly detach the motor for use as a blower very easily. It also performs very well as a vac.

[Mr__Bill]

Kind of wish I had a bigger unit sometime though.

I seem to remember ads on TV for some stuff that claims to do that for you.

[LinuxRandal]

After dealing with a few screamers (yes we are talking vac's), we replaced ours with a Ridgid a few years ago, at work. (lower pitch) Now they also have the SNR (noise reduced models), which I would buy, or the one I bought for home, a Fein Turbo II. (looks like a Dalek)

A lot of people say get a large one, but if you do something like a Fein seperator, you can get by with a smaller vac, and a larger seperator. (less getting to the vac, and when you need it elsewhere, it is easier to move)

[BrazosJake]

Update: Just so I don't give this Craftsman model an undeserved bad rep, I discovered, on further review, that the hose was clogged. It sucks with a vengeance now.

I love it when a problem is solved without spending money:-)

[LCHIEN]

Update: Just so I don't give this Craftsman model an undeserved bad rep, I discovered, on further review, that the hose was clogged. It sucks with a vengeance now.

I love it when a problem is solved without spending money:-)

Sometimes we overlook the obvious.

[ragswl4]

My DC went on the blink last week when I was planing some 2x8s. Made a heck of a mess as well as some dings in the wood. Hose was clogged all the way to the DC. Cleaned it out and worked a little better but not great. After some thought I checked the lower bag on the DC and whoops, full to the brim. Need to set a schedule on checking that bag. Felt pretty dumb after cleaning up.

[JimD]

I have found my planners ability to generate chips to be surprising more than once. My older 8 5/8 manual feed INCA has a DC hookup but my "new-to-me" AP-10 does not, yet. I try to remember now to check the bag after anything more than a very brief planning session. My cleanup sessions after use of the AP-10 is also pretty good evidence of what is coming when I get it hooked up.

Jim