Product review: The BEST SHOP VAC

[MrSurly]

I've now owned this one for more than two years. It has been used, abused and put through it's paces over several remodeling projects and has been superb. There's a little more to the story of course.
Before buying this $100+ machine I did a fair amount of research. I compared all the specs, but went a bit further. We use shop vacs at work. I had recently purchased a couple for the shop and someone else had picked up a third. One was a top of the line Ridgid (WD1851,$160), one was a top model Shop-Vac (20 gal, $200+) the third a mid-level Black and Decker. Of the three (in my opinion) the Ridgid handily out-performed the Shop-Vac and the B&D was just puny. The Ridgid was the quietest as well. So you'd think I was sold on the Ridgid, right?
Of the three, I was, but it still didn't impress in raw vacuum-power and there had to be a better one out there. I picked up a mid-range Sears Craftsman unit to try. It out-powered all those at the shop(!) but Gawd! it was loud!
After some study, took it back and swapped for the next-to-the-top* model and have been repeatedly impressed by this machine!
The model is 113.17762 and yes, they still sell it. It has a lock-on but rotating hose connection, relatively quiet with its discharge muffler. very handy storage for all the attachments right on the machine, uses a common Shop-Vac filter plus can be used with a bag for drywall dust (works but pricey....but it works!) It is large, and lacks the handy handle of the Ridgid, but it rolls very well on large casters. On various projects I have used it to pick up huge amounts of drywall, ceramic tile shards, glass, mortar, concrete, fiberglass, all sorts of woodworking stuff,
lead shot(!), steel shot and even emptied a bathtub of water!
Last Monday it proved itself especially useful. I was digging the hole for a garage project that was 10" diameter and 50" deep into red clay using a post-hole digger. Post-hole diggers cant close to pick up the soil once you get below about two feet down. I tried various things to scoop the dirt out and then thought of the shop vac.
I was amazed at how well this thing did the job; even when all the way to full depth, it was picking up the semi-sticky clay and having no trouble at all. It was a lifesaver on this project! I had assumed that it would pick up the clay but not be able to carry it vertically four foot and the clay would just tumble in the hose...I was very wrong. If I had another hole to dig I was already scheming on the digging attachment I would devise to make this thing a complete excavator!
Bottom line: If it were gone today, would I buy another just like it?
Right damn-now.

I highly recommend this machine to anyone needing a "real-deal" shopvac. It is more machine than many folks would need, for sure. it's big; it's heavy; it's costly; But if you want the bad-ass, here it is.


*this was actually the top model but they had one that was more expensive due to it's 'detachable blower' function.

[MrSurly]

This would be a darn good place to add pics.

[MegaGlide]

Looks a lot like mine, which I am very happy with.

[Bluetoys]

do they offer a CVO version?

[Xkvator]

whats the hole for...?

[huckinfog]

does it have a pocket?

[Xkvator]

one of the best specs to determine how powerful a shop vac is, is the static water lift...

[Sonic]

Originally Posted by Xkvator

whats the hole for...?

If I am not mistaken.....he is putting in a lift.

[MrSurly]

Originally Posted by Xkvator

whats the hole for...?

[Dinero]

Originally Posted by Xkvator

whats the hole for...?

He only has one Harley. He needs someplace to pour his money.

[YankeeBob]

There's an awful lot of concrete dust on that Road King Classic.
I think I'd have covered or moved it.

That being said......A lift? How cool is that!!
Thanks for the heads up on the vac!

[Bluetoys]

you know, if you lived up north where there is ice fishing, youda had the hole augered out by now...

[Thorns]

Can you get sunburned inside your garage?