What shopvac to get???

[5Toes]

Well my Dad's got the filter destoryed, sort of my fault I guess. It is a 5 gallon and even though I empty it after every use from my detailing... it just is not up to the task. I also want to avoid future arguments, so might as well buy my own for my small business.

My friend just got hired at Sears, and we are looking at this Craftsman - http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...PHUnRn6xadE9ZA

The ShopVac website lists many with better warranties, but they are spendy... about $140 for a 14/16 gallon.

http://shopvac.com/wet-dry-vacs/defa...s=Any#Hardware Store Wet/Dry Vac
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...9425_200459425

I am just confused. This Ridgid looks like goodstuff... consumer reports listed it as best (but they are dumb IMO). It has a lifetime warranty, but Ridgid is likely hard to work with. Shopvac has been very kind to us

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CFEQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homedepot.com%2Fbuy%2Fappliances%2Fvacuums-floor-care%2Fridgid%2F14-gallon-pro-vac-wd1450-25910.html&ei=SL-wTs7XCsbdiAK274XvDw&usg=AFQjCNHb5207YJMAqhA8GkAL36b_scBJSw&sig2=u07lzYdIbIi8cWvjfXcuLQ

What ya'll think?

[e34john]

Ridgid, buy it from Home Depot, keep a photocopy of the reciept, return it for a replacement anytime.

[AndrewBird]

A place a used to work at had a Rigid and it was excellent. Very powerful, though a bit loud (what vacuum isn't?). We also have a small Craftsman. It's so so. After only a year or so, the bearings started making noise and frankly I wouldn't be surprised if it died soon, only a few years old.

[Pantless Spency]

im in the position of needing a new, more powerful, vac.

[dreamer420]

I am a professional auto detailer for the past 5-6 years. I have a Ridgid 9 gallon wet/dry vac. have owned it for probably 7 years. it has been used on thousands of cars, in both wet and dry applications, been used for puke, hair, rocks, and any and every nasty thing you could imagine in cars and rv's. I even have a 30ft hose that I use for it.
the thing is a champ, has not failed me EVER. I'm even a cheap ass and just wash out the filter instead of buying new ones all the time. it gets abused HARD. it has great suction power as well. very nice professional vacuum.

go with a ridgid and you will surely NOT be disappointed!

[BoxDriver86]

I have a Craftsman I bought about 10 years ago that is fantastic. My wife got me a new one two years ago and it died a few weeks ago. Craftsman quality has gone downhill a little so I'm just back to using the old one which works great. In the event I need to replace, I'm going Ridgid.

[delatlanta1281]

I have a Craftsman I bought about 10 years ago that is fantastic. My wife got me a new one two years ago and it died a few weeks ago. Craftsman quality has gone downhill a little so I'm just back to using the old one which works great. In the event I need to replace, I'm going Ridgid.

Ridgid, and Crafstman are made in the same factory in Michigan. I used to sell Ridgid wet dry vacs and work with their sister company presently. You may have gotten a bum motor, or sucked something up in the assembly by mistake. The one thing people need to be cognisant of is this: when sucking up water with ANY WD vac, remove the filter before hand. This will stop the vac from burning up.
OP Ridgid vacs are great, and have great warranties. All you need to do is figure out what gallonage/ HP works for your application. Every Home Depot carries the full line, and they start at 2 gallon (yes the stinger is made by Ridgid) and go up to 16 gallon. One even has a detachable leaf blower. Any questions, PM me. ALSO, you won't work with Ridgid on warranties, you will work with THD. Depending on the problem, they will either replace or repair. Just keep my original advice regarding filter removal in mind and your Ridgid vac should last you a LONG time.
Rich

[325ix]

Ridgid, buy it from Home Depot, keep a photocopy of the reciept, return it for a replacement anytime.

This is the same brand I have. Not that expensive and very good.

[TurboJake]

Ridgid, Dewalt, Makita, Higher power Craftsman.

[5Toes]

Well we had a Craftsman from, shit, maybe the early 90's? It was a 10 gallon or so. Myabe more like 14.

Either way, I think the switch broke... and that is when my lazy Dad decided he would just buy this new 5 gallon one.

So if I am removing nasty water out of carpets, then do I still need to remove the filter? I never just suck up straight water, like out of a flooded basement or something

So Ridgid and Craftsman use same motors? I want a good warranty, but at the same time... Crafstman everything is on sale 10% off November 13th weekend, and my buddy gets off an additional 20% off as an employee

[ACHTUNG]

If you want high end get a Fein.

[TurboJake]

If your sucking up water, you want a foam filter. Not the cloth/paper one.
But if it isn't much water, the cloth/paper one will be fine.

[drinaldis]

Fein. There is no substitute.

[5Toes]

Fein... cause money grows on trees.

Yes I would love a fein, but I cant afford it

[Fuggly Stick]

you should also get a dust deputy. It is an inline cyclone separator that gets 99 percent of debris before it gets to the filter. You could also find a shop vac that accepts disposable bags to make emptying cleaner.