Replies

1. 
   andybuildz | Feb 25, 2006 06:01pm | #1

   If you wanna spend the money ($350) the consensus is FEIN! That's expensive enough but anything remotly as good or better is yet even more money.
   You need to pay about another $100 for the very basic attachments for all these vacs which pizzes me off. Like you're going to use the vac with just the hose it comes with...geezzz.And then there's the complicated filter issues and $$$$$$$$$.
   To me it wasn't worth the money and what seemed to be aggravation for to many people and I looked deeply into getting one. Read the reviews in Amazon. Seems to me there were far to many complaints for the money they charge. Ask Calvin...I know his blew up. Anythings great when it works but when you wonder if you have to get lucky it makes you go...hmmmm.
   Good luck.
   a...

   If Blodgett says Tipi Tipi Tipi, it must be so!

1. 
   MisterT | Feb 25, 2006 06:52pm | #3

   The Fein mini turbo comes with basic attachments...

     

   Mr. T. 

   There's a steering-wheel in me pants and it's driving me nuts!!!

    

2. 
   Mooney | Feb 25, 2006 06:04pm | #2

   They did a review of shop vacs and quietness was high on the list along with power. .

   So I bought the QSP .

   Tim

    

3. 
   TTF | Feb 25, 2006 08:20pm | #4

   For the budget minded - Rigid works well for me.

1. 
   MisterT | Feb 25, 2006 09:39pm | #5

   I got the Rigid garage vac..

   it is as quiet as the Fein....

   but is quieter than the big monsters..

   mounted the handy rack for it on the door of my trailer...

   every try to get a regular size shop vac through a 2'-0" door without banging the trim???

     

   Mr. T. 

   There's a steering-wheel in me pants and it's driving me nuts!!!

    

1. 
   BillHartmann | Feb 25, 2006 10:45pm | #6

   They have a new version of that unit. I think that it might replace it.Same basic size and shape, but it does not have the "garage kit" (rack and long hose).However the hose and attachements store in the unit.

4. 
   user-93637 | Feb 26, 2006 12:10am | #7

   I second the Fein mini -- I think I was it on sale at Woodcraft for under 150. It's quiet w great suction but doesn't have the capacity or the auto on of the larger more expensive Feins. They are also great.

    

   Joel

5. 
   jc21 | Feb 26, 2006 04:12am | #8

   I've got a 20 gal Shop Vac (Shop Vac brand).......... doesn't owe me a thing and it's what I'd buy again. Not super quiet but far less noisy than my old Crapsman of which the noise would raise the dead. Replace the stock filter with their optional HEPA filter and use their bags (they have special bags for drywall/plaster dust)- no worries about the filter plugging up and you'll have very effective dust collection. When the bag is full, toss it ......... a lot less messy than dumping the canister. The bags are important with Shop Vacs and other less expensive vacs that use a non-bypass design; the air that goes through the filter goes on to cool the motor, any dust, dirt etc that gets by the filter isn't helpful to motor life.   

   
   

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   Edited 2/25/2006 8:37 pm ET by jc21

6. 
   scottthebuilder | Feb 26, 2006 05:44am | #9

   I like the FESTOOL better than the Fein. I have the CT 22. It starts soft when you start the tool and runs for about 3 seconds to clear the hose when your done. If you need something more robust check out the Rigid WD1850 at HD for $149. It is tough and is more versatile for demo and general cleanup than the FESTOOL or Fein. The biggest problem of all of them is the hose. I bought 14' of commercial car wash style hose and adapted the ends to work with the tools that came with the vac. The conversion was tricky but I finally figured out a good way to do it. I took the factory hose and cut the ends off and heated them up and slid them onto the commercial vac hose fittings. Its a tight fit but has held up well for a year of abuse. We love having two vacs on the truck. One for finish work and one for everything else.

1. 
   calvin | Feb 26, 2006 04:44pm | #10

   The Fein hose is excellent, plenty long and indestructable.

   I think some bearings are going on my Fein turbo II.  Lounder than when new.  Should have used the micron filter bag I guess for DW.  Great vac, still running, just not as good as new.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   Quittin' Time

    

1. 
   MisterT | Feb 26, 2006 06:37pm | #11

   I noticed the same thing on the one the old boss had...

   seemed to get louder with age.

   one more reason to invest in cleanstream filters!

     

   Mr. T. 

   There's a steering-wheel in me pants and it's driving me nuts!!!

    

7. 
   chile_head | Feb 26, 2006 07:26pm | #12

   I'm not a huge fan of the Rigid vacs: There is a right angle turn just inside of the tank, which will catch any longish piece (> 3" or so) that you vacuum up, and eventually clog.

   I have a Shop Vac that I'm pretty happy with. I'm a DIY'er, so it doesn't get a whole ton of use, but it's always worked well when I've used it.

   I'll second the bag and HEPA filter recommendation, too. I was dry cutting concrete in my basement, and this combination does a great job of delivering clean exhaust, without clogging too often.