Replies

1. 
   IMERC | Sep 25, 2009 01:51pm | #1

   fien...

    

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!! What a Ride!

   
   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    

   "Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"

2. 
   calvin | Sep 25, 2009 01:54pm | #2

   Fein or Festool.

   They are loud on your wallet.

   With the Fein, get and use their HEPA filter.  Drywall dust w/out will ruin the motor and it'll howl almost as loud as the original ShopVac.

   A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   http://www.quittintime.com/

    

1. 
   marv | Sep 25, 2009 04:11pm | #3

   I love my Porter Cable.  I'm not sure of the decible level.  But drywall dust is no match for its bag and backup filter!You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv

3. 
   gdcarpenter | Sep 25, 2009 04:35pm | #4

   Fein bar none - quieter than any 'household' vac.

   Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

4. 
   renosteinke | Sep 25, 2009 05:20pm | #5

   If the vac you've had has a port where you can attach your hose to make a blower out of it, you can find mufflers that attach. Those are noisy vacs.

   Since then, the Shop-vac brand has redesigned their tops. You lose the blower capacity, but they're a lot quieter.

   ALWAYS using a HEPA bag inside keeps the vac quiet. It seems the smallest amount of drywall dust will turn any vac into a screaming banshee.

   Saying you're worried about your grandchildren suggests that this is for a workshop. Maybe it's time you added a remote vacuum, with dust ports around the shop.

5. 
   RustyNail | Sep 26, 2009 04:29am | #6

   If you have the cash, no doubt a Fein or Festool would be the way to go.  The PC has also had its supporters, though I don't think as numerous as those for the Fein/Festool.

   Me, I'm cheap.  I found that the Ridgid WD1450 (with "Scroll Noise Reduction") I have is a nice middle of the road.  It's a LOT quieter than my other Ridgid shop vac.  That other Ridgid vac is on par with another I have (a Shop Vac QSP)... both of those are quite loud.  Really loud actually.  The WD1450 isn't super quiet, but it is a HUGE improvement over the others I have.  And it's a lot cheaper than the Fein/Festool.  All in all, I'd definitely buy another WD1450 if mine finally got tired. 

6. 
   kurt99 | Sep 26, 2009 04:43pm | #7

   Another vote for Shop-Vac having made real improvements. I bought a 12 gallon (cat. # 96112) this year being cheap and expecting a small jet engine with a lot less power but was pleasantly surprised that the noise isn't bad. It does normally run the exhaust air through some type of muffler but you can remove a plug to connect a hose to blow.

   I think they have given up on the theory that they could make a vacuum motor unit infinitely small and thus cheap if they made it run infinitely fast and thus infinitely noisy.

7. 
   Benito9 | Sep 26, 2009 11:45pm | #8

   I can also vouch for the Fein. Effective and very quiet. Not sure what they are going for now, but I thought the price I paid a few years ago was reasonable compared to similar vacs. Prices for the accessories are a little outlandish, though. One note: if you're looking for something more portable, look at either the Turbo I or Turbo II. I find the Turbo III's size makes it a little awkward to run up and down the stairs.

1. 
   Ledebuhr1 | Sep 27, 2009 02:07am | #9

   Utterguys used to sell reconditioned Fein Vaccums. I got my Turbo 1 from them and it was a bit cheaper. I think Fein is like Bose and requires all its retailers to sell its products for the same amount.

8. 
   AitchKay | Sep 28, 2009 04:16am | #10

   Fein and Festo are both good. I have used both, and currently own a Festo.

   But the power and quietness of a Wap cannot be matched. My circa 1990 model is starting to fail -- it's almost as loud as a Fein now, but still beats it for suction.

   For a power test, plug two vacs into a power strip, and couple their equal-length hoses together, with a ping-pong ball at the joint.

   Now, with both vac switches in the ON position, turn on the power strip. Next, turn it off, open up the Wap, and remove the ping-pong ball.

   'Nuff said.

   AitchKay

1. 
   McMark | Sep 28, 2009 04:53am | #11

   Ditto everything about the Wap

   http://www.alto-online.com/Products/VacuumCleaners/CommercialVacuumCleaners/CommercialVacs/SALTIX3/Introduction.aspx

9. 
   6bag | Sep 30, 2009 04:33am | #12

   bosch makes a good quiet one.  traps concrete and drywall dust.

10. 
    cowtown | Sep 30, 2009 06:38am | #13

    most dust collectors are a heck of a lot quiter than a shop vac Probably by a whole "bel", not a decibel.

     

    Eroc

11. 
    Jercarp | Sep 30, 2009 02:43pm | #14

    Fein is the quietest I've ever used. They're too expensive though. I got a little 8 gal Shop Vac and use a hepa filter along with a hepa bag. It's noisier than the Fein but very tolerable and easily does the same work for a third the price.

1. 
   AitchKay | Sep 30, 2009 03:10pm | #15

   The Wap is quieter than the Fein, and it also makes the Fein seem inexpensive!AitchKay

12. 
    FatRoman | Oct 01, 2009 04:45am | #16

    Coastal Tool has the old style model Fein Turbo 1 on sale for $199. Looks like it's the same noise rating as the new ones.

    http://www.coastaltool.com/a/fein/turbo-i.htm

    'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

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