Replies

1. 
   riverr1 | Dec 23, 2002 02:57am | #1

   There darn good vacs, but I don't think the working end is any better then what you have. The value is in the noise level and fine particle collection. You point is exactly what this is all about. Doe the extra money justify getting the vac? For some it does, for others no. Look up and see how much they are in Europe.

   Don

2. 
   Piffin | Dec 23, 2002 03:54am | #2

   I usually keep two craftsman units on hand to rotate through the paces @ about one per year for all the heavy stuff. They have different models and some are quieter than others. I worked around a Rigid for a couple days and that is really painfull on the ears, even for someone half deaf already.

   Painter's just brought in a PC unit that is REALLY quite. I thinbk I'll get one of them for the basic dust and stuff after the heavy demo goes by. That smaller hose won't pick up chunks like the Sears will. With clean filters, you're right, it'll such the warts off a toad.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

   "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

   The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

   --Marcus Aurelius

3. 
   92588 | Dec 23, 2002 04:19am | #3

   i love my milwaukee but at the end of a day nothing can keep up with me when i want to go home at 4:29. put a central vac in for my bride so i couldnt hear her but now im outside gardening with the exhaust blairing. cant win

4. 
   Frankie | Dec 23, 2002 04:36am | #4

   You can purchase a Rigid muffler that will also fit the Sears but it also cuts down on the suckability. It is queiter though. The larger units have a wider wheel base to decrease the chance of tipping. They also have a lower pitch noise which I find easier on the ears.

   Anything made out of metal will rust if you vaccum anything that is wet. My old boss got one of these (Shopvac brand). Total waste of money, but they do look good.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Dec 23, 2002 05:39am | #5

   Out of the reasonable priced brands....I think the vac might be the last Craftsman tool I'd buy.

   When i bought my last one, I got home and did a test run......almost made my ears bleed it was so loud and high pitched. I took it back and told them why...the sales girl said All vac's a a bit loud.

   I told her I'm pretty sure I've been around a few more of them running for days on end than she had...so I'm not keeping that one. It was the biggest one they had, at that time.

   I found a plug behind a display and just plugged them all in and started them up one by one. Funny thing..the model one size down for the monster was the quietest.

   That's the one I got. Now I'm glad I got the slightly smaller one.....it still picks up anything.....and I can now carry it thru doorways without banging my elbows up.

   Just gotta empty it a bit sooner...not a big problem to live with.

   I am looking at the small Fein, of the 2 they have in Tool Crib. I need something with the auto start/stop to ease the pain of cutting in a furnished home.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

1. 
   cabman | Dec 23, 2002 06:43am | #7

   Yes the auto on-off makes a lot of sense. I install kitchen cabinets, so the vacuum gets used every day. Under 60db and only $525 (that's about 80 bucks u.s.)

1. 
   Windmill | Dec 24, 2002 06:48am | #16

   What country do you live in ??? $525.00 converting to  $80.00 U.S.  I thought Canada was bad.  Canada would convert to$338.00.

   Walt

1. 
   cabman | Dec 24, 2002 09:01am | #17

   Sorry Walt. Just a bit of humor only I got. I live in Canada. Just got back from a holiday with Mickey Mouse. The dollar exchange was a killer.

   Darren.

2. 
   calvin | Dec 23, 2002 03:19pm | #11

   Jeff, I have the Turbo II Fein.  It doesn't have the suck power that you're used to in the craftsman, but it is much quieter and doesn't tip over.  The hose at 1-1/4" (i think) is long and doesn't stay curled, suck itself up.  It doesn't tip over, bash and nick things up when you drag it around.  The auto switch is good (you can get just a switch at sears I think, if you want to use what you have.)  The Fein cost 245 us with the attmt kit from my tool supplier.  I like it, use it to clean up demo and as a dust collector for tools.  I don't have any extra filters for small particles, but am satisfied with the way it doesn't blow dust around.

   Merry Christmas to the family.

   __________________________________________

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   http://www.quittintime.com/

1. 
   JeffBuck | Dec 24, 2002 03:05am | #14

   Cal....

   aside from the big demo stuff......how's it work for saw dust/chips alone?

   I'd just use it as the tool hook-up vac. Thinking of making up a 2 into one adapter ..run one side to the table saw...the other to the chop saw. Do the same with the plugs......easy on , easy off....if it all works.

   I was just at Sears, and couldn't find that plug in deal....went there specifically looking for it.....the kids at the check out never heard of such things!

   I wonder if they still make them?

   That'd save me a coupla hundred bucks in the meantime.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

1. 
   calvin | Dec 24, 2002 04:22am | #15

   Ok buddy, just because I like you.  I'm no engineer, but

   I would think you would maybe need a gate to close on the hose, it won't provide enough suck for both ends to be open.........or you gotta switch one to the other.  Getting the right end adapter if available, could be a headache, but most configurations would work with if nothing else, duct tape.  There is a rubber "connector" that fits the hose end and many 1 1/4" or so tool dust bag ports   I like it with the table saw, but probably you would want to box in the bottom of the table saw so it would pull from the blade area only and any stuff that made it out would be contained.  I sometimes set a cardboard box under the saw stand.  Most of the airbourne dust will be picked up with the vac (on a bosch saw).  On my Hitachi CMS, you have to do a duct tape routine, cuz the bag connection has a cutout and no adptr will fit that I've found.  If you have a saw with a full round bag outlet, you might be in good shape.  I'm glad I got it, am satisfied with it's performance (remember, it won't suck a golf ball through a hose) and that it doesn't tip over and is quiet and you can plug a tool into it for switching it on. 

   If you ever had thoughts about the dust collecting PC drywall vac, you might be able to make that double duty in the sawdust collection too.  Add another use and pay more.  Don't think it's as quiet tho. 

   Now to that switch.  I'm sure it was sears and it was a sort of box with a 4-6 ft cord.  One side outlet (s) triggered the other sides outlet.  I will see about calling the local sears hardware and describing it.  Maybe I'm wrong.

   I'm sorry if this is disjointed, I've been having to instruct telemarketers on the fine point of selling bs over the phone.

   __________________________________________

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   http://www.quittintime.com/

2. 
   JeffBuck | Dec 24, 2002 09:27am | #18

   Didn't ya read Cal...appearantly I hate engineers!

   Any how.....I'll figure out the what's and where's somewhere along the line.....just wanted to know if ya thought it strong to handle the steady stream of saw dust...

   sounds like it'd be just thye ticket. If I do get it.....it'd be an in-home portable(?) saw dust collector/tool hook-up deal......I still plan on having the craftsman monster sitting right next to it for the daily dusting.

   You are right...Sears is where I first saw that plug set up......I just rethought this idea last month after hanging cab's and was running the cab trim in an ice storm!

   Either dust inside or icy death outside......the inside environment lost!

   I use the adaptor that came with my Bosch power plane to hook up my vac hose to the chopper...and the DeWalt port is already sized perfect for my Craftsman hose......so I just do the big switch each time I swap tools.

   I'd mount the hose set up on a small ply table and use those fancy hoses and gates from the woodworking catalogs. Don't think it too hard for me to rig something up.

   Thanks for the vac info.....Happy Holidays

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

    Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

3. 
   BillHartmann | Dec 24, 2002 07:38pm | #19

   Jeff

   Here is the part number Sears Item #00924031000

   And here is a redirect link to it. http://tinyurl.com/3t32

   And they also have a version of it with a goose neck lamp attached. Sears Item #00924033000

   http://tinyurl.com/3t36

4. 
   jimblodgett | Dec 25, 2002 04:30am | #20

   I second the WAP recommendation - unreal suckability and quiet.  Our local rental yard has a few, I always think that's a good reflection on a tool, if it can stand up to the abuse rentals take.  I got quoted $600.00 for one a few years ago though and flinched. 

   The Fein Turbo II and the PC got the highest grades in the last shop vac comparrison article I read...I think maybe by Michael Standish, a few years ago?  He liked the low noise and non tip handling of both.  So last month I make up my mind to finally order the Turbo II and now Fein advertises the Turbo III, which they say has 10% more suck strength than their Turbo II.  How much more expensive is it?  Last I looked the Turbo II was around $200.00.

   Oh geez, I had to come back because I remembered what I was going to ask.  Anybody use those cyclone deals that fit on top of a garbage can, or the smaller one that fits on top of a 5 gallon bucket?  I guess you put it in the line, between the tool and the vacumn, and the heavy stuff falls out into the bucket instead of getting sucked all the way into the vac.  Seems like it could make things easier for the vacumn.  Might improve suck rating? 

   Edited 12/24/2002 8:35:12 PM ET by jim blodgett

5. 
   mike_chrest | Dec 26, 2002 07:57pm | #23

   Hi Jim,

     Yeah, we got one of the cyclone covers for a garbage can and have it hooked up to a thickness planer and a single stage dust extractor( Jet brand I think). It works great.I hated to take the cloth bags off the dust machine and now just dump the metal can after planeing a dozen boards. Kind of expensive for a piece of plastic though, I got it at Wood Workers Warehouse.

                                                                                                  Mike

6. 
   james | Dec 27, 2002 10:45pm | #24

   check out these dust suckers

   http://www.festool-usa.com/portando/index.cfm

7. 
   Sancho | Dec 25, 2002 08:59pm | #21

   I had a sears and got so frustrated at it tipping over that I made a 30 yard feild goal with it. Shady just got me a rigid for Xmas its sits lower to the ground than my old crapsman did. Havent used it yet but will inna couple of days and will let you know. 

   At Darkworks  Customer satisfaction Job One..Yea yea were all over it , I got my best guys on it.........

8. 
   edwardh1 | Dec 26, 2002 06:58am | #22

   What I like about shop vacs is they can get 4.5 horsepower out of 10 amps.

   It says so right on the top of the RIGID. Are you calling them liars??

   What a deal!!!!!!!!

2. 
   riverr1 | Dec 23, 2002 05:48am | #6

   The good metal ones are SS, and very expensive.

   Don

5. 
   Catskinner | Dec 23, 2002 07:31am | #8

   WAP (I think they might be Alto now) makes an absolutely outstanding machine, but it is seriously expensive.

   For general construction use, it's hard to beat the noisy, junky-looking, heavy-when-overfilled Rigid. Only drawback is you gotta go to HD.

   On the upside, we've beaten the cr*p out of ours, including a couple of four rounds of Lithochrome and digging a hole for an elevator ram (yes, we welded up a 5' long SDS bit and sucked the dirt out with a shop vac) and it is still running.

   The larger Rigid vac will darn near suck a golf ball through a garden hose.

   DRC

1. 
   larryscabnuts | Dec 23, 2002 10:22am | #9

   I think 'RIGID' used to make Craftmans stuff. I don't know if they made the vacumn though.

6. 
   TrimButcher | Dec 23, 2002 10:51am | #10

   If you want an inexpensive and quiet vacuum, go with a QSP Shop Vac.  They're quiet enough that you don't need earplugs, unlike my howling Ridgid (and I've got the muffler).  You can get one that you can plug a tool into and turns on when you turn the tool on.  I love this feature with a random orbital sander (note that the tool has to be less than 8 amp draw, ruling out circ saws, etc).  The downside is the QSP won't suck quite as hard as a big Craftsman or Ridgid (but you didn't want to lug around a big vacuum, right?), and only has the 1.5" hose. 

   Craftsman, Ridgids, and standard Shop Vacs are all single stage vacuums.  One motor/fan, which has to both suck and provide cooling air.  If you're looking for something a little more exotic, Shop Vac makes two stage industrial models: a fan for sucking, another for cooling.  If you plug the nozzle, you won't overheat.  They'll suck harder than a single stage, too, and draw fewer amps.  A 2.0HP two-stage will suck harder than a 6.5HP single stage.  I'm pretty sure the PC and Milwaukee vacuums are two-stage, as well as the Fein, but pricey as you've noticed.  I can get a two-stage Shop Vac in Toronto for $400 (and I believe it uses standard filters and bags).

   Regards,

   Tim

1. 
   ahneedhelp | Dec 23, 2002 05:55pm | #13

   Trimbutcher -

   re - The downside is the QSP won't suck quite as hard as a big Craftsman or Ridgid (but you didn't want to

   lug around a big vacuum, right?), and only has the 1.5" hose.

   Minor correction ----- There are larger QSP models that use the 2.5" hoses that quieter then the smaller hose models.

   I own both and the smaller ones are definitely screamers compared to the 2.5" models, which doesn't emit the high pitch noises.

   Although still not as quiet as let's say a Fein, the low pitched hum is far more tolerable then the screamers.

   The 2.5" hose models are very powerful for the money and can be equipped with HEPA pleated filter as well as a prefilter bag.

   We use a 16-gallon model for cleaning/dust pickup around the house.

   --------

   re - If you're looking for something a little more exotic, Shop Vac makes two stage industrial models:

   This I wasn't aware of.

   Time to go to their web-site.

   Hopefully it's not a Canada-only item....

   Thanks for this tip,

   Alan

7. 
   BossHog | Dec 23, 2002 03:40pm | #12

   I have s shop-vac stainless steel one I really like. Having the higher handle is great, so you can wheel it around like a furniture dolly. I really like it.

   This is the one I got:

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/hi/B0000223XE/qid=1040646887/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_etk-tools/103-8521901-6283067

   They have a slightly less expensive model too - It has plastic hoses instead of metal.

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/hi/B0000223XE/qid=1040646887/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_etk-tools/103-8521901-6283067

   May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house. [George Carlin]