shop vac problems what to do need opinions

JOCCO · Jan 16, 2016

My shop vac started blowing smoke and fire out of it so guess it is done. I seem to get a few years out of them, don't use them every day but they do get used hard sometimes. GUESS MY QUESTIONS ARE WHAT BRAND TO BUY AND WHERE??? I don't need a real large one like 40 gallon as I favor portable but 1-2 gallon is to small. SO CRAFTSMAN ,SOMETHING FROM HOME CHEPO OR OTHER?? Oh not to concerned about all kind of special features do like wet dry and am guilty of not changing filters enough!!! thanks all

Bill in IL · Jan 16, 2016

My opinion is to get a two stage vac. They are quieter and have better suction, in inches of water column but usually lower air flow rates, CFM. They are also more expensive so that alone may disinterest you.

I have also switched to using vacuum bags in my shop vac. No more aggravation of plugged filters as you can seem to fill the bags about full and still get max air flow, I could never do that with a cartridge or sock filter. They are also far superior in filtration as well mainly cause they never plug and the dirt in the bag will aid filtration.

the tractor vet · Jan 16, 2016

Don't know what i would get to replace the old one that i have . I bought it some 27 years ago when i first started to work on this old house . It has seen tons of old plaster and drywall sanding dust it has sucked up i;ll bet a pick up load of saw dust down in the basement , sucked up water down there several times each year and has been the major house cleaning machine since we have all hardwood floors and enough dog hair to supply Burlington coat factory with dog hair for ten years . The castors are shot and keep falling off but it keeps on going . It was the same one my one brother bought and his trashed out after a couple years . I keep new filters on it and use the bag except when sucking water . Mine is a five horse 16 gallon Shop vac bought at of all places Wal Marts. I spent a hundred bucks on it and it owes me nothing .

Zachary Hoyt · Jan 16, 2016

We have two Craftsman 16 gallon vacs that do a lot of work here. One is at least 20 years old and sounds a little iffy but it still works. The other one was given to us about 12 years ago and has been great. We also used to have a couple of Shop-Vac brand vacuums about the same size and the filters plugged constantly so we got rid of them a long time ago. I do have a couple of little Shop-Vac brand ones, one that is 5 gallon and one carry-around one that is 2 gallons that are fine but they don't get the kind of heavy work that the big ones do.
Zach

Determined · Jan 16, 2016

I used to chew up quite a few shop vac's as well.
What I do now is when I am bringing something to the shop to clean out, the first thing I do is open all the doors, grab a 3/4 inch airline with a long air chuck and let loose from both sides.
What is left over has not been able to kill my $10 auction sale vac for going on 6 years now.
Guessing the life of it all depends on what you are trying to pick up and put through it.

Scott 730 · Jan 16, 2016

Get a Craftsman or a Rigid.

SanDogDewey · Jan 16, 2016

Shop-Vac 6.5 hp is the best one I ever owned. I use bags in it to help keep the filters clean.

Janicholson · Jan 16, 2016

These are tough and used by schools/ Jim
One good

another

rustyfarmall · Jan 16, 2016

Craftsman. I've got the 16 gallon model doing duty as a dust collector on my sandblast cabinet. Been setting right there for quite a few years now. Sometimes it runs for several hours without being shut off.

notjustair · Jan 16, 2016

I have a small shop vac brand that is 20 years old. It works very well. I have been through I don't know how many 20 gallon ones. The new ones are junk. I bought a pro series one about a year ago and it is still running, so maybe it is good. I use the bags in it so the filter always stays clean - the motor doesn't pull as hard.

Buy an old one at a farm sale.

I've considered putting in a central vac system in the machine shed so I would have something with longevity.

Steve@Advance · Jan 16, 2016

This is what we use at work. They get max abuse, metal chips, coolant, any and all things nasty, and just keep on working! You can find a batter price on Ebay, this was the first ad ad I found.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/janitorial-maintenance/floor-care/vacuums-wet-dry/16-gallon-wet-dry-vac-6-hp-009-17761?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=shp&utm_term=B1529561&utm_campaign=Vacuums-Wet-Dry&infoParam.campaignId=WR

Dick2 · Jan 16, 2016

I couldn't get a Shop Vac to live very long. Bought two Rigid; they are kind of noisy but just keep on doing their job.

DENNIS MIN · Jan 16, 2016

Jocco,

We ran no less than several dozen vacuums of various brands. Many weeks of running all day and night proved which ones lasted longest.

I cannot speak for all of them, but when my vacuum dies, it'll be replaced with a Rigid brand with noise suppression.

D.

Ultradog MN · Jan 16, 2016

Ridgid.
Shop vacs are an expendable tool for me. I pull up a lot of sheet rock dust and tile mortar with them which wrecks them in a couple of years.
I've had Genie, Shop Vac, Craftsman, Hitachi and maybe others but get the best bang for my buck from a Ridgid.
And you can go to any Home Despot and get new filters on the spot. Try that with other brands.

old · Jan 16, 2016

I have one I got at Wal-mart many years ago. It is at least 15 years old and still going strong.
A lot depends on what your doing with it.
I found years ago if your working and sucking up things like dry wall dust then do not last long but if you use them more or less like a home vacuum they will last decades.

RBoots · Jan 16, 2016

I always run mine with the bags in it. After constantly plugging filters with drywall dust, I put a bag in it instead. Works GREAT! No plugged filters, just toss the bag when it gets full, and also doesn't blow dust back out like one with a filter starting to plug.

Ross

RayP(MI) · Jan 16, 2016

Whatever you do don't use a flexible sump pump hose for a vacuum hose. Noise is deafening!

K Effective · Jan 16, 2016

I ran a car detailing shop for 17 years in a previous life- we vacuumed 1-10 cars per day. We always used Craftsman 16 gallon, converted to a smaller 1.5 inch hose and auto carpet nozzles. We were pretty good with the routine emptying and filter cleaning weekly (spare change to buy Saturday lunches). we usually rinse the filters out after banging them clean, then let them dry over the weekend. Lasted long time. Once the brushes/armature goes, no repair on those, just buy new.

John730D · Jan 16, 2016

Shop Vac mounted on wall with plenty of hose. Best thing I ever did was getting a wall mount. Always in place ready for work and I just hang the hose over it. Mounted between garage doors so I can use it outside also. Shop Vac only because filters are easy to get anywhere.

ztrmower · Jan 16, 2016

i have attachment that goes on air hose beats any shop vac i had. only works thou if have air supply thou but i have over 400ft of hose so no issues last weak suck the house drywall dust out window. doing major house dismantle getting ready to put it in the air.never had much luck with them course never had new unit period. alot were 1.00 units on auctions.

guido · Jan 16, 2016

Hello jocco,

Chances are the motor inhaled some sparkles? Look at the brushes and the commutetor. My guess is they both need some TLC. Lube the motor shaft while you have it open,

Guido.

NEKS · Jan 16, 2016

Bought a new craftsman a year ago and probably didn't have a hour on it and it slowed down and started smoking. I even bought a extra filter for it and the one in there is not dirty yet.

Paul from MI · Jan 16, 2016

Kids got me a Rigid five years ago for Christmas--still going strong. New filters easy to find too.

Jim in MN · Jan 19, 2016

Second on the drywall bags. My shopvac will maintain good suction up to the point I can hardly lift it from being so full.

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