Quality vac for personal use

[HealthyCivic]

My dad has an old small shop-vac that I've used but I don't like it because the vac is too small, the fan blows dirt around, and the hose is very short. To vacuum my car, I usually use the carpet vacuum cleaner with an attachment because I never let the car get dirty enough for that to be a bad idea.

Is there a strong, reliable wet-dry vacuum that you'd recommend? I looked up Shop-Vacs and it seems like they get mediocre reviews. I've heard great things about RIDGID vacs but I don't need a HUGE one.

[Carfire]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

I know what you are talking about with the whole blowing dust thing...My Dad's vac is the same way...But sorry I can't help you with a new one.

[tapp1]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

We have small rigid that works great for cars. Thinking about getting a bigger one. I have had a 6 gallon, 2.5hp for 4 years and had no trouble with it. I think I need more muscle for extra dirty carpets.

[Alex C.]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

Ridgid is good. I have the portable wet/dry vac from them and it works great. About 80 bucks or so. Ridgid even makes a "auto detailing" kit to go with their vacs. Comes with a 10ft hose and all the little attachments. I haven't bought it, but it looks cool.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

About 2 years ago, I bought the 2.5 hp rigid vac. Great unit. They also had the car kit. Paid about $50.00 for everything. A couple of months ago, I upgraded to the 6.0 hp model. It helps tremendously with extraction, after shampooing. I would get the larger unit. I strongly recommend the rigid units.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

I have a Craftsman that works great, it is a little bulky like any large unit.

[HealthyCivic]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

Ridgid is good. I have the portable wet/dry vac from them and it works great. About 80 bucks or so. Ridgid even makes a "auto detailing" kit to go with their vacs. Comes with a 10ft hose and all the little attachments. I haven't bought it, but it looks cool.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I just bought The Ridgid WD4070 from Home Depot. I tried it out and loved the longer hose length and even though it does blow out the back, since it is higher than my dad's mini, it doesn't blow the floor dust around.

While on the subject, because it's a bulky shop vac, I need to store it in the garage. However, since I'll use it only every so often, it's probably going to get dirty itself. Do you guys have any particular way to keep yours clean so it doesn't blow dust and dirt around the garage when you use it?

Also, I noticed with these more powerful models, when I am vacuuming the mat and other surfaces, the suction really grabs it causing me to have to pull real hard to get it off, possibly banging into other areas of the vehicle. Is there any trick to this?

[J.S.]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

Other than the back, I'm curious to know where else you think the exhaust should be?

You could rig up a 45 or 90 degree elbow or something similar that could redirect the exhaust upward so as to not be blowing ground dirst/dust around. The thing with shop vacs is that if the filters/bags aren't kept clean, the exhausting air will be full of dust itself.

Is your driveway paved (i.e. clean)? Could you back your car out of the garage into the driveway and vacuum there?

[HealthyCivic]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

Other than the back, I'm curious to know where else you think the exhaust should be?

I guess I worded it wrong. What I mean is I'm comparing it to our carpet vacuum and while it does certainly have an exhaust, I've noticed that the shop-vac exhaust is much more powerful (the air comes out faster). And yeah I think I'm just gonna use the driveway from now on.

[J.S.]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

No worries. Good luck! I hate dust and it's a nightmare to control sometimes.

I see you're from SoCal. I went to SoCal last year for the first time and I was staying in Indio. The weather was mint (as I'm sure it is 360 days a year) but one day there was a sandstorm and I thought about bringing my rental car inside the garage of the house where I was staying but I got lazy and just left it in the driveway. Well after the storm I went inside the car and there was sand/dust EVERYWHERE. I didn't realize 'cause I'm not used to blowing sand being from Toronto. The only thing that made me happy was knowing that the rental car wasn't mine and I didn't have to clean it.

[spyghost]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

i'm using karcher a2004 . i think its already discontinued. i bought it years ago. for me it was a good buy

[boiler7904]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

Ridgid makes a noise muffler that goes into the exhaust port on larger vacuums - I don't know if it fits your unit or not. I would think that it diffuses the air a little.

It is Ridgid part number VT2525

The suggestion of pvc pipe fittings would probably work too.

[rusty bumper]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

Also, I noticed with these more powerful models, when I am vacuuming the mat and other surfaces, the suction really grabs it causing me to have to pull real hard to get it off, possibly banging into other areas of the vehicle. Is there any trick to this?

Maybe you could drill a few small holes in the tool to allow for reduced suction. You can always put some duct tape over them (holes) if you need more cleaning power.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

The new rigid we bought has the scroll technology. Suppose to run much quieter. It is.

As far as the dirt blowing around. Please do not take this the wrong way. Clean your work environment before you start on the car. Even if the wind blows, do you want the dirt to settle in your wax as it is hazing over. Swirl city right there. I always try to sweep out the garage at least every couple of weeks to keep the dirt and dust down to a minimum.

[rusty bumper]

Re: Quality vac for personal use

As far as the dirt blowing around. Please do not take this the wrong way. Clean your work environment before you start on the car. Even if the wind blows, do you want the dirt to settle in your wax as it is hazing over. Swirl city right there. I always try to sweep out the garage at least every couple of weeks to keep the dirt and dust down to a minimum.

I know some that spray a fine mist of water on the floor to keep airborne dust to a minimum while sweeping it up.