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help me choose a wet/dry vac.

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  • #1

    help me choose a wet/dry vac.

    hey guys, im trying to decide which wet/dry vac would be right for me and detailing. Ive heard a lot of you guys talk about ridgids, however, closest place to me that sells those is 35 miles away in MN. So basically, im down to either Shop-Vac brand name or some other name that i dont know about.

    What should be the right HP to look for so i can get awesome suction out of one of these? Im looking at 5-6hp but with those you get crazy big tanks, like 12-18 gallons.

    If you guys use a shop vac, tell me what series vac it is, where u got it, how the suctinon is and which diameter hose you have. Also, whats the tank size and HP of it and are you satisfied with it or does it not do something as well as youd like it to.
    Zach Hall

    2001.5 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel - DD/Tow rig
    1983 Chevy C10 - Race/Show rig
    1939 Dodge D11 Luxury Liner Deluxe - Antique resto. project
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

    I got the Ridgid WD1450 at Home Depot for $99.00, along with the auto detailing kit, which I highly recommend. It comes with more attachments, which I've used all of, and a 10 foot hose. The vac comes with a 7 footer. The kit was either $29.97 or $39.97, I forget which.

    The vac is a 6 hp, 14 gallon unit. The 6hp I like, but I could do with a much smaller tank!

    So far, I like it very much. My only complaint being that the attachments don't stay on real well- mainly the claw attachment.

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    • #3
      Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

      hmmm, it seems like everyone likes the ridgids a lot better than the actual shop-vac brand, however like i said, closest place to get a ridgid for me is in MN
      Zach Hall

      2001.5 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel - DD/Tow rig
      1983 Chevy C10 - Race/Show rig
      1939 Dodge D11 Luxury Liner Deluxe - Antique resto. project

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      • #4
        Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

        I debated this for while. I wanted to get a Shop Vac because they're made in the USA, but a lot of the reviews I read were pretty bad compared to the Mexican made Ridgid.

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        • #5
          Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

          I would go with the Ridgid.

          I think the next one I will get will be the WD1851. It moves 203 cubic feet a min, that is very impressive for the price imo.

          If you just need the vacuum part, I would order something like a Metro Vac N' Blow offline, super suction and actually quiet for a vacuum.
          Fergy-

          You're only as good as your last detail

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          • #6
            Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

            Here is another vote for Rigid. Very good unit. Mine has scroll technology. Makes it a lot quieter then my other shop vac.
            quality creates its own demand

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

              You could always just order online from somewhere. Amazon sells the Ridgid WD1450 for $99.00 with free shipping and no tax, you can’t beat that at HomeDepot. Also, you could check out Sears. The Craftsman line and Ridgid are both made by Emerson Tool Co.

              I’m not to sure what to think about the HP rating on all these shop vac’s. I have a 18 year old 3.5hp Craftsman and a couple of years ago I thought I would get a new one that had a smaller foot print and maybe a little quieter. So, I went to HomeDepot and picked up the WD4550 (5hp), it was certainly smaller but, it was just as loud as the Craftsman and it couldn’t hold a candle to the old Craftsman as far as lift/power was concerned. I took the WD4550 back and still have the old reliable Craftsman.

              I highly recommend no matter which shop vac you decide on, get the premium crush resistant hose, it’s worth every penny.. Sears, Lowes, HomeDepot all carry them in one way or another. I believe the car kit that Mark80z28 recommended at HomeDepot has the pro hose.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

                Originally posted by Mark80z28 View Post
                I got the Ridgid WD1450 at Home Depot for $99.00, along with the auto detailing kit, which I highly recommend. It comes with more attachments, which I've used all of, and a 10 foot hose. The vac comes with a 7 footer. The kit was either $29.97 or $39.97, I forget which.

                The vac is a 6 hp, 14 gallon unit. The 6hp I like, but I could do with a much smaller tank!

                So far, I like it very much. My only complaint being that the attachments don't stay on real well- mainly the claw attachment.
                +1 on the Ridgid WD1450. I've had it for 4 years and no complaints. I need to upgrade to a better 2 1/2" hose but the 7 footer is ok for the rare times I use it. I bought the Ridgid car attachment kit that has an 11' 1 1/4" hose, smaller crevice tool, a hose adapter, brush attachment, and something else that I'm not remembering. I end up using the small diameter hose for everything including attachment to portable woodworking tools like sanders, jigsaw, router, etc.

                If you're going to be using the vac for more than cars, I'd get a CleanStream filter. It's a reusable goretex filter that can be washed instead of the standard paper filter that comes with the unit. I want to say that Lowe's, Home Depot, and Sears carry them.

                Clean Stream Filter

                The filter bags that Home Depot stocks are another good accessory to have if you plan on sucking up drywall dust and such. Nothing kills a vac faster than extremely fine dust like that.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

                  I've got a Sears Wet/Dry vac. It is 5hp and 4 gallons. Why would you need a 12-16 gallon vac for a car? How dirty is it? I wanted something small, but with good suction. All I can say is this Sears one su.cks big time!!! And I mean that in a good way. I have a larger 5hp Sears vac and it doesn't have near the suction of this 4 gallon one. I'm impressed to say the least. I paid $89 for it last week.

                  Colin
                  A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

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                  • #10
                    Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

                    Make that $79. Here's the link.

                    Wet/Dry Vac

                    Colin
                    A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: help me choose a wet/dry vac.

                      Now while I'm sure there are subtle differences between them but all shop vac's do one thing; they vacuum, you thought I was going to say ****!

                      I have both Ridgid and an old Craftsman and they both work well, don't sweat the details so by one close to you so if there's a problem you can return it.
                      BobbyG

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