Craftsman 17741

Reviews say the 7.3-amp (3-hp) Craftsman 17741 shop vac outperforms the similar 6-gallon Ridgid WD0625 (*est. $50). Though tests find that most Ridgid shop vacs emit less dust in the exhaust than Craftsman models, this competing pair is an exception. Neither shop vac is a great performer compared with, say, the wall-mounted Ridgid WD5500 (*est. $100), but owners say the Craftsman 17741 is convenient and a good value, though most nozzles are options at extra cost. The warranty is for only one year, compared with the lifetime warranty offered with Ridgid shop vacs.

Consumer Reports puts the 6-gallon Craftsman 17741 shop vac through a series of objective tests in its recent shop-vac review, comparing it with six other small models as well as with 16 others of various sizes. More than 20 owners also review and rate the Craftsman 17741 at Sears.com, commenting on their experiences with it and giving it specific ratings for durability, value, and performance. An editor at ConsumerGuide.com also reviews the Craftsman 17741, but we couldn't tell if the writer had tested it.