EmailBest Reviewed
Shop Vacs
- Best shop vac for most users Ridgid WD1450 *Est. $115
- Best workshop vacuum Bosch AirSweep 3931A *Est. $525
- Budget/portable shop vac Shop-Vac AllAround 971-01-00 *Est. $65
Get info about new reports and updates
- This 20-gallon shop vac offers outstanding capacity for dry debris. Reviews also praise the 6.5-hp (12-amp) Craftsman 17762 shop vac for excellent suction for both wet and dry pickup. It can also be used as a 175-mph blower, with a diffuser to keep normal exhaust from blowing dust around the room. The hose locks securely to the tank, and the 20-foot cord wraps for onboard storage. Despite its big capacity, this shop vac is only 21.5 inches tall, so it's easy to store under a table or workbench. For vacuuming liquids, there's not only a drain but also a squeegee tool.
- Unlike Ridgid shop vacs, the motor of the Craftsman 17762 shop vac doesn't automatically shut off when vacuumed liquids reach their maximum level. Reviews also criticize the Craftsman 17762 for emitting more dust in its exhaust than do Ridgid shop vacs, and some say the Craftsman shop vac is louder. The warranty lasts only one year.
Reviewers say the Craftsman 17762 shop vac is a good buy because of its 20-gallon capacity, power and ease of use, though its sheer size can make it hard to store and maneuver. This model is priced quite a bit lower than the 16-gallon Ridgid WD1850 (*est. $150), but the Ridgid shop vac has lower emissions and carries a lifetime warranty; Craftsman shop vacs are warranted for only one year.
We found the best review of the 20-gallon Craftsman 17762 shop vac at Consumer Reports, where objective tests compare it with four other wet-dry vacs of similar size, as well as with 18 other models. In the Ridgid Tool Forum, owners of the Craftsman compare it with Ridgid and Shop-Vac models, and owner-written reviews and ratings published at Sears.com provide even more details.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.org
Consumer Reports includes the Craftsman 17762 in its review of 23 shop vacs, comparing it mostly with four other models of similar size. Each shop vac is put through objective tests, then assigned a total score as well as separate ratings for wet and dry pickup performance, emissions and ease of use.
Review: Wet/Dry Vacuums, Editors of Consumer Reports, Mar. 2007
Several users posting here recommend the Craftsman 17762 shop vac over competing Ridgid models, citing its 20-gallon capacity and the range of available accessories. However, owners say Ridgid shop vacs are quieter.
Review: Comparing Craftsman 17762 with Ridgid shop vacs, Contributors to Ridgid Tool Forum.com
3. Sears.com
More than 20 owners have reviewed and rated the Craftsman 17762 shop vac at Sears.com, most giving it quite positive comments. Owners like the 20-gallon capacity and describe using this shop vac for quite a variety of purposes, including cleaning up after a washer overflowed. Sears.com is becoming the best place to read owner-written reviews on Craftsman shop vacs, which can't be found anywhere else.
Review: Craftsman 17762 Reviews, Contributors to Sears.com
Shop Vacs Runners Up:
6 picks including: About.com, Benchmark…
5 picks including: Amazon.com, Fine Homebuilding…
4 picks including: Benchmark, Fine Homebuilding…
3 picks including: Journal of Light Construction, Fine Woodworking…
3 picks including: American Woodworker, Sears.com…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com…
3 picks including: American Woodworker, HomeDepot.com…
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: Amazon.com, American Woodworker…
2 picks including: Sears.com, RidgidForum.com…
2 picks including: HomeDepot.com, RidgidForum.com…
Festool 583366 CT 22 E 5.8-Gallon HEPA Mobile Dust Extractor
 from Amazon.com New: $505.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  |
||
|
|
Fein 9-20-25 Turbo-II 9-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum with Auto-Start
from Amazon.com New: $495.00 $388.99 In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  |
||
|
|
Festool CT 33 E 8.7 Gallon HEPA Mobile Dust Extractor 583368
from Amazon.com New: $580.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
 |
||
|
|
DEWALT DC500 2-Gallon 12-to-18-Volt Cordless/Corded Wet/Dry Vacuum
from Amazon.com New: $182.16 $99.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Milwaukee 0880-20 18-Volt Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum
from Amazon.com New: $162.00 $79.95 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Porter-Cable 7814 15 Gallon 1-1/2 Horsepower Tool-Start Wet/Dry Vacuum
from Amazon.com New: $658.56 $369.95 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Ridgid WD4522 4.5 Gallon Pro Pack Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum
from Amazon.com New: $112.25
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
