Craftsman 17765

*Est. $80

Easy to store
Easy to move around
Long 21-foot cord

No automatic shutoff for liquids
Not the best for wet pickup

Our Analysis

Objective comparison tests put the Craftsman 17765 shop vac in the middle of the pack for wet pickup, but show that it has plenty of power and suction for vacuuming dry debris. Owners rate it quite highly, but the 12-gallon Ridgid WD1246 (*est. $70) costs a bit less and performs slightly better. However, the more expensive 14-gallon Ridgid WD1450 (*est. $100) emits less dust in its exhaust than either of these two shop vacs. Also, both Ridgid shop vacs carry lifetime warranties, while the Craftsman 17765 is guaranteed for just one year. If you're on a budget, reviews recommend the Shop-Vac All-Around 971-02-00 (*est. $55). Owners say its small 1.5-gallon capacity is fine for small jobs.

The 12-gallon Craftsman 17765 is included in a fairly recent Consumer Reports review, where it's compared with four other medium-size shop vacs as well as with 18 other wet/dry vacs of various sizes. This review is outstanding because of its objective testing and detailed ratings. We also found more than 20 reviews from owners commenting on the Craftsman 17765 at Sears.com, where they rate it for value, durability and performance.

Where To Buy

Store Rating	Notes	Total Price
1176 store reviews	In Stock. New	$62.10	See It
4487 store reviews	In Stock. in stock	$73.47	See It
		See All Stores

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports compares the Craftsman 17765 with four other models of similar medium size. Each shop vac is put through the same tests, then ranked according to its total score. Separate ratings are broken out for ease of use, emissions, and both dry and wet pickup.

Review: Wet/Dry Vacuums, Editors of Consumer Reports, Mar. 2007

2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports includes the Craftsman 17765 in its review of 23 shop vacs, comparing it mostly with four other models of similar medium size. Each shop vac is put through objective tests, then ranked according to its total score. Separate ratings are reported for ease of use, emissions, dry pickup and wet pickup.

Review: Wet/Dry Vacuums, Editors of Consumer Reports, Mar. 2007

3. Sears.com

At the time of this report, more than two dozen owners have reviewed and rated the Craftsman 17765 shop vac at Sears.com, giving it near-perfect ratings. Despite its relatively small size, it's one of the top-rated wet/dry vacuums out there.

Review: Craftsman 12-gal 5.0 Peak hp Wet/Dry Vac, Contributors to Sears.com

4. Sears.com

At the time of this report, over two dozen owners have reviewed and rated the Craftsman 17765 shop vac at Sears.com, giving it near-perfect ratings. Despite its relatively small size, it's one of the top-rated wet/dry vacuums there.

Review: Craftsman 17765 Reviews, Contributors to Sears.com

5. RidgidForum.com

Several users posting here recommend the larger Craftsman 17762 shop vac over competing Ridgid models, citing its 20-gallon capacity and the range of available accessories. It's notable that owners here say Ridgid shop vacs are quieter.

Review: Ridgid or Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac, Contributors to RidgidForum.com

6. RidgidForum.com

Review: Comparing Craftsman 17762 with Ridgid shop vacs, Contributors to RidgidForum.com