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
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- Easy to store
- Good mobility
- Long 21-foot cord
- No automatic shutoff for liquids
- Not the best for wet pickup
Objective comparison tests put the 12-gallon 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. $115) emits less dust in its exhaust than either of these two shop vacs. Also, Ridgid shop vacs carry lifetime warranty coverage, while the Craftsman 17765 is guaranteed for just one year.
The 12-gallon Craftsman 17765 is included in a fairly recent ConsumerReports.org 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 extremely useful 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.
Ridgid WD1450 14-Gallon 6-Horsepower Wet/Dry Vacuum
 from Amazon.com New: $166.90 $134.99 In Stock.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org includes the Craftsman 17765 in its comprehensive review of 23 shop vacs, primarily comparing it against four other similar, medium-sized vacs. 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. To read this report, you must be a ConsumerReports.org subscriber.
Review: Wet/Dry Vacuums, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Mar. 2007
2. Sears.com
At the time of this report, over 40 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 12-gal 5.0 peak hp Wet/Dry Vac, Contributors to Sears.com
Several users posting here recommend the 20-gallon Craftsman 17762 shop vac over competing Ridgid models, but this model has been discontinued. Many of the observations about the 17762 are likely applicable with the lower-capacity 17765. It's notable that owners here say that Ridgid shop vacs are quieter than comparable Craftsman vacs.
Review: Ridgid or Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac?, Contributors to RidgidForum.com
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