Fein 9-55-13 Turbo II

*Est. $330

Quiet (71 decibels)
Overall quality and durability with three-year warranty
Stores compactly

Switches are hard to see
No drain, blower or tool caddy
1.25-inch hose is too small for general shop cleanup
Some plastic parts can break

Where to Buy

for 388.99

See All Stores

Reviews praise all three Fein shop vacs for outstanding quiet and durability. The 7-gallon Fein 9-55-23 Turbo II shop vac is only a little bigger than the six-gallon Fein 9-11-55 Turbo I (*est. $230), but reviews say it's quieter yet more powerful. The Fein Turbo II shop vac can collect dust from sanders and power tools up to 19 amps, but its small-diameter hose makes it less useful for general shop cleanup, and there's no drain for liquids. Although shop vacs with internal filter cleaners, such as the 10-gallon Porter-Cable 7812 (*est. $270), are easier to clean, their noise level is much higher. The three-year warranty on the Fein Turbo II, along with its quiet performance and compact design, make it one of the top-ranked shop vacs. For general cleanup, reviews recommend the 14-gallon Ridgid WD1450 (*est. $100).

Since Fein shop vacs are designed to collect dust from small woodworking power tools, it's not surprising that the best reviews of the Fein Turbo II are in woodworking magazines. We found the most recent review of the Fein Turbo II at Fine Homebuilding, where five tool-triggered shop vacs are tested at a remodeling job. The Fein Turbo II is also included in an earlier comparison review at Tools of the Trade and is one of the most-reviewed models at Amazon.com.

Where To Buy

Store Rating	Notes	Total Price
13 store reviews	In Stock. Ships 1-2 Days	$872.00	See It
168 store reviews	In Stock. Fantastic prices with ease & comfort of Amazon.com!	$388.99	See It
705 store reviews	In Stock. Free Shipping	$112.71	See It
		See All Stores

Our Sources

1. Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide

The Fein Turbo II shop vac is rated the "best value" in a field of five tool-triggered shop vacs. Readers agree with the editors' two top picks, ranking the Fein Turbo II second, after the Festool CT 33 but above the Bosch 3931A.

Review: Tool-Triggered Shop Vacs, Rob Wotzak and Taunton Press Editors, Sept. 2007

2. Fine HomebuildingDetails/Subscribe

Selecting the Fein Turbo II as the best value in a tool-triggered shop vac, this review compares it with four other wet/dry shop vacuums in field tests at an actual jobsite. The Fein Turbo II gets numeric ratings for features including power, convenience, ease of emptying and overall design.

Review: Untitled, Rob Wotzak, June/July 2007

3. Journal of Light ConstructionDetails/Subscribe

Professional remodeling contractor David Grubb tests the Fein Turbo II along with six other tool-activated shop vacs. The review finds the Fein shop vac well-made overall, but with some plastic that's brittle enough to break easily. Also, the filter is hard to clean, and the shop vac is top-heavy when empty.

Review: Tool Test: Tool-Activated Vacuums, David Grubb, Dec. 2004

4. Tools of the Trade

After putting nine pro-level shop vacs through a set of workshop tests, this review recommends the Fein 9-55-13 Turbo II for small jobs or as a good portable shop vacuum. But it doesn't get top ranking here, since it lacks a drain, blower and tool caddy.

Review: Tool Test: Wet/Dry Vacuums, Chris Kulczycki, Mar./Apr. 2004

5. Amazon.com

More than 60 owners have rated the Fein Turbo Vac II at Amazon.com, giving it an average rating of 4.5 stars out of a possible five. Most owners praise the Fein Turbo II for its quiet performance, although some complain about fragile plastic parts and how hard it is to clean unless you use an expensive dust bag.

Review: Fein 9-55-13 Turbo II Reviews, Jonathon Tudor and Contributors to Amazon.com

6. SawmillCreek.org

In this discussion of shop vacs at a woodworking forum, readers compare the Fein Turbo II and Festool CT 22 shop vacs. The consensus is that the Fein shop vac is sturdier and better for general cleanup, but the HEPA filters are an expensive upgrade while the Festool comes with HEPA filters.

Review: Fein vs. Festool, Dec. 2007

7. Epinions.com

Only a handful of owners review the Fein Turbo II shop vac here. Owners praise the Turbo II's quiet operation, but they complain that emptying it is messy, and that connections with power tools can be loose and leak dust. One owner says he's glad he upgraded to a Festool shop vac.

Review: Fein 9-55-13 Turbo II Reviews, Contributors to Epinions.com