Fein 9-55-23 Turbo II

*Est. $300

Both professional and owner-written reviews praise the Fein Turbo II shop vac for outstanding quiet (71 decibels) and overall quality and durability, as well as for its three-year warranty. This shop vac packs up compactly, with convenient cord storage; so it tucks under a workbench for storage; a large handle makes it easy to take to jobsites. Its stable five-castor design makes it easy to tug around. Reviews consistently praise the tool trigger higher than most, especially because of its 19-amp rating.

The switches can be hard to see, and the small castors can get hung up on workshop debris. This mid-sized Fein Turbo II lacks a drain, blower and tool caddy, and is only designed for dust collection from power tools; its 1.25-inch hose is too small for general shop cleanup. Reviews say cleaning or changing the filter is a dusty job, and Fein's shop-vac accessories are relatively expensive. Some reviewers say this model's sound level can rise over the years of ownership.

Where to Buy

(check price)

See All Stores

Our Analysis

Reviews praise all three Fein shop vacs for outstanding quiet and durability. The seven-gallon Fein 9-55-23 Turbo II shop vac is only a little bigger than the six-gallon Fein 9-11-55 Turbo I, 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 more expensive Festool shop vacs are quiet and have internal filters, but can only handle tools up to 10 amps. 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.

Since Fein dust extractors (which are also called shop vacs or wet/dry vacuums) 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 earlier comparison reviews at American Woodworker, Tools of the Trade and Taunton's 2005 and 2004 Tool Guides. This popular shop vac is also one of the most-reviewed models at Amazon.com, where owners rate it based on their personal experience -- often over months or years of use.

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. This review of five tool-triggered shop vacs (suitable for dust collection) presents essentially the same information as the review in the June 2007 issue of Fine Homebuilding summarized below. This review does add the results of a survey of more than 9,000 readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking. 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. Noise levels are measured (with a decibel meter) four feet from the motor, about where the user would normally work. Along with the other wet/dry vacuums, the Fein Turbo II gets numeric ratings for suction power, filter performance and convenience, ease of emptying, mobility and overall design. In addition, the review notes specific pros and cons for each shop vac.

Review: Untitled, Rob Wotzak, June-July 2007

3. Taunton's 2005 and 2004 Tool GuidesDetails/Subscribe

While the mid-sized Fein Turbo II isn't included in this comparison review, editors do test the similar (and larger) Turbo III. Along with an editorial review, the article reports on results of a survey of more than 6,000 readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking, where readers are invited to rate shop vacs. Editors praise the Fein as "a quiet, dependable workhorse," and a survey ranks the Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III as the top favorite.

Review: Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III Review, Roland Johnson, plus editors and readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding

4. Tools of the Trade

After putting nine pro-level shop vacs through a set of workshop tests, including sucking up nails and siphoning a bucket of water, 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. American Woodworker

Here, editors compare the predecessor of the Fein Turbo II, the Fein 9-55-13 Mini, with five other shop vacs, testing each for performance, ease of use, and noise level. The Fein shop vacs are by far the quietest tested, with the highest amp-ratings available at the time. The Fein Turbo III is recommended more for general shop use, though, since it has a larger-diameter hose, and the Bosch 3931 is easier to clean.

Review: Shop Vacuums for Portable Power Tools, George Vondriska and Tom Caspar

6. Amazon.com

More than 60 owners have rated the Fein Turbo Vac II at Amazon.com, which also posts its own "expert review." Generally, owners praise the Fein Turbo II's quiet performance, but there are some complaints about its hose, cord and small wheels.

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

7. Epinions.com

Only a handful of owners review the Fein Turbo II here. Owners praise the Fein'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

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