Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III Dust Extractor

*Est. $400

In addition to its overall build and quality, reviewers say the Fein Turbo III shop vac is distinguished by its quiet (58-decibel) operation. Its standard 2.25-inch hose makes it useful for vacuuming general debris around the home or workshop, and it's easy to pull around. The hose can be stepped down to fit the dust ports on portable power tools, and the convenient auto-start feature lets you hook up a power tool (up to 19 amps), so that turning the tool on and off also triggers the Turbo III. Bypass cooling protects the motor if the hose or filter gets clogged, and this there's a drain for emptying liquids. Exhaust is diffused so it doesn't blow dust around the room.

Though reviews say suction is adequate, there are other shop vacs with more. Not all reviews rate the sound as low as 58 decibels, and some owners report that sound can get louder as the shop vac wears. Unlike consumer-brand shop vacs, the Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III includes only the hose and one basic filter; all cleaning tools and extension wands cost extra, as do pleated-paper or HEPA filters. Accessories are fairly expensive, but the main drawback is that emptying the shop vac and cleaning the filter is a dusty job.

Our Analysis

Reviews agree that versatility and outstanding quiet make the 14.5-gallon Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III shop vac one of the best wet-dry vacuums for all-around workshop use, even though it's more expensive than consumer-level models. For general shop cleanup, the Fein 9-77-25 comes with a hose that's large enough to pick up shop debris without clogging. For tool-triggered dust collection, the Fein Turbo III can handle tools rated up to 19 amps -- higher than most competing shop vacs. Expert reviews also praise the Turbo III shop vac's 58-decibel sound level, the quietest in its price range, and its three-year warranty. However, reviews say it's easier to clean the filters on the louder but slightly less expensive Porter-Cable 7814 (*est. $350).

Since it's designed with woodworkers in mind, the Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III Dust Extractor gets the most thorough reviews in woodworking publications. The most recent review of tool-triggered shop vacs at Fine Homebuilding tests the smaller Fein Turbo II shop vac instead. However, Taunton's 2004 and 2005 Tool Guides do include the Fein Turbo III in rigorous comparison tests of shop vacs. The Fein Turbo III is also included in an earlier roundup review in Fine Woodworking. The Fein Turbo III review at American Woodworker compares it with fewer models and doesn't rank them, but provides an excellent buyer's guide. We also found useful owner-written reviews of the Fein Turbo III shop vac at the "Stuff" website and at Amazon.com.

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Our Sources

1. Taunton's 2005 and 2004 Tool Guides

Editors at Taunton Press, publisher of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding magazines, give the Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III shop vac top ranking both years, comparing it with seven other models. A survey of over 6,000 readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding also rate it as the top choice, in 2004 and again in 2005. The 2005 Tool Guide rates the sound level at 65.5 decibels, though, quite a bit higher than the 58 decibels at 3.5 feet claimed by Fein.

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

2. American WoodworkerDetails/Subscribe

Comparing the Fein Turbo III shop vac with five other models, editors praise the Fein Turbo III for its quiet operation, though the Bosch 3931 has better suction. Comparing the Fein Turbo III with the smaller, less expensive Fein Turbo II shop vac, they recommend the Turbo III because its larger hose makes it more versatile.

Review: Fein Turbo III Review -- Tool Test: Shop Vacuums, George Vendriska and Tony Caspar, Oct. 2005

3. Fine WoodworkingDetails/Subscribe

This older but larger review compares the Fein Turbo III shop vac with 12 others, testing them for endurance, adaptability and ergonomics by using them in a variety of workshop tests. Woodworker Roland Johnson praises the Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III shop vac for its quiet, diffused exhaust, good performance, and fair price. However, it doesn't stand out in this review, mostly because several other tool-triggers shop vacs are much easier to empty and clean.

Review: Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III Review -- Shop Vacuums, Roland Johnson, May/June 2003

4. Stuff

This brief review of the Fein Turbo III shop vac praises its quiet performance and suggests using inexpensive generic tools to cope with the cost of Fein shop-vac accessories. However, the writer isn't clearly identified, and no comparisons are made to other shop vacuums.

Review: Fein Turbo III Shop Vac Review, Editor of Stuff, Dec. 3, 2006

5. Amazon.com

More than 30 owners rate and review the Fein Turbo III shop vac here, giving it an above-average rating. Most praise the quiet performance, saying it's easy to conduct a conversation with this shop vac running. Some reviews complain about expensive accessories, but others recommend substituting cheaper ones by Ridgid and Shop-Vac. Owners also recommend using disposable paper dust bags instead of the Fein cloth filter to make cleanup easier.

Review: Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III Review, Contributors to Amazon.com

6. Taunton's 2008 Tool GuideDetails/Subscribe

This review covers the smaller Fein Turbo II, ranking it as the second choice in a survey of more than 9,000 readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding, as well as in editors' comparison tests. The test results are actually from an earlier review in Fine Homebuilding (see below), but the results of the annual readers' survey are only reported here. This is an excellent review; we rank it toward the bottom only because it covers a similar but smaller Fein shop vac.

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

7. Fine HomebuildingDetails/Subscribe

This recent review includes the smaller Fein Turbo II, but many of the conclusions also apply to the Fein Turbo III. Carpenter Rob Wotzak and his crew evaluate five tool-triggered shop vacs on a 2,000-square-foot remodeling job. The Fein Turbo II gets top pick as best value, with praise for its quiet performance and durability.

Review: Untitled, Rob Wotzak, June-July 2007