Porter-Cable 7814

*Est. $370

Reviewed

December 2009

Easy to clean
Filter doesn't block airflow
Easy to drain liquids with a hose
Budget tool-triggered pro shop vac

Suction not as strong as competitors
Louder than most
Top-heavy

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Reviews say the 15-gallon Porter-Cable 7814 performs very well for both general workshop use and for dust collection from portable power tools. Reviews like the way you can attach a hose to the drain, and an internal filter-shaker makes it more convenient to clean. It's less expensive and more compact than the higher-rated Bosch AirSweep 3931A (*Est. $525), but the Bosch shop vac has a filter that automatically cleans itself and can take advantage of a 20-amp circuit. In tests, the Porter-Cable is by far the noisiest of the pro-grade shop vacs.

The smaller 10-gallon Porter-Cable 7812 (*Est. $290) is covered in comparison reviews at Wood Magazine and Fine Homebuilding, while the Porter-Cable 7814 shop vacuum is included in four excellent but older comparison reviews. Of these older tests, Taunton's 2005 tool guide gets the top ranking in our list, because the editors not only compare the most models, but rank them as well.

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42 store reviews	In Stock. New	$363.00	See It
707 store reviews	In Stock. Free Shipping	$369.95	See It
2463 store reviews	In Stock.	$453.06	See It
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Our Sources

1. Wood MagazineDetails/Subscribe

This review compares the smaller but otherwise very similar Porter-Cable 7812 with three other tool-triggered shop vacs; the Festool model earns top ranking.

Review: Wise Buys: Tool-Triggered Vacuums, Editors of Wood Magazine, May 2008

2. Taunton 2009 Tool GuideDetails/Subscribe

This review of five tool-triggered shop vacs compares the smaller yet similar Porter-Cable 7812 with four competitors, based on tests done for the June 2007 review in Fine Woodworking (below). A survey of readers ranks the Porter-Cable fourth, below more expensive Festool, Fein and Bosch shop vacs.

Review: Tool-Triggered Shop Vacs, Rob Wotzak and Taunton Press Editors, Nov. 2008

3. Fine HomebuildingDetails/Subscribe

Tests here compare the smaller, but otherwise similar, Porter-Cable 7812 with four other tool-triggered shop vacs, rating each for filtration and dust collection, ease of emptying and cleaning, mobility and overall design. Carpenter Rob Wotzak also measures noise levels; the Porter-Cable is louder than the top-ranked models and lacks a drain.

Review: Untitled, Rob Wotzak, June/July 2007

4. Taunton's 2005 Tool GuideDetails/Subscribe

This older roundup review compares the Porter-Cable 7814 shop vac with nine other wet/dry vacuums. Editors praise the way Porter-Cable positions the filter at the very top so it takes longer to clog. Editors also like the filter-shaking mechanism and the separate filter door that lets you change the filter without opening the whole tank.

Review: Shop Vacuums, Editors and readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking, Jan. 2005

5. Fine WoodworkingDetails/Subscribe

The Porter-Cable 7814 earns top ranking in comparison with 12 other shop vacs. Woodworker Roland Johnson praises the Porter-Cable 7814 for its well-designed filter system, diffused exhaust and auto-start feature.

Review: Shop Vacuums, Roland Johnson, May/June 2003

6. Tools of the Trade

The Porter-Cable 7814 is the close runner-up to the Bosch 3931 in this review, which puts nine shop vacs through objective tests and also compares them on contracting jobs. Compared with the Bosch shop vac, tests here find the Porter-Cable 7814 slightly less powerful and a bit top-heavy.

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

7. American WoodworkerDetails/Subscribe

This review compares the Porter-Cable 7814 with five other shop vacs, including two other tool-activated vacuums suitable for dust collection. Editors praise the Porter-Cable 7814 for ease of cleaning, but find the Bosch 3931 offers better suction and even easier filter cleaning.

Review: Tool Test: Shop Vacuums, George Vendriska and Tony Caspar, Oct. 2005

8. Amazon.com

We found about 10 owner-written reviews here for the Porter-Cable 7814 shop vac, giving it a lukewarm overall rating. Complaints include quality control problems, poor repair service from Porter-Cable and users who feel this shop vac is a bit top-heavy and unstable.

Review: Porter-Cable 7814 15 Gallon 1-1/2 Horsepower Tool-Start Wet/Dry Vacuum, Contributors to Amazon.com

9. Epinions.com

At the time of this report, we found only one review here of the Porter-Cable 7814 shop vac. This owner compares it favorably with a Craftsman shop vac, finding the quieter Porter-Cable up to general workshop use despite its smaller hose. Lack of onboard storage is the only complaint.

Review: Porter-Cable 15-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum 7814, Contributors to Epinions.com