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In this report

See Also

Shop Vacs: Ratings of Sources
Total of 22 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Mar. 2007
Wet/Dry Vacuums
by Editors of Consumer Reports
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Consumer Reports puts 23 shop vacs through objective tests, rating each for both wet and dry pickup performance, along with emissions and ease of use, plus an overall rating. Since the review covers four different size ranges, only a few models are compared for each size. The focus is on the three most popular consumer brands for household and shop use.
2. Wood Magazine
May 2008
Wise Buys: Tool-Triggered Vacuums
by Editors of Wood Magazine
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This review compares four shop vacs that can be set up to turn on and off automatically with a handheld power tool. The review makes no attempt to rate or rank the vacuums, which are each tested by a… different editor, and some of the shop vacs top-ranked in other reviews aren't covered here. Noise levels are reported in decibels so they're easy to compare, as are the amps each shop vac actually makes available for powering the tool.

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3. Fine Homebuilding
June/July 2007
Shop Vacs
by Rob Wotzak
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Carpenter Rob Wotzak and his crew evaluate five tool-triggered shop vacs on a 2,000-square-foot remodeling job. All five are wet/dry vacuums that can also vacuum liquids. Noise levels are measured with a… decibel meter held four feet from each shop vac at ear level, and each vacuum gets ratings for suction power, filter performance and convenience, ease of emptying, mobility and overall design. The Festool CT33 gets the highest rating as the best overall shop vac, while the Fein Turbo II (which costs $200 less) is named the best value.

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4. PopularMechanics.com
Sept. 2007
Shop Vac Showdown: We Test 6 New Wet/Dry Vacuums
by Tom Klenck
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This review compares six shop vacs ranging from 4.5 to 16 gallons, testing their speed and capacity in vacuuming water and in picking up a variety of dry debris. Though the author recommends wearing ear protection with any of these models, no decibel measurements are reported.
5. Fine Woodworking
July 1, 2007
New vacuum from Bosch tames dust and debris -- quietly
by Roland Johnson, Contributing Editor
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Fine Woodworking magazine's contributing editor Roland Johnson reviews the Bosch 3931A shop vac, evaluating it in his own workshop. An earlier comparison review in the June 2003 issue tests 13 wet/dry vacuums for endurance, adaptability and ergonomics, with particular consideration for the filter design.
6. Journal of Light Construction
Dec. 2004
Tool Test: Tool-Activated Vacuums
by David Grubb
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Professional remodeling contractor David Grubb tests seven tool-activated shop vacs by using them at jobsites. Each vacuum is evaluated for HEPA filtration, durability, portability, capacity, suction and ease of switching from dry to wet vacuuming and back again. Although this review is older, several of the covered shop vacs remain available.
7. Taunton's 2005 Tool Guide
Jan. 2005
Shop Vacuums
by Roland Johnson and Editors
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This is the most recent Taunton Tool Guide that reviews shop vacs. It's basically an update of the Taunton's 2004 Tool Guide but includes three models not reviewed earlier, plus shop-vac ratings from the annual survey of readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding.
8. American Woodworker
Oct. 2005
Tool Test: Shop Vacuums
by George Vendriska and Tony Caspar
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This review compares but doesn't rank six shop vacs (three large general-purpose shop vacuums plus three tool-activated shop vacs), testing each for pickup power (using roofing nails) and air flow (by… having it suck up sawdust that can quickly clog the filter). American Woodworker doesn't rate or rank the shop vacs, but the test reports are included in the description of the pros and cons of each model.

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9. Tools of the Trade
Mar./Apr. 2004
Tool Test: Wet-Dry Vacuums
by Chris Kulczycki
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Nine wet/dry vacuums costing more than $200 are put through torture tests in a workshop environment. Reviewer Chris Kulczycki puts shop vacs through the paces sucking up nails, siphoning a bucket of water and cleaning up fine dust. He reports on how well each vacuum's filter works, while also evaluating mobility and stability.
10. Amazon.com
As of June 2008
Shop Vacuums
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment These owner-written ratings and reviews can be useful supplements to professional reviews, because users often report on long-term durability and spot usability problems that even experts can miss in the short time many have to perform their review. Most shop vacs reviewed here get positive ratings, making the exceptions worth noting.
11. HomeDepot.com
As of June 2008
Shop Vacs
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Home Depot also publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of the shop vacs sold here. It's less convenient to check ratings than at Amazon.com, since you have to click on a specific shop-vac model to see the average rating, but most shop vacs have enough reviews to make the average ratings credible.
12. Lowes.com
As of June 2008
Shop Vacuums
by Contributors to Lowes.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Lowes averages customer ratings of specific shop vacs sold here, but doesn't publish any comments, so less detail is available. In addition to an average overall rating, shop vacs get ratings for features, value, design, quality and ease of use. Lowes sells mostly the Shop-Vac brand, but the cordless DeWalt DC500 continues to get high ratings.
13. Sears.com
As of June 2008
Wet/Dry Vacs
by Contributors to Sears.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Sears sells the Shop-Vac brand as well as shop vacs under its own Craftsman brand (made by Ridgid), and its website posts ratings and reviews from owners. Many owners are satisfied, but some complain that their Craftsman shop vacs blow too much air out of the exhaust port during use, blowing dust all around.
14. EZineArticles.com
Mar. 2007
Choosing a Shop Vac for Your Small Business
by Lance Winslow
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Retired entrepreneur Lance Winslow reports on his own tests of four consumer-level shop vacs, comparing them to a higher-end WAP shop vac. This article includes useful criticisms and details based on actual use, plus ideas on how to modify the winning shop vac to quiet it down.
15. UltimateGarage.com
Not Dated
Testing the Alto / Wap Vacuums
by Steve D'Gerolamo
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Steve D'Gerolamo runs three Alto Attix shop vacs through elaborate instrument tests of noise levels, air flow and vacuum pressure. One nice feature of the Attix shop vacs is a "soft start" motor to avoid tripping circuit breakers. Despite this, the review notes that Alto shop vacs are only usable with light-duty sanders because they draw so much power for vacuuming.
16. The Woodshop
Not Dated
Festool CT MINI Dust Extractor Review
by Jack Loganbill
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Woodworker Jack Loganbill tests and rates both the Festool CT Mini and the larger Festool CT22E shop vac in separate, in-depth reviews. He notes specific pros and cons of the Festool models, comparing both with the Fein Mini Turbo shop vac.
17. C John Herbert.com
Not Dated
Festool's CT Mini Vac
by C. John Herbert
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Woodworker C. John Herbert reviews the Festool CT Mini shop vac, comparing it in workshop use primarily with the larger Festool CT 22E (now the Festool CT 22 HEPA). The photos in this review are especially revealing.
18. Northerntool.com
As of June 2008
Cleaning Equipment and Supplies
by Contributors to NorthernTool.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This retailer site publishes owner-written ratings and reviews of the wet/dry vacuums sold here. Only a few shop vacs have accumulated any reviews at the time of our report, but two stand out. The reviews here add two nice features, asking the reviewers to specify their level of expertise plus whether or not they'd recommend the shop vac to a friend.
19. Ace Hardware.com
As of June 2008
Wet/Dry Vacuums
by Contributors to AceHardware.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Ace Hardware has started publishing owner-written ratings and reviews of Shop-Vac brand wet/dry vacuum cleaners sold here, but so far there aren't enough reviews to make the average ratings mean much. However, two of the five shop vacs get especially low ratings, so the specific criticisms can be worth noting.
20. Ridgid Power Tools Forum
As of June 2008
The Ridgid Review
by Contributors to Ridgid Power Tools Forum
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Though this forum is on the Ridgid website, owners reviewing Ridgid shop vacs also compare them with other consumer-level brands, including Craftsman and Shop-Vac. Lots of tools and topics other than shop vacs are discussed, but a search function helps find relevant postings.
21. SawmillCreek.org
As of June 2008
General Woodworking and Power Tools
by Contributors to SawmillCreek.org
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This busy woodworker's forum includes several discussions of shop vacuums. In one thread, contributors compare the Fein and Festool shop vacs, also commenting on the Ridgid WD1450. Pros and cons are debated.
22. Epinions.com
As of June 2008
Shop Vacuums
by Contributors to Epinions
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Owners have been reviewing and rating individual wet/dry shop vacuums at this site for many years, but many of the reviews are archived and can only be found by using an external search engine such as Google.

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