Porter-Cable 7812

1. Wood MagazineDetails/Subscribe

This review compares the Porter-Cable 7812 with three other tool-triggered shop vacuums. Top ranking goes to a Festool model.

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

2. Taunton 2009 Tool GuideDetails/Subscribe

In this review of five tool-triggered shop vacuums, the Porter-Cable 7812 is compared with four competitors based on tests done for a review in the June 2007 issue of Fine Homebuilding (below). In a survey of readers whose results are included here, the Porter-Cable ranks fourth out of the five models; higher-priced Festool, Fein and Bosch wet dry vacs all rank higher.

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

3. Fine HomebuildingDetails/Subscribe

The Porter-Cable 7812 and four other tool-triggered wet dry vacs are tested and rated on filtration and dust collection, ease of emptying and cleaning, mobility and overall design. Noise levels are also measured; the Porter-Cable is louder than the top-ranked models.

Review: Untitled, Rob Wotzak, June/July 2007

4. LumberJocks.com

This single-product review by blogger and lumberjock "PurpLev" calls the Porter-Cable 7812 a "poor man's Festool," because "PurpLev" wanted a Festool CT 33E but couldn't justify the expense because he's not a professional woodworker. He writes a thorough and detailed review that is mainly positive. The only thing he doesn't like about the 7812 is its noise level; "PurpLev" writes, "If only it was also quiet, this would be a Gem, but for now – it'll remain just a good value."

Review: Porter-Cable 7812 - 10 GAL DUST EXTRACTOR VACUUM, "PurpLev", March 2010

5. Amazon.com

We found almost 30 owner-written reviews here for the Porter-Cable 7812 wet dry vac; owners give it a high average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. One writes that he bought the shop vacuum originally to use with woodworking tools, but now, several years later, he finds himself using it for almost all clean-up jobs. He writes, "It can operate with or without a bag when you suck up debris and has great suction all these years later (I've only changed the top filter once). It is relatively quiet for a vacuum and relatively light since I take it everywhere to side jobs I do to help with clean-up."

Review: Porter-Cable 7812 10-Gallon 1-1/2-Horsepower Tool-Start Wet/Dry Vacuum, Contributors to Amazon.com