Bosch AirSweep 3931A Review

What the reviewers like:
Experts say the 11-amp Bosch 3931A shop vac has outstanding suction, and when equipped with the larger hose, collects workshop debris without clogging. (A "universal port" can lock in any standard shop vac hose.) This newer model lets you allocate power between the vacuum and a power tool plugged into it, so you can collect dust from more powerful tools and make the most of either a 15- or 20-amp circuit. Filter-cleaning is now automatic. The design is stable, with large rear wheels and a tall handle, onboard tool storage, and a long 26-foot cord. When vacuuming liquids, the motor automatically shuts off when a certain level is reached, and a well-located drain makes emptying liquids easy.

What the reviewers don't like:
The Bosch Airsweep 3931A is the loudest high-end shop vac, and its size, weight, and low ground clearance make it hard to transport and empty (unless you use a dust bag). Noise level gets mixed reviews, with some reviewers finding it quieter than others.

Bosch AirSweep 3931A review highlights

Reviews praise the 13-gallon Bosch Airsweep 3931A shop vac for its automatic self-cleaning filter design. This makes it far more convenient to clean than the top-rated Fein 9-77-25 Turbo III (*est. $400), another shop vac designed to collect dust from power tools. The new Bosch also has a better power-management system, so it works with higher-amperage tools. The Fein shop vacs are known for quiet performance, however, and the Bosch 3931A gets mixed reviews on this score. Noise level varies with the suction power, going as low as 62 decibels, but one review measures the top level at 74 decibels, another at 80 -- nearly twice as loud. Overall, the Fein shop vac is slightly higher rated in reviews, the Bosch unit is an excellent alternative.

Fine Homebuilding compares the Bosch Airsweep 3931A shop vac with four other tool-triggered wet-dry vacuums by testing all five on a jobsite. In addition to rating each shop vac on five specific factors, this review measures noise levels at the user's ear level -- something most reviews neglect to do. At Fine Woodworking, a contributing editor reviews the new Bosch 3931A based on his own experiences with it in his workshop, and an earlier review compares this newest Bosch shop vac with its predecessor, the Bosch Airsweep 3931. We also found relevant reviews comparing that model with other shop vacs. Taunton's 2005 Tool Guide compares the Bosch 3931 with nine other models, so we find this review more useful than the one at American Woodworker, which covers just six.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide
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Tool-Triggered Shop Vacs
Rob Wotzak and Taunton Press Editors
Sept. 2007

This review of five tool-triggered shop vacs, including the Bosch 3931A, presents essentially the same information as the review in the June 2007 issue of Fine Woodworking summarized below. In this version editors leave out the comparison with the Alto/Wap shop vac, but summarize 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 Bosch 3931A a rather distant third.

2. Fine Homebuilding
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Untitled
Rob Wotzak
June-July 2007

Carpenter Rob Wotzak and his crew review the Bosch 3931A shop vac along with four other wet-dry vacuums, testing each model at a jobsite and rating each for suction power, filter performance and convenience, ease of emptying, mobility and overall design. Noise levels are measured with a decibel meter held four feet from each shop vac at ear level. In addition, the review notes specific pros and cons for each model. The Bosch 3931A ranks at the top for power, but loses points for noise and awkward mobility.

3. Fine Woodworking
New vacuum from Bosch tames dust and debris -- quietly
Roland Johnson
July-Aug. 2007

Contributing editor Roland Johnson tests the newest Bosch shop vac, the 3931A, in his own workshop. No comparisons are made with other shop vacs, but Johnson goes into detail about the features he likes; no criticisms are noted here. Johnson praises the power-management system, versatile fittings and self-cleaning dual filters. It's not clear where he measured the noise levels, but this shop vac seems to be ultra-quiet: 62 to 74 decibels, with a 5- to 11-amp range of power.

4. Fine Woodworking Tools & Shops Annual Issue
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Highlights from IWF 2006
Editors of Fine Woodworking
Winter 2006/2007

This article previews new tools that were displayed at the International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair of August 2006. Editors hail three improvements in the newest Bosch shop vac, the Bosch Airsweep 3931A, compared with the earlier Bosch 3931. While the Bosch shop vac isn't compared to the competition, this article is very informative. Here the sound level is measured at 69 decibels.

5. Taunton's 2005 Tool Guide
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Bosch 3931 Review -- Shop Vacuums
Editors and readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking
Jan. 2005

After testing various shop vacs, editors say the Bosch 3931 does a good job of collecting wood chips without clogging. The 26-foot power cord is also a plus, and editors praise the way the filter is mounted above the motor, preserving air flow. The Bosch 3931 was too new at the time to be included in the readers' survey.

6. American Woodworker
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Tool Test: Shop Vacuums
George Vendriska and Tony Caspar
Oct. 2005

This review compares the Bosch 3931 with five other shop vacs, testing each for power and air flow. Based on these tests, editors pick the Bosch 3931 as the best shop vac for collecting dust from power tools. They note that it's much louder than the Fein Turbo III shop vac, which is more than ten decibels quieter, but find that the Bosch has slightly more airflow than the Fein Turbo III or Porter-Cable 7814.

7. Tools of the Trade
Tool Test: Wet-Dry Vacuums
Chris Kulczycki
Mar./Apr. 2004

After putting nine pro-level wet-dry shop vacs through a set of torture tests in a workshop, this reviewer ranks the Bosch 3931 at the top. He especially likes its pulse feature, which helps clear the filter, as well as the fact that it's always ready for wet pickup. It also has a stable design and plenty of suction for both dry and wet pickup.

8. Amazon.com
Bosch Airsweep Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner w/Power Broker 3931A
Contributors to Amazon.com

At the time of our visit, we found only one review for the Bosch 3931A, but this is a good site to check.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

Bosch AirSweep 3931A Review