Ridgid WD1850 Pro Utility Shop Vac Review

What the reviewers like:
Experts and owners praise the 12-amp Ridgid WD1850 shop vac for excellent suction, clean exhaust, and -- for its price range -- quiet performance. A tall handle and large rear wheels make it easy to wheel around or pull up stairs and a tool bag provides extra onboard storage. You don't have to open the tank to see if the filter needs cleaning; a filter-performance sensor is built in.

What reviewers don't like:
Reviewers say the Ridgid WD1850 shop vac has a lip on the lid that makes it more difficult to empty than Craftsman wet-dry vacuums. Considering its low price, we found few complaints for the Ridgid shop vac, though some owners say the switch is the weak point, and we're finding some complaints about Ridgid customer service.

Ridgid WD1850 Pro Utility Shop Vac review highlights

Reviewers agree that the Ridgid WD1850 shop vac is the best consumer-level wet-dry vacuum in its size range. Even though the 20-gallon Sears 17762 (*est. $110) costs less, is easier to empty, and offers more capacity, it carries only a one-year warranty compared with the lifetime warranty on the Ridgid. Both shop vacs are said to perform well in both wet and dry pickup, but the Ridgid is quieter and earns top marks for clean exhaust.

Consumer Reports’ most recent review of shop vacs puts 23 consumer-brand models through objective tests, comparing the 16-gallon Ridgid WD1850 shop vac with four other shop vacs in its size range. American Woodworker magazine also tests the Ridgid WD1850 shop vacuum, comparing it with pro-level shop vacs as well as consumer brands. However, only five shop vacs are covered in this older review. Home Depot publishes detailed owner-written reviews of the Ridgid WD1850, and at the Ridgid Tool Forum, owners compare the Ridgid WD1850 with Craftsman shop vacs.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

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

1. Consumer Reports
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Wet/Dry Vacuums
Editors of Consumer Reports
Mar. 2007

Consumer Reports includes the Ridgid WD1850 wet-dry vacuum in its review of 23 consumer-brand shop vacs, grouped by size. In addition to an overall grade, each shop vacuum gets separate ratings for wet and dry pickup, emissions and ease of use.

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

Reviewers Vendriska and Caspar compare six shop vacs, including the Ridgid WD1850 wet-dry vacuum. Each shop vac is tested for pickup power (using roofing nails) and airflow (by having it suck up sawdust that can quickly clog the filter). The Ridgid WD1850 outranks the Craftsman model only for sound level.

3. HomeDepot.com
Ridgid WD1850 Review
Contributors to HomeDepot.com

Eleven owners give the Ridgid WD1850 a near-perfect rating here. Most praise the Ridgid’s excellent suction, relative quiet and reliability. These detailed reviews recommend the Ridgid WD1850 for a wide range of household and workshop tasks.

4. Ridgid Power Tools Forum
Ridgid WD1850 Reviews
Contributors to Ridgid Tool Forum.com

The main focus of this discussion thread is the Ridgid WD1850, which is compared with the smaller Ridgid 4550 "toolbox" shop vac, as well as with larger Craftsman models. Most comments are positive, but one owner says the switch on his Ridgid shop vac stopped working, and another forum thread notes a similar problem with the Ridgid WD1665 shop vac.

Also see full report: Shop Vacs

Ridgid WD1850 Pro Utility Shop Vac Review