Choosing and Using Wet/Dry Vacs

By: John Kelsey, This Old House magazine (Page 1 of 6)

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Hooking up power tools to a vacuum cleaner

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Wall-hung vacuum cleaner: Shop-Vac Hangup Pro

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Wall-Hung
Uses: Quick, permanent access in a garage or workshop without set-up time or storage issues.
Capacity: 3.5 to 5 gallons
Features: 3 to 4.5 peak hp. All the hoses on hanging vacs are 18 feet, so if your workspace is bigger, you'll need an extension (though this reduces suction).
Expect to Pay: $70 to $90.
Shown: Shop-Vac Hangup Pro, $70.

Craftsman Professional 12-gallon industrial wet/dry vac

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Industrial
Uses: Demolition and construction site cleanup.
Capacity: Up to 20 gallons.
Features: Tough but weighty stainless steel tank on a rolling cart; 80-plus inches of water lift.
Expect to Pay: $225 and up for smaller models, at least $400 for 12 gallons or more; $25 to $45 a day to rent.
Shown: Craftsman Professional 12-gallon industrial wet/dry vac, $500.

DeWalt cordless or corded wet/dry 2-gallon vac

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Portable
Uses: Cleaning up small jobs, such as patching drywall, sanding wood, or clearing out a dryer duct.
Capacity: 1 to 4 gallons.
Features: Small, easy-to-tote tank with handle. Some are cordless, with batteries from 12 to 18 volts. Cordless handhelds without a hose are not very powerful; those with a hose are 1 to 2 peak hp.
Expect to Pay: $30 to $100, plus another $80 for a battery for some cordless models.
Shown: DeWalt cordless or corded wet/dry 2-gallon vac, $100.

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Tool-Triggered
Uses: Collecting dust and debris made by power tools; small-project and car cleanup.
Capacity: 5 to 12 gallons.
Features: Power-tool outlet with delay switch; fine-dust filtration even without HEPA filter; air flow over 110 cfm and noise level less than 60 decibels, both important with power tools. Best type of all-around vac, though somewhat pricey.
Expect to Pay: $100 to $300.
Shown: Porter-Cable 10-gallon wet/dry vac, $230.

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Large Capacity with Pump
Uses: Workshop and job-site cleanup, plumbing or aquarium disasters.
Capacity: 10 to 16 gallons.
Features: Vacuum that converts to a pump (drains via a garden hose). Power increases with tank size: 3.5 peak hp for 10- to 12-gallon tanks; 5.5 hp for 14 gallons; 6.5 hp for 16 gallons.
Expect to Pay: $110 to $140.
Shown: Craftsman 16-gallon wet/dry vac, $120.

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What You'll Learn:

The mess that comes with drilling, sawing, sanding, and demolishing can be formidable — consisting of debris that's at once too rough, too large, and too fine for the average household vacuum cleaner. The answer is stored in millions of garages and basement workshops: wet/dry vacuums. The fat hose, strong motor, and big tank of a good vac suck up everything from chunks of plaster and nails to microscopic drywall dust and pools of water. Some even have detachable motors that can be used as leaf blowers.

Wet/dry vacs range in size and power from hand-carried 1-gallon models to heavy 20-gallon monsters. A small portable or rolling vacuum is fine for the occasional minor job (and makes a great car vacuum as well), but anyone getting into a large renovation project should consider investing in (or renting) a bigger machine.