N Forbes wrote
>Anyone have any tips on buying a shop vac? Thinking of just picking up a
>Rigid from Home Depot but thought you lot might have some opinions on the
>matter.
There are a couple of things to consider. I only know the Rigid brand from
the table saws they make which are first class so I am assuming that their
shop vacs are or equal quality. If it is available, I would recommend
hunting down a permanent and cleanable filter to replace the paper/foam
that likely comes standard. Lee Valley Tools sells permanent filters for
Shop Vac and Sears and possibly Rigid.
These things are loud. Spend a couple of dollars and get some disposable
foam ear plugs. I get a perceptible ringing in the ears after using my 10
gal model for several minutes when I forget to put in plugs. I've lost a
fair bit of my top end hearing from the days when I flew bush aircraft
before it was de rigeur to wear headsets so I am a little sensitive to
potential hearing robbers.
My wife, Catherine, is a classical music producer and wears the full deal
hearing protector headset when she uses the vacuum.
Don't underestimate the noise these things produce.
The main use of "Big Bertha" as we call the Shop Vac is to clean up after
the two Border Collies. No ordinary house vacuum can deal with the bales
of hair they can shed.
But it has twice come in handy for cleaning up after a plugged basement
drain and an overflowing washing machine. So, a wet and dry model is
recommended.
As a household vacuum these things are not very handy. The plastic hoses
are stiff and the vacuums have a tendency to tip over when you try to drag
them around the house. A cement block in the bottom will help with both
problems quite nicely.
If we didn't have two Border Collies I think a short broom and a dustpan
would do us quite nicely.
Rick Grant
1959 SII 88"
VORIZO
Calgary Alberta
www.rickgrant.com
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