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Shop vac recommendations under ~ $50

2K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  MikeGager 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
looking to buy a small vacuum for my shop to hook to a couple smaller machines and for general cleaning. i have a large ridgid vac which is fine but to big to use how i want to. wanting something i can store under a bench i have some tools mounted to. i have a dust collector but dont want to hook it up to these tools as i dont think it would be cost effective. will mostly use it at a drill press and small band saw to vacuum up shavings and loose debris

any recommendations? id like something i dont have to clean out the filter every 5 minutes if thats possible. might make a small thein baffle seperator to go with it if there is room under the bench
 
#2 ·
For space savings you might want to look into a wall mounted unit. $50 probably won't get you anything decent new, but used definitely. You might have to be patient until something becomes available.
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
#13 ·
I have a 12 gal Ridgid dedicated to my Delta 12" disc/6×48 belt sanding station. It works OK, but I would opt for something a little more powerful if I had it to do over again. I have a Shop Vac 12 gal dedicated to my 16-32 Performax, and it works better than the Ridgid. I am pretty sure that I paid less than 50 bucks for each of them, but that was a few years ago. All in all, both sanders probably need to be connected to a DC, but I can sit them on a shelf on the stand under the machines in my space challenged shop.
 
#14 ·
I have a small 5 gallon Shop Vac for moving around, taking out to vacuum cars, taking in the house for small remodel projects, etc. (Older version of this one) I also use it to hook up to a 1in belt sander. Works just fine and allows me to leave the larger vac stationary for everything else. I have a Thein separator and extra hoses for the larger vac in order to reach most of the shop.

One thing to look out for. Some of the off brand vacs are cheaper, but the accessories don't fit with Shop Vac branded ones. Since that is what most stores are going to keep in stock, make sure to get one that was either made by Shop Vac (even if it has a different brand on the label) or that is compatible.
 
#17 ·
I've seen used central vacuums for sale used for right around $50 occasionally. It would offer more power than a small vacuum, almost certainly be quieter and many have HEPA filters installed. Most if not all of them are well mounted, but probably would be larger than what you expressed the most interest in.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have the WD3050, and I think it is a great small vac. I have not seen it in the stores for awhile, and thought maybe it was discontinued. I never looked on the HD website. I actually got mine for $25 at the store - - maybe they were just clearing out inventory.

I lug it all over the house when I need a small shop vac for cleanup. It has a built in "sweep up" port that touches the ground, and the hose's narrow tool plugs into it, so you can sweep into it with a broom.

I use a large Ridgid on my radial arm saw dust shroud, and this little one to connect to the blade guard dust connector.

I'm tempted to buy another now that I know it is still available.

I have a 2HP Laguna cyclone for all my major tools other than the RAS, but you really want a small vac at times just for spot cleanup.
 
#20 ·
If you like the RIDGID vacs, check out the craftsman ones too, most of them are the same, to the point of coming out of the same Emerson owned factory.
 
#21 ·
For $40 bucks you're gonna get a piece of junk, period.

The fact that you can spend $600 on one should tell you there's shop vacs and then there's shop vacs.

I have a cheapie Ridgid I use for 3 things: cleaning up the shop, my miter saw, and my router table (only because I'm too lazy/busy to run lines to my DC)

The Ridgid does an adequate job if I keep the filter clean.

Brad's giving good advice. You can pick these up cheap on CL.

For 25 or 30 bucks each, I would get two or three and leave them hooked to the machines.
 
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