Inexpensive shopvac?

So I'm moving out of the house, but intend to take my detailing business with me when I go. However, I have been borrowing my dad's massive shopvac for my detailing at home, and I believe that he will want to keep his vacuum. This obviously means that I'm gonna need a new vacuum. I originally wanted to buy a Metro Vac n' Blow, however with rent and other things I can't afford that right now. I need a decent shopvac for around $40. I've seen them at Walmart and Lowe's, but I was wondering if there is any particular type that you guys would recommend me buy. My budget is very fixed right now, so I really can't spend much more than $40 on a unit.

Thanks!

Clark

 

Get the 5 HP Rigid Shop Vac. $50 at Home Depot, good amount of power and is very useful. Just realized it has a blower port too although I've never tried the one on mine since I use the Metro for blowing. The metro is more of a secondary vacuum, it has a small bag that isn't easy to empty and won't hold up to cars with a lot of debris in them. It is useful for micro-cleaning where the shop-vac can't reach.

 

+1 on the rigid shop vac. I have the old version of this one without the wheels http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/WD4070-Portable-Vac/EN/index.htm and its been a great unit.

 

Rigid is the way to go.

 

This little Armor All Unit is awesome for the price:

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=-VaxT-2nFoai9QS2ppnQCA&ved=0CNwBEPMCMAA

 

I would have to say check your local Craigslist for good deals on shop vacs also. I'm on the hunt for a new shop vac for the larger crap that I don't want sucked up in my Metro Vac Pro.

 

Darkstar,
Are you talking about the WD4070? Its $79...have you seen it for less?

 

clark,

i would look into Rigid as others have mentioned. great warranty and price for the units. solid built and function very well. they go on sale quite often.

 

Here's a link:

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/ridgid-16-gallon-wet-dry-vac-244792.html

Mine is a couple years old but I got it around $50, might have been on sale can't remember. It was $60 at most.

 

This is the other one Im looking at...
http://www.sears.com:80/craftsman-r...p-00916825000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

The one that BlakRam suggest is pretty good. Flex long hose, small and about the same price as the Ridgid 4070, which I currently have.

Check Amazon.com...it is the Vacmaster VWM510

 

snooze,
How do you like your 4070...have you tried others?

 

I use the Armor All shop vac for $35. It comes with the detail attachments which are very helpful for smaller crevices such as center consoles and vents.

 

Vacmaster VWM510
http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...splay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

 

rigid unit ftw! picked up a new one after our really old shop vac died, been nothing but greatness with this rigid.

 

I have the WD4070 from HD, it works pretty good. I did spend another 40 bucks for the car attachment though

 

I have the Rigid WD4070 and it's a great little vacuum. Although I paid about $100 for it since they rarely go on sale in Canada. I also bought the car attachment kit for another $50 just like Mike.

 

I think most of use would buy the extra hose kit for the Ridgid. This would make the Ridgid and Vacmaster the same price with basically the same attachments. You do get the wall mount and muffler with the Vacmaster. Assuming they both have the same suction, I think the Vacmaster is the better buy...thoughts???

 

hmmm good thread, was thinking of getting one, but didnt thing such things exisited.. inexpensive that is

 

Alright so I got a question for you guys. After seeing you guys talk about the car detailing kit for the Rigid, which I didn't know existed I went out and bought it. Only thing is I don't understand how to attach the hose to the vacuum. The hole is too big for the standard hose attachment to fit. There's a larger round attachment that seems to fix the problem but I don't understand how it goes on to the standard "clip" portion. Any help?

Let me know if that doesn't make sense. The vac is a 12(or 16) 5 hp Rigid.


Edit: Let me put it simply: The female hole is larger than the male attachment, and I don't understand how the modifying attachment fits on the male end to make it a snug fit in the female portion.