want to buy a shopvac, but so many different ones

[Maximus96]

looking for one for the garage. mostly looking to vacuum carpets in my cars. do i really need a 18gallon 6hp shopvac for that? there are so many choices, which size is good for what i need?

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: zaku
mostly looking to vacuum carpets in my cars. do i really need a 18gallon 6hp shopvac for that?

Only if you want to suck the carpet totally out of the car.

 

[scorpmatt]

how big are said cars?

 

[nakedfrog]

We just picked up the 5 gallon 2.5hp (I think) and it cleaned the hell out of my carpets in my car. Pretty good since they haven't been vacuummed since winter and I have kids.
It was right around $30.

 

[Willoughbyva]

Back in the day Black and Decker was the only game in town. Now there might be others. Try looking at consumer reports. I don't know if you have to subscribe to get info or not. We baught one a couple years ago from a discount store for $20.00 or $25.00. I think it was rebuilt.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
how big are said cars?

a scion tc, nissan maxima, and frontier. so a smaller one is good enough huh? why do people need the big ones then?

 

[Willoughbyva]

Perhaps more suction? For garages?

 

[FrustratedUser]

Craftsman 6hp ---> will suck a golfball trough a garden hose.
Can be used as an electrical leaf blower too ---> 190mph airflow.

 

[scorpmatt]

sometimes people think that bigger is better so they buy a bigger one and not use it alot. others sue it not only for cars but for cleaning garages, fish tanks (the wet/dry ones), and other interesting uses.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: zaku

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
how big are said cars?

a scion tc, nissan maxima, and frontier. so a smaller one is good enough huh? why do people need the big ones then?

To hold more liquid/garbage. The smallest sized ones may not have the same motor though, but, if the HP ratings are the same and the only difference is the gallons then that is why. Keep in mind that there probably isn't much floor space difference between a 10g and a 15g unit, so, not like you save much by getting the smaller one either.

Plan on spending another $20-30 on a combo filter if you want do do liquids and maybe another $20-30 on an accessory kit for getting into tightplaces in the car.

 

[Linflas]

Consumer Reports has not reviewed wet/dry vacs since 2001. Back then the top rated one was a Craftsman 6.25 HP one.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
sometimes people think that bigger is better so they buy a bigger one and not use it alot. others sue it not only for cars but for cleaning garages, fish tanks (the wet/dry ones), and other interesting uses.

:Q

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
sometimes people think that bigger is better so they buy a bigger one and not use it alot. others sue it not only for cars but for cleaning garages, fish tanks (the wet/dry ones), and other interesting uses.

:Q

:evil:

get your head out of the gutter

 

[Kelemvor]

Definitely get the biggest one you can. More power for shops vacs is always a good thing. Get one you can put the tube on the other end and use it as a blower too.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: scorpmatt

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
sometimes people think that bigger is better so they buy a bigger one and not use it alot. others sue it not only for cars but for cleaning garages, fish tanks (the wet/dry ones), and other interesting uses.

:Q

:evil:

get your head out of the gutter

:Q :Q

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: dman

Originally posted by: zaku

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
how big are said cars?

a scion tc, nissan maxima, and frontier. so a smaller one is good enough huh? why do people need the big ones then?

To hold more liquid/garbage. The smallest sized ones may not have the same motor though, but, if the HP ratings are the same and the only difference is the gallons then that is why. Keep in mind that there probably isn't much floor space difference between a 10g and a 15g unit, so, not like you save much by getting the smaller one either.

Plan on spending another $20-30 on a combo filter if you want do do liquids and maybe another $20-30 on an accessory kit for getting into tightplaces in the car.

Mine came with everything I needed to do both wet and dry, and the upholstery attachment. No crevice tool, though, but for $30 :thumbsup:

 

[olds]

The only thing I consider when buying one is how stable it is. They tend to tip over easily as you pull them by the vacuum hose. Buy a stable one.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: dman

Originally posted by: zaku

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
how big are said cars?

a scion tc, nissan maxima, and frontier. so a smaller one is good enough huh? why do people need the big ones then?

To hold more liquid/garbage. The smallest sized ones may not have the same motor though, but, if the HP ratings are the same and the only difference is the gallons then that is why. Keep in mind that there probably isn't much floor space difference between a 10g and a 15g unit, so, not like you save much by getting the smaller one either.

Plan on spending another $20-30 on a combo filter if you want do do liquids and maybe another $20-30 on an accessory kit for getting into tightplaces in the car.

Mine came with everything I needed to do both wet and dry, and the upholstery attachment. No crevice tool, though, but for $30 :thumbsup:

I meant something like this: Link

and this. From the factory you sometimes have to swap out filters or clean them when used for liquids, but, with the add-on one it saves a step. If you just do dry stuff it doesn't matter. Total about $35 I guess for both of those options.

 

[Mutilator]

Since you specified using it for car cleaning...
Vacuum.
Reviews for said vacuum.

They also have a wall mount version.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: zaku
looking for one for the garage. mostly looking to vacuum carpets in my cars. do i really need a 18gallon 6hp shopvac for that? there are so many choices, which size is good for what i need?

Bigger is always better in regards to shop vacs. The suction of the largest one is worth while IMO unless cost is an issue or you want it for other uses.

But for a car, you will not be disappointed with the 6 hp model.

 

[Maximus96]

Originally posted by: Mutilator
Since you specified using it for car cleaning...
Vacuum.
Reviews for said vacuum.

that is a lot more than what i had planned on spending. i remember seeing one in costco for ~$100. now i realized its a big unit and i might be able to do with a smaller one, a $180 vacuum seems excessive to me. and i'm not as anal as the autopia guys when it comes to car cleaniness.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

UPDATE:
I have the smallest one at home.

And my father in law has the biggest one which I borrow when needed.

IMHO, the big dawg is the way to go. Cleaning will be much faster and easier although, much louder. You could always get something middle of the road, but unless youhave access to a big one, don't get the smallest.

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: scorpmatt

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: scorpmatt
sometimes people think that bigger is better so they buy a bigger one and not use it alot. others sue it not only for cars but for cleaning garages, fish tanks (the wet/dry ones), and other interesting uses.

:Q

:evil:

get your head out of the gutter

:Q :Q

it would seem that your mouth is in the perfect position, like a vacuum. now go, and clean my car just as good.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: zaku

Originally posted by: Mutilator
Since you specified using it for car cleaning...
Vacuum.
Reviews for said vacuum.

that is a lot more than what i had planned on spending. i remember seeing one in costco for ~$100. now i realized its a big unit and i might be able to do with a smaller one, a $180 vacuum seems excessive to me. and i'm not as anal as the autopia guys when it comes to car cleaniness.

Most people aren't... my regular Hoover WindTunnel vacuum works fine for me.
At least you know about Autopia... 10 bonus points for you.

 

[imported_Pablo]

SHOPVACS SUCK, NOOB.

/endthread