Shop vac recommendations please

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

As my old and much abused Aldi shop vacuum cleaner has gone to the great tip in the sky, I need to get a new one. Any recommendations please for something that will suck up dust and swarf but won't cost too much? Or indeed, any "don't buys"!

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Cant help on that one John, I'm still using the same Vax wet & dry vacuum I've had for donkeys years, I just keep changing the bag when suction drops.

George.

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Anything by numatic works for me

henry,george,charles very good prices if you can find one secondhand

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Posted by Ian Parkin on 27/06/2017 08:36:54:

Anything by numatic works for me

henry,george,charles very good prices if you can find one secondhand

Henry works for me. Came to me as a freebie with a defective switch. A few quid and a few days later a replacement arrived via e-bay. Job's a goodun'.

[RichardNParticipant @richardn]

I have two of the Wickes wet and dry vacuum – about £40, but buy the 'wet' filter for it for about £8- you can wash it under a tap rather than the paper ones which have to be replaced. Sucks up swarf, dust, I also use one as an extractor for my cnc router – really effective, and one has lasted about 6-7 years, looks tired but still works as new.

[egaParticipant @ega]

My Wickes Wet 'n' Dry has been excellent.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Still using a hoover aquamaster from 1994

They show up on a regular basis on a well known site

Edited By Ady1 on 27/06/2017 09:05:05

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

When my wife got a new Dyson, the old Vax wet and dry machine became available to use in the workshop. It has given excellent service over the past ten years, but I really must check the motor brushes.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

My Wickes one was bought in 2002. I had to replace the on/off switch after storing rust remover in a cracked container on top of it and the end of the hose is worn down to a stub but it still works 100%

Neil

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Plus one for Numatic, I have a Henry in the workshop for over ten years and also one in the house. Avoid anything Dyson we have tried three or four over the years and all carp. Constantly requiring strip and clean or just falling apart.

[William SParticipant @williams]

Our vacuum cleaner is an old Miele, sucks up anything we throw at it. The only down side is when something unwanted goes up it, we have to fish around in a swarf encrusted bag.

William

[VicParticipant @vic]

I bought a Nilfisk Aero from Screwfix when it was on special offer. It gets good ratings.

**LINK**

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

I have an old Earlex 1000W shop vac which I think is the same as the Wickes model.

Cheap and cheerful and I've been waiting for it to die for years but it keeps going strong.

The filter cartridge is worth buying.

HTH

Jon

[mark smith 20Participant @marksmith20]

Still using one called `the rowenta wet &dry cleaner ` must be from around 1980 as it belonged to my father in law before me. Reliable and easily emptied. Still has the original filter , though a bit worn.

Just spotted a replacement drum filter for £8.99 so think i`ll get one , cheaper than some of the modern spares like Dyson.

Like this one:

Edited By mark smith 20 on 27/06/2017 10:15:56

Edited By mark smith 20 on 27/06/2017 10:16:18

Edited By mark smith 20 on 27/06/2017 10:20:14

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by ega on 27/06/2017 08:51:55:

My Wickes Wet 'n' Dry has been excellent.

PS

In view of other posts about the Wickes branded product, I think my machine is the older type, possibly the same as Neil's, which uses a semipermanent cloth bag filter and replaceable paper outer bag. I prefer this type as the cartridges are expensive (interesting tip about using a washable filter but a lot of what goes into mine would not wash off).

Mine came with a (?) waterproof cover over the switch which was such a nuisance that I discarded it. I'll try to remember not to store rust remover on top of it!

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

I use an Aldi wet / dry vac, stainless drum & great suction at a bargain price.

This particular machine has been used for most of the crappy jobs in our household for quite few years + workshop duties.

When it eventually packs up I really hope to replace it with another one of the same type.

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

For a 'don't buy' – anything cordless. The battery usage profile will be killing for ni-cad's and lithium batteries will make it too expensive.

Also my MIL gave us a 'Hoover' upright with a sintered plastic dust cup/filter which I used a couple of times in the workshop. Complete waste of time. Inadequate vacuum and the sintered plastic filter clogged with dust so fast it was unbelievable. Totally useless. But then, I think that was why she got rid of it in the first place. The fan may be useful for a blower for a forge, but I think that may be the best use for the whole thing.

Regards,

Richard.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Thanks for all the replies. I was really looking for a recommendation for something available new now as the old one is dead and the c*** piling up. I'd get another Aldi if it was the same and if I could wait for it to come round. Based on the online reviews I've ordered a Stanley from Screwfix. Will report back on whether it's OK!

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Henry henry henry..

Michael W

[LimpetParticipant @limpet]

Posted by Michael-w on 27/06/2017 15:20:58:

Henry henry henry..

Michael W

Or Henrietta

[JOHN KNIGHTParticipant @johnknight56112]

For many years I had an "Earlex" which worked well, when it dies I bought a " Karcher", which is awfull!. The main problem is that the Karcher has a pleated filter element which gets clogged very easily. The Earlex and similar models have a bag filter which the dust tends to fall of,f and therefore not clog.

John

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

my workshop vac a Goblin wet + dry I’m sure predates 1984(prob mid 1970s as it came with me from old house) and has been in use ever since – also have an aquamaster dating from early 80s – my impression of Dyson is that they must employ better marketing androids than engineers.

[Antony PowellParticipant @antonypowell28169]

I vote earlex had two for many years, used for anything from brick dust to wood shavings and metal swarf, even pumped water and gunk out of the drains with them ……still going strong an still available.

Tony

[alan-lloydParticipant @alan-lloyd]

I vote Henry, no problems with these that's why builders use them.

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