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I am considering a Sears 5.0 HP, 12 Gallon, Wet/dry vacuum for $99 or 2.5 HP, 8
Gal for $70. Is there a better choice?
QUESTION: I am considering a Sears 5.0 HP, 12 Gallon, Wet/dry vacuum for $99 or 2.5 HP, 8
Gal for $70. Is there a better choice? Is the size inconvenience and $30
worth investing in the extra 2.5 HP? Thanks for your input. I don't have any
special need, just need a vac in the garage.
ANSWER: 1. It is _impossible_ to get 5HP out of a 20amp 120v circuit, so I doubt
their claims. I think 3.2HP is the theoretical maximum. I've never
seen a 240V shop vac, and I'm sure Sear's doesn't sell them. Heck, you
can't even get 5HP peak power. That would be 31.2 amps! It must have a
firehose for a power cord.
2. I have an old professional model shop vac that is about 12 gallons, I
think. I've only emptied it 3 times for the whole 5 years I've owned
it! I think size is more important than capacity. If an 8 gal. fits
under your bench where the 12 gal. won't, I would go for the 8 gallon
size. It'll take a loong time to fill up either one.
I havd an ACE hardware 3.5 HP, and one of those cheap 30 dollar
1 HP(?) shop vacs that Builders Square sells. The little one isn't
much good. Neither is the 3.5HP model. For emergencies, I run
over and borrow my brother-in-law's big Sears wet-dry vac. I
can't remember the HP, maybe 7 HP(?), but it has a 2.5 inch
diameter hose, and will suck up water about 5-6 feet. It sucks
water out of a floode carpet better than the RUg Doctor machine.
I sucked about 2 feet of mud out of a clogged window well drain
with it, before it ran out of power. So the solution is to have
a brother-in-law nearby who can lend you his.
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