Shop vac recommendations?

[ford]

Yo, maybe a weird topic.

I've got a bucket vac and it's a pain to constantly have to replace filters.

I'm about to start my annual, "clean out the garage after purging all the rats living in it extravaganza! ™" and want a new vacuum for all that junk.

Any brand/type/size suggestions?

Specifically wondering if maybe it's worth splurging for a wireless vs wired system, any experience with one filter type vs another... Yes, I realize I'm complicating what is otherwise an extremely simple machine at the end of the day =P

Any and all feedback is welcome.

[cellophane]

I picked up a Rigid vacuum last spring that so far I like quite a bit. The stock hose isn't great; I would recommend picking up the better hose. Filters and bags are pretty easy to swap out from what I've experienced so far. It also doesn't take up that much space- which is one of my biggest complaints with my previous vacuum. That stupid thing has something like a 32" diameter 🙄

edit: What else are you using it for? If you are cleaning a wood shop you will want something bigger / heavier duty, but for basic cleaning the one I linked is great.

[ford]

That size looks really good for me. Mostly I plan to use for cleaning up random junk that collects in the garage dirt/trash/rat poo and for cleaning out my car... (same things except the poo).

Thanks or the rec.

[cellophane]

There are also kits labeled specifically for car cleaning. Also this one, although i don't like it because the hose end is set to the small size and doesn't look like it can be changed. You really can use any of them with any vacuum, just might need some adapters. I actually should pick one up for myself now that I think about it.

[Sbrannam]

Ridgid. 1 in the garage, 1 in the basement, 1 in the pole building, all at least 10 years old.

[bellicose]

I have a shop vac brand, but I buy bags for it, so the filter lasts longer.

How are you planning on killing the rats? I have a spot where they are coming in, but it's behind my heater and I can't reach to plug the hole. Just got out of the crawl space and that area is also blocked off by duct work. Idk what I'm going to do. Anyone know if moving a water heater is easy?

[ford]

I tend to trap rats with a little seed mix then release them in a wild area down the road.

I used to poison and deal with a weird smell in the attic/crawl spaces for a week but poison also causes problems where poisoned rats get really thirsty and will chew through appliance fittings looking for water.

Moving the water heater can be a pain. Looking at mine for example it’s old so the fittings are probably seized and would be annoying to replace/unseize.

The thing is big so that means also pretty damn heavy. Probably a lot of sediment that would be hard to drain…

You can do it but be careful not to wrench your back over rats.

[Tarsun2]

get a vortex separator for it. and use the bag to cover the filter. there is also a simple way to clean the filter with a drill...

i cant say ive "needed" to replace many filters but i probably SHOULD have... lol

[Chuck E Ducky]

Just an FYI careful cleaning up Rat crap. It’s best to sweep it up with a mask. You can get extremely sick if it’s blasted into the air and you breathe it in. Especially in large quantities. I would not vacuum up mouse or rat waste. Make sure you use a good mask not the kind that can’t even stop Covid. Like a charcoal painters mask.

[ford]

Great advice. I have a beefy mask somewhere from my days tearing down houses (rat and raccoon poo fiestas).

The broom ended up getting used a lot more than I expected for this project.

[JeeperCreeper]

Rigid shop vac with bags and a hepa filter

[Chuck E Ducky]

Definitely use a Hepa filter

[Seajay]

They are all the same essentially... the filter is the key bit... otherwise they all suck.


(I'll let myself out)

[Tarsun2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy_s21hHzZE

vacuum wars is great. this guy makes a living testing vacuums.

and of course project farm. one of the few honest reviewers left.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSN7PXwn1yU

[akpaintballer98]

I use the rigid vacuums for my job sites they’re solid.
but I purchased the DeWalt DXV12PQ for my shop at home and I really like it. I’m a huge believer in bags. Get a shop vac and buy a stack of bags for that model while they’re their on the shelf and match up. I loose my mind when I’m working with someone that goes and bangs off the filter outside every ten minutes only to blow all the stirred up dust back into the air when it turns back on.