Shop Vacs w/Detachable Blowers

[Hakko]

My old Shop Vac is dying, and I`m thinking about getting one of these:



RIDGID 16 Gal 6 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac With Detachable Blower



My one worry would be whether the detachable blower unit picks up a lot of crud from the vacuuming function that would then get blasted onto the paint during the drying process.



Can anyone with experience of these types of vacs set me straight?

[BigAl3]

i would use a seperate leaf blower for that task and with that being said, you can get a 150 mph (more than adequate) leaf blower at walmart for $26.76 (Walmart.com: Weed Eater WEB150 Electric Blower: Lawn & Garden ) which has also has some excellent reviews. BTW, the nice thing that i like about the ridgid products is they have a....

:up

[imported_Jakerooni]

The last 3 vacuums I`ve had were the detachable leaf blower type. (I`ve never used the leaf blower aspect of any of them even once... They were just cheaper at the time) If you plan on doing any sort of volume work at all stay away from these. They do not handle the abuse of daily use like that for very long. I`ve gone through 2 of them in the last year and my third one is quickly fading even when cleaned out daily. If you`re only a part timer and the price is cheaper then pick on up and save a little coin but if you`re going to really use this at all stick with the straight up wet/vac and skip on the leaf blower side of things. I sure won`t be buying another one.

[miahman98]

This is what i have.



Craftsman 16-gal 6.5-peak hp Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable 265 mph Blower



Craftsman 16-gal 6.5-peak hp Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable 265 mph Blower - Model 17066 at Sears.com



It works great.

[Hakko]

This is what i have.



Craftsman 16-gal 6.5-peak hp Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable 265 mph Blower



Craftsman 16-gal 6.5-peak hp Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable 265 mph Blower - Model 17066 at Sears.com



It works great.

So you`ve used the blower for drying with no problems?

[miahman98]

No problems at all. Just don’t use it in a dirt driveway or you will be washing the car over and over again.

The Wal-Mart blower is smaller and weighs less though. But those two things really didn’t matter to me.

[PresdntialDtail]

I bought a craftsmen 265mph vacuum with detachable blower, also it comes with all attachments and is only $100 at Sears! I am more than pleased with it!



I use only the short attachments for blower(its about a foot long with slanted tip) Makes drying SOO much easier here in FL, where if you take another minute your car looks worse than before from the spots and sun!