Fein, Festool, or Rigid Shopvac

[Andrew Kertesz]

I need to replace my screaming Rigid shop vac and would like opinions for or against any specific brand/model. Might as well throw in the new Bosch models as well. What say you all??

[Jim Becker]

I'm a fan of the Festool because I have "the system", but Fien and Bosch also have relatively quieter options than the typical home center "shop vacs". But honestly, what you're using it for matters, too. For just general cleanup, the typical "shop vac" is the better buy even though you need to wear hearing protection when using it. I do have a small Rigid for that purpose. If you're going to be using the vac with small tools for dust extraction, then the other units are likely better because of their features and quietness. It's still best to wear hearing protection, but they are usually not "screamers" like "regular" shop vacs.

[Tom M King]

For the price, the Rigid works just fine, although quite noisy. We get by with a couple of them on jobsites, with several of the Gore filters on hand, so one is always dry while ones that have been washed are drying.

[scott vroom]

I have a Rigid in my shop which is used primarily for router table chip extraction. The router table operating noise is so loud I barely notice the shop vac running so for me spending big dollars on a Euro vac would be a waste.

[Harvey Miller]

I have the Fein turbo III. I couldn’t see paying for the Festool Vac (although I have their track saw & sander). The Turbo III’s big, I’d probably go for a smaller size today.
Good points are it’s quiet, adjustable suction, and tool controlled on and off. Other than that it’s pretty basic. it can use round canister style filters, so I fitted a Sears hepa filter to it (I had one hanging around). The latest smaller Feins are more Festool shaped.

[Mike Henderson]

I bought one of the "quiet" ones from Home Depot (I think it's a Ridgid). They have a label on each vacuum that tells you how noisy it is. Pick the quiet one. I'm sure the Festool, Fein or Bosch is quieter.

I have mine connected to my sander and occasionally to the Domino. When I'm using the tool, I can't hear the vacuum. Sometimes I disconnect the hose and turn the tool on and check that the vacuum is working. I have a sensor (iVac, if I remember correctly) so the vac only turns on when I turn the tool on. I also put one of those router variable speed devices (from Harbor Freight) on it so I can slow it down.

The combination of the HD quiet vac and the sensor/variable speed was a lot less expensive than a Festool.

Mike

[As someone else commented, I use a bag in my vacuum to keep the filter from clogging up. For my use for sanding, it lasts a long time before I have to change the bag.]

[Kent A Bathurst]

I have the Fein turbo III.

Me too. 10 yrs old. Performs flawlessly.

Primary function is hooked up to a long [20' ?] intake hose, with pwr cord zip-tied to it. Up and across - set up so I can drop it down from above to bench - ROS, belt sander, router pickup. Plenty of power.

OR, disconnect that hose and stick in the std vac hose for shop cleanup.

[Brian Holcombe]

I have the festool for use with other festools, but it works nicely as a quiet shop vac as well.

[Bill Ryall]

I have a big metal Ridgid that is primarily for router table chip collection. I put a bag in it so I am not constantly changing filters. It has lasted much longer than I had hoped. Still noisy, but not nearly as bad as some. I would certainly buy another if I needed to replace it.

[Lee Schierer]

I have an older 9 gallon Fein turbo II and really like it. It has really good suction and you can actually talk to someone in the same room when it is running without screaming.

[Phil Barrett]

In general, what ever your solution, I'd put some sort of separator between the tool and the vac. Saves on filters bug time. A Thien is easy to build and works reasonably well. A true cyclone is better but can take more space.

It does cost some flow/pressure but it's worth it because you will burn through filters otherwise.

edit, er, that's big time...

[Keith Outten]

Oneida Dust Cobra

Still the best of the best hands down.
.

[Larry Edgerton]

Don't overlook the Porter Cable vacs designed to use with a drywall sander. Quiet, good filtration, and have a triggered outlet at a reasonable price. I have had one for years that I use on sight for chop saws, biscuit joiner, etc. I have a Ridgid that I have hated for years but it is used just for cleanup and it will not break. It gets beat to death and just keeps going. I have a Fein that does not leave the shop other than when my wife steals it for serious house cleaning. She likes it because it is quiet and has more power. No problems. I have never owned a Festool or a Bosch.

Larry

[roger wiegand]

I've had the new Bosch VAC090S for about a month now and I'm very pleased with it. It beats the heck out of the old ShopVac and Sears vacuums I've used before, but then I think any of the ones you've names would. With a fiber mesh bag and HEPA filter nothing is coming out the exhaust except air. I can't hear it over the sound of the sander, which is quite a change. The only disappointment is that it doesn't come with a fitting that will connect to the Bosch hose on my Bosch ROS without duct tape to make the connection.

[Julie Moriarty]

I have an old Craftsman 16 gal. and a newer Festool CT-26. The Festool is so quiet and does such a good job I've come to hate using the Craftsman.

[Tom M King]

The old Craftsman's have the same powerhead as the newer Rigids. That's why the same Gore filter fits them. I haven't looked at the newer Craftsman ones to see if they are any different. I go in HD at lot more often than Sears. In fact, I can't remember the last time I went in a Sears store.

[Dan Clark]

I've had the new Bosch VAC090S for about a month now and I'm very pleased with it. It beats the heck out of the old ShopVac and Sears vacuums I've used before, but then I think any of the ones you've names would. With a fiber mesh bag and HEPA filter nothing is coming out the exhaust except air. I can't hear it over the sound of the sander, which is quite a change. The only disappointment is that it doesn't come with a fitting that will connect to the Bosch hose on my Bosch ROS without duct tape to make the connection.
Roger,

If the Bosch vac has a standard European 27 mm hose and the sander has a typical dust port, the Fein hose adapter may work for you: http://www.amazon.com/Fein-921072K13-Step-Adaptor/dp/B00005M1SW/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1416261802&sr=1-2&keywords=fein+vacuum+hose. They also sell them at Woodcraft.

I have about 4 of these and use them to hook up a variety of non-Festool tools to my Festool CT22 and CT26 vacs. They work great. I have one that is cut down a bit to fit into my Makita belt sander. Another it always in my Kreg jig storage box. They work great and and the Festool 27mm hose fits snugly into the female end.

Regards,

Dan.

[David Ragan]

I had a Ridgid for a while that i use for general work, and wet stuff, when getting up huge amounts of stuff.

Then, I wised up and got a couple of Festool things, and the CT 33 a few years ago. It of course works superbly, with the Festool tools especially. It is my primary small vac.

For the more brutal gross clean ups-the Ridgid.

[Jim Bell]

I bought a Fein vac about 10 yrs ago. It has served me well. I like the idea of two motors in the vac. One motor actually cools the other which works well when using vacum chucks on my wood lathe.

[Bruce Page]

I also have a 8 - 10 yr old Fein T3. It's never given me a lick of trouble.