We’ve seen reports of signs that this Ridgid 16-gallon shop vacuum will be on sale for $39 on or around Black Friday this year.
This vac, model WD1636, appeared during last’s year Black Friday sale as well. If you’re interested, here’s last year’s comparison of BF wet/dry shop vacuum deals.
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This year, Home Depot’s Ridgid and Sears’ Craftsman deals are mostly the same, while Lowes has a new Shop Vac vacuum planned for their Black Friday sales event.
Okay, so here’s what you need to know about this vacuum before you gasp in excitement at its once again $39/$40 price:
- 16-gallon tank
- 5.0 peak HP motor
- 7 ft x 1-7/8″ hose
- 2 extension wands, utility nozzle, pleated paper filter
- 15 ft power cord
- blower port
- casters
- integrated handles
- built-in drain
This vac was reasonably well reviewed by buyers and recipients last year, but there were also complaints about its quality.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
If you ask me, Craftsman’s XPS vacuum is still the way to go. The new Lowes Black Friday Shop Vac model looks pretty decent on paper as well, and it will also be priced at $40 for the Thanksgiving Weekend special sales event, but it could also be a specially detuned model designed around a low price point. That’s what this Ridgid vacuum is – a special model designed to be sold to the mass of holiday shoppers.
There are many more positive experiences and reviews, but I’m always skeptical of “special buys” that don’t feature products from a brand’s regular product line.
Robert
While I have no complaints or personal issues with Ridgid tools, I don’t normally flock to them either. My feelings are kind of indifferent. Not so however, with regard to their shop vacs. There may be better vacs out there, but not for the money in my opinion. For what you pay for them, I’ve yet to use anything that I like better.
Combine that with the fact that you can acquire numerous accessories in any combination, and you have a nice personalized system for a reasonable price. Home Depot keeps a good selection of accessories in stock, and I’ve found them to be a dependable hassle-free system. I’m not familiar with this particular model, but I’d wager that you wouldn’t do any better in the absence of substantially more investment.
Chris
I got one of these last year. Pretty good for the price but beware this design can’t accept bags. A big pain if your trying to clean up dust.
Troy
I bought this BF deal a year or two ago and I’m not happy with it. It’s under-powered such that I have to put the nozzle right on top of the debris I’m trying to clean up. And, like Chris says above, this model doesn’t accept bags so drywall or other fine dust, etc. is nearly impossible.
Does ToolGuyd have a guide to shop vac purchasing or a consensus on the best way to go? I was actually thinking of purchasing the Lowes BF shop-vac this year specifically to correct the problems I mentioned above since that one takes bags and has a “bigger motor”. Is there any rating on CFMs for these vacuums?
Stuart
The Lowes Shop-Vac might be an option, but it’s a new model and so there’s no telling if it’s really designed to sell at its current price of $100 or BF price of $40.
Craftsman’s vacs are generally pretty good.
If I had to pick from Ridgid, Craftsman, and Shop-Vac for under $75, I’d go with the Craftsman – this one. If you need greater capacity, power, or additional features, it’s best to pony up the cash for a higher-priced regular model.
My parents have a heavy duty Shop Vac now, and although they don’t use it often, I think they’re pleased with it. Their previous wet/dry vacuum lasted a looooong time before it finally needed to be replaced.
It’s better to spend $75-$150 on a vac that stands a better chance of providing reliable operation for many years than $40-$50 on one that breaks easily, faults to perform, or is a hassle to use.
Tomas
Hey Stuart, thanks for the recommendation, I’ve been waiting to pick up a wet/dry vac figuring they’d go on sale for the holidays. The 12 gallon XSP is $70 from sears right now, do they usually go on sale for Christmas as well? Trying to figure out if I should wait.
Stuart
You’re welcome. I’m pretty sure that’s the holiday pricing. If it drops lower, you could always seek a price adjustment within the return period.
Adam f
If you are having drywall dust problems, look into the filter Lowes, maybe HD, carries that s cleanable. It seems to almost have a non-stick finish. The dust just drops off with a slight bang against something. Also washable if needed. This added new life to our aging vac. The filter is more, but easily pays for itself after the first cleaning.
I’ll look the model up later when I get home
Stuart
Cleanstream?
Adam f
That’s the one! I’m trying to get rid of our small vac, so it can be replaced with a vac that takes this size filter. Maybe the craftsman xps per your reccomendation
NWRD
I’ve used Rigid vacs for years, and in particular the 12 gallon. It goes on sale every BF for $40 bones. Every two years I re-purchase to cycle the machine and sell on Craigsl*st, and I’ve never had to replace it because it wasn’t working as well as the day I bought it, except for the fan fins possibly having some wear on them.
It’s funny because when I have used the other HP/gal vacs, I’ve been disappointed in the Rigid line. Now, after I say that abut Rigid, I’ve been really disappointed with Shop Vac, or any other vac as well. The motor in the 12 has ran incredibly well for me. I’ve used it demoing gypcrete(tons of dust) and set off fire alarms on a commercial site. I’ve also used it for sheetrock dust, and as a Hardwood floor vac, with a dust deputy in front of it creating a dustless system. I’ve also torn apart the motor when a crewmember got a piece of plastic in the motor, which was easy to fix.
If the machine isn’t working for you, figure out what the problem is, cause it isn’t the vac……it’s you!
Some of the comments above are f’ing whinny as hell.
anonymous
i have 4 ridgid vacs & use hepa cartridge filters & ‘drywall’ fine dust bags; the vacs go thru extreme use yet still run like a top
Zachary
Pretty sure you can get it for $40 now, my HD had a whole mountain of them and the price was $40, did not see anything about not being able to buy them at the store.
Greg Post
I got one of these years back for $29, I use it exclusively as a wet vac and it has more than paid for itself in usefulness. I use it to drain the ac line, for that purpose alone it’s worth it.
miss franciene
I have both the ridged and the craftsman vacs. But like Stuart said craftsman is the way to go. It’s so much better than the ridgid. So I use the ridgid around the house and for the truck. But for the money I don’t think a “special buy” is all that special !!!…
kevin
I’ve used them all and I know craftsman is made by shop-vac, ridged more than likely is as well. The ridged vacs I have used are great for the happy homeowner that just uses it from time to time. You’ve got to spend the money for professional grade if you expect professional grade. I have had my $15 walmart black friday shop-vac for six years now and it does just fine for small tasks or household cleaning.
Ken
If you register it, it has a lifetime service agreement. The actual HD policy is to simply exchange for a new one, not send it in for repairs. If not available, they will upgrade you to the next level. So you really should never have to buy another one (unless Ridgid goes out of business!).
anonymous
NEVER EVER RUN YOUR SHOP VAC WITHOUT A FILTER when vacing dry material! doing so can harm/damage impeller fan or motor resulting in reduced motor lifetime