As part of our paid partnership with Home Depot, I received a Ridgid wet/dry vacuum at the start of the winter holiday season to check out.
It’s not just a Ridgid wet/dry vac, which are generally well-regarded and great buys, it’s an NXT vac. I thought that the vac was a new special buy, before noticing the new branding and shapes of the collection tubs. Ridgid NXT?
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Ridgid says that NXT is the most powerful line of wet/dry vacs Ridgid has ever made. They also say that the NXT are next level in every way.
I’m nearly done testing my vac, and am open to any questions you guys might have. In the meantime, this post is meant to serve as an overview and introduction to the NXT lineup.
Power
Ridgid says that they’ve upgraded their vacs to give them more power. There’s redesigned scroll technology, for increased power, suction, and lift.
Here’s a promo video where they compare their 9 gallon NXT vac to a competing vac.
What stands out to me, aside from the quick pick-up, is the short and stout form factor of the vacuum. That seems like a big plus .
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The smallest size is short enough to fit on a workbench shelf.
Durability
Ridgid says that durability has always been a priority, and is emphasizing these vacs have a lifetime warranty.
Advanced Design
The 9-gallon vac features 7 feature upgrades. The following features show the 9-gallon Ridgid NXT vac specifically, but apply to the other sizes as well.
Repositioned carry handle for ergonomic carrying, and it doubles as a cord-wrap.
Upgraded drum carrying handles for comfortable lifting and emptying.
A larger and relocated power switch.
Drum keying that optimizes the vac’s airflow. This should also make lid replacement a snap.
New latches for a secure lid-to-drum seal.
Built-in cord wrap.
The 7-foot hose has been upgraded to dual-flex design that won’t crimp around corners.
The larger NXT vacs have additional features, most notably bottom drum handles, a water drain valve, and on-board hose storage.
Additionally, the vacs come with locking accessories, which means no more fussing around with friction-fit extension hoses that can come apart if loosely attached, or stuck together if too tight.
Sizes and Pricing
- 6 gal, 3.5 peak-HP, $55
- 9 gal, 4.25 peak-HP, $65
- 12 gal, 5 peak-HP, $85
- 14 gal, 6 peak-HP, $99
- 16 gal, 6.5 peak-HP, $119
- 16 gal cart-style, 6.5 peak-HP, $159
The smaller vacs come with a 1-7/8″ x 7′ hose, the larger vacs come with a 2-1/2″ x 7′ hose.
Filters
The new vacs work with existing Ridgid 5-16 gallon filters, and should presumably fit aftermarket accessories as well, such as HEPA-rated Cleanstream filters.
- VF4000: “everyday” 1-layer pleated paper filter
- VF5000: “fine dust” 3-layer pleated paper
- VF6000: “allergen” 5-layer pleated paper, HEPA
- VF7000: wet pick-up
They also work with existing size-compatible Ridgid dust bags.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
First Thoughts
Frankly, I’m strongly considering keeping my test sample and giving away the 16 gallon Shop Vac wet/dry vacuum I purchased two years ago. The Ridgid NXT’s user-friendly features are sweet, and do make a difference.
More on the vac to come.
Promo Video
Here’s a Ridgid promo video, highlighting the new features in the 6 and 9 gallon NXT vacs:
Thank you to Ridgid for supplying us with a test sample for review consideration as part of our paid partnership with Home Depot.
Tim D.
It doesn’t impress me when they say how great this new model is, then show a comparison video to a vacuum with a 1 1/4″ hose when yours has a 1 7/8″ hose. There was already a 1/4hp advantage.
I’ve always owned Shop Vacs and was never impressed by them. I’ve heard from a few friends that the Ridgids were nicer, so next time I was in the market for one I was going to give it a shot.
However, thanks to ToolGuyd, I’ll be using Metabo dust collectors instead.
Chris
I agree with your statement, although I think you could have said it without the stick stuck up there…
Also, I doubt anyone is going to beg you not to use metabo.
Tim
I’m sorry if that came across as a “stick stuck up there” kind of attitude.
That was not my intention.
Jeff
Tell him to [censored], you were fine
Andrew LB
Ridgid wet/dry vacs are much better than shop-vac brand units. While my Ridgid wd1450 definitely has better suction than my previous similarly spec’ed shop-vac, The biggest difference i saw was the sound profile. The shop vac was ear splitting high pitched. The ridgid while still loud, was a lower pitch tone, making far better to use.
My big complaint about BOTH brands is their built in obsolescence. Both brands use a proper sealed ball bearing at the bottom of the motor, but up top they use a sintered bronze oilite bushing with a felt ring to hold oil. It kind of amazes me that they advertise ball bearings that never need servicing yet the felt was bone dry on my vacuum even though its about 6 years old. Even more interesting is that the bracket that holds this bushing/felt assembly can perfectly fit a proper sealed ball bearing. They saved 50 cents while adding in a point of guaranteed failure so it was a win-win for Ridgid.
Brad
As a detailer and someone who loves cleaning his car religiously I really love the Ridgid line up so far! I never really cared for this brand I’ve used a lot of Shop Vac brands and Craftsman vacs. The Shop Vac vacuum cleaner work supplied me with is a big POS had little to no suction and took forever to vacuum a vehicle and still would have dirt on the floors. However I will say the Shop Vac is hard to kill I ran with no filter tried destroying it every way possible and f*cker won’t die lol! But off topic so far this Ridgid is amazing love the cord wrap and hose wrap on my HD1400 and the power of it! It’s really amazing I’ll be taking care of this one and have a feeling it will last a long time. Another plus is all the accessories you can get for this Vacuum at Home Depot skinnier hose and longer up to 10’.
DRT
I realize I’m reading this about a year late, but your comment about the felt and oilite bushing is very interesting. I took apart a failed 20″ fan that had what sounds like a similar setup. The felt went dry, and the oilite bushing wore out. It was impossible to find a replacement bushing because of it’s odd exterior shape, so I scrapped an otherwise great fan. How difficult was it to access the felt in the Ridgid ? It would be nice to add a bit of oil, but I realize it might be more effort than it’s worth for a $100 shop vac.
Tom
Looks nice. I’m amazed how many wet dry vacs don’t have cord wraps and storage for the hose and other accessories.
Chris P.
The 6 gallon model is 3.5 hp.
Stuart
Thank you! *Fixed*
Bill
Stuart, do you have any published decibel levels from Rigid or perhaps your own readings? If not, what’s your opinion of the noise it makes? Also which model did they send you for review?
Jared
I like the looks of these new vacs. I already have a Ridgid shop vac and it’s been great. I appreciate the accessories that are available for it at Home Depot too (e.g. muffler/diffuser, better quality hoses etc.). However, my vac doesn’t have a cord wrap (though it’s easy enough to wrap around the double handles on the lid on mine) and only the hose-to-vacuum connection is locking – those certainly seem like good features to add.
I’m not understanding what would make these new vacuums more powerful though. What’s “scroll technology”? Also, the drum/lid on my current vacuum are already “keyed” (assuming that means that the lid only fits on one way).
I also never realized you could store the accessories on top of the wheels! Guess I should have read the directions.
Gary Ratajczak
How about the suction? I see online the 6.5 hp version is 165 cfm. I don;t see any specs on “wc lift, or air watts.
Julian
The only spec that carries any weight with me in a discussion of shop vacs is a decibel rating. The single most important rating there is. Who cares how much water in a tube it’ll lift if it sounds like an airhorn while it’s running?
Other than that, they’re all pretty much the same in the overly clunky / large design, with cheap casters sticking out, crappy hoses, etc.
I have a commercial grade Minuteman shop vac with the hardcart-style handle and wheels and it’s nice to be able to use it without requiring ear protection.
The other feature that better vacs offer is the exhaust air – is it coming from a single vent/port or is it from a diffused ring or other style that reduces the blowback you get from crappy shopvacs?
Life’s too short to use crappy $75 shopvacs. Treat yourself.
Joe framer
Unless i missed it, I didn’t read the cfm difference…
Robin
Is the OEM still Emerson?
Stuart
Yes.
ridgidvac
i have a ridgid wd0625 wet/dry vac & its cfm is 163; the ridgid hd0600 has 57 cfm (cubic feet of air moved per minute) & i think the newer ridgid 6 or 9 gallon vacs like wd0670, wd0970, hd0600 & hd0900 vacs dont perform as good as the larger ridgid vacs. i did a test with the old ridgid wd0625 & the new ridgid nxt hd0600 vacs
vacing roofing nails, broken glass, wood chips & shredded paper (dry mode) & 5 gallons of water from carpet (wet mode) & the old ridgid wd0625 outperformed the new ridgid hd0600 nxt vac (i used 2 1/2″ hose on both vacs) why did ridgid put a higher pitched motor that barely moves any airflow on the newer 6 gal & 9 gal vacs when the 12 gallons & larger vacs & older 6, 8 & 9 gallon vac had a low pitched motor that produces massive airflow (actual cleaning performance)
airflow is what really does the cleaning & NOT suction (except for wet pick-up)
i returned the hd0600 ridgid vac & got the nxt hd1280 vac (12 gallon vac with detachable motor top that converts to leaf blower) & much better
i tried the shop vac svx series & hated that vac so the shop vac svx went back to lowes. then i tried the craftsman 9 gallon vac cmxevbe17590 & it was so-so but a bit better than shop vac but not as good as the ridgid nxt hd1280
Tom
Just bought the 5.0 12 galllon– it makes a high pitch revving sound at full suction– any thoughts…? Never heard it on other ridgids.. it’s like a wah, wah, wah revving.
Stuart
It’s hard to say? If it works perfectly…
If there is a defect, I’m not sure what it would be. I don’t remember any odd sounds like that on my sample.
If you’re not comfortable, return it for an exchange, and see if that one sounds better.
Greg
*Slightly* unrelated … i have the Ridgid vac with the steel drum and i keep getting shocks touching the drum after each use … it’s pretty bad ! anyone has a solution for this ? considering fitting a wire from the drum that would brush on the ground but not sure that would make a difference.
Gary Ratajczak
My old sears did same – just taped on a piece of chain to the hose and drag on the floor.
ridgidvac
put a dryer sheet inside the vac & it’ll reduce static shocks; also dust wont accumulate outside the vac & stick onto the vac exterior
i use my ridgid vac for vacing the house instead of ordinary household vac like kirby, dyson, rainbow etc because the ridgid doesnt clog like the household vacs do with pet hair & ‘carpet fresh’
Johnny4
Nice tip. Currently dealing with so much static cutting MDF.
Jalopy_J
As a couple other have mentioned, how the noise compares to others is probably the most important consideration. I have to work next to a couple of vacs running most of the day everyday. The guys who run them always ruin them because they don’t run filters because they don’t want to have to clean or replace them. Of all the different vacs, performance is always pretty similar, they all seem to work pretty good. The thing that some do way better than others is the amount of noise they make. Some are unbearable.
ktash
I use one of the Ridgid muffler/diffusers with my Ridgid vacs. They’re only $13. https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-2-1-2-in-Muffler-Diffuser-for-RIDGID-Wet-Dry-Vacs-VT2525/100037235
Diplomatic Immunity
You could always make a cabinet to put the wet/dry vac in to reduce noise.
https://garagespot.com/shop-vac-silencer/
Julian Tracy
Those folks ignorant enough to run a shop vac without a filter are probably the same dumb yahoos who run their dirt bikes without air filters.
ridgidvac
I use Cleanstream Pro HEPA pleated cartridge filter & generic HEPA collection bags in my Ridgid HD1280 wet/dry shop vac
Can the motor from a 12+ gallon Ridgid vac fit a 6 or 9 gallon Ridgid NXT vac? I want to keep the 12 gallon detachable blower vac in the barn & get the HD0900 for the house
ktash
So, this brings up a question I had when you posted about the Metabo. What is the difference, other than loudness, between a good Ridgid shop vac and a “dust extractor” like the Metabo?
I know the filtering is better and more costly, but I use a cyclone with my current Ridgid vac and there’s very little dust reaching the filter. Would the dust extractor do a better job with any very fine dust that escapes the cyclone. I’m using both the clearvue and dust deputy with them and both these cyclones really do an amazing job. But I’m not sure about the finest dust particles and whether a good dust extractor would do a better job, given that I plan to use the cyclone with it.
Any other differences?
The loudness factor would also be nice, but I always wear ear protection with power tools due to their noise.
Jim P.
The dust extractors are meant for fine particles and meet the requirements for the new OSHA silica standard. They are HEPA rated and can be used for RRP purposes as well. A general shop vacuum usually picks up larger materials including larger wood shavings but are not HEPA rated.
There are HEPA filters available for the shop vacuums but the vacs themselves do not meet the requirements for HEPA which many professionals need.
Julian
The main difference is the tool activation and the variable suction ability. On my Festool vacs, I dial down the suction when sanding as at full power, otherwise the sander will literally drag on the work. For sawing or routing, full power is preferred.
The tool-on function can certainly be achieved with a cheap $15-20 adapter, but built-in makes working a bit easier: less steps. Though for cordless tools like my mitersaw or track saw, I use a cheap $11 xmas tree remote control to activate the vac without having to walk up to it every time.
As well, the better vacs, offer much better filtration and dust containment, better bags and exhaust air diffusion. The Festool vacs actually send air back to the bag when they shut off to shake some of the dust from the bag’s pores to keep suction at a good level and l even when the bag progressively fills up.
But it’s like any quality power tool vs. cheapo tools in non-specific ways too. The German and Italian made vacs have better rubber wheels, nicer design, easy carrying, better tool storage, cleaner filter changes, much nicer (and antistatic) hoses and accessories, better switches and overall are just more satisfying to use.
Compare the fit and finish of Ryobi or Ridgid cordless tools to a Dewalt or Makita or Milwaukee. Night and day. Rought edges to the castings, only + and – terminals in the battery compartments, not very well sealed, cheap chucks, etc.
I use my vac a lot, so all these things are worth it.
But quieter still trumps them all.
My Metabo vacs are slated to be delivered tomorrow, it’s be interesting to see how they stack up in all of the above categories as the festool MIDI I use.
Diplomatic Immunity
Would be interested in your feedback comparison.
Jim P.
I thought about the Metabo extractors as well, but couldn’t justify them. 3 other extractors and 7 other shop vacuums, space is becoming more limited on my shelves. ?
Frank
I have an old ridgid five hp vac I got at hd about 6 years ago and to this date it still performs flawlessly. I use it for general clean up chores in my carpetless house. now that’s performance….
Unit Blocks
Are there ANY shop vacuums ANYWHERE that are comparable to the “3 HP” or “4 HP” suction that are also BRUSHLESS *and* CORDED?
I need small dedicated shop vacuums for cutting and sanding equipment that don’t wear out the “non-replaceable” brushes every three to six months of daily continuous use.
Michael Drake
So is there any power/CFM upgrades with the NXT Line?
Most of the upgrades seem to be centered around ergo and user experience.
Chuck.F
The HP ratings on vacuums REALLY annoys me. I wish they’d stop with the BS.
Doug
Stuart – is your Shop Vac one of the newer models labeled “SVX2”? (Gotta love these creative acronyms.) For example here’s one model which seems to have impressive numbers: 415 air watts, which they claim is ASTM tested at the end of the 8’ hose, not at the motor.
https://www.shopvac.com/product/shop-vac-14-gallon-6-5-peak-hp-hardware-wet-dry-vac-catnum:5951400
Diplomatic Immunity
Are these going to be at like 130 decibels as well?
Julian
Reporting on shop vacs without decibel ratings is like reporting on impact drivers without torque specs…
Stuart
And the point of leaving a snide is…?
Julian Tracy
Point being, some of your freebie reviews read like press releases instead of diving deeper into real world concerns…
garrett
Your earlier simile is suspect. Torque is directly related to impact driver performance–decibel ratings are ancillary to vacuum performance.
I personally love my Ridgid vac, for the $, its hard to beat.
Thanks Stu!
Stuart
I’m nearly done testing my vac, and am open to any questions you guys might have.
More on the vac to come.
Translation: This isn’t an all-encompassing “everything you ever wanted to know” post or review, it’s an overview.
If you’re not happy with a post, I’m open to requests, suggestions, even criticism. But being snide and sarcastic with no constructive takeaway? Go read your comment. What kind of reaction would you expect me to have?
For specs that aren’t public, I have to ask for them, and while I do have a contact at Emerson who I am sure can help me, he’s most likely going to have to do some work or pass my request to one or more other people to get those answers and specs. Sometimes there’s even a chain of contacts behind the scenes. It’s far easier to do that once, asking several questions, than to send several independent emails.
Asking for specs can put a post on hold for days, even weeks if they get lost. And since I’m working on another post about the vac I have, it made sense to post an overview, gather reader questions, and then work on those while the follow-up is in progress.
Frankly, things like noise levels or exact water lift aren’t as important as other aspects of a shop vacuum. They’re definitely good to know, and noise level was already on my list of things to get for the follow-up. But things like tub size, [relative] power rating, hose size, and features and usually higher priority factors.
For instance, my Shop Vac has a “pull-off” blower function, and it’s frustrating because it means the top handle pulls the motor out of the vac every time. Carrying it from the sides can be a hassle going up or down stairs or through narrow doorways.
Bill
Stuart, you might want to rethink, “Frankly, things like noise levels or exact water lift aren’t as important….”. A quick review of the 31 postings (at this time minus your replies), I count nine questions or comments regarding noise level and most of them say that noise levels are at or near the top their considerations. While we don’t have overwhelming evidence that the majority of vacuum buyers feel this way, it does seem your readership finds it important.
Stuart
Important, yes, but not as important as factors such as price, capacity, and hose size.
I am working on it, along with other details.
On the schedule this week is some comparison testing. Shop-Vac, Ridgid Vac, Festool vac, Fein vac, Milwaukee cordless vac, Milwaukee backpack vac. The context of how it sounds compared to other vacs that readers might be familiar with will be more important than a decibel rating, which I still do hope to get.
Personally, I’ve stopped being able to trust noise ratings for things like this. A lower-noise (with respect to dB/dB(a) specs) tool can sound louder or harsher than one that has higher on-paper specs, depending on the characteristics of the noise.
I didn’t work on the noise ratings for this post, but it is a priority for the review to follow. That’s an easy one too. I didn’t think it needed to be done for the introductory overview, though, and my wording about it being not as important as things like price, capacity, and hose size perhaps sounds different than I intended.
Julian Tracy
I had a Craftsmsn 5hp huge shopvac 10-15 years ago with the pull off blower option. It certainly was a versatile option, as the blower really wasn’t too bad in use, though the motor intake vent being on the top of vac meant that when holding the blower at your side in use would cause it to suck up to your leg if you weren’t careful. A lefty might not have had that issue I suppose.
Mine didn’t have a top handle so I wasn’t inclined to pick it up like yours; as I recall, it had a pretty decent latch on it.
ToolJunkie
I like that it has the feet that accept the accessories, as I saw a cyclone separator that a guy made to fit them (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyBuRjO54NM), and mine doesn’t have that kind of feet.
But the ‘head to head’ isn’t an even test when the hose sizes are different.
I bought my Rigid a couple years ago based on the in-store noise level ratings (1 to 10, with mine being rated at a 4). My Rigid vac is quieter than other “Shop Vac” ones, but no where near as quiet as my Fein or Festool shop vacs. Adding the muffler on the Rigid doesn’t really quiet the motor noise, it just diffuses the airflow going out.
99% of the time its connected to my dust deputy anyways, so the click fittings are meaningless, too. I’d have to see it next to one of the old ones to make a determination.
Ecotek
Stuart, I’ve noticed some of the Ridgid vacuums with the label “Pro Pack Plus”. Does this mean they click into their “Pro Gear” modular tool box system? If so, that’s a great idea. Ive always found that dragging our big shop vac onto the job to be cumbersome. If not, it still a great idea and id be happy to forward them my address for remittance of a check for the idea.
Stuart
Looking into it, I can see examples of the Pro tool boxes stacking on top of the Pro Pack Plus vacs.
Here’s a video showing it:
https://youtu.be/U-ZpBnFJJEI?t=20
The tool box stacks on top, but does not lock.
Frank D
Looks like they made several improvements, which were sorely needed due to how cheap they have been made over the years (while not getting any cheaper).
But, they forgot about the wheels, which look thinner, junkier and cheaper than ever?
What are the noise levels at, compared to prior models of the same size?
Out of the three or four ridgids in the family, they all have varying degrees of noise levels … and a recent small 5 ish gallon one I gave as a present being loud as all get out with a serious high pitch ear piercing squeel. Unbelievably bad.
Chip
I am not a Ridgid fan at all.
However I have a 5 year old 6 gallon that has held up,under sever working conditions.
It stayed on the back of my truck for 2 years, it typically sucks concrete slurry,and sand.
I dig fence holes through sand around sea walls,and dry core with it.
The hose went the way of the carrier pigeon,and I replaced it with a 20 footer from Amazon for $ 30.
As a bonus it still can fit inside the tub,while leaving the filter on.
It needs to be bumped to start,so I picked up it’s replacement on BF for $40 .
It isn’t a high end machine,but for general cleaning it does fine!
Jamie
In all honesty it seems like these changes are rather small. I’m almost always running bags in my rigid vac and I’m not a fan of how the bag circles around the filter.
It would also be great to see Rigid improve the accessory attachments. They definitely have a lot of room for improvement in that category.
Julian Tracy
These new versions, like pretty much all basic crappy shopvacs, are shorter and wide with wheels that stick out like trip hazzards… the designers must not consider folks are carrying these up and down finished stairways and narrow corridors.
Check out the Makita vacs – tall and svelte – I would much rather prefer to carry that in and out of a job site. Even the shorter Festools and the metabo/Hilti versions, though shorter and stout don’t have any appendages sticking out to mark the walls as you’re bringing them up to the 2nd floor or down to the basement.
The attention to details and solid, thought out design and features and better grade materials are the differentiating feature of the $$$ European made dust collectors.
Oddly enough, even Dewalt’s premium vacs cater to the cheap-ass ship vac design ethic.
I guess considering the standard American contractor stores his/her shop vac in the open pickup truck bed in the rain and snow in the Home Depot parking lot, there’s no reason they should buy the better tool.
Loup68
Stuart, noise level was very important to me when I bought a new Ridgid 14 gallon shop vacuum three months ago. It is the smallest unit with their SNR, Scroll Noise Reduction.
When I first saw an ad for Home Depot with the new NXT 12 gallon unit and it said scroll technology, I thought that it was their noise reduction. Very misleading!
And where do they get this “scroll” business from? A scroll air compressor has two screws with an oil bath to pump air, not a normal fan. A play on words.
But I really do like my new and it is my first Ridgid vacuum.
ridgidvac
Go for the ridgid 6000rv red/grey 6 gallon vac; much quieter than the hd orange ridgid vacs. The pro/industrial ridgid red/grey vacs are sold thru toolup, grainger & plumbersmart? & not thru hd like the consumer grade orange ridgid vacs at hd
Johnny4
Why does Rigid not put a outlet on their vacuum? It would be brilliant to be able to plug my sander or saw right into my dust control system.
Stuart
Cost? Shop vacuums in this price range never have AC outlets with auto-activation sensors.
Abdel
16 gal cart-style, 6.5 peak-HP, $159
Life time warranty….. not so sure … used it once or twice still have the box for it with some of the accessories still in plastic packaging!!! And warranty department want to tell me I used it with out a bag !!!!! When I still have original bag installed and didn’t even open it tell they told me to open and get information from inside !! You advertise warranty and when it comes to it you find an excuse that makes no sense at all but it’s my fault I believed your false advertisements !! No more !!! I would not recommend any tool if your not gonna warranty it for a manufacturer defect … I used it 3 times !!!!!!!! And you want to tell me I used it bag less !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shame on you !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abdel
The reps name was
Trizza from
RIDGID Customer Support I cant believe such an outrageous accusation!!!
Manny
I’ve got the Wd4070 w hepa filter for work and the Wd 1450 w fine dust filter in the garage. I always use both with bags. I’ve had the 4070 for 8+ yrs and use daily for hrs at a time to sand Boeing and fiberglass tubs. I use it almost exclusively attached to my random orbital sander with 120grit or 80grit sandpaper. 2 -3 hrs of straight sanding and there will not be any noticeable dust on the vanity. Its perfect for carrying up 3 story walk up apartments and even when full does not get too heavy(i replace the bag every 2 months or so). Working in sometimes occupied suites its great that it is very compact. Especially compared to all the other vacs.
I’ve used Shop Vacs(far too noisy:high pitched sound) and other sub $100 compact vacs(stinger etc) when i first started business 20yrs ago. All garbage within a year. It wasn’t until Ridgid released the 4070 that i found a small portable work vac that lasted.
As a bonus I’ll stack/balance my rubbermaid toughtotes with my hvlp sprayer in one and my vent system in another on top of my vac to push down long hallways. Sucks getting old.
Noise is a low timbre especially compared to the high pitch ones I’ve heard. No complaints from tenants.
My only complaint over the years is there is no way to put a power head on any model to use on carpet after drywall sanding but i realize that is not possible.
Judging by the NXT reviews, i see no reason to change out my current Ridgid vacs for the new ones. Again, over 8 yrs and both still run like new. No broken castors or hoses(i did upgrade both to the pro hoses) or motors.
Easily the best purchases I’ve bought for work. Outlasted 2 work trucks ?, extension cords and 6 sanders of various makes . Even outlasted the toughtotes. I’d definitely buy again if they ever die and would definitely recommend. Not bad for a 100bucks. Just don’t buy the cheap models that come on sale that don’t take bags. Those are garbage.
ridgidvac
All Ridgid shop vacs accept dust collection bags (even the WD1640 & WD1641 ‘special’ 16 gallon; WD6425 6 gallon stainless steel & WD1060 10 gallon stainless steel vacs)
I even converted my old Ridgid WD1280 & WD1670 vacs to use bags (use two 90° elbows connected inside)
Miguel lopez
Where to get the drum latches replacements. Having trouble finding them .
Mike
How does not compare to 2 stage rigid vacs?