Shop Vac Buying Guide the best wet dry vacs haveFor collecting wood chips or other big cleanups, look for a 16- to 20-gallon tank. For most workshops and households, 10- to 14-gallon models have plenty of capacity, are easier to store and move around, and still offer adequate suction. For cleaning a house or car, smaller wet dry vacs with tanks that hold 5 or 6 gallons are easier to transport. Portable 1- to 3-gallon vacuums offer the most convenience, but they provide a lot less suction and capacity. different shop vacuums of equal capacity vary in height and shape, so some fit better in a closet than under a workbench or on a shelf. pickup, such as vacuuming wood chips and shavings, experts recommend a 2.25- toSmaller hoses tend to clog. However, if you're using power tools in a workshop, you'll need a smaller, flexible hose that adapts to the dust ports on your tools. Many reviewers recommend that workshops include a tool-triggered shop vacuum for collecting dust, plus a larger consumer-grade

model for cleaning up big wood chips and other debris. Extra-long hoses are available for most models, but in most cases best shop vacs are about as quiet as a standard household upright or canister vacuum cleaner, and no ear protection is needed. Powerful, pro models intended for use in a workshop can be louder, and that noise is increased further still by tools used in conjunction with a tool-triggered model. recommend wearing ear protection at 85 decibels, but it's wise to err on the A drain valve or spout. one of these, you'll have to take the lid off and tip the tank to empty it whenRemember, a big shop vacuum with a full tank of liquid canif you plan to suck up liquids regularly, a drain plug is a Wide-set wheels and a low profile. If you have to haul your vacuum up and down stairs, models with large back wheels and a handle are easier to Cord wraps and onboard attachment and hose storage. Users note that these features don't always work as well as

advertised, with attachments or tool caddies not fitting securely and sometimesIt's a good idea to read owner reviews of models you'reMost top wet dry vacuums in the mid- to large-size range have a hose between 7For wall-mount wet dry vacs and portable models, hoses may be as long as 20 or even 32 feet. An ample power cord. Much like the length of the hose, the power cord length determines how much reach a wet dry vacuum has. Some wall-mount wet dry vacs have a short hose of about 5 feet, while larger models may have a 20-foot hose or longer. much will accessories cost? tool attachments, filters and dust bags designed for consumer-grade shop vacs can be used on more than one brand, but higher-end wet dry vacs often requireYou may also want to budget for extra accessories -- not just dust bags or filters, but a longer, bigger or more flexible hose, or more extension wands for reaching high ceilings. attachments work with hoses with a diameter of 1.25 inches.

Will you use a blower feature? vacuum cleaner bagless vsWet dry vacs that double as blowers can be noisy and tendcurrys offers on vacuum cleaners to exhaust more dust. eureka vacuum cleaners bagsReviewers warn that when you use them to clean a very dusty room, some may blow around the dust you're trying to vacuum. feature removable lids that double as blowers, though these get mixed reviewsIf you plan to use the blower, evaluate reviews to choose a wet dry vac that minimizes unwanted blowing effects when using the vacuum you plan to vacuum liquids frequently? If you plan to vacuum water and other liquid messes frequently, you can invest in a pump as an accessory. Will you be vacuuming

wood chips or large debris? vacuums with a 2.5-inch hose diameter don't clog as easily when sucking up Is air quality aIf you're trying to minimize dust pollution in your home or work area, a shop vac with a HEPA filter and compatibility with dust collection bags result in better filtration, removing smaller particles from the air. Where will you store your wet dry vac? ample storage space, size may be of little concern. However, if you plan to store your wet dry vac under a shelf in a workshop or in a tight space, measure your available space to ensure you choose a model that will fit. or garage is limited on storage, consider a wall-mount wet dry vacuum. expectations: The dollars and cents of it Wet dry vacuums come with warranties ranging from a single year toWhile a few wet dry vacs experience problems with motors breaking down or burning out over time, most are pretty durable. the main costs owners should be concerned with when choosing a wet dry vacuum.

For some models, you'll want to consider the cost of replacing filters and dustFilters, depending on type, cost between $20 and $30; washable, so they need to be replaced less often. Canister bags, or dust collection bags, cost between $5 and $15 for a pack of two or three bags. Most wet dry vacuums come with at least a few attachments, some with a full set of seven or more attachments for different cleaning tasks, including extension wands for greater reach. If your upright or canister vacuum has attachments, these attachments are compatible with most wet dry vacuums with a PrevBest Shop VacsPortable Shop VacsOur SourcesNextSo you did it. Or maybe you did it again. Dropped your favorite gadget in a sink or a toilet. Or you spilled an entire 40oz on it. That doesn't mean you can't save it though. Here are a few tips that might just bring it back to life. Step 1: Cut the powerAs soon as you realize your gadget has been doused you need to get the electricity out of it, and fast.

Damage isn't generally caused by water itself, but by the electrical shorts that it creates. If you gadget has a removable battery, pull it out fast. If it doesn't turn off the power immediately. If the power is off by the time you retrieve it, resist the urge to turn it on to check it. You're going to be without your gadget for a couple days. Step 2: Strip it downRemove everything that can come off the gadget. Back covers, SD cards, SIM cards, headphone port coverings. The more you can strip it down the better. Don't break it, but you want to open up as many points for air to get in and water to get out as possible.Step 3: Suck it outIf you have a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle attachment, that's ideal. You want to try to get as much of that moisture out as possible. Suck from each port for at least five minutes. Not long ago, I dropped my phone in a bowl of soup. I'm not proud of it, but it happened. I didn't have a vacuum nearby. I had to suck the soup out of the earphone port, the ear piece, and microphone ports with my mouth (spitting it out into a second bowl).

Am I proud of this? No. Did it save the phone? Yes.Step 4: Dry it offYou will see a lot of sites that tell you to put your gadget into a bowl of dry rice. That works okay, but I'm going to share with you my secret weapon that works better than anything I've ever tried: Rice Krispies. Yes, the breakfast cereal. They suck up liquid much faster and more aggressively than uncooked rice. Grab a fresh box, jam your device in there, and leave it for 48 hours. Rotate the device every now and then.Step 5: Give it a shotAfter 48 hours or so, remove your phone from the Rice Krispies. If you see any sign of moisture still in there (fog on the screen, for instance), put it back in for more time. If, however, it looks bone dry, put the battery back in, and (hopefully) turn it on. With a little luck, your gadget will be up and running again.Untested methods:I cannot personally vouch for this method, but some recommend soaking the device in very pure rubbing alcohol. Using pure alcohol in the 90-percent range, the theory is, alcohol is non-corrosive and evaporates faster than water.

However, a lot of phones and tablets have oleophobic coatings, which alcohol will quickly degrade. So, it might not be worth the risk.We've heard some people recommend putting the phone in the silica gel packets—you know, the do not eat pouch packed with your snacks and furniture. Thing is, the silica's powers of desiccation are all used up by the time you open a product—it's already reached is maximum absorption point. And who saves those things, anyway?There is, however, a newish product on the market called the Bheestie Bag. It's something you buy ahead of time if you're going canoeing or are especially accident prone. It claims it can dry your gadgets out seven times faster than home remedies. But we've yet to test it. And seriously, my Rice Krispies trick is awesome.Do not try:Hair-dryers, ovens, toasters. No, stupid, don't do that. You will melt the components. If you want to use a hair-dryer on the "no heat" setting (so it's just a fan), fine. But you're better off with a vacuum.