What do you guys use? ive used a small 15gallon shop vac with a hepa filter on it for years but it getting abused over the last 5 years has taken a toll and she bit the dust earlier today. It took up too much room in my van so im looking at something small and powerful. I still have a shop vac at home that i use for the much larger jobs and prewires but for the everyday stuff what do you like?

Since my vacuum died my customer was kind enough to let me use her battery powered dyson, This thing was stupid powerfull and made my shop vac look like a turd :) [Link: amazon.com]

it has a nice docking station that i could mount in my van and charge it when im driving (since i have the built in 120v inverter) but not sure i want to drop that much on a vacuum.

[Link: acehardware.com]


Or:

[Link: walmart.com]


Nice and small. Gets the job done and doesn't take up a lot of room.

Look at the DC16 and DC34's

Or do you need the Extensions and stuff?

16 May be discontinued, but refurbs are out there pretty cheap.

[Link: cleanfreak.com]

I've been using this for 6 years and it's just now starting to show some wear:

[Link: ridgid.com]

It's nice because you can stand on it, sit on it, and it's rectangular and stores the hose & cord inside so doesn't take up that much room in the van and you can stack stuff on top of it.

Round shop vacs always take up way too much space... especially with the hose.

I've been tempted to get something battery operated, but haven't done it yet.

ahh vacuums.... the only product where the more the suck, the better they are

I like the Milwaukee because it it sucks and blows.

[Link: milwaukeetool.com]

I do wish it would plug in and act as another charger though.

I own a couple of these, they've been just fine, great deal for the price. Size is easy to fit in the van, and having the wheels is nice. 

[Link: ridgid.com]

That Milwaukee is awesome. I wish the Rigid was rechargeable. I use the little Husky/ Stryker vac. I just bought another last weekend as my took a dump.

I really wanted that Dyson version for cleaning up after my 2 year old. I don't think it will handle all the drywall dust too well.

I did find the DC16 and 34 for sale. Do those have extensions like the 35?

I also like that Rigid. Might get that on the next go round for the jobsite.

+1 on the RIGID...Mine's been in action since 2006 and still works like a champ. It's also a decent seat for working on racks down low. And it stacks in the truck. Love it.

I use this one [Link: lowes.com]

for 2 reasons.

A - It has a replaceable bag so it stays clean and I don't have to worry about it blowing drywall & plaster dust out the back side.

B - It uses the full size large diameter hose so larger things such as wood chips don't get clogged up inside the hose.

[Link: makita.com]

Also have one of these, but ave never even taken it out of box....
[Link: ebay.com]

I had the small rigid for years and it just died. I replaced it with a 6 horse rigid for the house. I have a little 1.5 horse for the van, but I picked up the dewalt 18v vac and have been pretty happy. It's not amazing, but easy and fairly compact.

I also use the Rigid and it's been great. Had it for at least 5 years. Love the form factor for carrying around in a truck, no hoses or attachments to get knocked off. And it works great, never had an issue with dust blow back. You can also flip the hose to the back outlet and use it to blow. Also great as a step stool or seat.

+1 with SBS and Mogul on the Ridgid Pro Pack. Nicest thing is that it fits in the van SO nice and the hose isn't just dangling there in no man's land.

We have some small Husky/Stinger Vacs, but I generally hate them for a variety of reasons, mostly the size, shape, and tiny little hose. Good for dust only.