Looking for the impossible I think. Meduim size, portable. Flexible hose, hose that does not pull off vacuum if pulled on, filter that does not fall off into tank, the ability to roll and not tip over from being top heavy. Ok I can do with out wheels if needed. Some what quiet for a vacuum. My current one(Craftsman)fails at all of above. All just seem like terrible designs. General clean up use. Everything I have tried does well in one area at most. What are you using?

[Link: m.homedepot.com]

Works great. Have two of them.

Festool CT-Midi answers all of your needs

Home Depot Rigid WD4522. I had the one that goldenrule suggested which works fine, but this one is better because...

Hose, cord, and nozzles are housed within and the thing is flat and more ore less square so you can pack it. Stuff on top or under. Works as a seat for lunch, and doubles as a booster step when you don't have a 5 gallon bucket nearby!

I like the Ridgid tool box design model. Hose does not pull off easy? Looks very much like the same design of one I have. Perhaps designed better. Does the filter push on or is there a threaded retainer of some sort? Everytime I buy a replacement crapsman filter it is a new design and new retainer or pressure/friction type fit which both fail.

In one of the pictures. You can see that each extension has a clip on it, which can easily be seen. And with a little more looking, the hose itself does to. So it clips onto the vacuum's inlet.

My old craftsman had the same design. It also doubled as a leaf blower too.

KOT

Thanks, I saw the clip. That is why I asked.

Interesting, but doesn't have the wheels he is looking for. How is it in comparison to the one I have with sound? I was on a job with another integrator with, I think, a Milwaukee vacuum that was similar in design to the one you posted, and the sound was this annoying high pitched sound that I could hear throughout the house. I couldn't use that everyday.

I have trouble with the noise that most vacuum's emit. And, most cannot deal with much drywall dust.

I've been using the rectangular Rigid for years and like it.  The filter does attach with a threaded lock nut so it won't come off.  The hose is a little short, but hasn't really been a big deal and the fact that hose, power cord and attachments all fit inside is a big plus.  The shape and size is nice too because it's easier to store.  Mine fits under the lower shelf in the van nicely.  You can see the end of it in the photo below.

It sounds like a shop vac... not really quiet, but not any more annoying than other vacs in this price range.

The storage idea is nice. Will go take a look

Now thats a clean ass van. *thumbs up*

KOT

Drywall dust or lots of dust for that matter, you are better off not letting it get anywhere near the filter. I have used a dust Deputy (Cyclone) which you then attach before the vac. Like 98%-99% of the dust ends up in there and not in the vac. I have also used the paper type of filter bags as well.

I have also been doing remodeling in my own house and have a 16gallon craftsmen. When I was sanding my new drywall install I ended up using my dewalt orbital sander with 320 grit connected direct to the craftsmen. I also used one of those drywall sandpaper holders you connect to the vac. I have a very good filter for fine particles but I also used the yellow bags you install in the bucket to filer out fine particles like drywall dust. Minimal dust fell straight down to the floor, no cloud of dust in the room at all. Nice smooth finish and no drywall dust made it to the filter itself. All contained in the bags and never lost any suction.

I have the same one and the larger hose won't come off unless the plastic clip breaks. Mine is close to 10 years old and never a problem.

Do you have make and model numbers for these? I am about to start the process in replacing most, if not all, of the drywall in this house. Had a roof leak for many years and the entire rear (south facing) wall is rotted. So I'm afraid of mold and such are inside the walls.

KOT