Great video! Bought a new car and got more into detailing about 4 months ago. Subscribed to your channel shortly after and now you are one of my top choices for detailing tips and knowledge. Your product tests are the best. Appreciate all the hard work you put in to do them.
I think a great measure in real world situations would be to have floor mats, weigh them dry, pour water by measure on them, and vacuum it up in the same pattern for each vacuum in a specific time frame and see which one pulls the most water in that time frame.
YES! That's what I want to see. plus a blot test with a paper towel to see how dry they are. Need vacuum pressure to lift but you're really only lifting 1/4" of water at most. More cfm air flow might better shake the fibers and dry them like a windy day. Yes or no? For me, wow, that blue one was so much quieter! If it's powerful enough then maybe I want that one.
I bought this vac about 6 months ago and it is GREAT for a number of reasons. Very low center of gravity so you don't have to worry about it tipping over when you pull it. A very long cord. The rear wheels are fixed so you don't have to worry about the vac wandering all over the place (crashing into cars) when it is pulled. It has as much suction as any of the big shop vacs I have. The long Mr Nozzle hose I've had for years mated right up - - very happy about that. This is the best wet/dry vac I've owned regardless of price and I already had 3 other shop vacs sitting in my basement. Home Depot is still selling this particular model.
Take into consideration the diameter of both hoses the Ridgid uses 1 7/8" outer diameter (probably closer to 1.5" inner diameter) while your VacMaster "the Great" has a 1.25" outer diameter hose (1" inner diameter) so there are losses there. Now, if you went with the grand-daddy of hoses for these machines, specifically the 2.5" outer diameter hose, those values may vary significantly for both, well mostly airflow. If you want to learn more about these calculations, I suggest you visit Bill's VacLab channel as he tends to explain why airwatts and suction aren't necessarily a good number to go by. He also talks about working water lift and how some in the industry use it to deceive to sell machines. Your use of the orange detailing hose caused a drop because the end has an adapter that goes down to 1.25" (again, that 1" inner diameter). That being said, that hose is actually more efficient than the VacMaster being a commercial duty hose. The inside of that hose is a smoother surface inside than the standard hose and is larger diameter. I found that even pinching the diameter right at the end of a 2.5" hose and wand still increases performance when pinched down to 1.25" fitting gives reasonable performance up to that point as I have seen turbine power nozzles spinning faster than with a standard hose configuration of similar length. You complain about the noise of the Ridgid, but you could just buy a diffuser muffler that will help cancel some of the motor and air movement noises. I did for mine and it does make a difference. Also, I find it funny that detailers don't use bags inside their machines for what reason I am not sure, but you keep your cartridge filter cleaner and thus your motor will maintain efficiency as well.
Purchased Rigid WD4070 at Home Depot and the Detailing Kit. Also, used a Pool Skimmer Sock(s) to prevent debris clogging the Dry Filter. Utilizing the Rigid Detail Kit hose which is really nice, you do get reduced suction with the 1-1/4 inch hose. I decided to purchase the Craftsman's 1 1/4 crevice attachment/tool because if you get flexing the long crevice tool from the Rigid Detailing Kit it will split aka break. The best thing your are actually getting from the Detailing Kit is the Hose!!! at a high cost about $55. Wow! that is an expensive hose but I wished it was another foot longer. The WD4070 noise level is Twice as loud than the Hoover Wind Tunnel 3 Max Performance Upright Vacuum Cleaner. If running the WD4070 for more than 5 minutes, I recommend wearing ear plugs and keeping children away. I did consider the WD4522 Tool Box shaped wet-dry vac but did not like that the Exhaust/Blower was on the same side as the Suction/Intake. Make or Buy the Rigid Diffuser for the Blower Port so the particles you are vacuuming up don't spread-blow all over the place making a mess. I would also change out the Power Toggle Switch to a Push Button switch. As for the WD4070, just set it inside a box and never worry about is rolling around or bumping into the car, you can even use the original shipping box it came in but need to cut a hole for the hose. LOL. Maybe make small home made wheel chocks. Change the front casters and get ones with a Wheel Lock. With the WD4522 could make a small dolly cart, now it is on wheels when you need it to be. Truth of the matter, I am a bit disappointed with the performance and quality of the WD4070 and more so with the cost of the Rigid Detailing Kit. In regards to the Rigid Life Time Warranty ... do not expect much as you need to prove the Motor, Power Switch, or Plastic Clamps are a Manufacturing Defect. Rigid "Limited" Life Time Warranty is not very good. Possible Craftsman is better or at least may honor their warranty. The WD4070 is not a true 4 Gallon Wet Vac. as somewhere between 2 to 2 1/2 Gallons before the float cuts off the vac. If you are a beginner Mobile Auto Detailer, get yourself a portable Battery Powered Wet-Dry Vac maybe like the 1 or 3 Gallon 5HP Ryobi or the Milwaukee. Beware that batteries are expensive especially for 8aH battery and they may fail. Take at least a minimum of Four 4aH rechargeable batteries on the road. An Auto Detailing Business is a lot of work and equipment/tools are expensive plus all the car care products add up. Don't forget those 24 to 100 plus high grade Microfiber Towels you will be using and dirtying in a week or 2. You will need to advertise, network, and use the Internet or Social Media to gain your Cliental. Practice and Training is no simple task. No one has ever become a Pro overnight, let alone wealthy unless hit the Jackpot or inherited the money. Smile " It's a nice day to jump into a Clean vehicle, after you worked it." sadly, you made a mess of yours while making theirs look Show Room condition.
Maybe do a test that’s opposite of gpm test on a pressure washer ? Fill a bucket with water.suck water out with both units for a set time like 10 seconds or 20 seconds and measure how much each unit pulls in the time frame
The Rigid WD4522 Tool Box and WD4070 on wheels perform close to the same. Main reason I did not buy the WD4522 is that the Blower/Exhaust is on the same side as the Intake. Also, I would have replaced the Power Toggle Switch on the WD4522 and installed a Push Button Switch. To prevent the WD4070 from rolling , place it in a box, or light weight plastic crate, or make small Wheel Chocks. To make the Tool Box mobile, make a dolly for it. Instead of Bags use none and use Pool Skimmer Socks placed over the Dry Filter. Save money not buying Bags at $11 each and/or Filters at $17 each. Yes! eventually the Dry Filter will clog up and reduce vacuum then you replace it, the Pool Skimmer Socks (get 30 socks cost $15 to $20) prolong the life of the Dry Filter. What's $0.75 sock vs $17 filter? Again empty and clean out the tank/drum for the next clean up project. Also get the VF3700 Wet Debris Application Filter $18 which is reusable before doing any Wet cleaning as helps to save and prevent the Electric Motor from frying out. The Rigid Detailing Kit, only item that is any good is the 1 1/4 Hose. It's a bummer to pay nearly $55 for a quality hose.
Thanks for the work Josh. With the performance of the two vacuums pretty much equal, I like the Vacmaster because of the lower noise level and the retractable cord.
For the airflow test to be meaningful the hoses need an adapter to cover the entire fan opening of the airflow gauge to maximize airflow through the gauge.
Closing on a house and I have some future projects I have in mind, 4/4 videos I looked up you had great detailed review and answered all my questions. Definitely subscribing, can’t wait for more.
Hose length and diameter does indeed make a huge difference in performance. A small diameter hose loses energy due to squeezing the air through a smaller opening, and a longer hose loses energy because there is more total friction with the hose walls. So basically you want the shortest, fattest hose you can get. Imagine you're drinking through a straw, a very thin or long straw will make it much more difficult.
Exactly. Static pressure matters. If he was willing to punch a hole in those hoses to insert a static pressure measuring probes attached to a manometer, he would see this.
Just to add, some motors can deal with higher static pressures than other motors. It appears the vacmaster is one of them. Probably works a lot better with a dirty filter too.
I have had this same vacuum about five years now. I've used it a lot as a handyman and I must say this is a workhorse. Powerful suction. Easy to carry around.
I'm not scientist. For me here are the factors for my consideration. -I'm guessing that the length of the hose plays a part in the testing. -Amazon reviews for the Vacmaster Shop Vac were not so good. -Ridged may have easier access for filters and accessories -Ridged offers a life time warrantee. BTW Thanks for sharing another fine review.👍
Water lift is independent of hose diameter because it is being measured at 0 flow rate so there are no hose losses. Vacuum cleaners work by pulling in debris with the air. That's why the higher cfm unit seems to clean better. It's sweeping faster.
Think of the hose diameter like a larger resistance in an electrical circuit. The motor must work far harder to move the same amount of air through a smaller tube. Or for a given motor, less air can be moved through a smaller tube. And the cross section of that tube scales as the square of the diameter.
I would say for your wind ometer you need to 3D print a thing that will go around it to seal it up so that the hose is directly attached to it so that every vacuum you test is exactly the same way
I use a RIDGID HD1800, 16 Gal 6.5 peak HP. 185 CFM as for water lift I’m not sure of that number but it really sucks, it’s like 1 gallon a second. Whatever that equates to. I can’t imagine using anything with less than 140 cfm or so. The difference in cleaning power is huge. As for the car detailing kit, I don’t recommend it at all. You loose way too much cfm. I stick with the standard 2 1/2” hose. They do sell a 1 7/8” crush proof hose but even with that you are going to lose out on cfm. But I would say get that before you downgrade yourself to a 1 1/4” hose. At bare minimum you want at least 100 cfm. If you absolutely need a small vacuum for some reason I would say the best starting point would be The Beast. It’s 100 cfm and 5 gal so very compact and it’s got just enough cfm to get the job done. If you’re new to shop vacs. Don’t go under 100 cfm. And remember that if you downgrade to a smaller hose, you will lose a lot of cfm. It’s best to use the hose diameter your vac comes with or buy an aftermarket hose that is the same diameter as the one that came with your vac. Your going to be spending about $80 minimum on a good quality crush resistant aftermarket 2 1/2” hose. The 1 1/4” hose that comes with the car kit is the cheapest option but if you are going from a 1 7/8” or 2 1/2” and downgrading to that the amount of cfm you will loose is just too much. If you absolutely need a totally crush proof hose thank you buy a higher end vac, they come with a pretty good hose. For example. My RIDGID HD1200 came with a 2 1/2” hose as did my HD1800 NXT. But the HD1800 hose is much better quality, it flexes much more and each end has 360 degrees of rotation. The HD1200 does not. It’s definitely not fully crush proof but honestly, how about you just don’t step on your hose and sling it around the vac when your done with it and you are good. Also if you did mess it up the replacements are fair priced, right now anyway. Because seriously, having a crush proof hose only to take a huge hit on cfm, the reason you pay so much for a good vac just to throw half of your cleaning power out the window. Whatever you do don’t go with the 1 1/4” hose. If you must have a crush proof go with the 1 7/8” your still going to take a hit on cfm that simply isn’t worth it though.
I’m very happy with the ridgid’s performance. I’ve only had it about a a month, but has done everything I’ve wanted it to do so far easily. The hose is trash, so upgrading to the 10ft orange hose is a must!
PSI is a measure of pressure, which is what inches of water lift also measures. CFM is a measure of fluid flow rate, which is what GPM measure on pressure washers. There will absolutely be a similar tradeoff between the two for a given vacuum. Fluid-watts is the real metric for both of them, as it quantities how much work the fluid medium does for you.
Ridged has a new 4 gallon shop vac that the motor comes off and becomes a blower. It's 6hp, and rated at 120cfm. I ordered one yesterday, and it should be here tomorrow. I'll probably be doing a review on it sometime in the near future. You may want to check into it.
I have that ridgid and the larger hose would have sucked the dirt out way faster, and Ridgid makes a bigger orange hose and if you use a larger crevice nozzle it really works good on cars
For better CFM measurement. Get a soda bottle the diameter of your airflow meter and then cut the neck to match your hose nozzle. Then you can measure all of the air flowing to the machine. Best to have perhaps a foot of straight section before and after the meter. (The meter isn't designed to be used this way but much better than trying to measure an air stream that's smaller than the meter.
I would say that the difference between those two regarding water lift is the smaller diameter hose on the VacMaster. And isn't the crush proof hose longer than the included hose with the Ridgid? If so, that should decrease your cfm from one hose to the other. A smaller diameter nozzle shouldn't affect cfm as much as a smaller diameter hose does. The cfm vs water lift must be similar to hp vs torque...the Ridgid is a gas powered truck and the VacMaster is a diesel truck.
Wanna start by saying I appreciate you making comparison videos and helping me make better buying decisions, but in watching ur video I noticed something that might help make a more clear comparison. Just my thoughts and or suggestion: When you did the dirt test in the cardboard box, I feel that a better way to judge that would’ve been to suck up the first layer with both vacuums, and then see what is left on the second layer for both vacuums. That would’ve then gave you an idea as to which one is going to suck up more than the other under the same circumstances. What’s then leftover, let’s say for example the rigid had more left over, that then would say that the other would’ve done a better job cause it would’ve pulled up more. This is all, of in u using that first layer as if it was a wet carpet. An even better approach would’ve been to use two pieces of carpet that are wet and simply giving us your opinion in the touch and feel of both carpets and of course, using visuals, and at that point overall seeing which one is more dry than the other
For the suction test on you arm, you need to take into account the weight of each hose... If the rigid is 4 pound and the vacmaster 2 pound the suction will not feel the same when you let go of the hose because the gravity pull is different...
I would say if you got the right size tools for the Ridgid (1 7/8") you would probably notice a huge difference to that of the VacMaster. If those were 5hp motors, you would need 250 VAC with a current of 15-20 A or 125 VAC at 30 A (RV-style plug) to run it. The horsepower rating on most wet and dry vacuums is a fudged number like air-watts and (working) water lift. Those vacuums probably only pull about 1.25 to 1.5 hp when running, that's about 9 A at 125VAC. That's what my Ridgid, my Rainbow and my central vac all pull normally.
you should of gotten a defuser in your detailing kit, i did, and it makes a world of difference on noise. its almoat like an exhaust filter for the blower, but definitely worked. thanks for the video! i need a new vacuum for the shop.
Similar price, similar performance.... BUT Vacmaster has a cord reel and quieter. Alhtough I own a Rigid... Vacmaster has the edge due to cable management and noise. 😎🤪
Bro you need to check out the Milwaukee cordless shopvac. It's way better on every level. From the wheels, to being able to detach and carry, the accessories are insane. They are on sale right now too. They have 3 models. O got the 6 gallon. It's $138 at Home Depot right now. Definitely has more power than both of these ones in the video
- Ease of Access (to the tank, water/dust filter) - Size & Shape (Round/Rectangular/Tall/Short) - Price - Cords(Retractable, Crank, Hand Wrap): > [Tidy] Retractable are nice, but are bound to break in the future. > [Tidy] Crank, some effort, maybe not for everyone with hand problem(?) > Hand wrap, More effort, not so tidy - Performance - Noise - Wheels/Feet What else do we wanna know?
Out of curiosity, try to block exhaust to see if there is a change in water lift. I am thinking since the blue one is muffled it's not letting air come out so there fore more "water lift". While the other one isn't. But the ridgid actually pulling more "water" since it has more flow? Idk if that make sense
I have the exact same rigid next 3.5 gallon Shop-Vac. So I added a gasket around the bottom portion to help seal the vacuum and it works great I'm literally losing no suction
@@GLI_1701yeah,but he also comparing 2 different hose sizes,vacmaster hose is 1 1/4" from the vaccum to the tip,riding its only 1 1/4" at the tip,but u also thought the same about putting a seal when I buy the vaccum
I run a 50ft vacuum hose reel and use the pack pro from rigid but it's not enought for it , might have to upgrade to a 6.5 if your running a 50ft vacuum hose
That one looks sweet. I have an old rigid that's really big. But I use my dyson v11 for quick clean ups on my and my wife's rides. Great to have both. That 4 gallon tho I'd prob get if mine died.
How many watts does this rigid 4G actually pull when working hard? Wanted to use it with a jackery, but not sure my 1k will work since the specs state 120v 10A = 1200 watts. Thank ya,
Water lift is the number I look for first personally it's the number that means the most really for power of the vac, the cfm is good too but is just the measurement of moving air, or speed of airflow and isn't as important for what you guy use them for, it's the same for carpet cleaning electric vac there the same thing just bigger motors.
Could you try this again slowing down the exhaust port on the rigid with foam or something. The other one seems to have an enclosed exhaust where are is not escaping as fast creating a little back pressure like a cars exhaust. There may be a sweet spot between air intake and exhaust and the size hose used much like in a car. Just an opinion. Great videos.
Do you have experience with a Vacmaster Professional Beast 5 gal and will the Rigid accessories hose fit a Vacmaster? The Beast is still small, no wheels, stronger motor, about the same price.
Yeah,but remember to make the hose be 1 1/4" from where it connect to the vaccum to the tip,all the hose being 1 1/4" and not just the tip,the vacmaster suction it's better bcuz the hose its 1 1/4" including the tip,the ridgid it's lower bcuz the hose it's bigger and only the tip was 1 1/4"
I think it would be interesting to see if that water gauge you have correlates to show that the Vacmaster would suck a gallon bucket of water down before the Rigid. but I can't see why it wouldn't. May also be interesting to see if some sort of filter could be rigged up on the Rigid to see if it helps quiet the Rigid and then how it changes the measurements from it.
Just a thought, ease of purchasing filters for the vac years out, and warranty terms. I have used Craftsman in the past and they switch filter sizes every week (or so it seems), and have to use Amazon to find filters from a 2 year old vac... Sucks when you need one quickly and Ace or HD doesn't have them.
I’ve had the red/grey version of this rigid (same specs besides not having wheels) for years now. It’s been great! Have been wanting buy another one for strictly for extraction purposes. I’m torn between these 2, the Vac Master Beast and the newer Rigid version (only $10 more than this one). The newer rigid is almost the same besides adding a blower, and a cord wrap on the top, plus it’s rated at 6 peak HP instead of 5. I’m SO torn especially when doing this on a budget. I still have an extra orange hose saved from years ago. So on paper the second Rigid looks better (from the little I know), but I’m not sure what to do! Torn between these 4! Any ideas for which one would work best strictly for wet extraction? Either making my own, unless it’s cheaper to buy the RipClean instead of completely from scratch. Man they have to be making a killing these days now that the secret is out lol.
Where do you get all your little Guage’s and measurement tools? I’ve never even seen anything like that water lift guage. Awesome little tool. Thanks for the video, I went with your suggestion and got the rigid 5hp box with upgraded car kit and love it. I also have an old school craftsman the has 5.75hp that is pretty powerful but I just use around the garage and a newer rigid on wheels with the car kit but that one got beat up from someone I let borrow it.. that was a mistake. Great video as always.
it would be a cool test to see if this has any measureable differnce in preformace. in the real world i really doubt it would but it would be fun to see if there is a small diffrence in the numbers.
Would like to see the comparison between the stihl se33 vs the craftsman xsp 5 gallon 5.5hp vacuum. Do you have any experience with them. I did look at the craftsman shop vac that hangs with the 25 ft hose. But cfm seemed low.
the Vac Master is less than 1/2 the cost on Amazon $72 Vs $154 for the Home Depot unit HOWEVER it is listed as "frequently returned" item. If the pros go with the Rigid there must be a reason, guessing reliability? True you could have two for the price of one but if you are like me, the "frustration" factor of tools failing making a simple job harder is probably worth the extra $$.
As matter of fact I have 3 shop vacs one from Costco and Porter form Costco and Crasftman from Lowes . I just purchased the rectangular one without the wheels from Home Depot for $119 . Not sure If I like the rectangular one I might take it back
Josh please review the new Ego cordless pressure washer and vacuum as soon as you can get one , I hear they will be available before December. I have the pressure washer on preorder.
i have both. (actually i have 5 total shop vaccs and the 6hp 4 gallon vac/blower combo is the best by far its not even close actually. its only avaliable on home depot website or Ebay. but they run 99.99 sales for it all the time
This was on sale with the free detailing kit. Saved about 32% but had to take it back to Home Depot for a refund. It was my birthday present but I found out after I bought it that I need hip replacement surgery. 🙁
Honestly not a good comparison,ridgid bigger diameter hose and decreases to 1 1/4" at the tip,compare to vacmaster being 1 1/4" hose all way to the tip,i think if you compare both with same hose diameter and so,there would be a difference in suctio and well CFM aswell for ridig,and honestly would be good seeimg
Omg too much too much . I just want to know how to vacuum water properly bc it’s getting spat out the back side . Make your videos quicker and straight to the point
I challenge you to listen to your video instead of watching your video. It is extremely frustrating to need to listen without watching as the products were nearly always referenced as this one and this one. Using the product names is much more beneficial. (I even tried glancing at the video but the camera angle meant I couldn't easily depict which this was being referenced.
Great video! Bought a new car and got more into detailing about 4 months ago. Subscribed to your channel shortly after and now you are one of my top choices for detailing tips and knowledge. Your product tests are the best. Appreciate all the hard work you put in to do them.
I think a great measure in real world situations would be to have floor mats, weigh them dry, pour water by measure on them, and vacuum it up in the same pattern for each vacuum in a specific time frame and see which one pulls the most water in that time frame.
YES! That's what I want to see. plus a blot test with a paper towel to see how dry they are. Need vacuum pressure to lift but you're really only lifting 1/4" of water at most. More cfm air flow might better shake the fibers and dry them like a windy day. Yes or no? For me, wow, that blue one was so much quieter! If it's powerful enough then maybe I want that one.
I bought this vac about 6 months ago and it is GREAT for a number of reasons. Very low center of gravity so you don't have to worry about it tipping over when you pull it. A very long cord. The rear wheels are fixed so you don't have to worry about the vac wandering all over the place (crashing into cars) when it is pulled. It has as much suction as any of the big shop vacs I have. The long Mr Nozzle hose I've had for years mated right up - - very happy about that.
This is the best wet/dry vac I've owned regardless of price and I already had 3 other shop vacs sitting in my basement. Home Depot is still selling this particular model.
Take into consideration the diameter of both hoses the Ridgid uses 1 7/8" outer diameter (probably closer to 1.5" inner diameter) while your VacMaster "the Great" has a 1.25" outer diameter hose (1" inner diameter) so there are losses there. Now, if you went with the grand-daddy of hoses for these machines, specifically the 2.5" outer diameter hose, those values may vary significantly for both, well mostly airflow. If you want to learn more about these calculations, I suggest you visit Bill's VacLab channel as he tends to explain why airwatts and suction aren't necessarily a good number to go by. He also talks about working water lift and how some in the industry use it to deceive to sell machines.
Your use of the orange detailing hose caused a drop because the end has an adapter that goes down to 1.25" (again, that 1" inner diameter). That being said, that hose is actually more efficient than the VacMaster being a commercial duty hose. The inside of that hose is a smoother surface inside than the standard hose and is larger diameter. I found that even pinching the diameter right at the end of a 2.5" hose and wand still increases performance when pinched down to 1.25" fitting gives reasonable performance up to that point as I have seen turbine power nozzles spinning faster than with a standard hose configuration of similar length.
You complain about the noise of the Ridgid, but you could just buy a diffuser muffler that will help cancel some of the motor and air movement noises. I did for mine and it does make a difference. Also, I find it funny that detailers don't use bags inside their machines for what reason I am not sure, but you keep your cartridge filter cleaner and thus your motor will maintain efficiency as well.
Based on the tests in this video I would call the vacmaster the winner. Way more quiet for basically the same performance.
Purchased Rigid WD4070 at Home Depot and the Detailing Kit. Also, used a Pool Skimmer Sock(s) to prevent debris clogging the Dry Filter. Utilizing the Rigid Detail Kit hose which is really nice, you do get reduced suction with the 1-1/4 inch hose. I decided to purchase the Craftsman's 1 1/4 crevice attachment/tool because if you get flexing the long crevice tool from the Rigid Detailing Kit it will split aka break. The best thing your are actually getting from the Detailing Kit is the Hose!!! at a high cost about $55. Wow! that is an expensive hose but I wished it was another foot longer. The WD4070 noise level is Twice as loud than the Hoover Wind Tunnel 3 Max Performance Upright Vacuum Cleaner. If running the WD4070 for more than 5 minutes, I recommend wearing ear plugs and keeping children away.
I did consider the WD4522 Tool Box shaped wet-dry vac but did not like that the Exhaust/Blower was on the same side as the Suction/Intake. Make or Buy the Rigid Diffuser for the Blower Port so the particles you are vacuuming up don't spread-blow all over the place making a mess. I would also change out the Power Toggle Switch to a Push Button switch. As for the WD4070, just set it inside a box and never worry about is rolling around or bumping into the car, you can even use the original shipping box it came in but need to cut a hole for the hose. LOL. Maybe make small home made wheel chocks. Change the front casters and get ones with a Wheel Lock. With the WD4522 could make a small dolly cart, now it is on wheels when you need it to be. Truth of the matter, I am a bit disappointed with the performance and quality of the WD4070 and more so with the cost of the Rigid Detailing Kit. In regards to the Rigid Life Time Warranty ... do not expect much as you need to prove the Motor, Power Switch, or Plastic Clamps are a Manufacturing Defect. Rigid "Limited" Life Time Warranty is not very good.
Possible Craftsman is better or at least may honor their warranty. The WD4070 is not a true 4 Gallon Wet Vac. as somewhere between 2 to 2 1/2 Gallons before the float cuts off the vac.
If you are a beginner Mobile Auto Detailer, get yourself a portable Battery Powered Wet-Dry Vac maybe like the 1 or 3 Gallon 5HP Ryobi or the Milwaukee. Beware that batteries are expensive especially for 8aH battery and they may fail. Take at least a minimum of Four 4aH rechargeable batteries on the road. An Auto Detailing Business is a lot of work and equipment/tools are expensive plus all the car care products add up. Don't forget those 24 to 100 plus high grade Microfiber Towels you will be using and dirtying in a week or 2. You will need to advertise, network, and use the Internet or Social Media to gain your Cliental. Practice and Training is no simple task. No one has ever become a Pro overnight, let alone wealthy unless hit the Jackpot or inherited the money. Smile " It's a nice day to jump into a Clean vehicle, after you worked it." sadly, you made a mess of yours while making theirs look Show Room condition.
Maybe do a test that’s opposite of gpm test on a pressure washer ?
Fill a bucket with water.suck water out with both units for a set time like 10 seconds or 20 seconds and measure how much each unit pulls in the time frame
Hey Josh, another great video. I would love to see this Rigid 5 hp vs. the rectangular Rigid 5 hp box without wheels. Thanks!
The Rigid WD4522 Tool Box and WD4070 on wheels perform close to the same. Main reason I did not buy the WD4522 is that the Blower/Exhaust is on the same side as the Intake. Also, I would have replaced the Power Toggle Switch on the WD4522 and installed a Push Button Switch. To prevent the WD4070 from rolling , place it in a box, or light weight plastic crate, or make small Wheel Chocks. To make the Tool Box mobile, make a dolly for it. Instead of Bags use none and use Pool Skimmer Socks placed over the Dry Filter. Save money not buying Bags at $11 each and/or Filters at $17 each. Yes! eventually the Dry Filter will clog up and reduce vacuum then you replace it, the Pool Skimmer Socks (get 30 socks cost $15 to $20) prolong the life of the Dry Filter. What's $0.75 sock vs $17 filter? Again empty and clean out the tank/drum for the next clean up project. Also get the VF3700 Wet Debris Application Filter $18 which is reusable before doing any Wet cleaning as helps to save and prevent the Electric Motor from frying out. The Rigid Detailing Kit, only item that is any good is the 1 1/4 Hose. It's a bummer to pay nearly $55 for a quality hose.
It would be cool if you make a spread sheet with all your results so over time we can look back and compare with out haveing to rewatch every video.
Thanks for the work Josh. With the performance of the two vacuums pretty much equal, I like the Vacmaster because of the lower noise level and the retractable cord.
For the airflow test to be meaningful the hoses need an adapter to cover the entire fan opening of the airflow gauge to maximize airflow through the gauge.
Closing on a house and I have some future projects I have in mind, 4/4 videos I looked up you had great detailed review and answered all my questions. Definitely subscribing, can’t wait for more.
Thanks so much I appreciate it! And congrats on the house
buy the 6hp version of this vaccum if you havent made your purchase yet
I’ve had one for a long time but recently I got a deal at HD for 99 for the vaccum and car detailing hose kit so now I have two, it’s that good.
is it the 1.25" hose? if it is your loosing tons of power with that tiny hose.
Bigger hose less suction this isn't quite true @@mikem2537
Hose length and diameter does indeed make a huge difference in performance. A small diameter hose loses energy due to squeezing the air through a smaller opening, and a longer hose loses energy because there is more total friction with the hose walls.
So basically you want the shortest, fattest hose you can get.
Imagine you're drinking through a straw, a very thin or long straw will make it much more difficult.
Exactly. Static pressure matters. If he was willing to punch a hole in those hoses to insert a static pressure measuring probes attached to a manometer, he would see this.
Just to add, some motors can deal with higher static pressures than other motors. It appears the vacmaster is one of them. Probably works a lot better with a dirty filter too.
@@joebal9044 Exactly, It's a stronger motor under pressure.
I have had this same vacuum about five years now. I've used it a lot as a handyman and I must say this is a workhorse. Powerful suction. Easy to carry around.
It’s great!!
I'm not scientist. For me here are the factors for my consideration.
-I'm guessing that the length of the hose plays a part in the testing.
-Amazon reviews for the Vacmaster Shop Vac were not so good.
-Ridged may have easier access for filters and accessories
-Ridged offers a life time warrantee.
BTW Thanks for sharing another fine review.👍
Water lift is independent of hose diameter because it is being measured at 0 flow rate so there are no hose losses. Vacuum cleaners work by pulling in debris with the air. That's why the higher cfm unit seems to clean better. It's sweeping faster.
Think of the hose diameter like a larger resistance in an electrical circuit. The motor must work far harder to move the same amount of air through a smaller tube. Or for a given motor, less air can be moved through a smaller tube. And the cross section of that tube scales as the square of the diameter.
Thanks josh I’ve had that same vacuum for over 5 years and I did the pool filter hack it works great I’m also looking at getting the hose kit thanks 👍
What is the pool filter hack?
I found the craftsman 5 gallon has more suction power after trying both. It picks up hair that gets stuck in the carpet when I use the brush.
I would say for your wind ometer you need to 3D print a thing that will go around it to seal it up so that the hose is directly attached to it so that every vacuum you test is exactly the same way
I was coming to comment this. A printed attachment would work much better and be more consistent.
I use a RIDGID HD1800, 16 Gal 6.5 peak HP. 185 CFM as for water lift I’m not sure of that number but it really sucks, it’s like 1 gallon a second. Whatever that equates to.
I can’t imagine using anything with less than 140 cfm or so. The difference in cleaning power is huge. As for the car detailing kit, I don’t recommend it at all. You loose way too much cfm. I stick with the standard 2 1/2” hose.
They do sell a 1 7/8” crush proof hose but even with that you are going to lose out on cfm. But I would say get that before you downgrade yourself to a 1 1/4” hose.
At bare minimum you want at least 100 cfm. If you absolutely need a small vacuum for some reason I would say the best starting point would be The Beast. It’s 100 cfm and 5 gal so very compact and it’s got just enough cfm to get the job done. If you’re new to shop vacs. Don’t go under 100 cfm. And remember that if you downgrade to a smaller hose, you will lose a lot of cfm. It’s best to use the hose diameter your vac comes with or buy an aftermarket hose that is the same diameter as the one that came with your vac. Your going to be spending about $80 minimum on a good quality crush resistant aftermarket 2 1/2” hose. The 1 1/4” hose that comes with the car kit is the cheapest option but if you are going from a 1 7/8” or 2 1/2” and downgrading to that the amount of cfm you will loose is just too much. If you absolutely need a totally crush proof hose thank you buy a higher end vac, they come with a pretty good hose. For example. My RIDGID HD1200 came with a 2 1/2” hose as did my HD1800 NXT. But the HD1800 hose is much better quality, it flexes much more and each end has 360 degrees of rotation. The HD1200 does not.
It’s definitely not fully crush proof but honestly, how about you just don’t step on your hose and sling it around the vac when your done with it and you are good. Also if you did mess it up the replacements are fair priced, right now anyway. Because seriously, having a crush proof hose only to take a huge hit on cfm, the reason you pay so much for a good vac just to throw half of your cleaning power out the window. Whatever you do don’t go with the 1 1/4” hose. If you must have a crush proof go with the 1 7/8” your still going to take a hit on cfm that simply isn’t worth it though.
I’m very happy with the ridgid’s performance. I’ve only had it about a a month, but has done everything I’ve wanted it to do so far easily. The hose is trash, so upgrading to the 10ft orange hose is a must!
Appreciate the effort in your comparison, Josh. Looking forward in watching your future uploads.
PSI is a measure of pressure, which is what inches of water lift also measures. CFM is a measure of fluid flow rate, which is what GPM measure on pressure washers. There will absolutely be a similar tradeoff between the two for a given vacuum. Fluid-watts is the real metric for both of them, as it quantities how much work the fluid medium does for you.
Would you recommend using this vacuum as an extractor?
Great work I got the pool sock hack from your channel & use it on my Rigid 😂
Ridged has a new 4 gallon shop vac that the motor comes off and becomes a blower. It's 6hp, and rated at 120cfm. I ordered one yesterday, and it should be here tomorrow. I'll probably be doing a review on it sometime in the near future. You may want to check into it.
I have that ridgid and the larger hose would have sucked the dirt out way faster, and Ridgid makes a bigger orange hose and if you use a larger crevice nozzle it really works good on cars
What is model.number for the larger hose?
For better CFM measurement. Get a soda bottle the diameter of your airflow meter and then cut the neck to match your hose nozzle. Then you can measure all of the air flowing to the machine. Best to have perhaps a foot of straight section before and after the meter. (The meter isn't designed to be used this way but much better than trying to measure an air stream that's smaller than the meter.
What a journey, great video loved the unedited surprise and stress very relatable
I would say that the difference between those two regarding water lift is the smaller diameter hose on the VacMaster. And isn't the crush proof hose longer than the included hose with the Ridgid? If so, that should decrease your cfm from one hose to the other. A smaller diameter nozzle shouldn't affect cfm as much as a smaller diameter hose does. The cfm vs water lift must be similar to hp vs torque...the Ridgid is a gas powered truck and the VacMaster is a diesel truck.
Yeah,good comparing would he comparing both with similar hose size,to actually see the difference
Thanks the very honest review, helped me out a lot, looking to get into part time detailing business until I pick up some more clients,
Wanna start by saying I appreciate you making comparison videos and helping me make better buying decisions, but in watching ur video I noticed something that might help make a more clear comparison. Just my thoughts and or suggestion: When you did the dirt test in the cardboard box, I feel that a better way to judge that would’ve been to suck up the first layer with both vacuums, and then see what is left on the second layer for both vacuums. That would’ve then gave you an idea as to which one is going to suck up more than the other under the same circumstances. What’s then leftover, let’s say for example the rigid had more left over, that then would say that the other would’ve done a better job cause it would’ve pulled up more. This is all, of in u using that first layer as if it was a wet carpet. An even better approach would’ve been to use two pieces of carpet that are wet and simply giving us your opinion in the touch and feel of both carpets and of course, using visuals, and at that point overall seeing which one is more dry than the other
Thanks for the vid, thinking of getting a wet/dry. Aloha Josh!
Hey, I have gotten really into your videos. Could you do a video talking about how, when and what your need to polish?
For the suction test on you arm, you need to take into account the weight of each hose... If the rigid is 4 pound and the vacmaster 2 pound the suction will not feel the same when you let go of the hose because the gravity pull is different...
CFM or vacuum pressure, which is more important. For extracting water from carpet, does the extra cfm help or not?
Good morning. Can this model be only purchased from home depot?
I would say if you got the right size tools for the Ridgid (1 7/8") you would probably notice a huge difference to that of the VacMaster.
If those were 5hp motors, you would need 250 VAC with a current of 15-20 A or 125 VAC at 30 A (RV-style plug) to run it. The horsepower rating on most wet and dry vacuums is a fudged number like air-watts and (working) water lift. Those vacuums probably only pull about 1.25 to 1.5 hp when running, that's about 9 A at 125VAC. That's what my Ridgid, my Rainbow and my central vac all pull normally.
Awesome comparison, I really appreciate all your effort, thanks Josh 😁👍
Thanks dave!
What about the filtering? The blue one has an exhaust filter so you won’t be blowing dust on the car.
you should of gotten a defuser in your detailing kit, i did, and it makes a world of difference on noise. its almoat like an exhaust filter for the blower, but definitely worked. thanks for the video! i need a new vacuum for the shop.
if it wasn't that loud yes, but for now DEWALT Stealthsonic Quiet has it for me
The Dewalt stealth is awesome..> I reviewed that in the past but didnt test the actual numbers.. Maybe ill pick up a new one and do that
yeah that would be great@@imjoshv
Similar price, similar performance.... BUT Vacmaster has a cord reel and quieter. Alhtough I own a Rigid... Vacmaster has the edge due to cable management and noise. 😎🤪
That auto retract cord is awesome! and yea way quieter
Agree. Less noise and a cord retract is a winner for me.
Put a exhaust filter on the rigid makes a huge difference in sound
Bro you need to check out the Milwaukee cordless shopvac. It's way better on every level. From the wheels, to being able to detach and carry, the accessories are insane. They are on sale right now too. They have 3 models. O got the 6 gallon. It's $138 at Home Depot right now. Definitely has more power than both of these ones in the video
- Ease of Access (to the tank, water/dust filter)
- Size & Shape (Round/Rectangular/Tall/Short)
- Price
- Cords(Retractable, Crank, Hand Wrap):
> [Tidy] Retractable are nice, but are bound to break in the future.
> [Tidy] Crank, some effort, maybe not for everyone with hand problem(?)
> Hand wrap, More effort, not so tidy
- Performance
- Noise
- Wheels/Feet
What else do we wanna know?
There is a diffuser on Amazon , kind of like a muffler that makes this quiet like the other one
Out of curiosity, try to block exhaust to see if there is a change in water lift. I am thinking since the blue one is muffled it's not letting air come out so there fore more "water lift". While the other one isn't. But the ridgid actually pulling more "water" since it has more flow? Idk if that make sense
To get a better CFM..Maybe get a 3D printer adapter to complete cover the CFM meter fan and try to make it air tight
I have the exact same rigid next 3.5 gallon Shop-Vac. So I added a gasket around the bottom portion to help seal the vacuum and it works great I'm literally losing no suction
Can you give specifics on the gasket please?
@@ingguidesmedia it's just your basic thin strip of weatherproofing from Home Depot
@@GLI_1701 Thank you
@@GLI_1701That makes a lot of sense, Thank You, Appreciate the Information.
@@GLI_1701yeah,but he also comparing 2 different hose sizes,vacmaster hose is 1 1/4" from the vaccum to the tip,riding its only 1 1/4" at the tip,but u also thought the same about putting a seal when I buy the vaccum
Vacmaster brand is inconsistent. I purchased the extractor based on the price and recommendation and I was very disappointed
Is it most likely due to the hose being a smaller diameter ? Possibly creating more suction. Speaking on the water measuring part.
I run a 50ft vacuum hose reel and use the pack pro from rigid but it's not enought for it , might have to upgrade to a 6.5 if your running a 50ft vacuum hose
That one looks sweet. I have an old rigid that's really big. But I use my dyson v11 for quick clean ups on my and my wife's rides. Great to have both. That 4 gallon tho I'd prob get if mine died.
How many watts does this rigid 4G actually pull when working hard? Wanted to use it with a jackery, but not sure my 1k will work since the specs state 120v 10A = 1200 watts. Thank ya,
Water lift is the number I look for first personally it's the number that means the most really for power of the vac, the cfm is good too but is just the measurement of moving air, or speed of airflow and isn't as important for what you guy use them for, it's the same for carpet cleaning electric vac there the same thing just bigger motors.
Could you try this again slowing down the exhaust port on the rigid with foam or something. The other one seems to have an enclosed exhaust where are is not escaping as fast creating a little back pressure like a cars exhaust. There may be a sweet spot between air intake and exhaust and the size hose used much like in a car. Just an opinion. Great videos.
Do you have experience with a Vacmaster Professional Beast 5 gal and will the Rigid accessories hose fit a Vacmaster? The Beast is still small, no wheels, stronger motor, about the same price.
I dont but ill look in to it... The Rigid hose upgrade did not fit on tis vacmaster (atleast not without an adapter)
For a diy extractor would it be better to go with a vacuum with the highest water lift?
yes. and the best vacuum is the ridgid 4 gallon 6hp vacuum/blower combo
Yeah,but remember to make the hose be 1 1/4" from where it connect to the vaccum to the tip,all the hose being 1 1/4" and not just the tip,the vacmaster suction it's better bcuz the hose its 1 1/4" including the tip,the ridgid it's lower bcuz the hose it's bigger and only the tip was 1 1/4"
Another great video. Can that be converted to an extractor’
Try with the exhaust filter off of the Vacmaster.
I have this vacuum with the car detailing kit.
I think it would be interesting to see if that water gauge you have correlates to show that the Vacmaster would suck a gallon bucket of water down before the Rigid. but I can't see why it wouldn't. May also be interesting to see if some sort of filter could be rigged up on the Rigid to see if it helps quiet the Rigid and then how it changes the measurements from it.
You should reach out to the vacuum wars guy. They have a UA-cam channel.
Just a thought, ease of purchasing filters for the vac years out, and warranty terms. I have used Craftsman in the past and they switch filter sizes every week (or so it seems), and have to use Amazon to find filters from a 2 year old vac... Sucks when you need one quickly and Ace or HD doesn't have them.
Try a longer hose on the blue vacuum maybe 🤔
Have you ever tried the vacmaster beast 5gal, 5.5 hp?
I’ve had the red/grey version of this rigid (same specs besides not having wheels) for years now. It’s been great! Have been wanting buy another one for strictly for extraction purposes. I’m torn between these 2, the Vac Master Beast and the newer Rigid version (only $10 more than this one). The newer rigid is almost the same besides adding a blower, and a cord wrap on the top, plus it’s rated at 6 peak HP instead of 5. I’m SO torn especially when doing this on a budget. I still have an extra orange hose saved from years ago. So on paper the second Rigid looks better (from the little I know), but I’m not sure what to do!
Torn between these 4! Any ideas for which one would work best strictly for wet extraction? Either making my own, unless it’s cheaper to buy the RipClean instead of completely from scratch.
Man they have to be making a killing these days now that the secret is out lol.
Will the Rigid Car Kit work with my 1 1/2 Shop Vac?
Where do you get all your little Guage’s and measurement tools? I’ve never even seen anything like that water lift guage. Awesome little tool. Thanks for the video, I went with your suggestion and got the rigid 5hp box with upgraded car kit and love it. I also have an old school craftsman the has 5.75hp that is pretty powerful but I just use around the garage and a newer rigid on wheels with the car kit but that one got beat up from someone I let borrow it.. that was a mistake. Great video as always.
can you compare rinseless washes in the future? dyidetail, absolute and onr? which one is most efficient for detailers?
I have the rigid vac & I put a sock cover over the filter. It keeps the filter cleaner longer
it would be a cool test to see if this has any measureable differnce in preformace. in the real world i really doubt it would but it would be fun to see if there is a small diffrence in the numbers.
They make a bag for it too, and that keeps the filter clean
Yep i did a video on that a while back! Great way to save money and the filters
@@imjoshvThnx, Josh. I clean my dryer vent out every six months and that tip has really helped to keep my filter in good shape!
Have you tested any cordless vacuums or battery vacuums
If an additional gasket was added to the rigid interior would likely increase the water lift.
Im bummed that the VacMaster wasn't closer to the Rigid. I find the loudness very fatiguing.
Would like to see the comparison between the stihl se33 vs the craftsman xsp 5 gallon 5.5hp vacuum. Do you have any experience with them. I did look at the craftsman shop vac that hangs with the 25 ft hose. But cfm seemed low.
Do you use cordless vacuums?
please please please do a review on the bauer 6 gallon, 4 hp shop vac from harbor freight pleeeeeaaaaase and thank you :)
the Vac Master is less than 1/2 the cost on Amazon $72 Vs $154 for the Home Depot unit HOWEVER it is listed as "frequently returned" item. If the pros go with the Rigid there must be a reason, guessing reliability? True you could have two for the price of one but if you are like me, the "frustration" factor of tools failing making a simple job harder is probably worth the extra $$.
you should test the METROVAC VACNBLO
Big difference between the 5hp 4 gallon and 6hp 4 gallon for the Ridgid?
Yeah that 6hp might be better.
i think so.
As matter of fact I have 3 shop vacs one from Costco and Porter form Costco and Crasftman from Lowes .
I just purchased the rectangular one without the wheels from Home Depot for $119 .
Not sure If I like the rectangular one I might take it back
Great video, thank 🫡
You needed to try the orange hose on the vac master the orange hose is heavier therefore it want stick to your arm
Josh please review the new Ego cordless pressure washer and vacuum as soon as you can get one , I hear they will be available before December. I have the pressure washer on preorder.
Does anyone know if the 6 HP is better than this?
Vs DEWALT STEALTH SONIC ?
My favorite is the Ridgid HD1400 w/6.0 peak HP. I think Metrovacs are very overated and $$.
the best shop vacuum (performance numbers wise is the ridgid 6hp 4 gallon
What kind of filter was in the Vacmaster?
Just the standard one that it comes with
Can you do a review on the Vacmaster Beast 5 gallon 6Hp
Can you review the shark portable shop vac?
They make a 6 peak hp 4 gal ridgid. I'd be interested to see the difference between them because I want to switch out my shopvac
i have both. (actually i have 5 total shop vaccs and the 6hp 4 gallon vac/blower combo is the best by far its not even close actually. its only avaliable on home depot website or Ebay. but they run 99.99 sales for it all the time
@@mikem2537 Thanks 👍 I was wondering about that model with the blower. Appreciate it.
Could you test Walmart Hart 6 gallon 5hp model number VOC608S 3702
This was on sale with the free detailing kit. Saved about 32% but had to take it back to Home Depot for a refund. It was my birthday present but I found out after I bought it that I need hip replacement surgery. 🙁
Ya, I just bought the Rigid w/ car kit for $95. Seems like a good deal with the kit
oh man... take care of that hip!
@@shojus Where are you? My local Home Depots havent had that deal
@imjoshv I also picked up that deal from Home Depot in Nc. They also have the Milwaukee Da polisher with battery and charger for 299.
@@danielarthurs4173 I found it's most definitely state specific for some deals.
Honestly not a good comparison,ridgid bigger diameter hose and decreases to 1 1/4" at the tip,compare to vacmaster being 1 1/4" hose all way to the tip,i think if you compare both with same hose diameter and so,there would be a difference in suctio and well CFM aswell for ridig,and honestly would be good seeimg
Nice
It nice but to expensive
Omg too much too much . I just want to know how to vacuum water properly bc it’s getting spat out the back side . Make your videos quicker and straight to the point
This is exactly what I needed as I don't have access to the vac in question and need to see if the one I have access to has similar specs
5 HP doesn’t mean anything.
That’s very true! I’ve tested a bunch of 5hp units now and they all have different amount of water lift and cfm
I challenge you to listen to your video instead of watching your video. It is extremely frustrating to need to listen without watching as the products were nearly always referenced as this one and this one. Using the product names is much more beneficial. (I even tried glancing at the video but the camera angle meant I couldn't easily depict which this was being referenced.