6 Best Shop Vac for Dust Collection – Our Top Picks for 2022
Woodworking is associated with messes and time-consuming dust collection – to make your job a little easier, you should consider purchasing a tool that would assist you with dust elimination. One such tool is a shop vac.
If you happen to be looking for the best shop vac for dust collection, then our buyer’s guide is for you. Today, we want to introduce you to what we think are the best shop vacs for dust messes. Additionally, we’ll provide you with a few tips on choosing the right vac for your dust needs!
6 Best Shop Vacs For Dust Collection Reviewed
First up, let’s have a look at our shop vac reviews. Below, you’ll find a brief overview of the key specs, features, and disadvantages of the selected shop vacs.
We based the reviews on our expertise and intuition in the field. Additionally, we’ve made sure to read through a good number of buyer reviews to know what we are truly dealing with. Well, you can find our findings below!
1. DEWALT DC581H Wet/Dry Vacuum
QUICK SUMMARY
Up first on our list is the DEWALT DC581H wet/dry small shop vac. This model is one of the more expensive options on this top, but it’s an excellent unit for heavy-duty use cases. It’s great at dust collection and filtration too!
At the heart of the DC581H wet/dry vacuum is a HEPA filter system. This system is capable of filtering out 99.97% of all dust particles, keeping most of the dust inside the shop vac. What’s also nice about the HEPA filter is that it is rated wet/dry and can be washed.
Of course, you’ll have to replace the filter sooner or later since washes can only do so much. But being able to use the filter a few times is certainly nice.
What we also like about this shop vac is that it may be operated either corded or cordless. However, out of the box, you are only getting a 5 feet power cord for corded use. For the cordless mode, you’ll have to get 18 or 20V MAX batteries.
The DEWALT DC581H shop vac is very durably made as well. In particular, it has a crush-resistant hose that can easily take abuse and will deliver years of service.
In terms of capacity, the DC581H shop vac is sized at 2 gallons. This is among the lowest capacities on the list, but it’s decent if you don’t need that much in the first place.
The DEWALT shop vac is very compact and light too. Thanks to the carrying handle, it’s also rather easy to carry, and its small footprint allows for very convenient storage.
Our main dislike with this wet/dry shop vac is the weak suction. It’s fine for dust collection, but if you want to collect heavy debris like nails, screws, or wood chips, it might not be powerful enough.
The power cord is also pretty short. 5 feet is on the lower range on our list, and for large spaces, it might be insufficient without extensions.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
2. Stanley SL18116P Wet/Dry Vacuum
QUICK SUMMARY
Next on our top, we have the Stanley SL18116P wet/dry vacuum. Far less expensive than the DEWALT shop vac, this model isn’t the best pick for heavy-duty needs. However, it actually offers great value for the money!
The airflow in the SL18116P is pretty decent. This vac’s 85CFM airflow isn’t that high in shop vac terms, but it’s way better than in the DEWALT model. The static suction of 50 inches is pretty decent too.
The capacity in the Stanley SL18116P shop vac is at 6 gallons, which is the largest on this list. With that, this vac is a better suit for larger cleaning jobs.
Like the DEWALT model, this shop vac can tackle both wet and dry messes. For spills and liquids, it includes a foam filter, while dry messes are tackled with the reusable dry filter.
What we also liked about the Stanley SL18116P shop vac is the 10 feet long power cord. It’s certainly not the longest we’ve seen, but it’s way better than the short 5 feet cord of the DEWALT vac.
Stanley also includes attachments galore with this shop vac, including extension wands, a few nozzles, and a dust bag. The shop vac is also equipped with wheels and a top handle to assist with transport.
What we dislike about this shop vac is that it’s rather easy to tip, and its hose is pretty flimsy. We wouldn’t expect much else for the price, but downsides like these are still worth mentioning.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
3. Stanley SL18115 Wet/Dry Vacuum
QUICK SUMMARY
The SL18115 shop vac is more or less a 5-gallon version of the Stanley vac we’ve just reviewed. At the basics, the two shop vacs are very similar, but there are a few important details that set them apart.
First things first, the most notable difference is the stainless steel body. The 6-gallon Stanley vac’s body was made from polypropylene and isn’t as tough and durable.
The second important difference is the more tip-resistant design. We haven’t seen anyone complain about tipping in the SL18115 shop vac. This is perhaps thanks to the lower height, as well as the heavier stainless steel body.
The dimensions are a little different as well – apart from being 2.5 inches shorter, this shop vac is also 1.2 inches wider. It thus will occupy more floor space, which should be kept in mind.
The capacity is obviously lower too – 5 gallons versus 6 in the previous shop vac.
Other than these points, the two Stanley shop vacs aren’t too different. Both offer decent airflow for dust collection along with a wet/dry filter system. You are getting the same set of attachments too, but they are again a little flimsy.
In terms of price, SL18115 is a little more expensive than the 6-gallon shop vac. But overall, it’s still rather affordable and offers good value for the money.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
4. Shop-Vac Micro Wet/Dry Vac
QUICK SUMMARY
If space is a big concern for you, then the Shop-Vac Micro vac might be an excellent choice for you. Sized at 1 gallon, this is the smallest shop vac on the list, and it’s also our lightest and most compact pick.
Despite its small size, the suction & airflow specs of this unit are pretty decent – the airflow is at 50 CFM, while static pressure is at 45 inches. At the same time, this unit’s 1hp motor only consumes 120 watts, so it’s rather energy-efficient.
What’s also remarkable about this small shop vacuum is that it can be attached to a wall via the included wall bracket. If your space is small enough to use this vac without moving, then the bracket is a handy feature that will allow you to save floor space.
The Micro vac is very light as well – just about 5 pounds – and it features a large handle for convenient carrying.
For filtration, the Micro shop vac employs a disposable filter bag (dry cleaning) and a foam sleeve (wet cleaning). Unfortunately, Shop-Vac doesn’t offer reusable filters compatible with this vac, so you’re just stuck with the filter bag. It does a decent job of capturing dust, but it won’t be as effective as the filter + bag combos in our larger picks.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
5. RIDGID 4000RV Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum
QUICK SUMMARY
If you want something compact but heavy-duty, then the 4000RV shop vac from RIDGID may be an excellent option for you. This vac is a little pricey, but when it comes to heavy use cases, it doesn’t really have competitors on this top at its size.
Furthermore, the 4000RV wet/dry vacuum is not only tough but also rather convenient. This is mainly thanks to the 20 feet long power cord that should allow you to avoid rehooking the vac too frequently. The patented Qwik Lock cartridge filter system also allows you to quickly replace the vac’s filter.
The airflow and suction in the 4000RV shop vac are pretty good – in fact, they’re among the best on this top! Tackling dirt, small debris, or dust shouldn’t be a challenge for this unit.
What we also like in this shop vac is that it comes with a wider and longer 8 feet by 1-7/8-inch hose. Thanks to its width, this hose is less likely to clog with debris and dust.
The filter system in the 4000RV shop vac out of the box is based on a high-performance cartridge filter. No wet filters are included, but you can buy them separately. RIDGID also offers HEPA filters for a dramatical increase in dust collection performance.
Notably, RIDGID also covers this unit by a lifetime warranty, which is a good testimony to its quality.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
6. TACKLIFE PVC01A Wet/Dry Vacuum
QUICK SUMMARY
Lastly on our top, we have the TACKLIFE PVC01A shop vac – a pretty nice option for the money. It’s similar to the Stanley SL18115 5-gallon vac we reviewed earlier, but there are some important differences.
The PVC01A shop vac features a 4-stage filtering system comprised of:
An air cyclone filter to separate dry and wet materials.
An intermediate dry filter.
A silencer filter wrapped around the motor for noise level reduction and dust filtration.
An outlet cotton filter for final dust collection.
For wet pickup, you will need to purchase a foam filter separately. Out of the box, this vac is equipped for dry messes only. You may also purchase a dust bag for an additional level of filtration.
Remarkably, the PVC01A wet/dry vac also has a safety feature called Security Buoy. This fancy-named feature basically shuts the vac off when it gets filled to the brim.
One thing to note with this shop vac is that replacement filters are hard to find. The included cartridge filter is washable, but it still won’t live forever and will require replacement sooner or later. You should be able to get a new filter by contacting TACKLIFE, but you probably won’t find one in a store like Amazon.
WHAT WE LIKED
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE
Shop Vac VS Dust Collector – Which Is Better?
In the context of dust collection, we think it’s worth talking about the differences between shop vacs and dust collectors. We’ll cover their differences, advantages, disadvantages, and also will help you determine which tool to pick.
Some people believe that shop vacs and dust collectors are the same things, which is not true.
A shop vac is basically an industrial-grade alternative to a regular household vacuum cleaner. A shop vac is intended for heavy use and the collection of more hazardous materials that may damage a regular vac.
In contrast, dust collection systems are designed for dust cleaning, especially those fine small particles that can be difficult to suck in with a shop vac. A dust collector can quickly collect dust and dirt in large areas, but it is unsuitable for collecting water or tackling concentrated messes.
One important technical difference between shop vacs and dust collectors is that dust collectors have low suction and a wide nose, while shop vacs have high suction and a narrow nose.
Also note that dust collectors have higher airflow, partly because of the larger dust port. Despite the low suction, the high airflow allows dust collectors to gather dust more effectively.
In practice, this means that shop vacs are better at collecting heavier objects (like stones, large dust particles, or larger debris), while dust collectors excel at collecting light dust particles.
Shop vacs can thus be used for general cleaning in your workshop. A shop vac doesn’t excel at any particular task (including dust collection), but it can do everything with decent performance. Shop vacs are particularly useful when dealing with concentrated, heavy messes.
So when it comes to specifically jigsaw or table saw dust collection, stationary or portable dust collectors are preferable. However, if your budget is limited and you want something universal, then a shop vac can do a decent job, especially if you hook your shop vac to the dust exhaust of your tool.What To Look For In A Shop Vac For Dust Collection
Now, let’s try to understand what would make a good shop vac for dust collection. To this end, we are going to guide you through key features to consider in a dust shop vac.
Final Words
So all in all, a shop vac isn’t the very best tool for dust collection, but it’s optimal if your budget is limited and you want an all-in-one solution. For light needs and not too much money, you probably won’t find anything better than a shop vac.
Note that shop vacs aren’t equal in terms of dust collection. Follow our earlier points to ensure that you get the right vac for your use cases!
