Best shop vacuums for dirty jobs on the farm

Having the best shop vacuum is one of the most important pieces of equipment a farmer can have in his workshop. With the ability to clean up wet or dry messes, these machines are vital to ensuring any type of mess can quickly get cleaned up. Over the years we have seen our fair share of messes on the shop floor, and have always turned to our trusty shop vacuum to alleviate the problem.

When it comes to looking for a good shop vac, you have to consider price, size, sealed pressure, and air power. Depending on the price you are willing to spend, shop vacuums come in different shapes and sizes, so you can really select the right fit for your budget.

Sealed pressure is measured by how much water the vacuum can suck up. A high-end utility vacuum cleaner has a rating of at least 75. For farmers and ranchers, we look closely at the air power number. This is the power that sucks up heavy things like nuts and bolts — the higher the number, the better.

To you find the best shop vacuum cleaner for your farm, we compiled a list of our favorites. These have been used in our own shops and our neighbors to ensure quality. We listed the best shop vacuums from smallest to largest in gallon capacity.

Armor All, AA255 , 2.5 Gallon

This Armor All Utility Vac is specifically designed to clean the interior of your car. It handles both wet and dry pickup, includes all accessories needed for complete interior cleaning and easily converts to a blower to dry motorcycles, car grills and wheels. It also has an automatic shut off to prevent overflow and a built in air and noise diffuser for efficient and quiet operation.

• 2.5-gallon polypropylene tank
• 2 Peak HP motor
• 10-foot cord with cord wrap
• Blower function – easy conversion
• On-board accessory and hose storage

STANLEY SL18115 Wet/Dry Vacuum, 5 Gallon

Stanley SL18115 Wet / Dry Vacuum has a larger capacity over 18.5 liters and makes small clean-up jobs a breeze for you as you don’t have to empty the bucket frequently any more. Thanks to the 4 peak HP motor, this vac offers powerful enough suction needed to almost any cleanup jobs in vehicle, jobsite, workshop, garage, basement, van, house, etc.

• Airflow-85 CFM
• With this versatile vac you can vacuum both wet liquid spills and dry debris
• With over 15 feet of cleaning reach (5-foot hose, 10-foot power cord and 3 pieces of extension wands)
• Has four swivel casters for convenient and easy maneuverability

DEWALT DXV06P, 6 Gallon

The 6-gallon wet/dry vac is portable and convenient for small clean-up. With a powerful heavy duty motor for industry leading performance, this vac provides maximum suction power for heavy duty pickup.

• Air Flow – 80 CFM
• Power cord length:10 feet
• Swiveling casters provide ease of movement in any direction while a built-in tank drain makes draining easy
• Interior hose diameter is 1.875 inches

PORTER-CABLE Wet/Dry Vacuum, 6 gallon

This PORTER-CABLE 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum features a high-performance 4 peak HP motor for maximum suction power. The compact design with sturdy handle makes transporting the wet/dry vacuum easy.

• Air Flow – 85 CFM.
• 1-7/8-inch by 6-foot hose with easy lock connection
• 10-foot long power cord with cord wrap design handle for operating far from a plug
• Safety feature automatically powers off the wet/dry vacuum when the water level exceeds a critical point in the bucket
• Powerful rear blower port instantly converts vacuum to power blower
• 3 year limited warranty, 1 year service warranty, 90 day money back guarantee
• 6 gal tank size

CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17155, 10 Gallon

The CRAFTSMAN 10 Gallon Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vac is designed to deliver heavy-duty power and durability. The high performance 6.0 peak horsepower motor handles messes in the garage, basement and on jobsites. The car nozzle is designed for cleaning upholstery and carpet while the utility nozzle allows for easy debris pickup on floors and other hard surfaces.

• Air Flow – 152 CFM.
• Filter Fastening System allows quick and easy wet dry vacuum filter changes
• This purchase includes: 2-1/2-in. x 7-ft. Hose, 2 Locking Extension Wands, Utility Nozzle, Car Nozzle, and Qwik Lock Filter
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

WORKSHOP Heavy Duty, 12 gal.

Equally at home on the job or in the shop, the 12 gallon wet/dry vacuum cleaner delivers the ideal combination of performance, drum capacity and convenience.

• Air Flow – 135 CFM
• This shop vacuum cleaner has a tough copolymer drum to resist dents and cracks, it will not rust and has a large drain for easy liquid disposal
• Qwik Lock Filter Fastening System allows quick and easy wet dry vacuum filter changes
• Accessory and built-in hose storage keeps vacuum attachments secure and within reach
• Includes: vacuum, hose, Qwik Lock cartridge filter, dust bag, utility nozzle, wet nozzle, car nozzle, two extension wands

CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon

The CRAFTSMAN 16 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac, featuring a 6.5 Peak HP motor is the ideal solution for tackling large cleanup projects in the garage or on the jobsite that need the most power. Large scale renovations, builds, or floods are an easy task for this large shop vacuum.

• Air Flow – 177 CFM
• Powerful 6.5 Peak HP provides extra power for large projects in the garage, shop and on the jobsite
• Rear blowing port on this wet dry vac allows for quick cleaning of leaves and grass clippings in your garage and outdoors
• Built-in oversized drain on the wet/dry vac allows for convenient emptying of liquids
• 2-1/2 in. diameter shop vacuum hose features Dual-Flex technology for 180-degree mobility at each end to resist kinking
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

Anyone who works out of their shop often knows the importance of a good, quality shop vacuum. You can use the shop vacuum to clean out the dirt and debris from any type of surface and keep a clean work atmosphere.

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