Review: Craftsman 6-Gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum

Are you looking for a shop vacuum that gets all of the basics right? Do you need something that can give you a good working reach, but still be relatively lightweight? The Craftsman 6-gallon wet/dry vacuum offers users a 3 HP peak performance that makes it easy to clean up some of the toughest jobs. Not only does it offer a 17-foot cleaning reach between the hose, cord, and extension wands, but it can also quickly convert to a blower for your shop, deck, or backyard.

What makes this design work so well is the sealed switches and components at the top of the machine. You won’t have to worry about dust interfering with the mechanics of this shop vacuum. Just attach the hose and your preferred tool, and you’re ready to work.

What Are the Features of the Craftsman 6-Gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum

The tank is polypropylene rather than stainless steel. Plastic won’t rust or dent, and it keeps the vacuum light enough to carry.

These are the additional features of note that we discovered when taking a closer look at this particular shop vacuum model.

• It offers 360-degree swivel casters that are formed as an attachment to the primary tank on this vacuum, giving you good movement and rotation as you work without a threat of tipping over.
• There’s an 8-piece accessory set that comes with this vacuum so that it can tackle a number of the smaller jobs that tend to come up around the house.
• It uses a foam filter for wet messes and a cartridge filter for dry ones. Swap to the foam filter before picking up water, since a paper cartridge can be ruined when wet.

Check the hose diameter against your tools’ dust ports before buying; you may need an adapter. For fine sanding dust, OSHA notes that airborne wood dust can cause respiratory symptoms, so a fine-dust filter and a mask help.

What Could Be Improved with the Craftsman 6-Gallon Wet-Dry Vacuum?

We found the angle of the attachments with this Craftsman vacuum to be a little uncomfortable to use for those who happen to be a little on the tall side. They just aren’t long enough and the hose just isn’t long enough either, forcing taller individuals to stoop down a little in order to use the vacuum. We also found that some of the attachments struggle to fit into some of the tight spaces that can be in some homes or working areas. It does a great job of cleaning up open spaces, but if you’re trying to clean out some dust from underneath your workbench, users might find themselves feeling frustrated by the experience.

For common liquid messes, like a leaking dishwasher, the Craftsman 6-gallon wet/dry vacuum does a good job. Keep the motor head and plug away from standing water. It also cleans up open spaces quickly and effectively. If those are your main needs, it is a good fit.

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Sources

• Wood Dust - Overview, OSHA
• Hand and Power Tools (OSHA 3080), OSHA