The difficulty with working on woods is how easy the dust and particles can mess up a clean environment. Every worker will undoubtedly prefer to have a cleaner work environment for a better insurance policy for health, but sawdust is always going to be an issue.
Fortunately, there is a solution – the wet-dry vac is a perfect solution to the cleaning problem. A reliable wet-dry vac should be versatile enough to handle any type of mess including, dust, mulch, screws, sawdust, and water also and reduces your exposure to them.
The wet-dry vac is necessary for homeowners, renters, builders, and should be present in every workshop. Going for the wrong option will not only waste your money and time, but it will also leave your workplace in a filthy state.
Something you must know is that picking the best one for Dust Collection is not a cheap or easy task. You will need to check the power, capacity, hose, filtration, attachment, and build quality amidst other features. However, we aim to take the pressure out of the buying process.
We will review and discuss each the top five best for dust collection and also mention the pros and cons of each. You should consider getting any one of these as long as it fits your budget range and is also a good match for your needs.
Top 5 Best Wet Dry Vac for Dust Collection 2020
OUR TOP PICK
The Dewalt DCV581H is a cordless as well as a corded wet-dry vac – meaning it can either be operated with a power cord to an outlet or an 18v or 20v MAX battery. The hose is crush resistant, durable, flexible, and perfect for heavy duty task.
The HEPA rated wet or dry filtration can trap dust with an efficiency of 99.97%, which is a welcoming option for anyone fighting allergies. The filter is also easily accessible and washable. For smooth movement and transportation, the unit has an onboard hose and accessory storage.
There is also a crevice tool and a wide nozzle tool attachment. The unit is almost flawless, but you may have to buy the battery and charger separately.
Pros
- The cordless tool eliminates the compulsory need for a power cord
- Compact and lightweight for easy mobility
- HEPA filtration and Reusable filter
- Heavy-duty buildup
- Onboard storage for easy transportation
Cons
- Suction could be better
- Short power cord
EDITORS CHOICE
The high-performing Ridgid 18718 has a 6.0 peak horsepower motor capable of delivering powerful suction to handle the toughest clean-ups. It features a 2-piece drum to meet the rugged demand of job sites, and most importantly, a 3-layer fine dust filter that can capture fine dust particles like drywall dust.
All operations, including the flow of air through the vac, is kept as quiet as possible with a scroll noise reduction. Also, for a comfortable 360 degrees mobility, the unit has four swivel casters.
Pros
- Powerful six peak horsepower motor
- Blowing feature
- 3-layer fine dust filter
- Quick release accessory storage bag
Cons
- Quite heavy and bulky for small tasks
BEST VALUE
Karcher’s WD5/P is designed with a powerful 2800 watt motor to deliver an acceptable cleaning performance. It has a semi-automatic filter cleaning system for maximum productivity. The filter is located on the top mount for easy access to the filter when you have to switch between wet and dry cleaning without recirculating dust.
The unit comes with a smooth interior at 7.2 ft long hose to prevent clogs and an onboard power tool outlet. For hands-free convenience and to keep your focus on the job at hand, it has an auto start and stops feature. Also, there is a built-in blower to move debris from hard to reach areas.
Pros
- Powerful 1800 watt motor to deliver a strong suction
- Built-in blower
- Easy filter cleaning and removal
- Onboard power outlet with auto start and stop feature
Cons
- Small hose diameter reduces the suction
RUNNER UP
The Vacmaster VBV1210 is a 2 in 1 unit and one of the best wet-dry vacs for dust collection. It comes with a five horsepower motor to allow you to pick up dust dirt in homes and workshops. Amidst other features, some include the 12-foot long cord to reach distances and the 12-gallon container to take care of most cleaning tasks
The equipment is versatile, and with the proper attachment, it functions as a leaf blower. Some of the accessories that come with the 12-gallon Vacmater includes a crevice tool, two extension wands, utility nozzle, car nozzle, blower adapter, blower nozzle, air/noise diffuser, reusable foam filter sleeve, and a standard cartridge filter.
Pros
- Powerful five peak horsepower suction
- Easily converts to a blower
- All-purpose cleaner
- Numerous accessories
Cons
- Quite noisy
RUNNER UP
As the name describes, this unit is a complete workshop – it includes a stainless wet-dry vac, dual-flex locking hose, fine dust lock filter, dust collection bag, wet nozzle, utility nozzle, car nozzle, crevice tool, and two extension wands. There is a storage bag on the cart handle to keep all the accessories close at hand.
The Workshop WS1600SS cleans like a pro with 6.5 Peak horsepower that gets the job done. It is a durable unit able to withstand severe conditions. It has swivel casters and oversized rear wheels to properly maneuver through rough terrains.
Pros
- Reliable suction power to pick up about one gallon of water per second
- Ergonomic handle and large wheels for easy mobility
- Storage bag on hand to keep all accessories close
- A durable stainless steel drum
- Dual-flex locking hose
Cons
- Quite loud
Best Surf Helmets Buying Guide
Before you proceed with your purchase, there are a few features of the wet-dry vac that you should think about to determine if the equipment can meet your needs.
Weight
The mobility of the wet-dry vac is greatly dependent on the weight and size. Although the swivel casters or wheels are helpful, nevertheless, considering the importance will help you in the long-run.
Clean Tank Capacity
Small sized tanks are easy to move and transport, but if you have to deal with a lot of vacuuming a larger tank capacity is preferable.
Cord Length
For corded wet-dry vacs, you will need your equipment plugged in an outlet while you move around sometimes, which is why it is nice to get one with a long cord. But this is not a real problem since you can always use extensions.
Hose
The hose is the weakest point on any wet-dry vac. If the hose is too thin, it will keep twisting and stressing the suction. Thicker ones are bulky. Go for those between 1¼ and 2½ inches.
Filter
Standard wet-dry vacs come with a single filter, but if you want to handle dust efficiently, look for models with HEPA filtration which can suck away dust.
Power Source
The power of the motor is the key, and it indicates the overall performance. There is no right or wrong choice with power; just go for one that suits your needs.
Included Components
Wet-dry vacs come with multiple included components that vary per model. They include extension wands, crevice tools, and others.
Floor Nozzle
The nozzle helps you reach awkward spots, and this is very important in dust collection.
Extension Wands
Almost all wet-dry vac comes with an extension wand for additional reach while cleaning above the floor.
Key Feature
Rather than obsessing over the number of accessories, you should focus on the key features that meet your needs like the type of attachments, build quality, filtration, and power
Purpose
We can go on and on talking about the effectiveness of each vacuum cleaner, but the final choice narrows down to your target for it.
Noise level
Powerful wet-dry vacs are noisy, but there are some designed to run at quieter levels. And even if workshops are noisy places, loud vacs may not be good enough.
Maintenance
Pay close attention to emptying and cleaning up the wet-dry vac after use. Also, if you use a reusable filter, wash and rinse it with clean water.
Warranty
It is better to be safe than sorry, so we recommend you go for a known brand with a decent warranty.
Conclusion and best pick!
A good wet-dry vac should be able to handle all kinds of messes, from the toughest one to the simplest. Your best choice is one that can deal with both solid and liquid effectively, and all the five wet-dry vacs mentioned here are capable.
Whichever one you pick will do a good job, but we have WORKSHOP Wet/Dry Vacs WS1600SS with 6.5 peak horsepower for strong suction performance as our top choice. The WORKSHOP WS1600SS is versatile, and it comes with a full set of accessories to handle any cleaning job. Buy it on Amazon.com