Tool-Triggered Shop Vacs

A shop vacuum is an invaluable tool that helps to keep work sites clear of sawdust, drywall dust, and other potentially hazardous airborne debris. A vac that turns on automatically when a dust-generating power tool is activated is an invaluable addition to any shop or work site. Carpenter Rob Wotzak and his crew tested five tool-triggered shop vacuums and reported on their performance. In this article, Wotzak describes the features that these tools have along with their strengths and weaknesses. In the end, the author's favorite was the Festool Cleantec. The vacuum labeled best value was the Fein Turbo.

Product Finder: Tools in this Article

(1 user review) Festool - Cleantec (CT) 33 Shop Vacuum
Festool's 10-gallon shop vacuum features an antistatic hose and a separate water container for wet pickup

Milwaukee - 8936-20 Shop Vacuum
Milwaukee's 7.5-gallon shop vacuum features a tool-triggered start mechanism

Bosch - 3931A Shop Vacuum
The Bosch 3931A shop vacuum features a tool-triggered start mechanism and a 13-gallon capacity

Porter-Cable - 7812 Shop Vacuum
Porter-Cable's 10-gallon shop vacuum has a useful combination of size and features, including a tool-triggered start mechanism

(2 user reviews) Fein - Turbo II Shop Vacuum
This 9-gallon shop vacuum from Fein is compact, easy to move around, and extremely durable in design and construction

Nilfisk-ALTO - Attix 12 RDFD XC Shop Vacuum
This shop vacuum from Nilfisk-ALTO is a well-designed, easy-to-use workhorse with a soft-start motor and a self-cleaning filter