I suppose a shop vac could be a great asset while trolling the Safeway aisles for bargains. Don’t bend to reach that box of Saltines on the bottom shelf; grab it with your wand extension. There’s no need to stretch for that last box of Potato Helper just beyond your finder tips on that top tier of shelving, not when you’ve got a ten-foot reach. Can’t quite grab that bag of chips on the bottom of the cart? No problem with your handy shop vac.

With the optional universal code reader, you’d know how much you’ve spent before even getting in the checkout line. One problem with this fantasy scenario would the incredibly long extension cord required, its awkwardness, and the possibility of tripping other shoppers. The vac’s roaring drone might elicit some complaints also.

This is not that kind of shop vacuum, however. The Shop-Vac QSP is intended for the punishing, miscellaneous pickup applications in the workshop and around the home. There were a number of reasons I decided to purchase one of these utilitarian shop vacs. Messes created by my basement wood working projects,a fireplace, a too frequently overflowing laundry sink, and three cars ever in need of heavy duty vacuuming were my chief motives. After a bit of looking, I decided on the Shop-Vac brand because of price (it was on sale) and almost universal availability of bags, filters and many attachments.

Once out of the box not much is required to get to the heady business of vacuuming. Three latches affix the vacuum barrel cavity and the tank cover. Remove the tank cover, install the proper filter held in place with a mounting ring, replace the tank cover, snap on the four casters, slip the cleaner end of the flexible hose into the intake port, add any extension wands or accessories as needed, and you’re good to go.

Now that I’ve had this rugged appliance for over a year, it’s hard to imagine doing without it. It has tremendous suction that can be lessened with a sliding sleeve on the end of the hose. Its motor is mounted above the cavernous tank to protect it from dust, debris, and water. A super bypass motor allows the vacuum to pick up liquid or dry materials. On its four, smooth caster wheels the vacuum glides easily across the floor, and I’ve never even had to lubricate them with caster oil. I like its long, flexible 8 ft. hose and the long electrical cord that wraps handily around the top of the vacuum. A convenient handle on top of the unit’s cover makes carrying an easy task. Occasionally the vacuum has tipped over when I’ve pulled on it, but mostly it’s been rather stable.

This product has few negatives. It’s not very stylish, but who cares? Its replacement filters and bags are a little expensive but the bags are enormous and don’t have to be changed often. When I first used the Shop-Vac, I noticed sparks shooting out of an opening at the top. I wrote to the company asking about the safety of this condition, and within two weeks they had shipped a replacement motor to me. The Shop-Vac QSP does a great job on the cars’ interiors, makes quick work of cleaning up after wallpapering, and picks up wood chunks, nails, washers, tile scraps, stray potatoes and other objects that your upright vac wouldn’t digest easily. It cleans our carpeted steps better than the upright, and I use its crevice tool to vacuum that evasive area where carpet meets baseboard. The Shop-Vac QSP was a great purchase, and I’ve never had any second thoughts even though I still haven’t tried it out in the Safeway.


Recommended: Yes