Let’s take a look at this year’s Black Friday shop vacuum specials.
This year’s Home Depot Ridgid vacuum deal looks to be unchanged from last year.
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- 16-gallon tank
- 5.0 peak HP motor
- 115 CFM airflow
- 1-7/8″ x 7 ft hose
- 2 extension wands, utility nozzle, pleated paper filter
- 15 ft power cord
- Blower port
- Casters
- Integrated handles
- Built-in drain
Why buy this one? It comes with a wider diameter hose, which should make it easier to clean up bigger messes with less risk of clogging.
Price: $40
Buy Now (via Home Depot)
The vac should go on sale by 6am ET Friday.
There doesn’t seem to be any chances compared to last year’s deal. There’s one change to the sealed pressure rating, from 60″ to 54″, but that could be a correction on their part, or a mistake on mine.
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- 12-gallon stainless steel tank
- 6 HP Peak motor
- 145 CFM air flow
- 1-1/4″ x 7 ft hose
- 18 ft power cord
- Top carrying handle
- Rear blower port
- On-board cord and attachment storage
- Fits large cartridge filter, 10 to 14 gallon disposable collection bags, large foam filter
- 54 inches sealed pressure
- Casters
Why buy this one? It has a stainless steel tank that Lowes and Shop vac say is durable against long-term wear. This Lowes Black Friday special vac also a higher power rating, which doesn’t mean much, a slightly longer power cord, and it comes bundled with a few additional accessories.
Price: $40
Buy Now(via Lowes)
You can buy this vac online with free shipping and delivery, or for in-store pickup.
Want something different? Amazon has a deal on WorkShop vacuums. These vacs are made by the same company that builds the Ridgid shop vacuums for Home Depot.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
There is also a more featured Ridgid wet/dry vac and auto detailing bundle on sale at Home Depot as part of their online-only Black Friday sales.
- 14-gallon tank
- 6.0 peak HP motor
- 168 CFM airflow
- 2-1/2″ x 7 ft hose, plus 1-1/4″ x 10ft hose
- Numerous extension wands, crevice and utility tools, brush attachments
- 20 ft power cord
- Blower port
- Casters
- Integrated handles
- Built-in drain
Why buy this vac? It comes with bigger accessories, more accessories, and is seemingly more powerful, as it can move more air according to the product specs.
Price: $95
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Seth brings up a good point. Home Depot’s “PRO Black Friday” Ridgid vacuum special is also a very good buy. I hadn’t mentioned it sooner because supplies are likely limited by now, and because its design my hold less appeal for homeowners. But it does look to give you a very nicely-spec’ed vac and useful accessories, and for under $100.
- 16-gallon tank
- 6.5 peak HP motor
- 203 CFM airflow
- 2-1/2″ x 7 ft hose
- 2 extension wands, crevice and utility nozzles, diffuser
- 20 ft power cord
- Blower port
- Large rear wheels and front casters
- Integrated handle
- Built-in drain
Price: $99
Thank you Emil for the reminder! This Ridgid tool box vac is on sale for $69. It’s a corded-only model, but has a stackable boxy form factor and on-board and internal accessory storage.
It has a 20-foot cord, collapsible hose, and a couple of extension wands and nozzle attachments.
Price: $69
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Nathan L
I picked up the basic Black Friday Ridgid vac a year ago to help with flooding caused by some clogged AC drain lines and i’ve been pleasantly surprised with it. I’ve used the blower port and wet and dry modes and not found it wanting in power for my sporadic use cases.
I’d say the only problem i’ve had is that it’s so big that it’s hard to fit in closets and transport compared to the rest of my tools (mostly m12 specifically for the compactness). This is obviously a silly complaint for a wet/dry vac but my point is that if you’re looking at two vacs and the 16 gallons is the smaller of the two, it’s not going to be a limitation.
Seth
Don’t forget this one mentioned in the HD Pro ad post. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/home-depot/RIDGID-16-gal-6-5-Peak-HP-Wet-Dry-Vac-WD1851%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
IMO this is the best deal, especially if performance is a factor for you. For only $4 more (than the last “deal” above) you get a lot more power (203 CFM). I’ve had my eye on it for a few months and was happy to save $60. Picked it up last weekend.
Stuart
Thanks, good point! I added it in.
Pete
I would NEVER buy a 1-1/4” hose again. Well my wife bought it for me. But the actual I.D. of the hose is 1” and it clogs all the time. Also stainless steel tanks…. over rated…. leave any residual water in there and it’ll rust the tank. Sure it’s “stainless” but its cheap thin stainless that is easier to bend when compared to a plastic tank.
If anyone is a contractor you might as well only look at hepa compliant vacs.
Stephen
What about the black friday “pro” Ridgid vac for $99? Any thoughts how that compares?
Stuart
If you’re okay budgeting $100, and you like the form factor, it’s the best vac of the bunch, by far.
Pete
I LOVE my ridgid vac which is the stainless one. And i would trade my stainless can for a plastic one any day. In fact that plastic one comes with the diffuser were as the stainless one doesnt. I havent had something that my ridgid vac wont stuck up- socks, rags, childs clothes, i used to empty my 35 gallon fish tank. I guess its suppose to suck up a gallon a second which i didnt measure it but holy cow it SUCKS!
Stephen
Thanks Stuart and Pete!
Emil
Any thoughts on the Rigid toolbox vac for $69 at HD? Looking at this or the Dewalt DCV581h.
Stuart
That Ridgid comes with more accessories and attachments. The Dewalt can be powered by a 20V Max battery pack. There’s a special deal on that right now, with a discounted battery pack. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/early-black-friday-tool-deals-at-amazon-2017/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
If you would never power the Dewalt with a battery pack, the Ridgid might be the better buy and the more useful vac.
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Mark
Which one would be better for a hobby wood shop?
Stuart
That second to last one, the $99 special, gives you room to grow.
For example, its extra power and 2-1/2″ hose size will give you some flexibility if you ever add a dust deputy or similar auxiliary cyclone or separator.
The $98 WorkShop model would be my 2nd choice.
Andrew
After debating various options — I have a 16 gallon Ridgid out in the garage/shop, wanted a second for in the house — I bought the stainless Shop Vac model from Lowe’s. Ordered it Thursday. Arrived Saturday. Finally unboxed it tonight. Go figure, it’s dented. And, after reading bad reviews about the small hose … turns out its a screw-on model and I don’t think my bigger hoses will fit. Pretty sure its going back and I’ll be ordering the Ridgid packable or this Ridgid portable I found for $20 less. https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-4-Gal-5-0-Peak-HP-Portable-Wet-Dry-Vac-WD4050/100012506