Rating Summary
“Could have been much better for pennies in manufacturing cost.”
- Mr. Fix it, Advanced do-everytning guy., a DIYer, a Craftsman Club Member
Craftsman 17066 —
What happened to shop vacuums?! I looked at a couple different manufacturers and they all seem to relish the size of their storage tank. All I really wanted was a powerful motor, and a simple design for a reasonable price. Most of them are junkie, and expensive! Not a good combination, is it!
The 8-year-old Craftsman shop vacuum that I had died. [6.25HP-16 Gal]. I used it often, but only a couple times as a blower. Apparently, the device is not designed to be a blower, because each time you move it, you have to fight the gyroscopic action of the spinning elements. This put too much strain on the bearings, and the impeller started rubbing on the plastic case. It took no time to burn out the motor. (Too bad I couldn't find a replacement motor, or better yet, bearings. That was the Good Old Sears.)
Well, it was a good workhorse as a vacuum, so I decided to get another. The current 16-gal unit (Model #17066) is nearly identical to the one I had, but with some changes.
On the positive side, they added a few more spots to store your tool-ends, and also replace the fixed rear wheels with swivel casters like the front. That's it!
Unfortunately, the negative side won out with these annoying features.
1. One REALLY BAD FEATURE is that the power head DOES NOT SEAL to the collection base! The handles "click" when you put it on, but it is loose with a half inch play, and only stays put when the vacuum is running... sucking it tight to the base. Now try moving this thing with the handles, hose, or by grabbing the power head and you get puffed in the face with all the dust you thought you would never see again. AWFUL!! I thought I put it together wrong, but no, this is the design! One question: WHY!?
2. No thanks to that cheap, very stiff 20' line cord.
3. The power switch is still a mile away from the business end, like it was on the old one.
4. There is no brush included as an accessory. I'd give up all of the others for a decent brush!
5. The motor claims to be 6.50HP (up from 6.25HP on the old version). There is no discernible difference in suction, so I guess that extra quarter horse went to making the poor thing scream louder.
Well, I nearly brought it back, but I modified the loose top by adding a nice thick home-made gasket between the bucket and the screamer (er... I mean power head). It works pretty well. I also bought a nice flexible piece of 16-2 line cord, and a big fat plug at ******. Replacing it was a pain because of the way the motor is mounted, but it worked out to be OK.
I still have my old tools from the other vac, so I didn't have to shell out another $9 for the brush. The other pieces work well-enough too. I'm not thrilled with this thing, but after my Craftsman Club discount of $30, it just made it across my threshhold!
