Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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92 of 93 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If only every tool were this good!, June 12, 2000
When it came to the point that I would rather pick up dirt with my tongue than fire up my howling Shop Vac(tm) I realized that a better machine was in order. I was shocked at the high prices of these and similar "plastic buckets" but hopeful that I would not need to purchase yet again. This is a very well made machine and I am quite pleased with it. I chose the "mini" over it's bigger brother because of the included tools and better filter although I certainly would have enjoyed the tool outlet offered on the Turbo II or Porter Cable. Unlike it's sibling or competitors, this model has five wheels around it's circular base which, combined with its low c.g. and low hose position leads to an amazingly stable unit. It seems as though one could almost drag this machine by the hose up a flight of stairs without tipping it. The hose is fantastic! It is long and "stretchy", easily withstands being stepped on and other such abuse, will not kink or tangle and is lightweight and easily manageable. The hose plugs in to the canister and automatically locks with so little resistance it led me to double and triple check the mechanism. After locking, both ends freely rotate as if they were on ball bearings instantly unraveling any potential kinks. The hose mounts so freely that it caused me concern about air leaks but after thorough investigation I can say that at no point during use does any air leak from the fitting whatsoever even when pulled firmly. A very gently touch of the button effortlessly releases the hose from the machine yet the hose cannot come off by any other means. The hose connects directly to my DeWalt 682 joiner and Bosch 1274 belt sander. It also connects to my Bosch 3727 R.O. sander with the $6 Bosch vac adapter (required for connection to any vac), and to my Porter Cable 557 joiner using PC's included plastic elbow, lastly, it connects to the trademark aluminum elbow of my Porter Cable 847 circular saw when combined with the plastic elbow from the joiner. A $6 universal adapter is available from Fein resembling a stepped silicone sealer nozzle that can be cut to the appropriate diameter to adapt to other tools or aftermarket attachments. Note that the hose is an unusual size and regular Shop Vac(tm) attachments will not fit without an adaptor. The long power cord features a two prong plug, which by my understanding, indicates a quality double insulated design and greatly enhances the flexibility of the tool. The static suction is quite strong although there seems to be much disparity regarding the actual "in. H2O" capability. When using a crevice tool or when connected to a power tool the noise of the airflow is actually rather disturbing. The CFM value is not quite as impressive however and when using the wide floor sweep head the powerful suction is easily diluted. The included tools are somewhat poor; one of my attachments is so poorly molded that significant leaks are unavoidable. The included angled handle and two straight rigid tubes can all be linked together for floor vacuuming but the angled handle is exceptionally difficult to install and the two rigid plastic tubes are far from rigid. No round brush is included, and the big floor sweep lacks wheels, significantly limiting it's usefulness. I made the mistake of comparing these included tools to those of Fein's $70 accessory package. Furthermore, this machine is NOT quiet! While in "Shop Vac" or power tool terms it is very comfortable, I must point out that it is just as loud as a standard upright household vacuum. There is also no built in tool, hose, or cord storage. The dust bag is small and oddly shaped for the canister but it does a good job keeping the expensive 1 micron filter clean. Even with it's minor shortcomings and my very stingy budget I feel that this vacuum is well worth every penny I paid for it as well as all the other coins it sucked out of my car and sofa!
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88 of 91 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
First impressions, February 10, 2000
I after performing some web research on canister type vacuums I purchased the Fein wet/dry vacuum due to the low price, features, and the customer review on amazon.My initial impressions after one use:
-The Fein vacuum is very sturdy, lots of thick/heavy-duty plastic.
-It has a nice long hose and power cord.
-The attachments, hose, and dust filter are easy to take on and off.
-The manual/instructions are a little difficult to read with some vague pictures, but has multiple languages.
-The dust bag was a little difficult to put on, the instructions were unclear, and it was a hard to get my hands on the cardboard portion of the bag to push it all the way on.
-The optional wheels were very easy to install (recommend taking the top motor portion off and flipping the bottom half).
-The suction power is comparable to the vacuums you would find at do-it-yourself car washes. Would easily vacuum up coins/marbles/nails if needed.
Overall I think that the Fein wet/day vacuum is a great value beating most other canister vacuums in the same price range with functionality and suction power.
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66 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This thing really sucks!, January 8, 2000
I was looking for a good quality home/industrial vacuum without having to take out a second mortgage and the Fein caught my eye. The size is easy to handle and store in a closet or in a vehicle. As advertised this thing is super quiet, a welcome relief after using some lesser quality canister vacs. What really makes this a good value is that all the attachments including two filters are standard, not always true with other vacuums. I look forward to sucking things up for years to come!
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