Review on 🧹 CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac: Powerful Heavy-Duty Shop Vacuum with Attachments for Versatile Cleaning by Charles Phillips

Anyone purchasing a product should consider their own needs, applications and budget before making a purchasing decision. The right product for one person is not the right product for another. I read a lot of product reviews before I decide to buy, and I read a lot of one and five star reviews from people who I don't think understand what they're talking about. Therefore ratings don't help much if you can't rate the reviewer. So here's my five cents. I'm a serious wood and metal hobbyist, I used to make a living at it. I had a mighty 20 gallon Craftsman who just passed away after 40 years of incredible service. When buying a new vacuum cleaner, I was shocked at how cheap everything is now from all suppliers: plastic instead of metal, cheaper materials and less durable. Unfortunately, most local stores don't stock 20-gallon vacuums, instead stocking smaller, cheaper items. I bought a powerful 14 gallon vacuum as a replacement and was immediately disappointed. The vacuum was anemic and the 14 gallon canister was grossly inadequate. The canister is so short that if the canister is only half full, the filter will soon be surrounded by debris and lose suction. So I started searching the internet. Many major vacuum cleaner manufacturers don't even make 20-gallon vacuums, but Craftsman had two or more models. I compared all the specifications of the Craftsman models and finally decided on the CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17596, which has a significantly higher suction power (measured in CFM) than the other models. Now I've had the opportunity to use it extensively and it has the same suction power as my dead vacuum (critical power for me) and matches it in other performance specs. Here's what ultimately mattered to me: wet/dry capability, 20-gallon canister, 20-foot power cord (anything less is a joke if you really want to use it as a vacuum), and high suction power (190 cubic feet per minute according to Craftsman, and HP or Peak HP is actually a meaningless measurement as the only thing that matters is air movement). The only question that remains is the durability of the device. In all other respects I am satisfied. In my view, the optional dust bag lining the canister is useless. It does exactly what the canister itself already does: picks up whatever your vacuum picks up, but you pay for it every time you use it and throw it away. This is completely unnecessary expense.