I just recently purchased a Channellock VBV1612.CL 16 gallon shop
vac. I replaced my aging well used and abused craftsman 16 gallon
vac. The Channellock model is built in China so I was a little
concerned with the quality as I purchased this online without ever
seeing one. I was pleasantly surprised as the quality seems quite
good.
All parts went together easily and fit well. I was interested in
the larger wheels and the push handle that the Craftsman did not
have and it is much easier to move it around so that is a plus. The
push handle feels good and I like being able to tilt the vac to
push and pull it around and the larger wheels work well-really good
feature.
Both units had a supposed 6.5 peak hp motor and a 265 MPH
detachable blower. The CL (Channellock) has a 10' hose and the
Craftsman has a 7' hose. The CL has about an 18' cord and the
Craftman a 20' cord. The one difference I noticed on the new one
compared to my older Craftsman was the thickness of the main
container.
The Craftsman has thicker walled container. The older Craftman has
what I would consider large hand friendly hinged handle locking
mechanisms for the vac lid. The CL has much smaller and harder to
access snap lock devices to latch the vac lid. The new CL's motor
is smooth running and came with a silencer to put in the exhaust
port that really quiets the air noise considerably-my older vac did
not have this.
The suction feels comparable with the Craftsman. There are numerous
cut outs and molded in mounts for the accessories as well as a
canvas type bag to hold things that straps to the handle. It also
came with a fine dust filter instead of a plain pleated filter.
Obtaining filters may be the only drawback in that in as exact
looking as it is to the Craftsman 12008 the filters do no
interchange.
I found a Do It Yourself Hardware store that does handle the CL
line of vacs that is ordering in one of the standard pleated
filters for $15.00 (the filter arrived and is seemingly good
quality). That is less than the Craftsman filters so you need to
keep a spare. As for price the Craftsman was about $130.
00 when I ordered the CL one for $115.00 (with free shipping) and
while I was waiting for it the Craftsman went down the $103.00. So
far I'm satisfied with my purchase, but only time will tell if it
lasts as long as the Craftsman I purchased in 1991