Scott Original Shop Towel, 75190, 75190

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