Is most of your shop vacuuming done in one area, maybe within an 18-foot radius? If so, consider the compact wall-mounted Shop-Vac 952-02-62, also known as the Hang Up Pro. It's a good choice for a wet-dry vac for a small workshop, hobby area or a laundry room.

The Shop-Vac 952-02-62 has an 8-amp (4.5 peak hp) motor with a 5-gallon tall tank. A bracket lets you mount the unit and tools on a wall, and you can operate the unit without having to carry around the tank with you. The cord is relatively short, just 6-feet long, but is adequate for a unit that doesn't have to move around. On the other hand, the hose is much longer than most other wet-dry vacuums; it is 18 feet in length and has a locking feature to keep it in place.

There are three extensions to the hose plus five nozzles -- floor, squeegee, round brush, crevice tool and gulper -- so this unit is versatile. In addition, the Shop-Vac 952-02-62 has a cartridge filter that reduces exhaust dust and keeps the motor relatively clean.

One limitation of this model is the narrow hose. At just 1-1/4 inches in diameter, it is much smaller than most portable wet-dry vacs. The narrower hose mouth combined with the longer hose -- nearly twice as long as most models -- means that it is subject to plugging more frequently. Of course, that's not good. But if your cleanups don't require lots of suction and you're not picking up metal, fasteners or drywall chunks, the 952-02-62 might be the right model for you.


Pros: Hands-free operation, long hose, many nozzles
Cons: Not as powerful as other models, narrow hose

Warranty
3 years, limited