Concord Carpenter

Ridgid WD1450 14 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum

By Ben Carmichael on Tool Reviews

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Ridgid WD1450 14-Gallon 6-Horsepower Wet/Dry Vacuum Review

Of all the tools I consider essential, there is one that that people don’t often think of: the wet/dry vacuum.

Why is it so essential? Quite simple: it keep things clean and it helps keep you efficient.

In order to build things, you have to cut things. I remember how, when I first started working on house, my workbench would accumulate piles of sawdust from my miter saw — so such so that, at one point, I found the tool I had been looking for for 10 minutes buried in the sawdust. It wasn’t long before I had a wet/dry vacuum.

As someone working on their house outside of my everyday 9-5, I don’t have a lot of extra time. Those 10 minutes cost me frustration and they cost me time. Now, whenever I use the saw, I turn the wet/dry vac on and suck up all the dust as I’m creating it. I haven’t lost a tool since.

This is home DIY 101; a clean work area is an efficient work area that turns out more precise work faster.

In looking for a vacuum, I wanted something that would be a workhorse: powerful enough to soak up nearly anything, and durable enough that it would keep on working. In the process, it was tempting to opt for a cheaper model, but a wet/dry vac is a great example of the “you-get-what-you-pay-for” truism. Models below $70 are often models with a weak motor — they just don’t suck enough. And when it comes to wet/dry vacs, that’s bad.

Ridgid WD1450 14 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Quality:

I was drawn to the Ridgid WD1450 14 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum for a few reasons, the first of which is Ridgid’s reputation for making a great product. (I wrote a review of one of their table saws for this site, which I also high recommend.) I was confident that in buying a Ridgid, I would not be disappointed.

The motor on this shop-vac is strong. It has handled all of the messes that I’ve thrown at it, from my table and miter saws, to garage clean-up, to some wet spills. Nothing has slowed it down.

It’s pretty easy to use, as well. The casters provide 360° mobility, while the top handle and weight make it relatively easy to pick up and carry.

It’s also compatible with other Ridgid products. For instance, I hook it up to my Ridgid table saw and capture all of the wood dust as it comes out of the saw, before it creates a mess in my shop. From my perspective, this is a big bonus.

Value & Overall Impression:

For the price, the Ridgid WD1450 14 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum is a great wet dry shop/vac. It’s strong, it’s tough, and it gets the job done without failing. It’s the workhorse that simply gets the job done. I would highly recommend it.

Features Rigdid 14 Gal Wet/Dry Vacuum:

• 6.0 Peak HP Motor provides powerful suction to handle tough job site clean-up
• Scroll Noise Reduction® is a patented feature that provides quiet operation by precisely controlling the flow of air through the vac
• 4 Swivel Casters provide easy 360° mobility
• Quick Release on-board accessory holder offers storage space for 5 accessories plus the hose
• 2-Piece Drum provides improved, more rugged construction to meet the higher demands found on the job site
• 3-layer Fine Dust Filter captures fine dust particles such as dry wall dust
• 7′ Dual-Flex® Locking Hose resists collapsing and adds 180˚ flexibility at both hose ends. Hose locks onto vac for uninterrupted cleaning
• Large Carry Handle allows easy lifting of vac into service vehicle
• Long 20’ Cord wraps neatly around carry handle
• Powerful exhaust airstream can be directed through the vac hose to blow debris from garages, decks, and sidewalks

Specifications: