Metrovac Vac N Blo: is this a reasonably competent vacuum?

[craigdt]

I hate vacuuming car interiors. Always have.

Traditionally have used whatever shop vac we had, but the hoses suck, I hate wheeling it around, dealing with the cord etc etc.

Couple years ago I got a $70 Ryobi cordless ~2gal shop vac which has removed the cord frustration and made it way more likely to just grab it and quickly give a fast vac.

But its "only" got about ~45 CFM, so its just not super powerful.

Im considering getting a Metrovac Vac N Blo, and mounting it to the wall.
Get a super long hose, thing is always plugged in and ready to go. Just grab the hose and use it for car interiors and quick cleanups of the garage.

Metrovac lists CFM of 114, which is more than double of what im currently using, and about the same of smaller shop vac.
Vac N Blo(R) Pro Commercial Series - Car Vacuum & Blower | MetroVac (https://metrovac.com/products/vac-n-blo-pro-commercial-series)

Does it seem like this would be a decent upgrade in performance and convenience?

Will I be disappointed by the suction?

Are there equivalent options that allow wall mounting?

Is it quiter than a shop vac?

Edit-
I use an Ego blower, don't need the blow feature so much, but interested to hear how you stop blowing dirt from the hose everywhere

[craigdt]

I did find this option, which looks interesting:
Garage Vac PRO – Manufacturer of VacuMaid Central Vacuum Systems (https://vacumaid.com/product/garage-vac-pro/)

Doesn't look like some of the attachments are quite as varied, and doesn't seem like it can be used as a blower, but thats not a huge deal.
Can't find the CFM either.

[SNP209]

I've been eyeballing this unit for a while rated at 162 cfm, comes with a 30 ft hose and lots of attachments. Made in USA and apparently the customer service is great.

Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Prolux-Professional-Shop-Mounted-Garage/dp/B00D4OOY1K?th=1)

[craigdt]

I've been eyeballing this unit for a while rated at 162 cfm, comes with a 30 ft hose and lots of attachments. Made in USA and apparently the customer service is great.

Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Prolux-Professional-Shop-Mounted-Garage/dp/B00D4OOY1K?th=1)


Thanks for posting that! I had just stumbled across that one too.
CFM is higher, and you can do wet vacuuming, which is nice.

Anyone know what the hose on the Metrovac Vac N Blo is like?
It looks REALLY nice, like a softer, flexible, rubbery material.
Less like a harder, stiffer plastic like the Prolux appears to be.

The Vac N Blo also has these awesome tiny little brush-vac attachments, although one could probably buy them and use adapters if necessary.

Also important to note, the Prolux says its an American COMPANY a lot, im not convinced the unit itself is made in the USA, like the Vac N Blo is.

Overall, the Vac N Blo seems to be better quality- steel, better organization bag, maybe better attachments.
Specs just aren't quite as good, on paper.

Prolux also looks to use kind of a proprietary hose-to-unit connector, whereas the Metrovac looks like you could find adapters more readily if necessary. Im worried about trying to connect a non-Prolux hose to the Prolux unit.

MetroVac Vac N Blow:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0063/9395/4377/products/PRO-83BA_1.jpg?v=1662486084


ProLux:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/714u3XmraaL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

[Coatingsarecrack]

I’m just not ready to shell out $500 for a vacuum. This is what Adam’s uses and I’ve watched a few nice reviews.

GarageVac Surface Mount (https://www.intervacdesign.com/Vacuums/Garage/GarageVac-Surface-Mount/)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Eldorado2k]

I hate vacuuming car interiors. Always have.

Traditionally have used whatever shop vac we had, but the hoses suck.


What hose do you use with your shop vac?

[DanaDetailingPros]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230619/c0735fd20f70105612ac0acc8ed1fd15.jpg

Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Safety-Vacuum-Cleaner-Automatic-Filter/dp/B07G8KJ15B/ref=asc_df_B07G8KJ15B/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241952584952&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6682300434398580488&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031558&hvtargid=pla-585236057981&psc=1)
Buy once cry once[emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Autogeekonline mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87407)

[craigdt]

What hose do you use with your shop vac?

Just whatever godawful 6 foot hose that came with my old Shop vac. It's stiff and I hate everything about that vacuum.

[DanaDetailingPros]

Best hose and company.

Vacuum Hoses| Mr Nozzle Inc (https://www.mrnozzleinc.com/vacuumhoses.html)

[craigdt]

Best hose and company.

Vacuum Hoses| Mr Nozzle Inc (https://www.mrnozzleinc.com/vacuumhoses.html)

Nice- wonder where you can buy them, and how to hook up hoses to weirdo fittings?

[DanaDetailingPros]

Nice- wonder where you can buy them, and how to hook up hoses to weirdo fittings?

If you call them they are awesome! They will sell to you dirrect and tell you what you need. Just tell them your vacuum and they will assure it will fit correctly:dblthumb2:

[Eldorado2k]

Just whatever godawful 6 foot hose that came with my old Shop vac. It's stiff and I hate everything about that vacuum.

I had a feeling that might be the case. Let me just say that you’ve been selling yourself short. You’ve got to treat yourself to a proper hose! It’s like a wash mitt, don’t you want to have a nice 1? Doesn’t it make it much better when you have the best wash mitt vs. the worst? Heck, I have the best wash mitt x16 in my bucket.[emoji13]lol.

If you don’t at least have the Orange Ridgid Hose, whether it’s the Detailing Kit or the Professional Orange hose, then you’re living in the dark ages. I personally don’t Hate the hose that comes with it as long as we’re talking about the 2.5” diameter and as long as it’s the proper length because 7’ is too short.

I invested in a 13’ version of the 2.5” original hose and it’s pretty great for certain situations. For example when you’re dealing with a bunch of leaves in a windshield cowl, a super dirty interior, even sweeping the patio with the blower wand attachment. I’ve got a bunch of hoses and they’re all handy for they’re good at. Total of about 8 vacuum hoses in different lengths & widths for my Ridgid vacs. I love vacuuming. Lol.

If I really need to, I can connect 43’ of hose to my 16 gallon Ridgid. And that’s not including the small diameter ones.

[Eldorado2k]

Best hose and company.

Vacuum Hoses| Mr Nozzle Inc (https://www.mrnozzleinc.com/vacuumhoses.html)

Doesn’t that hose only accept 1.5” attachments? That’s what’s always turned me off about Mr. Nozzle. I’ve got a bunch of nice attachments, but none of them are 1.5”. They’re pretty much non existent in that size except for those 2 plain jane ones that fit the Mr. Nozzle hose. Correct me if I’m wrong.

[DanaDetailingPros]

Doesn’t that hose only accept 1.5” attachments? That’s what’s always turned me off about Mr. Nozzle. I’ve got a bunch of nice attachments, but none of them are 1.5”. They’re pretty much non existent in that size except for those 2 plain jane ones that fit the Mr. Nozzle hose. Correct me if I’m wrong.

You'll get an adapter. I have allot of 1 1/4 and 1 and they all work. 1.5 is the industry standard for industrial/commercial accessories. eBay has these also.
(2) Vacuum Hose Cuff 1 1/2 Hose To 1 1/4 Wand Tool Adaptor For Commercial | eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/194327827826)