Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
With one of the best designs we've seen in a shop vacuum, the downside of the Karcher WD5 is lower performance.
Karcher, a German company that specializes in making both consumer and professional-level cleaning equipment, recently sent us one of their shop vacuums to take a look at. Featured in our 2018 Wet/Dry Vac Buying Guide, we gave the Karcher WD5 Wet/Dry Vac mad props for its overall design. This might not surprise anyone, and at the risk of drawing a pretty big stereotype, it seems like German companies have a deep appreciation for efficiency in engineering. Festool, Bosch, and Hilti all seem to pay attention to form and function when crafting tools. That commitment to efficient design shows in the Karcher WD5 Wet/Dry Vac as well, which bucks the trend for what’s going on with most modern shop vacuums.
You see bigger numbers thrown around when it comes to motor size in this class. Even some of the smallest vacuums in our arsenal out-power the 2.5 peak horsepower/1800-watt motor that Karcher includes. As always, it’s less about the size of the motor and more about what you do with it.
The motor pulls 76 CFM in terms of volume. That’s not anywhere near the 208 CFM of Ridgid’s 16-gallon model, but it’s far from ineffective. Some of our Pro-level dust extractors on the smaller and cordless side are in the same range and we trust them to get the job done.
Water lift or suction power is the other side of the performance equation. With roughly 3 pounds of pull force in our test, it’s a little low compared to the 4 pounds most of our models hang around.
At just under $140, the Karcher WD5 isn’t the most expensive shop vacuum we’ve tested. It is pricey in its size class, though. That might make you shy away considering the performance level is also below the majority of its competiton. So what do you get for the additional money?
Design and build quality. Design considerations like a filter cleaning mechanism and outside filter access cost more to make and Karcher is a step ahead of the rest in overall quality.
Reviewing the Karcher WD5 Wet/Dry Vac reminds me of an old joke:
How many Germans does it take to change a lightbulb?
One. We are very efficient. This is not a joke.
Performance is below what we’d like to see at this price so there has to be a trade-off or two. What sets the WD5 apart is its design. There are hints of Pro-level dust extractor features and the storage of accessories, hose, and cord are clearly well thought out. Everything just fits together really well, and the whole package feels solid. Even the handle creates a better canister lock than the latches on most models. It’s all solid enough, in fact, to earn the title of “Best Overall Design” in our buying guide.
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When he doesn't have his hands on tools himself, Chris is often the man behind the camera lens making the rest of the team look good. In his free time, you might find Chris with his nose jammed in a book, or tearing out his remaining hair while watching Liverpool FC. He enjoys his faith, family, friends, and the Oxford comma.
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Why not add Festool to the mix in the future.
No comment as to how the sound level is in comparison to other wet/dry vacs?
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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros