Replies

1. 
   CStanford_ | Feb 28, 2002 11:27pm | #1

   *
   No. Ear plugs are better.

1. 
   William_Ferguson | Mar 01, 2002 02:02am | #2

   *This is a question I'd really appreciate if men who have bought and tried the things would respond to.William

1. 
   CStanford_ | Mar 01, 2002 02:14am | #3

   *I've had one. They're lousy. While I didn't send the vacuum to a testing lab to measure the drop in suction, it seemed to me the vacuum lost a substantial amount of "pick up power."So, I stand by my original post - earplugs are better.These contraptions are inexpensively priced. If you're curious, try one. Take it back if you don't like it.I'd be mildly surprised if somebody jumps in here with a thorough analysis of $20 Sears vacuum mufflers. Mine was an impulse buy that was returned a little later, fwiw.

1. 
   Earl_Johnston | Mar 01, 2002 03:14am | #4

   *I too bought the "muffler" as an impulse buy. It went back to Sears the next day. I personally feel that these things are meant for their older models which are deafening. I bought one of their 16 gal vacs a year ago and found that the muffler made absolutely no difference to the pleasantly low volume, compared that is to the earlier thing I had.

1. 
   Bob_Berner | Mar 01, 2002 06:48pm | #5

   *I have a fairly new Rigid 16 gal vac and I bought the muffler for it. It does drop the noise level of the vac without affecting the suction. I think mine was about $10. I have seen the same vac and muffler in sears. In retrospect, I wouldn't recomend this vac or muffler. Using the muffler increases the velocity of air in the exhaust and with the bend in the muffler causes either the vac to move around the shop undder its own power, or blow dust or dirt around as you are trying to sweep it up. Of course it often does both of these things simultaneously. I would save my money and by a good vac from Fien or Porter-Cable. I have heard the Fein run and it is very quiet. If you do go with a Sears or equivalent by a Goretex filter for it, they make a big difference. Bob

2. 
   Terry_Jennings | Mar 01, 2002 07:41pm | #6

   *I bought the muffler for the ridgid tool vac and it helped, but not enough. I then bought an 8' piece of PVC pipe (placed it outside the garage), connected my shop vac exhaust on one end, the muffler on the other. NOW I HAVE SILENCE! Give it a try - it works.

3. 
   Chip_Tam | Mar 01, 2002 07:52pm | #7

   *I bought the Sears 16 gallon vac about 5 years ago and, yes, they're very loud. I bought the muffler when they first came out (about a year later). I find that it reduces the very high pitch noise which is the most annoying and also helps a bit with the over-all noise level. In my experience, the muffler doesn't semm to affect the suction. But, CStanford is right. The muffler is pretty inexpensive and if you don't like it you can return it.

4. 
   John_O'Connell | Mar 01, 2002 11:19pm | #8

   *Terry,Tried the same thing, air flow dropped, vac overheated. Bought a Fein - 58 dB which is as good as it gets.