METROVAC Compact Vacuum - Model VNB-83BA, 4.0 Peak HP, All-Steel Construction, 6 Ft Hose, Portable Handheld Design, Blower Function

*** OVERVIEW *** My interest in Metropolitan Vacuums started when I bought their small MetroVac 500 Hand Vacuum which is a medium "thermos sized" vacuum that works great for small automotive tasks... but, I needed something bigger and stronger for my small detailing shop. Enter the "Vac N' Blo": I'm going to go into specific details below but let me first say, I have tested dozens of vacuums from various shop vacs, to Kirby's, Dyson's, and everything in between; For automotive detailing purposes, this is hands down the absolute BEST vacuum on the market today. It is crazy to think that a vacuum of this size (small), is literally TWICE as powerful as a full-sized, 6.5 HP Rigid shop vac... but it is! I want to point out some of the details of the machine, many of which are not mentioned in the ad, followed by the pros and cons I've discovered after using the machine for a few weeks now. *** BUILD QUALITY *** It's "Made In America" and it really shows! It has the good old fashioned metal toggle switch which is both durable, and industrial--the first sign of a quality machine. The machine itself is solid metal construction with the exception of little things like the handle and optional wheels. It's clear MetroVac wasn't focused on aesthetics here; they were focused on POWER and DURABILITY. Unlike the Metropolitan Vac 'N' Blo Compact Vacuum which comes with a one-year warranty, the Vac N' Blow comes with a 5-YEAR warranty on the motor which is outstanding! I spoke with one of the owners of the company today, David Stern, who told me that these motor are virtually bulletproof... he's seen them last 15 years or longer with regular use. In fact, the obly thing you should have to inspect and possibly replace are the motor brushes which will run you a mere $17 for a pair of them. If they ever need replacing, it would be many years down the road. The Van N' Blo uses the exact same model of motor as the MasterBlaster (a single 4 HP motor instead of two of them as the MasterBlaster has) and it comes with a 5 YEAR warranty! A replacement motor for this machine (Part # MVC-157D or the older MVC-56D) will run you exactly $100 from MetroVac and the replacement motor brushes (Part # ABC-3), as I mentioned, will run you $17. The paint scuffs easily but this is an industrial designed machine with the intention to be used rough, not babied, however, I thought I'd mention it. Reminds me of black Honda paint sometimes! *** POWER *** MetroVac claims that this 4 HP vacuum has suction rated at 95" of water lift and 130 CFM. Is it true? Sure is... we tested it and got 97 inches! To give you a comparison, that 6.5 HP Rigid shop vac I mentioned which is much larger and has more horsepower, only has 50" of water lift suction! So how can a machine so portable put out almost twice the suction of an industrial shop vac with more horsepower? The answer lies in the construction of the vacuum, the parts used, the motor, fan, and the craftsmanship. This is a very well thought out vacuum that is very simplistic and industrial looking, and very, very powerful! With its modest yet powerful 4 HP motor, the vacuum uses 500 watts of power at 11.2 amps. This means you don't need to worry about upgrading any of your circuit breakers to 20 amps to accommodate this machine like you sometimes have to do on the MasterBlaster machine. ***EASE OF USE*** I recommend ordering the optional dolly accessory when you buy this machine as it allows you to roll it around on the ground instead of having to carry it by its strap. I'm sort of surprised the vacuum doesn't come with the dolly pre-attached, especially when you're spending $200+ dollars on the machine but that's the way it is I guess. The dolly installs quickly and makes ease of use a breeze. With the various included accessories, there really isn't a job this vacuum/blower can't handle. It works just as well for blowing a car dry after a wash as it does vacuuming up even the finest of sand and salt dust. *** ACCESSORIES *** The vacuum/blower comes with a 6 foot wire-reinforced hose, 13 attachments which allow you to do everything from vacuuming small and larger spaces, to blowing a car dry after a wash, to inflating air mattresses, and more. MetroVac also makes some accessories for the Vac N' Blo; the nicest being the longer, 30 foot hose (Part # MVC-56PRO-30, cost $74.99.) *** CONCLUSION *** I fell in love with this machine the first time I used it and I really believe if you're one of those people like me who have spent years looking for the perfect automotive vacuum, you're going to love it, too! ***If you have any questions, please leave a comment and let's get a thread going! I try to get back to everyone the same day if at all possible. Thanks!***

I just received this vacuum & have used it already. I needed something portable to clean the lint trap in my dryer as well as blow the lint vent thing out. This is the perfect tool for the job. It did such a great job it's like I've got a brand new dryer now. I can see lots of uses for this little vacuum & blower around the house. Great suction & awesome blower. I did a lot of research here, reading other reviews and such, and am now rating this machine 5 stars. I didn't think it was any louder than any other vacuum (as mentioned in other posts). The 6 foot hose is plenty long enough especially if you're using the strap. The power cord was more than long enough. The lack of wheels or legs didn't bother me as I attached the strap, threw it over my shoulder & got my work done. I can see where the wheeled dolly would come in handy when I get ready to do the car. But for all my purposes the Metro Vac-n-Blo is great. And made in the USA to boot!

What a great machine. This is one of those things that just works like it should. It feels very sturdy and I love that it is made in the USA. A bit pricey but worth it in my opinion. I am fanatical about keeping my cars clean. The suction from this little thing is better than my huge shop vac and unlike that vac this one is so easy to move around. Excellent assortment of attachments, too. Perfect for vacuuming carpeted steps! Plenty of power for blasting the water off your car/motorcycle (although the neighbors may think you are a bit off!). I drove home in a downpour yesterday but got this thing out and blew the water off in the garage and then a quick once over with the detailer and the car was perfectly clean. I do agree with other reviewers that some rubber feet would be a welcome addition but the lack thereof is not a big deal.

Bought this unit to keep family's cars and airplane interior clean and am not disappointed. Has incredible suction power and is well-built. A little on the pricey end but excellent quality costs a little more. Would recommend.

As a piano tuner, I purchased this vacuum to clean out pianos, which can accumulate dirt and dust in nooks and crevices. It's popular with piano techs because you can use the exhaust to blow dirt and dust out of piano action (the removable "guts" of the piano), which really can't be vacuumed directly. It's powerful, small, and light weight. It also comes with as great selection of tools for getting into right places. It can be packed in a small case and thrown into the trunk--I purchased a plastic Dewalt tool box at Home Depot for about $20. Why 4 stars? Just two details, one significant. The first is the design, which I don't quite get: the handle seems to be at the wrong end for balance. It's ok when you use the blower, but for vacuuming, it should have been reversed. Also, you'd expect the power button right next to your index finger when holding it by the handle, but it's not--it's on the "wrong" side. Not sure why they chose to mount it there. The handle/power switch placement is a minor issue, but there is potentially bigger problem, especially for piano techs working in a customers home: the power of the exhaust. Naturally, a powerful vacuum will have a powerful exhaust as well--it's the other side of the coin. But you have to be very, very careful where that thing is pointed, or you can damage a chandelier, blow a lamp over, or even just blow papers or magazines everywhere. But there are two possible solutions the company could implement: 1. Offer power switch with a "low" setting or 2. Include some kind of diffuser for the exhaust. This would cut down a little on the power, but in many situations you don't need full power. I'll probably make my own removable diffuser. Otherwise, a good product.

I hate paying $1 or more to use a terribly inept vacuum from the car wash facility that has only one nozzle size that fits in absolutely no crevices and only lasts four minutes so you have to rush to finish vacuuming and end up with a mediocre result. I purchased this for myself as an early Christmas present and I have to say it exceeded my expectations! The assortment of attachments/nozzles are perfect for every space that needs vacuuming in my '12 Ford Focus SEL hatchback. I can accomplish an outstanding result with 10 minutes or less of vacuuming time and since my local car wash has an available power outlet I can wash my car, blow it dry with the Vac 'N' Blow then vacuum the interior completely and thoroughly. I bring an extension cord to extend the mobility around and within the car and I don't really see a need or the optional carriage with wheels offered by Metropolitan here on Amazon,com. I just place the vacuum body on the front or rear seat with the exhaust blowing out the door and the hose provides enough length to reach every nook and crevice of the floor and seating areas, the dash and console. Everything comes out looking very nice using this vacuum compared to the standard good-for-nothing car wash rip-off vacuum! Pros: Excellent suction Versatility: Vac 'N' Blow works very well for vacuuming the interior and blow-drying the exterior Accoutrements Weight: It's very light and easy to manipulate into place in order to vacuum the car without holding the body in your arms. Cons: Shorter cord length: I anticipated this with my extension cord so it's not really an issue for me but as a standalone product, the cord could definitely be much longer. Somewhat loud indoors: It scared my 9-Month-Old daughter when I used to clean the gunk from our baseboard heater of our apartment. Overall impression: Totally worth the money! I use it every week when I wash my car and whenever there's a more specialized vacuuming chore to be done that my traditional vacuum won't work as well. I absolutely love using this vacuum!

I recently bought my 1st brand new car. Although I'm not a fan of brand new cars, my last used car had many cosmetic issues from the previous owners that I figured if I bought a brand new car and kept it for 15 or more years then I can justify the expense. I bought a car with a diesel engine since they last longer and offer superior fuel economy. I knew that my old piece of junk Shark vacuum was not what I wanted to use on my new car. I looked at Shop-Vac reviews and they did not suck. I then discovered this one on Amazon and it had great reviews. I just wish I was a little more careful when I ordered it because this one lacks a couple accessories I could have had included with it for the same cost if I looked a little longer on Amazon before I ordered it. I will have to say that this vacuum really sucks well. It even picks up the minutest amounts of dust so I can insure that all the fine particulates imbedded in my car's carpet and between the upholstery will be picked up to keep my car looking pristine on the interior for years to come. The blower unit is also excellent. I stuck my box fan on my window blowing outward, opened another window in the house and just used it to blow the dust off everything in my bedroom. It does really well removing dust that has settled into comforters and fabric furniture. It is very well build and solid. With that said, it is a little bulky when using that one has to be careful not to bump it into things. The first time I used it however, I went into the garage holding a bunch of accessories and I dropped one of them and to my despair, it broke. Fortunately MetroVac sells a replacement for only $4 on their website the the shipping is $8. I haven't purchased that part yet but hopefully soon. Forget Shark and Dyson, the body of this vacuum is not made out of cheap plastic so it is rugged and will last for years to come. It is also made in America.

Has a lot of sucking power, I bought this mainly to clean my car. The blower function works pretty good, but I have an email pending the manufacturer because when using attachments on the "blow hole" I noticed there is a backwash of air from the pressure and I can feel air coming out of the seams around the canister. This might be normal due to the high pressure, so I need to find that out. With all the power that it has, when using the micro attachments they really don't seem to do all that much. Maybe my unit doesn't have a good gasket seal or something, but I have a feeling the unit is NOT defective and works as designed. I used this to dry my car as well, it works pretty well. Not quite powerful enough to blow the water off enough to avoid tiny water spots. Maybe need some practice. But the blower unit is really great for detailing the car because it will get your car clean like it was new because wiping with a microfiber towel still leaves dust, but this unit does the job well. The vacuuming is noticeably more powerful than my dyson. It is made in the USA supposedly, which is a big plus. It is ODD to me that it has no way to lie flat on the ground like others have said. You have a shoulder strap which works fine, but like me, if you're cleaning your car outside or in a garage you need to put the thing on a towel to avoid the canister getting scratched to hell. So assuming that this air leaking around the seam when blowing is normal, then I will keep this thing.