Shop vac guide
Craftsman CMXEVBE17040 4-Gallon Wet/Dry Vac
Auto detailing and light household wet or dry pickup, the uses Craftsman and the manual name
A 4-gallon, 5.0 peak HP corded wet/dry vac with a 1-7/8 inch by 7 foot hose, car nozzle, utility nozzle, dusting brush and caddy. The manual rates it at 7.5 amps; cord length, filter wet use and warranty length are stated inconsistently.
Listing checked . Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Published specifications
- 4-gallon drum; 5.0 peak HP
- 120 V, 7.5 A, 60 Hz per the manual (listing says 9 A)
- 1-7/8 in x 7 ft POS-I-LOCK hose, two extension wands
- Qwik Lock filter CMXZVBE38741; bag CMXZVBE43271 sold separately
- 16 lb; 16.3 in tall; cord stated as 15 ft, 20 ft and 246 in
- Warranty: 3 years in manual and listing, 2 years on Craftsman's page
Fit and limits
Strengths
- 16 pounds per Craftsman and the listing, with an attached tool caddy
- Includes a dusting brush, car nozzle and utility nozzle
- Manual lists part numbers for hose, filter, bag, brush and wands
Caveats
- Craftsman's page says a two-year warranty while the manual and listing say three
- Manual says the filter is dry-only in one place and allows small liquid pickup in another
- No drain in the maker documents; the drum is emptied by tipping
A small vac built around a tool caddy
The CMXEVBE17040 is a corded 4-gallon wet/dry vac that Craftsman rates at 5.0 peak horsepower and describes as lightweight, with auto detailing named in its overview. Both Craftsman's page and the listing give a weight of 16 pounds, and the manual describes a carry handle and an attached tool caddy.
The manual's carton contents list the vac, a tool caddy, two wheels and two casters that come pre-assembled, a 1-7/8 inch by 7 foot hose, a car nozzle, a utility nozzle, a dusting brush, two extension wands and a Qwik Lock filter. Craftsman's includes list and the listing match that kit.
No dust bag is included, although the manual's parts list names a filter bag, CMXZVBE43271, and the listing names the same bag as compatible. Craftsman's page also mentions a separately sold natural hair dusting brush, CMXZVBE38785, alongside the one in the box.
The manual contradicts itself on wet use of the filter
The manual's liquids section says the filter may be left in place for small amounts of liquid, and recommends removing it for large amounts. It adds that the filter must be dried afterwards, and that dry pickup needs a dry filter.
The same manual's filter page then says the supplied paper filter can be used for dry pickup only. Those two instructions do not agree, and the manual does not reconcile them. If wet pickup with the filter fitted matters to you, ask Craftsman for a definite answer; the manual's warranty page gives 1-888-331-4569.
The manual also describes a float that cuts off airflow when liquid reaches its level, with a change in motor pitch as the sign. Its liquid pickup and emptying instructions are on the same page, and are worth reading before the first wet job.
Emptying: no drain in the maker documents
In the manual, the drum is emptied by releasing the drum latches, lifting off the powerhead and tipping out the contents. The manual describes no drain, and Craftsman's product page does not list one among its features.
The Amazon details table does include drain fields, describing a front-mounted drain plug and a drain port in the front lower section. The maker documents read do not mention a drain, and none of the documents explains the difference; confirm with Craftsman if a drain matters to you.
The manual also warns against lifting a vac that is heavy with liquid or debris and says to scoop contents out first. Its emptying and liquid pickup pages sit together, so read them as one section.
Cord length and power figures do not line up
Craftsman's own page gives three cord figures. Its overview says a 15-foot cord, its feature list says a 20-foot power cord, and its structured data says 246 inches, about 20 feet 6 inches. The listing's description repeats 15 feet while its details table says 20 feet.
Power figures also differ. The manual rates the 4-gallon model at 120 volts, 7.5 amps and 60 hertz. The listing gives 9 amps and 700 watts. Neither the manual nor Craftsman's page uses the listing's figures, and none of the documents explains the difference.
The listing also carries a 47 inch maximum suction field and an 82 dB noise field that appear in neither maker document. The manual says any extension cord must be outdoor-rated and in good condition, and says the vac has a polarized plug.
Blowing, storage and household-use limits
The manual calls the blowing feature Full Blowing: the larger end of the hose goes into the blowing port and an extension wand can be added to the swivel end. It carries eye protection warnings for blower use that you should read in full before using it.
For storage, the manual describes wrapping the cord around the carry handle and two hose storage clips, and says to store the vac indoors. It describes the model as intended for household use and light vacuuming of wet or dry material.
The manual's model number is CMXEVBE170400, while Craftsman's page and the listing use CMXEVBE17040. The manual gives no explanation for the extra digit. Its parts list gives hose CMXZVBE38761, filter CMXZVBE38741, dusting brush CMXZVBE38725 and extension wand CMXZVBE38675.
Two years or three: confirm the warranty
The listing-supplied manual prints a three-year limited warranty from Emerson Tool Company for the original consumer owner, and the listing's bullets also say three years. Craftsman's own product page, however, says 2 Year Limited Warranty for this model. None of the documents explains the difference.
The manual's terms end coverage if the vac is transferred, and exclude normal wear, power cords, hoses, filters and accessories, motor burnout from failing to clear a blockage, and use outside the manual's instructions. Remedy is repair, replacement or refund at the company's discretion after inspection.
Because the length differs between documents, confirm the term with Craftsman. The manual's warranty also includes a binding arbitration clause, set out in full with the other terms.
Check the current listing
Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Primary sources
- Craftsman CMXEVBE17040 4-gallon wet/dry vac product page
- Craftsman 4-gallon wet/dry vac instruction manual SP7130-1 (listing-supplied PDF)
Primary sources checked .
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Buyers after a 15.5 pound, 9-gallon vac for the basement water and clogged-sink jobs Craftsman's page names
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