Shop vac guide
Craftsman CMXEVBE17607 16-Gallon Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable Blower
Buyers who want a 16-gallon wet/dry vac whose blower unit detaches for separate use
A 16-gallon, 6.5 peak HP wet/dry vac rated at 12 amps whose blower unit detaches with its own switch. The kit includes crevice tool, wet nozzle, blower wand and diffuser; Craftsman, the listing and the spec sheet give three different weights.
Listing checked . Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Published specifications
- 16-gallon drum; 6.5 peak HP; 120 V, 12 A per the manual
- Detachable blower with its own handle switch and blower nozzle
- 2-1/2 in x 7 ft POS-I-LOCK Dual-Flex hose, two extension wands
- Filter CMXZVBE38754 and bag CMXZVBE38749 included
- Weight: 31.4 lb (Craftsman), 29.3 lb (listing), 22 lb (spec sheet)
- Three-year limited warranty, original consumer owner
Fit and limits
Strengths
- Blower detaches and runs from its own handle switch, with nozzle or hose
- Kit includes crevice tool, wet nozzle, diffuser and blower wand
- Spec sheet names upgrade filters for allergens, fine dust and liquids
Caveats
- Three sources give three weights: 31.4, 29.3 and 22 pounds
- Blower intake foam pad needs checking after blower use
- Warranty excludes hoses, filters, cords and motor burnout from blockages
A 16-gallon vac whose blower lifts off the top
The CMXEVBE17607 is a 16-gallon, 6.5 peak horsepower corded wet/dry vac with a blower unit that detaches from the powerhead. Craftsman's page describes it as two tools in one. The manual says the blower is released by a latch under its handle and has its own on/off switch in that handle.
The manual describes two ways to use the blower: with the short blower nozzle locked into the blower's port, or with the vac's hose fitted to that port and an extension wand or the car nozzle on the other end. The locking details are in the manual's operation section.
The manual shows a foam pad beneath an intake shield held by three screws, and asks you to check it after blower use. It warns against running without the intake shield fitted. The cleaning steps are in the manual's maintenance section, and the foam pad has its own part number, 833167.
What ships in the box
Craftsman's product page lists the vac with detachable blower, a 2-1/2 inch by 7 foot POS-I-LOCK Dual-Flex hose, two extension wands, utility nozzle, car nozzle, crevice tool, wet nozzle, locking blower wand, muffler/diffuser, a Qwik Lock pleated paper filter and a dust collection bag. The listing repeats the same kit.
The manual's carton table for the 16-gallon model adds four caster feet, four single-wheel casters and an accessory storage caddy with three screws, and names a Phillips screwdriver as the tool needed. The muffler/diffuser and wet nozzle are both marked as included in the 16-gallon column.
The listing-supplied spec sheet gives the same includes list and marks CMXZVBE38754, the general debris filter, and CMXZVBE38749, the general purpose bag, as the ones included. It also names optional upgrades: CMXZVBE38753 for allergens, CMXZVBE38751 for fine dust, CMXZVBE38773 for liquids only and CMXZVBE38750 fine dust bags.
Three weights for the same vac
Craftsman's product page gives a weight of 31.4 pounds. The Amazon details table says 29.3 pounds. The two-page spec sheet attached to the listing, which names this model number, says 22 pounds. None of the three documents explains the spread, so confirm with Craftsman if weight matters to you.
Height agrees: Craftsman and the listing both give 24.54 inches. Craftsman gives a width of 20.56 inches; the listing labels 20.56 inches as length and gives 23.8 inches as width, a figure Craftsman's page does not show.
The spec sheet also lists air volume of up to 170 CFM. That figure does not appear on Craftsman's product page or in the manual pages read. The listing adds a 47 inch maximum suction field and an 82 dB noise field that none of the maker documents state.
Model number, rating and parts
Craftsman's page, the listing and the spec sheet all use CMXEVBE17607, and the page's barcode matches the listing's UPC 648846007342. The manual, form SP7092-1, lists the 16-gallon version as CMXEVBE176070, with a trailing zero. It gives no reason, and this page does not guess at one.
The manual rates the 16-gallon model at 120 volts, 12 amps and 60 hertz. Its parts list for the 16-gallon column gives filter CMXZVBE38754, filter bag CMXZVBE38749, hose CMXZVBE38763, drain cap 73185, foam pad 833167, blower nozzle 833169, crevice tool CMXZVBE37035 and wet nozzle CMXZVBE38621.
Craftsman's structured data gives a cord length of 246 inches, about 20 feet 6 inches, while the listing and the spec sheet icon say 20 feet. The listing, the spec sheet and Craftsman's includes list all give the hose as 7 feet long and 2-1/2 inches across.
Wet pickup, fine dust and the float
The manual says the Qwik Lock paper filter can be used for wet or dry pickup. It separates small amounts of liquid, where the filter may stay in, from large amounts, and says a dry filter is needed for dry pickup after wet use. Its filter and liquid pages have the details.
For fine dust, this manual recommends the Qwik Lock filter plus a filter bag, and says to empty the drum and clean the filter more often. The manual also has a section on the float used during liquid pickup, which is worth reading before the first wet job.
The listing and Craftsman's page describe an oversized drain at the lowest point of the drum, and the manual's parts list includes drain cap 73185. The manual also warns against lifting a vac that is heavy with liquid or debris.
Three-year warranty and household-use terms
The manual describes the vac as intended for household use and says to store it indoors. It also carries a list of blower warnings, including eye protection to a named standard; read the manual's full list before using the detachable blower.
The limited warranty runs three years from purchase for the original consumer owner and ends on transfer. Emerson Tool Company is named as warrantor and manufacturer, with the Craftsman mark used under license from Stanley Black & Decker. Cords, hoses, filters and accessories are excluded, as is motor burnout from failing to clear a blockage.
The remedy is repair, replacement or refund at the company's sole discretion after a physical inspection. The warranty includes a binding arbitration clause, spelled out in full in the manual alongside the other terms.
Check the current listing
Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Primary sources
- Craftsman CMXEVBE17607 16-gallon wet/dry vac with detachable blower product page
- Craftsman SP7092-1 instruction manual for CMXEVBE17606 and CMXEVBE17607 (linked from the Craftsman page)
- Craftsman CMXEVBE17607 package specification sheet (listing-supplied PDF)
Primary sources checked .
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