Safety is a combination of common sense,
staying alert, and knowing how your
wet/dry vacuum cleaner (“Vac”) works.
Safety Signal Words
!
DANGER: Indicates an imminently
hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
will result in death or serious injury.
!
WARNING: Indicates a potentially
hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION: Indicates a potentially
!
hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
may result in minor or moderate injury.
When using your Vac, always follow basic
safety precautions including the following:
!
WARNING - To
reduce the risk of fire, electric shock,
or injury:
• Read and understand this operator’s
manual and all labels on the Wet/Dry
Vac before operating.
• Use only as described in this manual.
• Do not leave Vac running while unattended.
Sparks inside the motor can ignite
•
flammable vapors or dust. To reduce
the risk of fire or explosion, do not
vacuum or use near flammable or
combustible liquids, gases, or
explosive dusts, such as gasoline or
other fuels, lighter fluid, cleaners, oilbased paints, natural gas, hydrogen,
coal dust, magnesium dust, aluminum
dust, grain dust, or gun powder
.
• Do not vacuum anything that is burning
or smoking, such as cigarettes,
matches, or hot ashes.
• Do not vacuum drywall dust or cold
fireplace soot or ash with standard
filter. This is a very fine dust which may
be exhausted back into the air. Use a
fine dust filter instead.
• To reduce the risk of health hazards
from vapors or dust, do not vacuum
toxic materials.
• Do not use or store near hazardous
materials.
• To reduce the risk of electric shock, do
not expose to rain or allow liquid to
enter motor compartment. Store
indoors.
• Do not allow to be used as a toy. Close
attention is necessary when used by or
near children.
• Do not use with a torn filter or without
the filter installed except when
vacuuming liquids as described in the
Operation section of this manual. Dry
debris ingested by the impeller may
damage the motor or be exhausted
back into the air.
•
WARNING: The power cord on this
product contains lead, a chemical
known in the State of California to cause
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Do not leave V
•
from outlet when not in use and before
servicing.
f V
urn of
T
•
2
ac plugged in. Unplug
ac before unplugging.
SP6542-2.qxd 6/26/07 1:20 PM Page 3
• To reduce the risk of injury from
accidental starting, unplug power cord
before changing or cleaning filter.
Do not unplug by pulling on cord. To
•
unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord.
• Do not use with damaged cord, plug or
other parts. If your Vac is not working
as it should, has missing parts, has
been dropped, damaged, left outdoors,
or dropped into water, return it to an
Authorized Service Center.
• Do not pull or carry by cord, use cord
as handle, close a door on cord, or pull
cord around sharp edges or corners.
Do not run Vac over cord. Keep cord
away from heated surfaces.
• Do not handle plug, switch, or the Vac
with wet hands.
• Do not put any object into ventilation
openings. Do not vacuum with any
ventilation openings blocked; keep free
of dust, lint, hair or anything that may
reduce air flow.
• Keep hair, loose clothing, fingers, and
all parts of body away from openings
and moving parts.
• To reduce the risk of falls, use extra
care when cleaning on stairs.
• To reduce the risk of back injury or
falls, do not lift a Vac that is heavy with
liquid or debris. Partially empty the
Vac by scooping or draining liquid to
make it comfortable to lift.
• To reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to Vac, use only Ridgid
recommended accessories.
• When using as a blower:
- Direct air discharge only at work area.
- Do not direct air at bystanders.
- Keep children away when blowing.
- Do not use blower for any job except
blowing dirt and debris.
- Do not use as a sprayer.
- Wear safety eyewear.
• To reduce the risk of eye injury, wear
safety eyewear. The operation of any
utility Vac or blower can result in
foreign objects being blown into the
eyes, which can result in severe eye
damage.
• This Wet/Dry Vac is double-insulated,
eliminating the need for a separate
grounding system. Use only identical
replacement parts. Read the
instructions for Servicing DoubleInsulated Wet/Dry Vacs before
servicing.
• Use only extension cords that are rated
or outdoor use. Extension cords in
f
poor condition or that are too small in
ire size can pose fire and shock
w
hazards. To reduce the risk of these
hazards when using an extension cord,
be sure it is in good condition and that
the connection does not come into
contact with liquid. To keep power loss
to a minimum, use the following table
to choose the minimum wire size
extension cord:
Extension Cord Length Gauge A.W.G.
0-50 Ft.14
50-100 Ft.12
!
CAUTION:
• To reduce the risk of hearing damage,
wear ear protectors when using for
extended hours or using in a noisy area.
• For dusty operations, wear dust mask.
NOTE: Static shocks are common in
dry areas or when the relative humidity of
the air is low. Vacuuming fine debris with
your Vac can deposit static charge on the
hose or on the Vac. The best remedy to
reduce the frequency of static shocks in
your home or when using this Vac is to
add moisture to the air with a humidifier.
Observe the following warnings that
appear on the motor housing of your Vac:
DOUBLE INSULATED
GROUNDING NOT REQUIRED.
WHEN SERVICING USE ONLY
IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS.
!
WARNING: For your own safety,
read and understand operator’s
manual. Do not run unattended. Do
not pick up hot ashes, coals, toxic,
flammable or other hazardous
materials. Do not use around
explosive liquids or vapors.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
electric shock - do not expose to
rain - store indoors.
SAVE THIS MANUAL
3
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SP6542-2.qxd 6/26/07 1:20 PM Page 4
Introduction
This Wet/Dry Vac is intended for household use. It may be used for vacuuming
wet or dry media and may be used as a
blower.
Read this operator’s manual to familiarize
yourself with the product features and to
understand the specific usage of your
new Vac.
Unpacking and Checking Carton Contents
Tools Required
Remove entire contents of carton. Check
each item against the Carton Contents
List. Contact 1-800-4-RIDGID or E-mail
us at info@ridgidvacs.com if any parts
1. Carefully slide the filter over the filter
cage, sliding it over the center ring
covering the 3 slots until the filter stops
against the lid.
2. Place filter nut and filter plate onto
threaded stud and tighten it down.
Finger tighten only.
NOTE: Lever of filter nut should be away
from plate as shown.
IMPORTANT: Do not overtighten as this
may deform or crack the filter cage, or
filter.
NOTE: If filter cage or float needs to be
removed or replaced, use a flat blade
screwdriver and insert the blade near one
of the tabs between the filter cage and
the center ring of the lid. Pry the tab out
of the slot. Tilt the cage and lift away from
the lid. To replace, follow the assembly
instructions below:
WARNING: For your own safety,
!
never connect plug to power source
outlet until all assembly steps are
complete and you have read and
understood the safety and operation
instructions. Do not operate vac
with any parts damaged or missing.
3. Place the float over the opening in the
center of the lid with the words "This
Side Towards Lid" laying face down
over the hole.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
!
personal injury or damage to vac be
sure to keep hands, fingers, or any
other foreign objects out of the
center opening when assembling
the float.
4. Line up filter cage tabs with slots in the
center ring of the lid.
5. Push on the filter cage until the tabs
snap into slots for a secure fit.
6
Rear
Caster
Foot
Drain
Front
Caster
Foot
Drum
Front
Caster
Foot
Drain
#10 x 1-3/4"
Screw (4)
Rear
Caster
Foot
Socket
Caster Stem
Caster Ball
SP6542-2.qxd 6/26/07 1:20 PM Page 7
Drum/Caster Foot Assembly
If any parts are missing or damaged
contact Customer Service.
Do not assemble until you have all the
parts.
1. Insert the front and rear caster feet into
the bottom of drum as shown. Light
taps with a mallet or hammer may be
needed to fully seat both caster feet.
2. Install (4) #10 x 1-3/4” screws into
matching holes on both front and rear
caster feet, securing them to the
bottom of the drum. Tighten screws
until just snug. Do not over tighten as
this may tend to deform the caster feet.
3. Insert the caster stem into each of the
caster feet, as shown.
4. Push on the caster until the ball on the
caster stem is inserted all the way into
the socket. You will be able to hear the
ball snap into the socket and the caster
will swivel easily when positioning is
correct.
7
Accessory
Rod
Receptacles
Accessory
Storage Bag
Rods
R
I
D
G
I
Powerhead
Accessory
Storage Rod
Pull
Straight
Up
Push/Pull Handle
Cord Wrap
Power
Cord
Hose Storage
Areas
Accessory
Storage Bag
Female End
of Extension
Wand
R
I
D
G
I
SP6542-2.qxd 6/26/07 1:20 PM Page 8
Accessory Storage Bag
Installing Accessory Storage Bag
1. Position rods of accessory storage bag
directly over accessory rod receptacles
in dust drum.
2. Slide rods of accessory storage bag
into accessory rod receptacles until
fully seated.
Removing Accessory Storage
Bag
1. Pull straight up on rods of accessory
storage bag until bag is loose.
NOTE: Powerhead will need to be
removed before accessory storage bag
can be removed.
Accessory Storage
Your accessories may be stored in the
accessory storage bag, or in the two
locations on the rear caster feet.
NOTE: Insert female end of extension
wand into the holder sleeve as shown.
Cord Wrap
When vacuuming is complete, unplug the
cord and wrap it around the power
assembly as shown. The cord should wrap
under the pull handle (above the inlet) and
around and under the cord wrap of the
motor cover.
8
Drum
Latch
Drum
Latch
Drum
Flange
Latch
Drum
Powerhead
Assembly
Press
and
Pull
Release
Button
SP6542-2.qxd 6/26/07 1:20 PM Page 9
Wet/Dry Vac Assembly
1. Position the powerhead assembly on
the drum/caster foot assembly as
shown (assembled earlier).
2. Rotate both latches down and press
until you hear them snap over the
flanges on the drum.
Insert Hose
Insert the push button end of the “Tug-ALong” hose into the inlet of the vac. The
hose should snap into place. To remove
the hose from the vac, press the release
button in the hose assembly and pull the
hose out of the vac inlet, as shown.
9
SP6542-2.qxd 6/26/07 1:20 PM Page 10
Operation
WARNING
!
To reduce the risk of fire or explosion, do not operate this vac in areas with
flammable gases, vapors or explosive dust in the air. Flammable gases or
vapors include but are not limited to; lighter fluid, solvent type cleaners,
oil-base paints, gasoline, alcohol or aerosol sprays. Explosive dusts include
but are not limited to; coal, magnesium, aluminum, grain or gun powder.
Do not vacuum explosive dust, flammable or combustible liquids or hot
ashes. Do not use this vac as a sprayer. To reduce the risk of health hazards
from vapors or dusts, do not vacuum toxic materials.
!
WARNING: The operation of any
utility vac can result in foreign
objects being blown into the eyes,
which can result in severe eye
damage. Always wear safety
eyewear complying with ANSI Z87.1
(or in Canada, CSA Z94.3) before
starting operation. Safety eyewear
are available at many local retail
stores.
CAUTION: To reduce risk of
!
hearing damage, wear ear
protectors when using the vac for
extended hours or when using it in
a noisy area.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, this
appliance has a polarized plug (one
blade is wider than the other). This plug
will fit in a polarized outlet only one way.
If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet,
reverse the plug. If it still does not fit,
contact a qualified electrician to install the
proper outlet. Do not change the plug in
any way.
After you plug the power cord into the
outlet, turn the unit on by pushing the
switch from position "O" to position "l". The
symbols used on the switch actuator are
international "On & Off" symbols. "O" is the
symbol for "OFF" and "l" is the symbol for
"ON".
Familiarize yourself with the accessories
included with the vac. Each accessory may
be used in various ways for vacuuming
and blowing debris. Here is a list of the
accessories and their uses.
=
OFF
=
ON
Utility Nozzle - General purpose nozzle for
most vacuuming applications.
Wet Nozzle - Used for wet pickup on
smooth surfaces to pick up liquid and dry
the surface in one stroke.
Car Nozzle - Dry pickup nozzle for car
interiors and most upholstery cleaning.
Extension Wands - These wands can be
connected together and provides
additional length for more reach.
Hose - Provides transfer of vacuum or
blowing capability to work site. Provides
the means of attaching extension wands
and nozzles.
!
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
fire or electric shock, do not run vac
unattended.
Vacuuming Dry Materials
1. The filter must always be in correct
position to reduce the risk of leaks and
possible damage to vac.
2. Your Wet/Dry Vac comes with the
VF5000 Fine Dust Filter installed.
When using your vac to pick up very
fine dust, it will be necessary for you to
empty the drum and clean the filter at
more frequent intervals to maintain
peak vac performance.
NOTE: A
dry material. If you use your vac to pick
up dust when the filter is wet, the filter will
clog quickly and be very dif
3. If your filter is wet but you need to use
10
dry filter is necessary to pick up
ficult to clean.
the vac to pick up dry material, you can
quickly dry the filter by running the vac
without hose attached for about
10 minutes. The clean air rushing
through the vac will help dry the filter.
SP6542-2.qxd 6/26/07 1:20 PM Page 11
Vacuuming Liquids
1. When picking up small amounts of
iquid the filter may be left in place.
l
2. When picking up large amounts of
liquid we recommend that the filter be
removed. If the filter is not removed, it
will become saturated and misting may
appear in the exhaust.
3. When the liquid in the drum reaches a
predetermined level, the float
mechanism will rise automatically to cut
off air-flow. When this happens, turn off
the vac, unplug the power cord, and
empty the drum. You will know that the
float has risen because vac airflow
ceases and the motor noise will become
higher in pitch, due to increased motor
speed.
4. After using the vac to pick up liquids, the
filter must be dried to reduce the risk of
possible mildew and damage to the filter.
IMPORTANT: To reduce the risk of
damage to the vac, do not run motor with
float in raised position.
Emptying the Drum
!
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
ack injury or falls, do not lift a vac
b
heavy with liquid or debris. Scoop
or drain enough contents out to
make the vac light enough to lift
comfortably.
Moving the Wet/Dry Vac
Should it become necessary to pick the
vac up to move it, the handle on the
sides of the dust drum are used to lift. To
maneuver the vac, the push/pull handle
on the powerhead of the unit should be
used.
Blowing Feature
Your vac features a blowing port. It can
blow sawdust and other debris. Follow
the steps below to use your vac as a
blower.
!
WARNING: Always wear safety
eyewear complying with ANSI Z87.1
(or in Canada, CSA Z94.3) before
using as a blower.
!
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from accidental starting,
unplug power cord before emptying
the drum.
1. The vac comes equipped with a drain
for easy emptying of liquids. Simply
unscrew the drain cap and lift the
opposite side slightly to empty the
drum.
2. Another option is to remove the
powerhead assembly.
3. Lay powerhead assembly aside on a
clean area while emptying drum.
4. Dump the drum contents into the
proper waste disposal container.
!
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury to bystanders, keep them
clear of blowing debris.
!
CAUTION: Wear a dust mask if
blowing creates dust which might
be inhaled.
!
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of
hearing damage wear ear protectors
when using the vac/blower for
extended hours or when using it in
a noisy area.
1. Locate blowing port of your vac.
2. Insert the locking end of the tug-along
hose into the blowing port of the vac.
The hose should snap into place.
11
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