My shop vac is sparking and making grinding noises - is it toast?

Hey guys, my old Craftsman shop vac (6.5 HP, about 5 years old) has been acting weird lately. When I turn it on, I see small blue sparks inside the motor housing, and it makes this awful grinding/rattling noise. Also doesn't seem to hold suction like it used to. Tried cleaning the filter and checking for clogs, but no luck. Is this thing dead, or is there a fix I can try before I drop cash on a new one?

Sparky here. Those blue sparks mean you've got arcing in the motor - could be worn brushes or a damaged commutator. Grinding noise suggests bearings are shot too. Unplug it NOW and don't use it. For a 5-year-old Craftsman, it's probably not worth repairing unless you're sentimental. Motor rebuild would cost nearly as much as a new unit. Safety first - that arcing could start a fire.

Sid's right about the safety thing. My boss had a similar issue with his DeWalt vac last year - sparks and a wobble. Turned out the impeller was cracked AND the motor brushes were gone. He tried to fix it himself but ended up buying new. Maybe check if Craftsman has a service center nearby? Sometimes they can give you a discount on a new one if yours is dead.

Ugh, I feel your pain. My shop vac started making that death rattle last month after sucking up drywall dust for 3 years straight. In HVAC we beat these things to death. If it's sparking AND grinding, it's probably done. But before you trash it - did you check the cord connection? Sometimes a loose wire at the plug can cause arcing. Otherwise, HD has the Rigid vacs on sale this week - got mine for $89.