Milwaukee M18 vacuums, your opinions

[lilxtra]

Wanting to get a vacuum for small jobs around the house; vacuuming cars, cleaning work tables, etc. I see that Milwaukee sells a handheld version #0882-20 that looks like what I would want but the reviews on power are mixed, don't need anything super powerful but don't want to blow $100 bucks on junk. The #0880-20 wet/dry vac gets good reviews on power but looks much more bulky than I would like and my local HD has none in stock to fondle. What say you GJer's?

 

[IndyGarage]

I don't know the model number, and don't care to look them up.

I have the V28 version of the one that looks like a toolbox. It works great - it really is a mini shop vac. I use it in the boat, in cars, and anywhere I don't want to drag a full size shop vac. It's doesn't have the suction of a full size shop vac, but it's pretty good. It also has the limitation of the smaller hose.

I've heard the 18v version works as good.

 

[bushmechanic]

I don't know the model number, and don't care to look them up.

I have the V28 version of the one that looks like a toolbox. It works great - it really is a mini shop vac. I use it in the boat, in cars, and anywhere I don't want to drag a full size shop vac. It's doesn't have the suction of a full size shop vac, but it's pretty good. It also has the limitation of the smaller hose.

I've heard the 18v version works as good.

The 18V version is outstanding. Just earlier I used it to clean up some rice I spilled in the kitchen, and yesterday I shampooed some floor mats with it. It makes cleaning cars so much easier.

I'm sure the 28 does a better job, but of course these are more about what kind of batteries you have on hand.

It's now my favorite wet/dry vacuum. There are a couple of things that could be improved, but they aren't problem areas; just places that allow the thing to be more affordable. Overall it's close to a flawless design.

Easy as hell to clean, too, and while not notably quiet, the sound it makes is easy listening. Still a lot more quiet than the roll-about units, though.

Not sure about the hand vacuums, but I might pick one up eventually. Something like that is never going to be as powerful as other designs, but the point of a cordless, hand-held, "Dust-Buster" style vacuum in the first place was always to be convenient; not super powerful.

Now, I don't own one of the hand vacuums, but I might at some point. If I do buy one I'll be expecting the performance of a simple "Dust-Buster", but with the convenience and run-time of a power tool battery.

 

[pbon]

I have the box one and the teacup one. The box can do wet and has more capacity and is stronger but the teacup one is fine for most uses.

 

[93calypsohatch]

I have the m18 hand held vacuum. Use it all the time, i feel the suction is pretty good. Definitely recommend it

 

[firebox40dash5]

I have the bigger one. Only complaint is runtime is dismal, and I always forget and leave a battery in it, so it never gets charged until I need it again. And I guess if I'm being real nitpicky, the hose is a bit short (even considering its mobility) and the ends come undone kinda easy... but you can just screw them back on easily.

I bought mine when I worked in a shop, got tired of uncoiling an extension cord when 99.9% of my uses took less time than dealing with the cord. Brought it home when I quit for the same reason... wonderfully convenient for quick clean-up, which is most of what I need it for.

 

[jhelrey]

I have the non-tool box looking one. I love it for picking up **** around the house, garage, etc. Not great on power but has picked up everything I've put in front of it. Dog hair, crumbs, etc

 

[Dagny]

we use them all the time for sucking a string through conduit. great for other things also. my wife has one.

 

[6PTsocket]

The 18V version is outstanding. Just earlier I used it to clean up some rice I spilled in the kitchen, and yesterday I shampooed some floor mats with it. It makes cleaning cars so much easier.

I'm sure the 28 does a better job, but of course these are more about what kind of batteries you have on hand.

It's now my favorite wet/dry vacuum. There are a couple of things that could be improved, but they aren't problem areas; just places that allow the thing to be more affordable. Overall it's close to a flawless design.

Easy as hell to clean, too, and while not notably quiet, the sound it makes is easy listening. Still a lot more quiet than the roll-about units, though.

Not sure about the hand vacuums, but I might pick one up eventually. Something like that is never going to be as powerful as other designs, but the point of a cordless, hand-held, "Dust-Buster" style vacuum in the first place was always to be convenient; not super powerful.

Now, I don't own one of the hand vacuums, but I might at some point. If I do buy one I'll be expecting the performance of a simple "Dust-Buster", but with the convenience and run-time of a power tool battery.

I think you can expect a bit more out of that Milwaukee battery. Most Dustbusters, (tm) Black and Decker, run on lower voltages and the suction is correspondingly weaker. My old Dust Buster runs on 7.2 volts. Amp/hrs is run time. Voltage is how powerful it is going to be.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[kctyphoon]

The wet dry vac is definitely the most powerful, but if you want floor attachments and wands you'll have to buy those separately from someone else. The compact m18 is great in the sense it's powerful "enough" to clean floors, and it excels in the noise dept. it's quiet enough that you can use it on a jobsite to clean up and not disturb everything else that going on. I've recently used it inside a small doctors office and inside banks to clean up without having to make everyone stop and wait till I was done to carry on their conversations. Messing with drop ceiling tiles will leave a trail of mess that needs to be cleaned. The wet dry vac was also recently redesigned to give better storage of the hose. It's also the only choice if you want a blower function. The wet dry vac will empty a toilet no problem. The compact vac though can break down and fit into storage bags or a rolling tool bag.

Milwaukee should take advantage of their Packout system and make a low profile vac that can snap into that..

 

[bushmechanic]

I think you can expect a bit more out of that Milwaukee battery. Most Dustbusters, (tm) Black and Decker, run on lower voltages and the suction is correspondingly weaker. My old Dust Buster runs on 7.2 volts. Amp/hrs is run time. Voltage is how powerful it is going to be.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

It's not that simple. The efficiency of the parts themselves come into play.

An 18 volt vacuum is almost never going to be twice as powerful as a 9 volt vacuum. Odds are it'll have better performance, but not always. It doesn't just apply to vacuums, but they tend to display this more than other machines given what they're trying to accomplish.

As an example, I've had a 36 volt string trimmer. I currently have an 18 volt string trimmer. The 18 volt trimmer blows the doors off that 36 volt unit. It's both faster and more able to cut heavy brush. On all counts it is superior; despite being 18 volts short in relation to the previous unit.

Vacuums are heavily dependent on the design features that allow them to create that vacuum environment into which the atmosphere is forcing the contaminants. There are many ways to build them, and some are much more efficient than others.

I love my 18V Milwaukee wet/dry vacuum but, naturally, the form factor itself prevents it from out-performing some corded models using similar hose diameter. It's a compromise for improved portability and faster deployment.

 

[jonesg]

Not typical big red quality.

 

[MikeF2316]

I'll concur with those saying the wet/dry or toolbox vacuum is very good. Also known by its model number, the 0880.

 

[jshillin]

I'll concur with those saying the wet/dry or toolbox vacuum is very good. Also known by its model number, the 0880.

Completely agree, I use the hell out of mine.

 

[pbon]

9ah battery is best for the vacs.

 

[johndeereman]

I also have the M18 toolbox vacuum with the 9.0ah battery and for about the last year it has been a must have on punch-list job's.

 

[Dingleburry]

Wet/dry vac is awesome. 18v

 

[Ign]

Not typical big red quality.

The M12 is a waste of $

OP: 0880

 

[toolman9w]

I would like to have 2. It's easy and great for quick clean ups. I use it alot. Work bench, racecar seat and car interior for quick clean up.

 

[Bacon!]

It's not that simple. The efficiency of the parts themselves come into play.

An 18 volt vacuum is almost never going to be twice as powerful as a 9 volt vacuum. Odds are it'll have better performance, but not always. It doesn't just apply to vacuums, but they tend to display this more than other machines given what they're trying to accomplish.

This is not true. Suppose you had a motor with 5 ohm windings. At 9V that's 1.8 amps or (9V * 1.8A =) 16.2W. At 18V that's 3.6A or (18 * 3.6A =) 64.8W. This is oversimplified due to more than one reason including that they'd use different motors, but in most cases a 9V tool cannot be half as powerful as an 18V, and isn't in real world tools.

As an example, I've had a 36 volt string trimmer. I currently have an 18 volt string trimmer. The 18 volt trimmer blows the doors off that 36 volt unit. It's both faster and more able to cut heavy brush. On all counts it is superior; despite being 18 volts short in relation to the previous unit.

Apples and oranges. Try powering the 18V string trimmer with the 36V battery and the performance would blow your socks off, before it was damaged by the high heat since isn't designed for 36V.

I love my 18V Milwaukee wet/dry vacuum but, naturally, the form factor itself prevents it from out-performing some corded models using similar hose diameter. It's a compromise for improved portability and faster deployment.

Yes certainly the form factor yet that form factor is what makes it desirable, as well as using the batteries an owner of that brand already has. It may out perform them but you are not considering that performance is subjective. It's just ONE number, whichever you choose to claim is most important. In the case of a cordless vac, three other performance factors are size, weight, and runtime (okay there's a 4th, cost).

It is easy to get more motor performance with a corded model merely because it can be electrically very wasteful, generating huge amounts of waste heat and merely having a larger fan to remove it, plus it can be heavier and larger and still be usable because you don't also have to add battery weight and size. This will not do on a cordless tool.

 

[bigarmzz]

I have the m18 vacuum and I love it. Noisy as can be, but very handy!

 

[bushmechanic]

This is not true. Suppose you had a motor with 5 ohm windings. At 9V that's 1.8 amps or (9V * 1.8A =) 16.2W. At 18V that's 3.6A or (18 * 3.6A =) 64.8W. This is oversimplified due to more than one reason including that they'd use different motors, but in most cases a 9V tool cannot be half as powerful as an 18V, and isn't in real world tools.

Apples and oranges. Try powering the 18V string trimmer with the 36V battery and the performance would blow your socks off, before it was damaged by the high heat since isn't designed for 36V.

Yes certainly the form factor yet that form factor is what makes it desirable, as well as using the batteries an owner of that brand already has. It may out perform them but you are not considering that performance is subjective. It's just ONE number, whichever you choose to claim is most important. In the case of a cordless vac, three other performance factors are size, weight, and runtime (okay there's a 4th, cost).

It is easy to get more motor performance with a corded model merely because it can be electrically very wasteful, generating huge amounts of waste heat and merely having a larger fan to remove it, plus it can be heavier and larger and still be usable because you don't also have to add battery weight and size. This will not do on a cordless tool.

Uhh... Dude? That's what I said...

 

[Bacon!]

Uhh... Dude? That's what I said...

It's not what you wrote. You implied doubling voltage won't be much different while it's usually MORE than twice as effective... ohm's law, and clearly seen in tools.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

We have the toolbox sized one at work and it does a very good job, but the hose is giving up the ghost. Much more powerful than the 18v DeWalt it replaced, but the DeWalt had the option of being plugged in, which was very handy.

 

[pbon]

Do you find the bristles on the small round brush bend inwards and clog or reduce effectiveness?

 

[bushmechanic]

It's not what you wrote. You implied doubling voltage won't be much different while it's usually MORE than twice as effective... ohm's law, and clearly seen in tools.

You're picking nits; diving far too deep into a comment clearly meant to suggest that an 18V vacuum isn't necessarily going to provide twice the practical performance as a 9V vacuum; especially when considering drastically different designs.

It's never going to.

Doubling voltage in a lab isn't the same as doubling voltage in a vacuum cleaner. I'm not teaching a class in electromagnetism, here. I'm noting that you can't just buy a bigger number and expect the thing to **** up twice the sawdust in the same amount of time; with just enough framework so people can understand the point; not the discipline.

You need to realize the applicability of common sense as well as physics disciplines. If I wanted to give you information, I'd have written an entirely different post. It was written for the mildly curious; the people who might dig a little deeper before making a purchase.

If I wanted to debate the virtues of different ways to wind a motor or manage airflow, I sure as heck wouldn't do it here. I'd call someone who can do so effectively and will enjoy it.

This should all be patently obvious. Remember: Just because it looks wrong doesn't mean it is. It might be incomplete, but that doesn't make it incorrect.

Sometimes someone just needs a step-ladder. You'd have me build an elevator.

 

[bushmechanic]

I have the m18 vacuum and I love it. Noisy as can be, but very handy!

The wet/dry or the one mentioned here?

I might eventually pick up this one just for cobweb duty if it's even halfway decent. Already got the wet/dry.

 

[Bacon!]

You're picking nits; diving far too deep into a comment clearly meant to suggest that an 18V vacuum isn't necessarily going to provide twice the practical performance as a 9V vacuum; especially when considering drastically different designs.

and again, you're wrong. An 18V vac can provide more than twice the performance of the same thing in a 9V version.

It's never going to.

It always will, given the same design besides the 18V having the larger motor and impeller, except for one factor, that they might be trying to get longer runtime.

Doubling voltage in a lab isn't the same as doubling voltage in a vacuum cleaner. I'm not teaching a class in electromagnetism, here. I'm noting that you can't just buy a bigger number and expect the thing to **** up twice the sawdust in the same amount of time; with just enough framework so people can understand the point; not the discipline.

You base this on what exactly? The little old 9V vac are anemic. It's not hard at all to expect an 18V vac to **** up twice the sawdust in the same amount of time.

This should all be patently obvious. Remember: Just because it looks wrong doesn't mean it is. It might be incomplete, but that doesn't make it incorrect.

Sometimes someone just needs a step-ladder. You'd have me build an elevator.

Just no. You overgeneralized too far and were in error. Show us a 9V vac with performance that isn't far lower than the typical 18V. 9V is so low that it's most often used on tiny hand models with a whopping ~ 12 oz capacity and it takes a while to fill that. Some 18V vacs can **** up a gallon of water in under 10 seconds. It's not even close.

Do a simple test. Take an 18V vac, but use a couple jumper leads to a 9V battery instead and see how it performs. Do both tests the same, with 18V battery also connected by jumper leads.

It can't get more apples:apples than that, but if you prefer to swap a different motor in, go for it so long as it runs for as long as the original would at 18V. The higher the voltage gets the less it matters because there's less of a problem handling the current but at 9V, forget about it, no contest.

That does not mean there couldn't be some piece of junk coming from china that performs poorly no matter what the voltage is. I think it would be reasonable to compare average performers at each voltage rather than trying to find the crappiest 18V vac ever made.

 

[bushmechanic]

and again, you're wrong. An 18V vac can provide more than twice the performance of the same thing in a 9V version.



It always will, given the same design besides the 18V having the larger motor and impeller, except for one factor, that they might be trying to get longer runtime.



You base this on what exactly? The little old 9V vac are anemic. It's not hard at all to expect an 18V vac to **** up twice the sawdust in the same amount of time.



Just no. You overgeneralized too far and were in error. Show us a 9V vac with performance that isn't far lower than the typical 18V. 9V is so low that it's most often used on tiny hand models with a whopping ~ 12 oz capacity and it takes a while to fill that. Some 18V vacs can **** up gallons of water in 10 seconds. It's not even close.

Do a simple test. Take an 18V vac, but use a couple jumper leads to a 9V battery instead and see how it performs. Do both tests the same, with 18V battery also connected by jumper leads.

It can't get more apples:apples than that, but if you prefer to swap a different motor in, go for it so long as it runs for as long as the original would at 18V. The higher the voltage gets the less it matters because there's less of a problem handling the current but at 9V, forget about it, no contest.

You aren't paying attention when you're reading.

Can and will are two different things. We're talking about products that are actually on shelves, not theory.

Be practical.

 

[Bacon!]

You aren't paying attention when you're reading.

Can and will are two different things. We're talking about products that are actually on shelves, not theory.

Be practical.

The average 18V vac sitting on a store shelf vastly outperforms the average 9V vac sitting on a store shelf.

It's not that I'm not paying attention. It's that you're wrong, and not by just a little bit.

 

[MikeF2316]

The average 18V vac sitting on a store shelf vastly outperforms the average 9V vac sitting on a store shelf.

It's not that I'm not paying attention. It's that you're wrong, and not by just a little bit.

Electric motor power is more than just voltage. Sure if you take exactly the same motor and feed it with 18 volts, it's going to have 4 times the power that it has when 9 volts is applied. I have a 12 volt electric motor that will blow away the power of any M18 brushless motor, and my motor has brushes! That's the starter motor on my car.

 

[az45]

I have 2 18v, one at home and one in the shop. I think I say to myself "I love this freakin thing" every time I use it.

 

[Bacon!]

Electric motor power is more than just voltage. Sure if you take exactly the same motor and feed it with 18 volts, it's going to have 4 times the power that it has when 9 volts is applied. I have a 12 volt electric motor that will blow away the power of any M18 brushless motor, and my motor has brushes! That's the starter motor on my car.

Sure, current too, but you are just making my point all over again. Run the starter motor from a battery drained to 9V and see how well it cranks the engine. Put two batteries in series and see how well it does at 24V.

It's very much about voltage, until you hit a motor (or brushless controller) design limit.

Besides that, a vac needs very high RPM, not torque. An M18 motor running at 18V might actually beat a starter motor at 12V (if you shoehorned one into a vac) due to that, unless you scrapped the whole vac and built one with a massive impeller in addition to the ~100lbs of starter motor and battery.

 

[bushmechanic]

The average 18V vac sitting on a store shelf vastly outperforms the average 9V vac sitting on a store shelf.

It's not that I'm not paying attention. It's that you're wrong, and not by just a little bit.

You're still not paying attention...

 

[Bacon!]

You're still not paying attention...

Your bobbing and weaving tactics aren't working.

What you claim has no basis in reality. It is baffling to me that you would continue arguing it, and a disservice to the community.

It's a bit like the twilight zone, just how wrong you are yet you can't accept it. Are you running low on medication for whatever mental defect causes your delusion?

Provide a link to this mythical 9V vac that defies physics. You did state "on the shelf" so that has to mean you have one in mind...

 

[bushmechanic]

Your bobbing and weaving tactics aren't working.

What you claim has no basis in reality. It is baffling to me that you would continue arguing it, and a disservice to the community.

It's a bit like the twilight zone, just how wrong you are yet you can't accept it. Are you running low on medication for whatever mental defect causes your delusion?

Provide a link to this mythical 9V vac that defies physics. You did state "on the shelf" so that has to mean you have one in mind...

I've never seen someone struggle this hard before...

Your repeated efforts show character. Train hard and have faith in yourself.

One day you'll get it right. I'm rooting for you!

 

[Bacon!]

I've never seen someone struggle this hard before...

Your repeated efforts show character. Train hard and have faith in yourself.

One day you'll get it right. I'm rooting for you!

lol, you are definitely a character, I'll give you that, but also clueless and wrong.

We're all still waiting for the magical 9V vac link, or did you think you could avoid the topic?

You do remember that this was a topic about vacs, right? No? Yes? Maybe?

 

[lilxtra]

Guys, I didn't mean to start an argument over whether a 9V motor is more powerful than an 18V and vice-versa, I just wanted to know which vacuum everybody liked; the box type wet/dry or the handheld one! LOL!
Looks like I'm going with the wet/dry #0880-20.
THANKS!!! to all the guys who responded, it helped make my decision!

 

[bushmechanic]

lol, you are definitely a character, I'll give you that, but also clueless and wrong.

We're all still waiting for the magical 9V vac link, or did you think you could avoid the topic?

You do remember that this was a topic about vacs, right? No? Yes? Maybe?

You have somehow managed to get a critical misunderstanding of my post lodged too far in your brain.

We are not in disagreement. We never were! I don't know how else to explain that to you. Your assertions are correct, man, I'd never say otherwise. They're just coming from too pure an angle for such a discussion because you've got this idea stuck in your head.

You're going after an assertion that I never made; digging too deep into words meant to provide an easily understood caution against marketing decisions that don't benefit the consumer pound for pound.

Big numbers don't always equal big performance. That's all I'm on about. As much as I'd love to argue electromagnetism with you, there's simply nothing to argue about.

I mean... What's your favorite wavelength? Because clearly the best is 650nm. So, if you like another one, you're incorrect and we must argue. Is that what you want?

 

[vavet]

Wow...people really will argue about anything.

I don't have the milwaukee, but I do have the Ridgid 18V cordless vac. Love it.
It's my go to. Unless I'm doing something really time consuming, like vacuuming the entire garage, I use it instead of getting the roll-around 120V unit. It's powerful enough.
Battery lift with a 1.5Ah battery is less than 5 minutes. A 4Ah battery lasts 15-20.
If you're really efficient, you can vacuum a mid-sized car in less than 5 minutes with the 1.5Ah battery, but don't take dawdle.
I bought a similar unit for work. It's a really handy deal.