Compact Handheld Garage Vacuum

[D45]

Ok.......so I am looking for a small,, compact garage vacuum

Cordless would be a bonus, but not a deal breaker

Does not need to be a wet vac, just for small quick vacuuming jobs where I am too lazy to drag out the large shop vac for a one minute job

Yes, I do have dust pans and small dust hand brooms, but I want something powered

I see that Milwaukee makes a nice looking 12v lith-ion vacuum

I really do not want a ton of accessories, hose extensions and various tips

Basically for small cleanup jobs, like wood shavings or small metal shavings

Suggestions?

 

[blacksporty]

I have the Rigid cordless shop vac, one of my favorite purchases ever, great power, quick, easy, goes through battery pretty quick but that is okay I always have 2 on the charger.

 

[ard]

I just open the roll up doors and walk through with the backpack blower....

 

[isb cornbinder]

I would suggest that you have a look at your local Craigslist. This is what id available this morning.
https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/search/tls?query=shop+vac
I have a built in vacuum system with outlets around the shop. As good as it is, I prefer my Shop Vac.

 

[ishiboo]

Ok.......so I am looking for a small,, compact garage vacuum

Cordless would be a bonus, but not a deal breaker

Does not need to be a wet vac, just for small quick vacuuming jobs where I am too lazy to drag out the large shop vac for a one minute job

Yes, I do have dust pans and small dust hand brooms, but I want something powered

I see that Milwaukee makes a nice looking 12v lith-ion vacuum

I really do not want a ton of accessories, hose extensions and various tips

Basically for small cleanup jobs, like wood shavings or small metal shavings

Suggestions?

The Milwaukee M12 vacuum is unimpressive.

I have the old M18 vacuum and it's great. If I was in the same market as you, I'd be looking at the new M18 compact vacuum.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...on-Compact-Vacuum-Tool-Only-0882-20/300510229

If you have no other Milwaukee stuff, you'll want the kit not the bare tool above.

I use the regular M18 vacuum in place of my full size shopvac for all automotive cleaning now.

 

[Falcon67]

I just open the roll up doors and walk through with the backpack blower....

OK Carl.

I use my C3 Craftsman hand held vac a lot, works well for little stuff.

 

[ddawg16]

I just open the roll up doors and walk through with the backpack blower....

Pretty much how I do it

But if you really want a vac, I'd go cordless. If you have to plug it in, might as well use the shop vac.


Or....look into a central vac system...then its' flip a switch and grab a hose.

 

[bigarmzz]

The Milwaukee M12 vacuum is unimpressive.

I have the old M18 vacuum and it's great. If I was in the same market as you, I'd be looking at the new M18 compact vacuum.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...on-Compact-Vacuum-Tool-Only-0882-20/300510229

If you have no other Milwaukee stuff, you'll want the kit not the bare tool above.

I use the regular M18 vacuum in place of my full size shopvac for all automotive cleaning now.

I second this vacuum, I have it and use it ALOT. Love it and wish I would've bought it along time ago

 

[firworks]

I have the M12 version and I use it quite a lot. Exactly the situation you mention, I need to run over to the drill press and just shoot in one quick hole. I grab the M12 and hit the shavings and I'm done. If I'm working on a big project I just let the mess accumulate and then roll out the big shopvac and clean everything. Run time is good enough for me but it's also M12 so I have like 10 batteries if it ever ran out in the middle of something.

It's also surprisingly long which means with a tube you can vacuum the floor from standing. Not something I initially expected being reasonably tall.

It's not going to **** you away (blow you away) as far as performance goes but I find it to be pretty handy. I'd probably like to have that M18 one too but I got the M12 before the M18 one came out and it hasn't let me down yet.

I am realistic though with what I ask it to do. Go look on YouTube and you'll see people trying to vacuum up car parts with it or 10 lbs of nuts and bolts. I actually have an unreleased video review for it I was working on but never got around to finishing that made light of some of that.

 

[SteveL]

I have a Dyson V6 hand held cordless that also has a floor sweep attachment and like it a lot. A little pricey but worth every penny in my opinion. Rarely use the corded shop vac now.

 

[Sharpest]

I have a DeWalt DW500 that can run on cord or battery power. It works well plugged in but is pretty anemic on battery power. It works and was cheap on craigslist.

 

[astrohip]

I have standardized on the Ryobi +1 cordless tools. So when I wanted a vacuum like you, it was easy to go with Ryobi. I just got it last week, seems fine. Strong, easy to use, easy to clean, and the only attachment is a small crevice tool that is attached to the main shell, so you can't lose it.

Picking one cordless system to standardize on was one of my best decisions. I used to have a different battery (and manuf) for the drill, sawzall, etc. Now I can use the same batteries in a dozen different tools.

I just open the roll up doors and walk through with the backpack blower....

That's what I do for the main shop, and it does have its advantages. Boom, floor clean! It helps that I have rollup doors on all sides.

But these small cordless vacs are great for sucking up small messes--the debris from drilling, etc.

 

[ddawg16]

I have standardized on the Ryobi +1 cordless tools. So when I wanted a vacuum like you, it was easy to go with Ryobi. I just got it last week, seems fine. Strong, easy to use, easy to clean, and the only attachment is a small crevice tool that is attached to the main shell, so you can't lose it.

Picking one cordless system to standardize on was one of my best decisions. I used to have a different battery (and manuf) for the drill, sawzall, etc. Now I can use the same batteries in a dozen different tools.


That's what I do for the main shop, and it does have its advantages. Boom, floor clean! It helps that I have rollup doors on all sides.

But these small cordless vacs are great for sucking up small messes--the debris from drilling, etc.

A big + 1 on ^^That^^ (pun intended)

All of my cordless tools are Ryobi. I feel they are the best value for the money. Even my weed whacker is Ryobi.

 

[ddawg16]

But let me also point out, some consideration should be given to a central vacuum system, especially if a lot of woodworking is done.

 

[D45]

Not doing a lot of woodworking and not investing in a central vac

 

[GMCGarage]

Dyson is the way to go. Light, powerful, yada yada yada

 

[boiler7904]

I use 3 vacuums to control dirt and dust besides the one we have for carpet.

My wife uses a cordless vacuum in the house for small spills, picking up dust in corners before washing floors, and so on. After throwing away 4 Shark and Black & Decker units in about 8 years, I got her the Milwaukee M12 and a 4.0 battery in 2015. It gets used almost every day and I would guess that we only charge it every 10 days or so. Home Depot dropped the price on them not long ago so I'm tempted to pick up a second for use in the garage. Replacement filters are nearly impossible to get locally so I add them to orders from Acme Tools every so often.

My go-to vac in the garage is a Ridgid 14 gallon. I use it with an Oneida Dust Deputy and connect to most power tools when doing wood working. Also gets used for general cleanup. Electric and battery leaf blowers get used from time to time too.

I also keep a Ridgid 3 gallon corded shop vac in the house. I store it in the basement and keep it nearby for remodeling projects inside instead of dragging my big 14 gallon back and forth from the garage.

 

[kylerohde]

I have the M12 version and I use it quite a lot. Exactly the situation you mention, I need to run over to the drill press and just shoot in one quick hole. I grab the M12 and hit the shavings and I'm done. If I'm working on a big project I just let the mess accumulate and then roll out the big shopvac and clean everything. Run time is good enough for me but it's also M12 so I have like 10 batteries if it ever ran out in the middle of something.

It's also surprisingly long which means with a tube you can vacuum the floor from standing. Not something I initially expected being reasonably tall.

It's not going to **** you away (blow you away) as far as performance goes but I find it to be pretty handy. I'd probably like to have that M18 one too but I got the M12 before the M18 one came out and it hasn't let me down yet.

I am realistic though with what I ask it to do. Go look on YouTube and you'll see people trying to vacuum up car parts with it or 10 lbs of nuts and bolts. I actually have an unreleased video review for it I was working on but never got around to finishing that made light of some of that.

Agreed 100%. I don't have M18 stuff, only M12, so I went with this vac and it does the job - very happy with it for quick jobs.

 

[Charlie51]

I've been using an Oreck XL that was sitting unused for years in a closet. It has plenty of **** power, a long cord, and though the bags are rather small, it keeps picking up debris 'til its filled up.

 

[vettex2]

I just open the roll up doors and walk through with the backpack blower....

That's similar to how I clean out my van

 

[vettex2]

OK Carl.

I use my C3 Craftsman hand held vac a lot, works well for little stuff.

Me too.

 

[D45]

I ended up with a Dyson V6............scored it from a pawn shop, new in box for $75

It works well and I am pleased with the power, especially for now having to drag out the large shop vac and cord

 

[Robby321]

Get a Dyson! Hands DOWN the best. Use mine daily spot clean up (dog always dragging in yard stuff that will NOT come off "until the house magnetic power" ***** it off to the floor!). Powerful and used daily with just the small snout. Only thing to remember is with a LI battery, its full power until low charge and quits. Ya think its broke, but just charge it up again! Powerful beast and NO DAMN CORD!

 

[DFB]

I also have the Milwaukee M12 cordless vac. And although not overly impressive with suction it's just so handy to have around that outweighs the performance factor. It will do sawdust an shavings just fine, gravel and small stones not so great. And although not necessary bigger XC batteries seem to enhance the performance too. If you are already vested in that lineup great otherwise you need battery and charger for additional costs.

Cant say anything much about the newer M18 version never tried one but my understanding is it not much of a step up and the only online review I seen they were just picking up popcorn wasn't impressed with that. Sometimes M18 doesn't gain you much more than just weight or a couple of small features over the M12 version. examples: the fluorescent lantern. the compact vac, the stick light. the RA impact driver and the RA drill

Dollar for dollar the wet/dry vac by Milwaukee really shines although its quite loud and will **** up 5.0 battery in short time.


Cordless convenience is the best but for an inexpensive corded unit I have a Dirt Devil Versa Stick it can be used as handheld or floor unit has at 10 foot cord I believe. it works better than the M12 which is odd in some ways its only rated @ 1.25 amp. I think the difference is the filter which is more of screen basket. and IMO I think what hinders the Milwaukee is the pleated paper filter it uses .

Searching online I see the price has dropped on the M12 vac to $49 at HD

 

[D45]

I sold the Dyson at a garage sale for $30 and it worked well for 7 ish years !

I purchase this Shark Ultra Cyclone for $44 this weekend on clearance at Walmart

 

[PoorUB]

I have a DeWalt, and a buddy has the Milwaukee. I am not impressed with either. The DeWalt my wife uses once in a while around the house. I use it occasionally for cleaning out the furnace or some quick clean up when drilling holes in a wall.

In the shop I just drag out the cored shop vac. Tons more power and not as frustrating to use. I tried vac'ing out my truck with the DeWalt once and the time it took it would have been faster to drag out the large shop vac.

IMO, there is one place where battery powered tools will never take over, and that is shop vacs.

 

[D45]

The Dyson did the job I needed it to

Hopefully the Shark does good, or better

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

This is what I have. I already had Milwaukee tools so it made sense. Works great. I hardly ever pull out my corded full size wet/dry shop vac anymore.

Amazon.com: Milwaukee 0880-20 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion 2 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (Bare Tool) : Tools & Home Improvement

Buy Milwaukee 0880-20 18V Cordless Lithium-Ion 2 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (Bare Tool): Wet-Dry Vacuums - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

I sold the Dyson at a garage sale for $30 and it worked well for 7 ish years !

I purchase this Shark Ultra Cyclone for $44 this weekend on clearance at Walmart

Please tell us how you like it.

I'm curious of how it compares to a Black & Decker Dustbuster.

 

[finn]

I bought the non Fuel M18 from a tool vendor at the Iola swap meet last July. I dawdled and missed out on the last Fuel version he had, but the non z fuel was $50 cheaper anyway.

Don’t know how it works for those small jobs at the shop, like cleaning up around the drill press.

My wife grabbed it when we got home and decided she needs it more than I do, so I never got to use it.

I hate the big shop vac and its cord.

 

[Bigbird]

I have a DeWalt 20V that I use all the time for small stuff and my vehicles. My wife loves it for doing the baseboards inside too.

 

[BTL-A4]

I have the Ryobi 1 gallon and it works great for smaller jobs. I use it to vacuum the minivan and my car. I have a larger, corded Ridgid for the bigger jobs.

 

[no704]

I had one at a place that I used to work at that was punematic. Snap or blue point probably. Had maybe like 3/4” suction tube and a cloth bag on the back about 1/2 gallon. Would clean out a bin of 7/16” nuts in seconds. I’d love to find another one.

 

[alinc100]

I have this Makita 18v stick vacuum. I also have the cyclone attachment. Work usage is frequent pick up of aluminum shavings/drywall dust/fiberglass. It has been great. Especially on hard LVT flooring.

 

[alinc100]

I had one at a place that I used to work at that was punematic. Snap or blue point probably. Had maybe like 3/4” suction tube and a cloth bag on the back about 1/2 gallon. Would clean out a bin of 7/16” nuts in seconds. I’d love to find another one.

Send me a PM. I can discuss an offer.

 

[no704]

Send me a PM. I can discuss an offer.

I’ve seen them for sale since, they are very proud of them. More of a novelty than something I think I would actually use.

 

[rancherbill]

I seldom use my shop vac anymore. My son lent me his for the weekend and I bought my own on Monday. It's a blower and small vac in one.



https://www.makita.ca/index2new.php?event=tool&id=3517&catid=7