M18 Compact Vacuum & Other Shop Vac Options… – The Garage Journal

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Strouty

Well-known member

Jan 27, 2017

#2

Any of the vacuums they offer work very well. I personally have two M12 dustbusters and the V28 and M18 box vacuums. That canister style is going to be my next purchase. If you all ready have the batteries and tools, it is a purchase that you won't regret.

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Iron-Iceberg

Well-known member

Jan 27, 2017

#3

I have heard the only downside is the capacity. It will not take much saw dust to fill that up.
I have the M18 box one. It works great and you can't even hear it. (If your standing next to a 747 powering up) LOL

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gahrajmahal

Well-known member

Jan 27, 2017

#4

Ryan, here is my setup I continue to love. I have supplemented the regular vac with a dust cyclone, also compact, that really does the job with fine dust and larger jobs. I just finished a 4 month kitchen remodel on a house with lots of plaster walls to repair and the setup worked great.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337292

For vacuuming the car I just use the suitcase vac without the cyclone, then stash it back in the hall coat closet.

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FigureItOut

Well-known member

Jan 27, 2017

#5

Re: M18 Compact Vacuum & Other Shop Vac Options...

In the Milwaukee addiction thread it seemed most of the guys who own that one have been a bit disappointed with it. I have the bigger M18 wet/dry vac and it's awesome. I actually keep things a lot cleaner than I would otherwise. I'm much more likely to clean small messes as they're made if I don't have to drag out the big Ridgid and plug it in, and it'll pick small cut up bolts and heavier things.

I really like my combo of the very portable and convenient M18 and the biggest Ridgid at HD. If I had it to over again though, I think I'd get the Ridgid M.O.B. instead of the biggest of the consumer series.

OP

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Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Jan 27, 2017

#6

gahrajmahal said:
Ryan, here is my setup I continue to love. I have supplemented the regular vac with a dust cyclone, also compact, that really does the job with fine dust and larger jobs. I just finished a 4 month kitchen remodel on a house with lots of plaster walls to repair and the setup worked great.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337292

For vacuuming the car I just use the suitcase vac without the cyclone, then stash it back in the hall coat closet.

thanks for that!

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Stobal

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#7

If you can stomach the price the the festoolaid CT sys is an awesome piece of kit and 10% off currently. The only issue there would be decided you needed a set of festool filled systainers to stack it on. I am a little embarrassed every time I add up what I have spent on festool, but every time I build something the stuff is such a joy to use that I get over it.

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Mohawk Dave

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#8

I have the older big M18 vacuum. I no longer keep my plug in Shop Vac fullsize in the shop as the M18 is just as powerful.

I did keep the ShopVac as it has a longer hose etc for hooking to my DA sander when needed. But I just keep it in my back shed until needed.

The new M18 that you pictured looks super powerful and easy to use.

The shop vac is way too big when you're already hurting for square footage, and plugging in *****.

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scissorman

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#9

I'm going to be buying this vacuum tomorrow morning. https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/0880-20

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chrisnazzy

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#10

Just received my compact M18 vac last week and so far it seems to do the intended jobs just fine. It works awesome as a floor vac on tile which is the main purpose I envisioned for it. Our entire house is ceramic tile so this really beats the broom and dustpan or dragging my Ridgid shopvac in from the garage and then around the house with me.

I've also used the flexible hose with both extensions to vacuum all of our ceiling fans and it had no problem vacuuming up a broken glass courtesy of my clumsy 8 year old daughter.

I guess it really depends on what your expectations are going in. Of course the M18 wet/dry vac is more powerful but it's also a lot bigger and several have noted that they are very loud. This little vac is completely portable, pretty quiet, very versatile with the included attachments and has good suction. It's like a badass dustbuster that transforms into a cordless Dyson stick vacuum. I'm not going to sell my Ridgid shop-vac or anything but I would venture to say it will see considerably less runtime now.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

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jd_1138

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#11

I have the smallest Sears Craftsman branded shop vac. It has a handle on it. Works well. Also, I have a larger Shop-Vac branded one I paid like $10 for at a yard sale.

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rlitman

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#12

Iron-Iceberg said:
...
I have the M18 box one. It works great and you can't even hear it. (If your standing next to a 747 powering up) LOL

LOL, YEAH, NOT LOUD AT ALL! HEY, WHAT'D YOU SAY AGAIN?

I too have the M18 canister, and the big thing for me is that it is wet/dry. Can't get that in a dust buster. I've used it to clean up all sorts of small floods, without having to clean out the canister of my bigger shop vacs.

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crewchief888

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#13

the shop vac i use most is a shop-vac hangup mini.

probably a gallon capacity....

my other one is a 16G shop-vac. mostly gets used in the basement for sawdust and dog hair.

:beer:

K

kctyphoon

Banned

Jan 28, 2017

#14

I love my m18 wet/dry vac. Good thing is it also works with standard 1.5" shop vac accessories like a dusting brush, which I feel should have been included, but isn't.

The compact vac you are looking at is also advertised to accept standard 1.5" shop vac accessories too. The great thing is the filters milwaukee uses. They are not standard paper filters (at least on the wet dry vac, I'll assume the compact uses the same) when dirty, they can simply be hosed off and are like new. No replacements needed every time they get wet. The m18 shop vac has been one of the best purchases I've made in terms of making life a little bit easier. Also doubles as a nice seat when you need one.

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LegacyIndustrial

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Jan 28, 2017

#15

Dustless Technologies. More than your average vac but an absolute gem with heavy dust!

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600SL

Well-known member

Jan 28, 2017

#16

I would be interested in something like this for metal chips. Anyone have any experience with cleaning up chips from a lathe or mill.

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MikeF2316

Well-known member

Jan 29, 2017

#17

600SL said:
I would be interested in something like this for metal chips. Anyone have any experience with cleaning up chips from a lathe or mill.

I have an 0880 wet-dry, it's just as good as any vacuum on oily chips.

I might have to get another, my wife is always grabbing it for her little cleanups too. It's so much easier to deploy compared to either the 30 foot central vac hose or the shop vac.

Mine even fell off the roof, 10 feet, onto concrete paver patio and survived to tell the tale. I just had to plug the battery back in.

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Banjorear

Well-known member

Jan 30, 2017

#18

Interesting. My local HD has the M12 vacuum for $49.00. I've been tempted since the dust devil we have for the house seems to go through rechargeable batteries every 1.5 year or so.

I've not pulled the trigger since I thought it would a little weak. This M18 might be a nice step up.

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Kmaysob

Well-known member

Jan 30, 2017

#19

I can't vouch for the one you are looking at but I have the one pictured and love it. I keep it on the work truck for small messes and have been nothing but happy with it. My customers go nuts over it.

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Strouty

Well-known member

Jan 30, 2017

#20

Banjorear said:
Interesting. My local HD has the M12 vacuum for $49.00. I've been tempted since the dust devil we have for the house seems to go through rechargeable batteries every 1.5 year or so.

I've not pulled the trigger since I thought it would a little weak. This M18 might be a nice step up.

When going from a regular dustbuster, it is awesome.

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Trey T

Well-known member

Jan 30, 2017

#21

Kmaysob said:
I can't vouch for the one you are looking at but I have the one pictured and love it. I keep it on the work truck for small messes and have been nothing but happy with it. My customers go nuts over it.

I highly recommend this also because you can **** up water. I use this to service HVAC in attic ... very convenience ... for about $200 w/ XC batteries, it's very affordable.

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ScottsGT

Well-known member

Jan 30, 2017

#22

Banjorear said:
Interesting. My local HD has the M12 vacuum for $49.00. I've been tempted since the dust devil we have for the house seems to go through rechargeable batteries every 1.5 year or so.

I've not pulled the trigger since I thought it would a little weak. This M18 might be a nice step up.

Yea, my HD does too. I found a battery in a display tool and tried the M12 vac out. Sorry, but no way would I drop $50 on this POS. Battery only had 2 lights, so it was about half charged. But that thing couldn't pull a fart through my trousers!

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Banjorear

Well-known member

Jan 30, 2017

#23

ScottsGT said:
Yea, my HD does too. I found a battery in a display tool and tried the M12 vac out. Sorry, but no way would I drop $50 on this POS. Battery only had 2 lights, so it was about half charged. But that thing couldn't pull a fart through my trousers!

OK, thanks. It looks weak and I never thought to test it like you did.

OP

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Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Feb 4, 2017

#24

So, I've got a Festool CT26 inbound. It's a review unit, but I feel pretty lucky for the opportunity. Of course, this acquisition has lead to another idea... See, my wife needs some shelves built inside our modern farmhouse. We got a couple of quotes and they were all astronomical. And now, I've decided to build them myself.

Lots more soon...

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Humble Mechanic

Well-known member

Feb 14, 2017

#25

I own this vacuum and I LOVE IT! I have the 9ah battery to go with it. The dang thing will run for ever on the one charge. I do have a few 5ah and a 2ah batteries. I have not ran the vacuum on that, but I imagine it will be fine.

The only thing I don't like is, there is no storage solution from Milwaukee. I would love a wall hanging set up. I could make something pretty easy, but I would like to at least have a place to hang it on the wall.

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chrisnazzy

Well-known member

Feb 14, 2017

#26

Humble Mechanic said:
I own this vacuum and I LOVE IT! I have the 9ah battery to go with it. The dang thing will run for ever on the one charge. I do have a few 5ah and a 2ah batteries. I have not ran the vacuum on that, but I imagine it will be fine.

The only thing I don't like is, there is no storage solution from Milwaukee. I would love a wall hanging set up. I could make something pretty easy, but I would like to at least have a place to hang it on the wall.

So here is my storage solution for my larger M18 tools and also the 2 that are more commonly used by the ladies in my household.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

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Humble Mechanic

Well-known member

Feb 14, 2017

#27

chrisnazzy said:
So here is my storage solution for my larger M18 tools and also the 2 that are more commonly used by the ladies in my household.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Nice! I like it. Once I get my GTI back on the road, a proper garage clean is in order. Lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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rlitman

Well-known member

Feb 14, 2017

#28

chrisnazzy said:
So here is my storage solution for my larger M18 tools and also the 2 that are more commonly used by the ladies in my household.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Those HF wall cabinets are awesome!

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chrisnazzy

Well-known member

Feb 14, 2017

#29

rlitman said:
Those HF wall cabinets are awesome!

I used to have it hanging over my workbench but when we moved to our new house 2 years ago I decided to use it over my box. I mounted it just low enough so I can reach everything in it as my box sticks out 30" from the wall. It does work out well. My favorite is on the other wall above my workbench though. It's a gloss yellow IKEA cabinet with a drop down door.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

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TheBlindBarbarian

New member

Oct 9, 2017

#30

I'm not very versed in vacuum cleaners, but maybe this article will be useful here is compared some fairly small vacuum cleaners - https://bestvacuum.reviews/handheld-vacuum/

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Banjorear

Well-known member

Oct 9, 2017

#31

ScottsGT said:
Yea, my HD does too. I found a battery in a display tool and tried the M12 vac out. Sorry, but no way would I drop $50 on this POS. Battery only had 2 lights, so it was about half charged. But that thing couldn't pull a fart through my trousers!

That's a great quote. I agree. I was hot for this one too, until I saw tried it. Totally worthless.

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Strouty

Well-known member

Oct 9, 2017

#32

What are you guys trying to pick up with the M12 vac?

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Banjorear

Well-known member

Oct 9, 2017

#33

Strouty said:
What are you guys trying to pick up with the M12 vac?

I demoed it at HD. They had a Milwaukee display with some 2X4's for testing out drills and there was saw dust and other **** on this display.

I tried it with that stuff and my $20 B&D Dustbuster did a better job on that type of stuff than the M12. It just didn't have enough suction.

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Strouty

Well-known member

Oct 9, 2017

#34

Weird, I use it at my shop and the GF uses the other one at the house and have not had any issues with it not picking stuff up. I mean it won't pick up nuts and bolts, but I don't expect that out of it. I will admit, I don't do a lot of woodworking, so not much sawdust.

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GTO

Well-known member

Oct 9, 2017

#35

I will wait for at least the second or third generation of the M18 box vacuum.
I feel that it will much more powerful......hopefully.

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Fedelis

Active member

Oct 9, 2017

#36

Banjorear said:
I demoed it at HD. They had a Milwaukee display with some 2X4's for testing out drills and there was saw dust and other **** on this display.

I tried it with that stuff and my $20 B&D Dustbuster did a better job on that type of stuff than the M12. It just didn't have enough suction.

Hmm. That's a bit disappointing. I still might try to nab one in a combo deal one day to use more of my M12 batteries and keep the bench clean. I was hoping for something slightly more powerful.

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Locker537

Well-known member

Oct 9, 2017

#37

M18 wet/dry vac has been totally worth the price.

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SantaAna12

Well-known member

Oct 9, 2017

#38

We have the M18 box unit at work. It blows the doors open off the DeWalt it replaced. Impressive tool for a battery vac.

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