Review of the DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum
As of this writing, there are 889 customer comments and 232 answered questions for the DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum. I’ve read the customer feedback, and then condensed the results into this review. I hope that this helps you when shopping for a shop vac.
Best Features
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Item Specifics
The DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum can operate corded with an AC outlet, or it can operate cordless by an 18v or 20v MAX battery. The HEPA rated filter traps up to 99.97% efficiency. It has a washable/reusable filter and a two gallon tank capacity. It features a crush-resistant 5 foot hose. This shop vac also features on-board storage for easy transport.
Lightweight and Portable
A nice feature about this vacuum is that it is small and lightweight. This is a nice little shop vac for small jobs. Because it is small, it does not require wheels. Here is what one customer had to say about the portability, “Let’s be clear, this vacuum is about convenience not performance. It is small, light weight and very ergonomically designed allowing the hose and tools to be cleverly integrated into the body without protrusions. It is perfect for bringing to the job site when I just have a small job to do. For example if I have to cut a hole in drywall I don’t have to drag out the shop vac to clean up the mess. It is relatively easy to service too. The filter twists off and you can tap it against the trash can to clean.”
Expensive
Because this is such a small shop vac, you would think that the price would be cheap. But this shop vac is more expensive than many large shop vacs. Customers were disappointed that the price was so high for what you get. Here is what one customer had to say, “I would say if the thing cost under $50 I would be thrilled, but the fact that it’s $118 and does not even include a battery or charger makes it a whole lot harder to swallow. I would say this item falls under a luxury item, as is quite expensive for what you get.”
Option to Use it Cordless or Corded
A unique feature that this shop vac has is that you can use it corded or cordless. This allows you to use it even when there isn’t an outlet available. This customer explains, “I love this thing! Having the ability to use it with the battery has made it totally worth it. I can’t tell you how many times while at a customer’s home there is no outlet nearby, and having the battery attached is way easier than carrying around an extension cord that I don’t need for anything else. It does only last about 20 mins or so with the 20v Max battery, but suction power is plenty powerful. I just keep a charger in the car and charge it up while on to my next job, if needed. And if I’m not using the battery on it, it’s a convenient spare for my cordless drill.”
Battery Connector Goes Bad
Unfortunately, the battery connector doesn’t last forever. Many customers dealt with the battery not holding its charge, and then soon not working at all. When used with the cord it should last for a long time, but it is nice to have the option to use to cordless. Here is what one customer had to say, “Now, for the reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars: Recently it stopped working on the battery. It still worked on the cord, but it would not power up on the battery. I have several DeWalt 20v batteries, so I tried others to ensure it wasn’t just the battery, and sure enough, it was the vacuum. I’ve read a couple of other reviews with the same issue – it appears the battery connector goes bad. This sort of happened slowly – at first I noticed when running on the battery the motor would slow down and speed up while I was using it – sort of like it was running out of battery power, but this would happen when the battery (a 3ah model) was fully charged. Then, after a few weeks it finally stopped running on the battery completely.”
Can Be Used as a Blower
This shop vac can also be used as a blower. Simply attach the hose to the exhaust port. Many customers liked that it can be used as a blower as well. Here is what one customer commented about the blowing feature, “Suction is really decent and reversing it to blower mode is as simple as moving the hose.”
Short Power Cord
The power cord is very short according to customers. Customers recommended using an extension cord. Here is what one customer had to say, “If you’re not using a battery, I’d HIGHLY recommend bringing an extension cord (be mindful of a need for a plug adapter for un-grounded sockets in some older homes) as it’s a short cord, and an outlet might not be available every 6-ft or so.”
On Board Attachment Storage
Customers liked that all the attachments could be stored on the shop vac. Note that you only receive two attachments, but still it is nice that it stores on the shop vac. The hose can also be stored on the vacuum. This customer explained, “Love the on-board storage of attachments (you get only 2 – crevice and wide mouth nozzle). Both of them stores on board the unit rigidly using snap-in features. The extendable hose also stores on board (it wraps around the side and top of the unit).”
No Brush Attachment
Most shop vacs come with a brush attachment. Unfortunately, this one does not come with a brush attachment. Here is what one customer had to say, “A brush attachment would be nice, but the last thing I want is a dozen attachments to have to deal with when I want convenience and to be able to pack up and call it a day as quick as possible.”
Quiet
One of the most common complaints that shop vacs receive is that they are loud. Thankfully, the DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum is not too loud. A customer explained, “It’s not a loud vacuum, but it is a vacuum. You could have a conversation with it running, using a raised indoor voice; it’s nothing like a packed bar or Y2k dance club.”
Does Not Have Powerful Suction
Multiple customers complained about the suction this vacuum has. According to customers, the suction is weak. Here is what one customer had to say about the suction, “Suction is lacking, I own a lot of dewalt products and this one is a little disappointing. I use it to clean up in the shop and vacuum the cars. But it will not pick up all the debris from the car carpet. Works well on hard surfaces. Suction seems the same with a battery or when plugged into a 110v outlet.”
Filter Is Easy to Clean
According to customers the filter is very easy to clean. All you do is wash it under running water. Here is what one customer had to say, “The filter is simply rinsed under running water to clean it; I’ve sucked up all kinds of things including drywall dust and saw dust from my Dewalt sander and the quick empty and cleaning is great.”
Exhaust Port Blows Air at the Stuff You’re Trying to Sweep Up
Many customers complained about the design of this shop vac, saying that the exhaust port blows air at the stuff you are trying to sweep. This causes dust and debris to blow around. Here a customer explained, “The exhaust port is on the same side as the hose, which means that very often the thing that you’re trying to clean up gets blown around by the exhaust air.”
Pros
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Cons
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DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum Conclusion
The DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum is made to operate both with an AC outlet or with an 18v or 20v MAX battery. The filter will trap up to 99.97% efficiency. This vacuum features a washable/reusable filter along with a two gallon tank capacity. It includes a crush-resistant 5 foot hose. On-board storage makes this shop vac easy to transport. The power cord is a bit short and some customers thought the suction wasn’t very good. But it does run quiet and most of the reviews that came in were positive for the DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum.
Common Questions
Here are some top questions that I found for people considering buying the DEWALT Cordless/Corded Wet-Dry Vacuum.
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