Cordless vacs

[yetihunter]

I gather that most of us American Festoolians are running either Makita or Milwaukee for our bulk cordless needs.  Anyone use any of their cordless vacs?

I’m looking at two Makita models and the specs aren’t that convincing.  Needs to handle a mix of light shop vac work and concrete drilling.  The self powered vacuum attachments for the SDS drills need to be cleaned out practically every hole and so I stopped using them.  For vacuuming debris and leaves that fall into crevices on the property and loose bits of cut off screws and material from breaking down old fixtures, machinery, furniture, whatnot and a million IEBC friendly minor repairs. 

I’m looking at these two:

54 CFM, small/lightweight
https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/XCV11Z

74 CFM, not as small/lightweight
https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/XCV07ZX

Both have an extremely chintzy filter arrangement. One is bagless, the other may as well be bagless (just an open trash bag).

 

[Peter_C]

Are you a professional contractor?

Just say no to bags!https://milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Vacuums-and-Fans/Compact-Vacuums/0885-20

Still I have a CT36AC for concrete dust.

 

[yetihunter]

Are you a professional contractor?

I wish.  Having worked for one my late teens and most of my twenties, I could have followed that path.  Alas, at the time, my mind was set on other things that I happen to no longer have any interest in.  Go figure.  For the past year, I have held a title that draws disdain from all professionals across the universe: the handyman.  Sure, they try to mask it by calling me a “property manager”, but you and I know the truth.    Don’t worry, I’m all gangbusters about what I should and shouldn’t be doing and so are my employers.

I reworded my post to clarify that I’m not pulling permits and demolishing wings of homes.  Let’s just say that there are three old businesses on a property with 5 buildings, three garages, a wooded lot and a very strong case for renting at least three or four roll offs. 

I do use my rotary hammers A LOT, here.  There’s a lot of clothing fixtures, and awnings and whatnot, and I’m picking up coil thread bolts that have fallen out of failed drop-ins on the daily.
I’ve been using fischer duopowers and sleeve anchors on the concrete and masonry.  I hate sleeve anchors, but I’m dealing with a mix of materials, exterior/interior and cracked and non-cracked and so, Bob’s your uncle.  I’m avoiding the use of anchoring adhesive because of the waste that would be involved and the fact that these areas are surrounded with expensive gowns.  If anyone has better way, however, I’m all ears. 

That Milwaukee looks like a sharp contender.  I’ve been moving everything to Makita, and my other batteries are Festool, Bosch, Metabo and Hitachi.  So, I’m avoiding that option for now, but I never say never.  It seems comparable to the Bosch, Metabo and little Makita.  Any issues with picking up screws and marginally wet debris? 

 

[six-point socket II]

I wouldn't exactly call it a better way per se. But if you need adhesive anchors on a "by case" base, but still multiple times within months/a year - and want to minimize waste as well as mess. Hilti is your friend!
https://www.hilti.com/c/CLS_FASTENER_7135/CLS_CAPSULE_ADHESIVE_ANCHORS_7135/r10391268

You use one capsule/anchor. All the mess happens inside the hole. No glass. They have a shelf life.

Add the extraction drill bits (and Hilti also has a cordless/hybrid vacuum) ... Perfect system if used regularly/commercially.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Jeff Zanin]

I am also a "handyman" and have the M18 2 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum.

It has been useful for cleaning out holes drilled in concrete before placing anchor bolts and similar, and for minor clean-up especially when working away from aN ac OUTLET. 

The nozzle fits in the vacuum port of the SDS Plus Dust Trap Drilling Shroud but it is not designed for this and is too loose to stay in place or contain all the dust.  To use the dust shroud properly requires a dust extractor with an adapter, which I don't have.

 

[FestitaMakool]

This guy finds the XCV11Z pretty good. I’ve had a look at it, and it seems solid, but none experience as an user. (I was thinking waiting for it to come with Bluetooth integrated, in case I would buy a Makita tool with Bluetooth in the future)
=share

 

[TwelvebyTwenty]

Recent reviews of cordless 18v vacs I’ve looked at consistently see the Milwaukee coming in second place to Ridgid’s version. But I have my suspicions about the honesty of those reviews placing the Ridgid in first place. And that’s before we even get into the discussion about a pro wanting to invest in the Ridgid battery platform rather than Milwaukee.

 

[yetihunter]

I wouldn't exactly call it a better way per se. But if you need adhesive anchors on a "by case" base, but still multiple times within months/a year - and want to minimize waste as well as mess. Hilti is your friend!
https://www.hilti.com/c/CLS_FASTENER_7135/CLS_CAPSULE_ADHESIVE_ANCHORS_7135/r10391268

You use one capsule/anchor. All the mess happens inside the hole. No glass. They have a shelf life.

Add the extraction drill bits (and Hilti also has a cordless/hybrid vacuum) ... Perfect system if used regularly/commercially.

Kind regards,
Oliver

Nice!

 

[Michael Kellough]

The noise that Milwaukee makes is claimed to be only 73 decibels. I have a Metabo 18v vac that claims the same and that is nice quiet. Neither are rated for wet work though.

 

[festeve]

I have both.  The 11 is very handy for many things and is very portable, but the 07 has noticeably more suction.  And Makita does make a real disposable bag for the 07 that you can buy separately.  I like them both for different uses. The hose on the 11 is not very long, so for many uses it becomes a two-handed operation.  But that is one of the reasons it’s so portable. Makita also makes a cord/cordess vac similar to the 07, with a big jump in suction when plugged in.  I think when used cordless it’s the same as the 07.  Also, Makita’s vacs use imperial sizes, so you need adapters when used with anything Festool or other euro vacs.  A 27mm adapter was supplied with my 07 as part of a kit.

 

[Svar]

I have Dewalt corded/cordless DCV581H. Dual power is convenient. It's fine with a small tool or for light cleanup, but forget about doing floor with a standard width brush. It's only 31 cfm.

 

[Michael Kellough]

If buying a cordless vac (for dry stuff) I’d get the Milwaukee instead of the Metabo (which I do have).

Used the Metabo yesterday with TSC55 and the bag is so puny it got stuffed in just 3-1/2 foot rips in 1-1/2 inch stock.

The Metabo is probably best used with a sander or concrete drill. It has an Eco speed that would be suitable (work longer) with a sander