Is there a utility hand held shop vac that works?

[James Spillman]

I'm wondering if there is a small hand held shop vac that works in the shop.I have a large vac for picking up sawdust from the floor and plane shavings. I would like something that will pick up sawdust from crevices in various machines. When looking at car vacs and such they always mention how good their machine is for dog or cat hair. I need something good for sawdust. Do you have something small and powerful enough that works? Thanks.

[Patrick Walsh]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-4-Gal-5-0-Peak-HP-Portable-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-WD4070/202077241?mtc=Shopping-VF-F_Vendor-G-D25T-25_14_WET_DRY_VACS-EMERSON-NA-Feed-LIA-NA-NA-Ridgid_WetDryVacs_LIA&cm_mmc=Shopping-VF-F_Vendor-G-D25T-25_14_WET_DRY_VACS-EMERSON-NA-Feed-LIA-NA-NA-Ridgid_WetDryVacs_LIA-71700000043839445-58700004594592083-92700038677737918&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt5yv0vD-5gIVELbICh3gqw0lEAQYAiABEgK7mfD_BwE

My go to favorite small shop vac.

I have one for the shop, one for the cars snd one to vacuum the lint trap in my dryer.

You have to bang out the filter like any vac with s filter from time to time but the suction is wicked!

[Frank Pratt]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-4-Gal-5-0-Peak-HP-Portable-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-WD4070/202077241?mtc=Shopping-VF-F_Vendor-G-D25T-25_14_WET_DRY_VACS-EMERSON-NA-Feed-LIA-NA-NA-Ridgid_WetDryVacs_LIA&cm_mmc=Shopping-VF-F_Vendor-G-D25T-25_14_WET_DRY_VACS-EMERSON-NA-Feed-LIA-NA-NA-Ridgid_WetDryVacs_LIA-71700000043839445-58700004594592083-92700038677737918&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt5yv0vD-5gIVELbICh3gqw0lEAQYAiABEgK7mfD_BwE

My go to favorite small shop vac.

I have one for the shop, one for the cars snd one to vacuum the lint trap in my dryer.

You have to bang out the filter like any vac with s filter from time to time but the suction is wicked!

I have one of those & it is very good. Lots of suction, yet nice & easy to carry around. And very inexpensive.

[johnny means]

We use the 18v Makita. Not impressive, but works as advertised.

[Peter Kuhlman]

I have that Rigid vac as well as the 18volt Makita stick vac. The Makita is great for easy quick floor and general dust pickup but not for chips and chunks. The Rigid is more powerful, far larger dust capacity but is more awkward for use. I keep the Makita in the shop as is so compact for storage. The Rigid stays in the garage.

[David Buchhauser]

I have several of these small Ryobi cordless vacs. I use them quite a bit for small amounts of sawdust, metal filings, etc.
David


https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-P7131-Cordless-Batteries-Included/dp/B07HGGSXNN/ref=pd_sbs_469_t_1/136-6855608-8743035?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07HGGSXNN&pd_rd_r=1b6fb409-303c-4703-9ac3-599699ae6bb9&pd_rd_w=5GoIr&pd_rd_wg=spQ1v&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=ATAV5R9Y0D4NFG4JF6N0&psc=1&refRID=ATAV5R9Y0D4NFG4JF6N0

423595
(https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-P7131-Cordless-Batteries-Included/dp/B07HGGSXNN/ref=pd_sbs_469_t_1/136-6855608-8743035?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07HGGSXNN&pd_rd_r=1b6fb409-303c-4703-9ac3-599699ae6bb9&pd_rd_w=5GoIr&pd_rd_wg=spQ1v&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=ATAV5R9Y0D4NFG4JF6N0&psc=1&refRID=ATAV5R9Y0D4NFG4JF6N0)

[Andy D Jones]

I use a Milwaukee 18V cordless handheld vac, and it works well for cleaning up a benchtop, etc.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Compact-Vacuum-Tool-Only-0882-20/300510229

Since I have other Milwaukee 18V tools and chargers, I always have a charged battery handy.

Other cordless tool families probably have similar handheld vacuums.

Andy

[roger wiegand]

I got this one https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-2-Gal-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-with-Two-4-0-Ah-Batteries-Charger-and-Contractor-Bag-0880-20-48-59-1840P/310725860 for cleaning up outside the shop, when I didn't want to lug a big machine around. Perhaps more than you were looking for, but it works very well for small construction messes. DW has pretty much taken it over for cleaning up the cat rooms. (she works with a cat rescue group, the foster cats have a dedicated space and ventilation system)

423607

[Rich Engelhardt]

We use the 18v Makita. Not impressive, but works as advertised.Thank you - I'll look into one of those. I was going to ask about the Makita but - this thread came up so..

[Dan Friedrichs]

Note that Makita just came out with brushless versions of several of the vacuums, all of which have quite a bit more suction and runtime than the brushed versions.

[Frank Pratt]

I got this one https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-2-Gal-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-with-Two-4-0-Ah-Batteries-Charger-and-Contractor-Bag-0880-20-48-59-1840P/310725860 for cleaning up outside the shop, when I didn't want to lug a big machine around. Perhaps more than you were looking for, but it works very well for small construction messes. DW has pretty much taken it over for cleaning up the cat rooms. (she works with a cat rescue group, the foster cats have a dedicated space and ventilation system)


423607

I have a couple of those. It's the best cordless vac that I've used. We take one with us to the lake to inflate/deflate a large raft and it works great for that.

[Erik Loza]

I have a couple of those. It's the best cordless vac that I've used. We take one with us to the lake to inflate/deflate a large raft and it works great for that.

Man, I've been needing something like this for a while. Good timing on the thread.

Erik

[Stephen Rosenthal]

I use this: https://www.target.com/p/metro-datavac-vacuum-black-6-50-amps/-/A-12406515

Purchased years ago (before the current price spike) to use on computer equipment, but I now have only mobile devices so I use it to do exactly what you are looking for. Very powerful vacuum and blower, lots of provided accessories, and Made in USA. Only downsides are current price and rather small waste capacity.

[Andrew More]

If you've got the DeWalt battery system, I've had decent results with this:

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCV517B-Baretool-Cordless-Portable/dp/B01CKIZ8BA/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Dewalt+Cordless+Vacuum&qid=1578942587&sr=8-6

It's not a shop vac, but it's decent for small areas, like cleaning up after sanding a drywall patch or something. For anything else the small capacity can make it frustrating, but it works.

[Pete Staehling]

I have found them all pretty limited in their own different ways so it depends on what you want/need it to do. Also for the battery models it is a big plus if it is compatible with your battery system. That said I found that a little Dyson DC34 was nice for a few limited tasks, but opening the roll up door and using either a battery leaf blower or an air hose and blow gun is most often my answer.

[David M Peters]

Shop Vac's 1.5 gallon model (https://www.menards.com/main/tools/wet-dry-vacuums-accessories/shop-vac-reg-1-5-gallon-2-0-peak-hp-wet-dry-vacuum/2030138/p-1506320845522-c-10092.htm) works pretty well for small/medium messes, has lots of power, and is only $30. I got mine for $25 this past summer.

[Michael A. Tyree]

Handhelds block up so easy I fail to see their utility of use in any shop setting? I bought a new cheap old stock 20' vac hose on ebay that I plug into a stationary shop vac. It does make you be careful that pieces of wood are not in with the chips & dust though.

[Jan Smith]

Shop Vac's 1.5 gallon model (https://www.menards.com/main/tools/wet-dry-vacuums-accessories/shop-vac-reg-1-5-gallon-2-0-peak-hp-wet-dry-vacuum/2030138/p-1506320845522-c-10092.htm) works pretty well for small/medium messes, has lots of power, and is only $30. I got mine for $25 this past summer.
I have the same and I really like it.

[Frederick Skelly]

Shop Vac's 1.5 gallon model (https://www.menards.com/main/tools/wet-dry-vacuums-accessories/shop-vac-reg-1-5-gallon-2-0-peak-hp-wet-dry-vacuum/2030138/p-1506320845522-c-10092.htm) works pretty well for small/medium messes, has lots of power, and is only $30. I got mine for $25 this past summer.

I have one of those and agree with David.

[Derek Cohen]

We have a couple of Dyson vacuum cleaners at home, one a floor model and the other a hand cordless. I have no idea of the power (voltage), but the cordless sucks strongly and reputedly holds the charge for about 30 minutes of continuous use.

https://www.dyson.com/handhelds/dyson-v7-car-boat.html

Regards from Singapore

Derek

[Pete Staehling]

We have a couple of Dyson vacuum cleaners at home, one a floor model and the other a hand cordless. I have no idea of the power (voltage), but the cordless sucks strongly and reputedly holds the charge for about 30 minutes of continuous use.


Handhelds block up so easy I fail to see their utility of use in any shop setting? I bought a new cheap old stock 20' vac hose on ebay that I plug into a stationary shop vac. It does make you be careful that pieces of wood are not in with the chips & dust though.

I think it depends on what specific chores you expect to do with it. The little Dysons are quickly overwhelmed by most typical shop clean up tasks, but there are tasks in the shop that I find mine handy for. Truth be told, any small vac can be overwhelmed by many shop tasks. While I do like my little Dyson I don't use it very much in the shop and really don't recommend it as a general shop cleanup tool. It sees use for some "pin point" clean up tasks with the crevice nozzle.