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(More customer reviews)I bought this to replace a truly crappy Shark rechargeable vacuum. The DeWalt was one of four that I had decided on (the other three being the B&D PHV1800, Eureka 71A, and B&D CHV1500 in descending order of price). I ultimately chose the DeWalt because it uses a standard DeWalt power tool battery, has a washable filter, and was the only wet/dry vacuum of my selections.
The box contains the vacuum itself, rechargeable battery, fast charger (will charge a completely flat battery in about an hour), and a thin but complete owner's manual.
The DeWalt's design is all business. It's about the size of two irons or half a shoe box. The top has a very grippy rubberized handle that's set above a large (but not stiff) responsive power switch. It's very easy to turn the vacuum on and off with one hand and very difficult to do so accidentally. A plastic vacuum hose runs from the back of the unit over the top (the handle) to the vacuum nozzle on the front of the unit. You can easily pull the hose out of the nozzle to get into smaller crevices; put the hose back in and it's a normal hand vacuum. Underneath, in the back you've got a black plastic debris bin that's held in place with a beefy (but, again, not too stiff) latch. In front of that is the standard DeWalt battery pack.
Although it's one of the heavier vacuums out there, the weight is well balanced. You can easily tilt the vacuum in all directions without feeling like you're fighting the weight of the battery and/or the vacuum motor. You can vacuum vertical surfaces just as easily as horizontal ones. You CAN use the vacuum vertically if there's water in the collection bin; the bin seals tightly enough to the base that leakage isn't a problem. However, having too much water in there could make it splash into the motor assembly. So the moral is: If you've got water in the collection bin, empty it out before doing anything vertical (or hold the vacuum horizontal and use the detachable hose).
So, how well does it work? Quite well, in fact. The motor is very powerful and was able to easily pick up all manner of bits that I threw at it including drywall dust, small finishing nails, screw anchors, and cat hair from a wood floor. It also did an excellent job removing cat hair from upholstery despite its lack of a power brush or upholstery comb. In the car, it easily picked up all the sand, dirt, pebbles and occasional penny without any complaints, including bits that were embedded in a damp carpeted floor mat.
Emptying the bin is simplicity itself and takes less than five seconds to complete. The filter seems to be doing an excellent job so far; even with a bin full of drywall dust, there's no "cloud" when you turn the vacuum on again. I haven't yet needed to clean the filter but it's easily removable and is washable. (EDIT 03-24-08: I finally had to wash the filter. It lost about 70% of its suction after pulling up a buttload of spackle dust, so I removed and tapped the filter against the inside of a trash can. A HUGE cloud of dust was released. About a minute at the sink with a small stiff bristled scrub brush and the filter came clean. I let it dry overnight before reinstalling it; meanwhile I rinsed out the collection bin and cleaned up the unit itself. By morning it was back to its old self again, sucking up everything and scaring the cats.)
The battery lasts friggin' forever. Out of the box the battery had a partial charge on it that lasted about 20 minutes. After charging for about half an hour in the included charger I was able to vacuum pretty much every corner and edge in the house, plus my car, without losing any vacuum strength. A big selling point for me was that it uses standard DeWalt power tool batteries so finding replacements will be incredibly easy.
My only real issue with the vacuum is one that has been mentioned before: This vacuum is LOUD and does emit a power tool-like whine which some people can find annoying. I doubt it's any louder than my full-size vacuum cleaner but since it's held in your hand rather than being dragged on the floor, it's closer to your ears and therefore might sound louder. So far as 18v handheld vacuums I compared it against this one is about average in noise, and compared to all handheld vacuums I looked at this is definitely one of the louder ones. I therefore wouldn't consider this to be "bad design" but simply a consequence of a larger and more powerful motor. Even so, since there are other 18v handhelds out there which aren't as loud, I think DeWalt could have done a little something to quiet it down just a little more.
I also would have liked to have a transparent debris bin so that I could see how full it was. This feature exists on at least 2/3 of the handheld vacuums out there today. I recognize DeWalt's "yellow and black" design decision here probably overrode this as a possible feature.
The only other thing I would have liked to see on this vacuum is a few more accessories; namely, a shoulder strap (so you can walk around using the hose to clean things like window sills and such) and a few hose accessories like an upholstery brush or pinhole nozzle. Still, even with these minor shortcomings I'd definitely buy this one again.
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DEWALT DC515K 1/2 Gallon 18-Volt NiCd Cordless Wet/Dry VacProduct Description: The DeWalt DC515K 18-Volt, 1/2-Gallon Cordless Wet/Dry Vac is a professional-grade tool designed for one-handed operation. A dual cleanup mode, powerful suction, and a compact, lightweight design make this wet/dry vacuum ideal for professional jobsite cleaning. The DC515K is ideal for service installers, general contractors, electricians, plumbers, glaziers, and HVAC technicians seeking quick cleanup during installation, remodeling, service, or repair jobs.
The DeWalt DC515K 18-Volt Cordless Wet/Dry Vac
At a Glance:
Gore HEPA wet/dry filter
Heavy-duty, extendable rubber hose
Easy-to-clean half-gallon tank and washable filter
Long-lasting 18V battery included
Extend rubber hose up to 2-1/2 feet to reach into small crevices and tight spaces.
Release the latch to empty tank and rinse filter. Keep your Workspace Tidy and Debris-FreeWhether you're cleaning wood or spackle dust from your shop, cat hair from a wooden floor, dirt and dust from your car's interior, or leftover popcorn from underneath the sofa cushions, the DC515K has a powerful motor that helps you clean better, faster.
In addition to its superior motor, this wet/dry vacuum has a plastic 1/2-gallon tank that catches all intake and is held in place by a sturdy latch. Emptying and cleaning the tank could not be simpler--just rinse with tap water. And thanks to the washable and reusable HEPA-rated wet/dry filter that traps 99.97 percent of dust particles at 0.3 microns, you won't have to worry about dust clouds rising up and irritating your eyes or nose.
Designed for Easy, One-Handed OperationThis compact portable vacuum weighs only six pounds and is conveniently designed for one-handed operation. Featuring a rubber grip handle, the DC515K is comfortable to operate, and its well-balanced construction means you can easily lift and angle the unit in all directions. An added bonus, a large, responsive on/off switch is accessible with just one hand.
For further convenience, a durable plastic hose runs from the back of the unit over the handle to the vacuum nozzle on the front. Additionally, unique dual-action cleanup offers a choice between the front utility nozzle or the extendable heavy-duty rubber hose.
For added flexibility, you can easily pull the heavy-duty rubber hose out of the nozzle and extend it up to 2-1/2 feet to reach into small crevices and tight spaces. Just put the hose back in the nozzle for hand vacuuming.
18-Volt XPR Battery for Longer RuntimesThis vacuum runs off a high-capacity XRP battery (included) that delivers 40% more runtime than standard batteries. Able to be used with all DeWalt 18-volt tools, the XRP allows you to operate multiple tools off the same battery pack.
What's in the BoxDC515K; one XRP 18-volt XPR battery; one-hour charger; DC5151H filter and manual.
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