Makita XCV11Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 2 Gallon HEPA Filter Portable Wet/Dry Dust Extractor/Vacuum, Tool Only

Not massively powerful but sucks most of the sawdust from my machines away well.

Bought for hubby for Christmas. He Aleman happy!

I'm a laborer for a Contracting company. I create all kinds of dust and debris while I'm working. Like piles and piles of sawdust, drywall dust, Metal dust, dirt, insulation scraps, etc. I'm constantly borrowing my boss's Milwaukee portable vac so I wanted my own. I've had this one for about a week and it's doing a great job. I cut a drop hole for a stainless steel sink and the sawdust went everywhere. The wide cone attachment got the whole cab clean in seconds. I had to demo some toilets and this vacuum sucked up all the residual water so I didn't get soaked. Multitool on some baseboard to fit a vent cover, no issue. I like that the hose just neatly sits on the front. I like that there's a low setting in case I've only got a battery with 2-1 bars left. I like the fold out handle that's just another example of how Makita pays so much more attention to ergonomics in tandem with efficient design. I'd say it's not as powerful as the Milwaukee in terms of raw suction power but I don't feel like it's far off. It feels tough. It feels power efficient. It feels like a pro grade tool and I do recommend.

I love this little Makita vacuum. It is small, takes a standard Makita 18v battery, and has two attachments (a broad wand hose attachment and a narrow hose attachment). It is lightweight and compact. It is about the size of two show boxes stacked on top of one another. I give it 5 starts because it does exactly what I want. Which is to pick up debris and go wherever I want it. No, you're not going to vacuum an entire room with this. But you're not looking for that if you are thinking of this tool. I have a bigger shop vac (Fein vacuum) and while I love that vacuum I wanted something that could go anywhere and cordless and not have to fuss. Battery life is good. I haven't yet run it nonstop to point of battery dying. Which is good in that it should tell you in an average day's use for me, a home DIY guy, that I put a fresh battery in it and it hasn't run out yet. And yes I've done some decent use with it. Even if battery did run out I suspect if you're looking at this vacuum it is because you already have other Makita 18v tools. Meaning you likely already have several batteries. Filtration is excellent. It has a sock over a foam cover over a pleated canister filter. It is HEPA rated and while I can't verify that, it seems to be accurate. Again, I'm a DIY guy...how to verify HEPA? Cleaning it is easy, undo the two latches (one each side) and lift top off and empty bottom. No bags. Cleaning the filter is like any shop vac, meaning easy if dusty. I don't know the volume but would guess near a gallon? I've never filled it so that's a good thing. Complaints? Only two and nothing big, so not knocking a star off. One, the hose could be a bit longer. I don't know exactly how long it is but seems about 30". Of course, by keeping it that small it stores on the body of the vacuum very well. And as light and small as the body is the hose length isn't really an issue since you just the body closer. Second, the handle collapses. I read about this another review and didn't think much of it...but it happens. So the handle swings up, pivots/hinged. It has a detent but doesn't lock. The issue is once in a while the handle will collapse and pinch you hand between the handle and the body. Nothing huge, but does hurt for a few seconds. Nothing so bad as to take a star off, but it is real. Anyway, if you have a need for this, or think you do...get it.

Love the size and portability. I feel the suction is lacking and could be a matter of Makita changing to a 36v with 2nd battery. I also feel the battery door is unnecessary and limits the size of battery and makita should remove it from the design.