Seven vacuums by their makers' figures
| Vacuum | Design | Power | Airflow | Suction as stated | Capacity | Tool outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 0970-20 | Cordless wet/dry | 18 V battery | 50 CFM | 47 in H2O | 2.5 gal | No |
| Milwaukee 0885-20 | Cordless backpack | 18 V battery | 55 CFM | 76 in H2O sealed | Backpack | No |
| Milwaukee 0910-20 | Cordless wet/dry | 18 V battery | 87 CFM | 60 in H2O | 6 gal drum | No |
| Bosch VAC090S | Extractor, semi-automatic filter cleaning | 120 V, 9.5 A | 150 CFM | 97 in water lift; 242 mbar | 9 gal | Yes, tools to 5.5 A |
| Bosch VAC090A | Extractor, automatic filter cleaning | 120 V, 9.5 A | 150 CFM at the maximum setting | 97 in water lift; 242 mbar | 9 gal | Yes, tools to 7.5 A |
| Bosch VAC140S | Extractor, semi-automatic filter cleaning | 120 V, 9.5 A | 150 CFM | 97 in water lift; 242 mbar | 14.5 gal | Yes, tools to 5.5 A |
| Bosch VAC140A | Extractor, automatic filter cleaning | 120 V, 9.5 A | 150 CFM at the maximum setting | 97 in water lift; 242 mbar | 14.5 gal | Yes, tools to 7.5 A |
Figures as each manual states them; Milwaukee's gallons are drum volume, not necessarily what the vacuum collects. Suction figures are each maker's own measure and are not compared across makers. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
9-gal dust extractor with HEPA filter and automatic filter cleaning
Bosch VAC090AH
Bosch's VAC090AH: the 9 gal extractor of the VAC090 line in the table above, sold with a HEPA filter and automatic filter cleaning, by Bosch's page.
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Matching a vacuum to the work
| Work | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Sanding at the bench | An extractor with a tool outlet and a hose that fits the sander | Bosch's outlet starts with the tool; NIOSH measured about 90% less dust with extraction at a sander |
| Work away from an outlet | A cordless vacuum | Milwaukee's 18 V units: 50–87 CFM, no cord |
| Clean-up on a ladder or around machines | A backpack vacuum | Milwaukee's 0885-20 is worn, with a dust extraction adapter among its parts |
| Wet spills as well as dust | A wet/dry vacuum | Milwaukee's 0910-20 and 0970-20 are wet/dry |
| A planer or jointer | A dust collector, not a vacuum | DEWALT asks for a collector on its DW735 planer |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Airflow and suction together. A vacuum's CFM and its sealed suction or water lift are two different figures, and neither alone says what reaches the tool at the end of a hose. Read each in its maker's unit, and compare like with like.
- Hose and adapters. A sander or saw port needs a hose end or adapter that fits it. Bosch offers 35 mm and 22 mm hoses, some anti-static; Milwaukee lists a dust extraction adapter for the 0885-20.
- Filter. HEPA, as the EPA defines it, removes at least 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles. Milwaukee lists HEPA filters for the 0885-20 and 0970-20 and Bosch offers one for its extractors, while warning that neither its standard nor its HEPA filter captures all hazardous particles. Filter cleaning matters too: automatic on Bosch's A models, semi-automatic on its S models.
- Tool outlet and amps. Bosch's outlet allows tools up to 7.5 A on A models and 5.5 A on S models, with the extractor and tool together within 15 A. Check your tool's dataplate amps against the outlet before choosing.
- Power. Corded extractors here run on 120 V at 9.5 A; Milwaukee's run on 18 V batteries.
- Capacity and weight. Bosch's 9 and 14.5 gal canisters weigh 28 to 38 lb as listed; a gallon figure is the drum's size; Milwaukee says what it actually collects depends on the debris and the filter's condition.
- Noise. Bosch lists 70 dB at its maximum setting without stating test conditions in the table reviewed, so it is not compared here.
What each design cannot do
- Cordless vacuums have no tool outlet in the manuals reviewed, so they do not start with the tool; Milwaukee's three run from 18 V batteries.
- Wet/dry vacuums take spills as well as dust, but the two reviewed list no tool outlet either.
- Extractors need a 120 V outlet, and the tool plugged into them must stay within the outlet's amp limit; Bosch's weigh 28 to 38 lb as listed.
- None replaces a collector on a planer or jointer: DEWALT asks for a collector, not a shop vacuum, on its DW735.
- No filter catches everything: Bosch says neither its standard nor its HEPA filter captures all hazardous particles.
Safety— Rules the manuals share
No explosive dusts, flammable liquids or vapors, and no use in explosive atmospheres (Milwaukee, Bosch); no burning or smoking material, and watch for static shock from the hose (Bosch). Wear a respirator where dust remains. More in the shop vacuum guide.
Before choosing a shop vacuum
- The ports of the tools it will serve, and the hose or adapters that fit
- Airflow and suction, each in the maker's terms
- Filter type, HEPA where the work calls for it, and how it is cleaned
- A tool outlet, and your tools' amps against its limit
- Corded or battery, and where it will be used
- Canister size and weight
How vacuums work and where they fit is in shop vacuums and dust extractors; stationary machines need a dust collector, explained in the dust collector guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is Milwaukee's or Bosch's, in its own terms. Sealed suction, suction, water lift and suction pressure are each maker's measure and are not converted or compared across makers. No vacuum was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum, Cat. No. 0885-20, operator's manual. Milwaukee Electric Tool.
Used for: The 0885-20: an 18 V backpack vacuum, 55 CFM, 76 in H2O sealed suction, with a HEPA filter and a dust extraction adapter among its parts.
- 2.
M18 FUEL PACKOUT 2.5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum, Cat. No. 0970-20, operator's manual. Milwaukee Electric Tool.
Used for: The 0970-20: an 18 V 2.5 gal wet/dry vacuum, 50 CFM, 47 in H2O suction, a washable HEPA filter.
- 3.
M18 FUEL 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum, Cat. No. 0910-20 / 0911-20, operator's manual. Milwaukee Electric Tool.
Used for: The 0910-20: an 18 V 6 gal wet/dry vacuum, 87 CFM, 60 in H2O suction; gallons as drum volume, not necessarily collection capacity.
- 4.
VAC090S / VAC090A / VAC140S / VAC140A Dust Extractors, Operating/Safety Instructions. Robert Bosch Tool Corporation.
Used for: The VAC090S, VAC090A, VAC140S and VAC140A: 120 V, 9.5 A, 150 CFM, 97 in static water lift and 242 mbar, 9 or 14.5 gal canisters, 28 to 38 lb, 16.4 ft cords and 9.84 ft hoses in 35 mm or 22 mm, anti-static versions; automatic or semi-automatic filter cleaning; a power tool outlet with a 7.5 A (A models) or 5.5 A (S models) maximum tool draw and a 15 A total; neither the standard nor the HEPA filter capturing all hazardous particles.
- 5.
VAC090AH 9-Gallon Dust Extractor with Auto Filter Clean and HEPA Filter (product page). Robert Bosch Tool Corporation.
Used for: A VAC090 version sold with a HEPA filter.
- 6.
What is a HEPA filter?. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Used for: HEPA as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy: at least 99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns.
- 7.
Control of Dust Exposure for Random Orbital Hand Sanders (Engineering Controls Database). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Used for: Extraction at a random orbital sander cutting emitted dust by about 90% against the sander tested.
- 8.
Used for: A planer whose maker asks for a dust collector, not a shop vacuum.
About this buying guide
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