BLACK+DECKER PV1820LGB 18 V Lithium-Ion Compact Pivot
BLACK+DECKER PV1820LGB 18 V Lithium-Ion Compact Pivot Vacuum, Dark Titanium
BLACK+DECKER Makes Your Life Easier
With the 200° pivoting nozzle, cleaning high book shelves and underneath furniture is an easy task. It saves time and allows you to clean even high-up areas easily and safely without resorting to standing on any unstable furniture. With the cyclonic action in this Dustbuster, dirt and debris is spun around the outside of the bowl helping keeping the filter clean. The outstanding double filtration system allows the unit to give you higher performance for longer
More Durable and More Efficient
With a large translucent dust bowl you can work for even longer without the need to empty the unit – and easily see when it does need emptying. Thanks to the large door latch and removable dust bowl, when it is time to empty the unit it couldn’t be easier. The filter can be lifted easily out of the dirt bowl and shaken out or washed and left to dry. Doing this can greatly improve the life span of the product.
Design
When charging, this unit folds in half and stands up-right on the charging base. A blue light will flash on the unit so you know it’s charging and stop flashing once the unit is fully charged. Its design will make it a product you are proud to have on display.
Voltage (v) | 10.8 | 14.4 | 18 |
---|---|---|---|
Power (Air Watts) | 20 | 27.5 | 35 |
Dustbowl Capacity (ml) | 440 | 440 | 440 |
Charge Time (hours) | < 4 | < 4 | < 4 |
Run Time (mins) | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Weight: | 1.38 kg |
Dimensions: | 17.8 x 15.5 x 29.2 cm; 1.38 Kilograms |
Brand: | BLACK + DECKER |
Model: | PV1820LGB |
Colour: | Dark Titanium |
Dimensions: | 17.8 x 15.5 x 29.2 cm; 1.38 Kilograms |
Wow wow wow, so impressed with this hand vac. The suction power is excellent, the design slick and overall i love it.
I have had other hand vacs which seem like toys next to this now. Only had a short while but it has really impressed everyone that has seen it. If your in two minds don’t be buy it.
Great light handheld mini vacuum, really easy to use, good suction for bits lying around tables and kitchen floor. Easy to clear out, looks very nice. This is my 2nd…bought for my sister because I liked mine so much. Everything works fine although you can’t get the crevice tool into really, really tiny spaces. It also has a tendency to get stuck in that position so I use it sparingly anyway.
Before this model, I’d bought several portable vacuums for the car. All of them were rubbish.
The BLACK+DECKER PV1820LGB is great. It’s not too noisy, sucks up everyday mud, grass, dried leaves, etc, and the battery lasts a fair amount of time (more suction needs more power from the battery).
Happy I chose this model.
Been looking for ages for a good , powerful, easy to use hand held small vacuum. Found it in this one.
My mother and niece each purchased this hand vacuum so I had the chance to check it out. It’s superb
There’s literally nothing bad I can say about this hand-held vacuum cleaner, I absolutely love it… And I’m a male.
The suction is actually better than our home’s main hoover. It’s easy to empty (you can even wash the filter bits ‘n’ bobs, and housing in water. The battery lasts plenty of time to get the jobs it was designed for done (stairs, car interiors, shelving etc) and the charging docking station, means that it is always fully charged when you need it for those sudden unexpected jobs, that always seem to crop up… plus, it’s easy to just plop it into the dock after use, and equally as easy to pick up, when needed. It folds in half when not in use, or on charge on the docking station. And, If all of this wasn’t enough, there’s more… it’s buid quality is excellent, exactly as one would expect from such a well known and respected brand name manufacturer.
If you haven’t noticed yet, I love this little vac… It is, by a very long way, the best hand-held vacuum I’ve ever bought. It is also, by an equally impressive margin, ONE OF the best gadgets I’ve ever bought.
If you were to absolutely push me to say something that WASN’T high praise, the only thing i could say, would be, that it’s a little heavier than many of its competitors… HOWEVER, it really needs pointing out, that this extra weight isn’t because of poor design or cheap components, is purely down to the upgraded motor and battery, which gives this device such amazing power. A really powerful motor, gives this product as much, or more, suction power as many uprights have.
I really can’t recommend this vacuum cleaner highly enough… Well worth 5 stars *****
i saw one of the review videos on here and bought it immediately.
best purchase this year so far.
i use it to clean up dust, cat litter and hair. it doesn’t have a long run time but it’s very powerful so it’s not really needed for very long.
i’ve used it atleast twice a day, every day, since i bought it. it’s lightweight for something that looks like it would be bulky. it folds which is great and is nice and compact. highly recommend if you’re living in a small space like i am, with two tiny mess creatures lol
I got fed up of buying the mini little usb charge vacuums for car and kitchen for small vac ups it was getting expensive because they simply was not up to the job after a few uses . So I decided I would pay more and get a better quality vac. I’ve now had it a month and it’s brilliant no suction loss,easy to clean, and a good charge which doesn’t take too long. My only criticism is no small attachments for getting into the nooks and crannies in my car , otherwise a superb little vac that does a good job.
Very good suction and handy to use. Feels well made, like all Black & Decker products. Easy to empty. A bit noisy, but that shows it’s powerful!
So simple to get out for small jobs and doing the stairs. Very adaptable with brush and crevice tool built-in. Simple to clean. Slight drawback is the short usage time, but it is powerful for a portable appliance. Very pleased with it.
For what it is it does the job reasonably – I don’t think you’ll ever get a cordless hoover that’s any better.
I love the pivoting head and how easy it is to empty.
Very happy with the purchase. This is a good vacuum to have around the house, especially if you have dogs or fireplaces. It’s really strong and has good suction. Obviously you can’t clean the whole house with it but for small areas it’s really good to not have to take out the big vacuum cleaner.
I love this little gadget. It does a decent job at cleaning the stairs including the dogs hair !
It’s lightweight and it has good suction power. It is a bit noisy and I wish it lasted longer than 10min. Despite the shortcomings I would recommend the product and would buy again.
Many people, including me, used to think these little vacuums weren’t much good, because they were weak. Only good enough for hoovering up crumbs from a table. But this one is really good. It won’t replace your normal vacuum cleaner, but it’s almost as good. Brilliant in fact. I can do the stairs without having to get the big vacuum out. Great suction. Love it. I’ve hung it on my kitchen wall above a socket. I can just use it, then switch the socket on to recharge it if it runs out. I haven’t tested how long it keeps charged for, but I have done the stairs and the bathroom in one go, and it could have gone on to do more.
Which is exactly what you want from a handheld vacuum cleaner. This is the second purchase, the first one lasted well considering the daily abuse it got. If it wasn’t good at its job I wouldn’t have purchased another. I’ll just make sure this one doesn’t get bounced down the stairs too often or accidentally suck up liquid.
This is the second model I have purchased.
I was very pleased with the first but it failed after about 7 months. I purchased a different model which has worked well for me for over a year now.
This model was purchased as a gift but I decided to keep it for myself and it has reminded me of how pleased I was with the former model that failed.
Clearly, reliability is a big factor in a product, and there’s no denying that 7 months use was not satisfactory.
However, this model is a joy to use while it is working. It has powerful suction, (for a small portable), and is a pleasure to use for small spills and quick tasks.
It won’t replace your main vacuum and thinking it will fully clean a dirty car or large area is just dreaming.
It is perfect for small quick tasks. That is all.
It remains to be seen if this one will last longer than 7 months but at least while it’s working it is fine for the job.
Folds up nicely and the holder can attach to the wall. Robustly built. Extension tube must be depressed to push back, in which I overlooked at first and it would not push in. Neat and effective. Not the cheapest but probably one of the most powerful dust busters. Great for skirtings and narrow places.
It is cordless and rechargeable, light enough in weight for most people to easily use, with a rotatory adjustable head to help get to places that your main vacuum might well struggle to reach.
The suction is even stronger than the older model that we replaced, and the charge time is long enough to do most jobs without having to recharge.
The old model lasted 8 years of continuous use without any problems along the way and I am hoping to have the same sort of service from the new one.
I use this to clean the car and spot clean round the house, including the carpeted stairs. Quite powerful and even lifts the dog hairs which are usually very stubborn. It’s also great for DIY dust – drilling holes and the like. I haven’t really noticed the battery life, which must be a good thing. I was able to scoot round a whole small car (with dog hair) before it needed a charge.
I have had previous incarnation of this handheld vacuum.
I felt at the time that the battery technology was the only thing letting this design down.
The lithium ion battery in this new model goes along way to addressing that problem.
I still read that there are issues with longativity of the battery. And that there is no way to replace the battery once it starts to go wrong.
I feel if Black & Decker finally addressed this issue with a removable battery pack they would probably have the best product in this category on the market.
As it is, it’s still the best design even if the battery only lasts two years before I have to replace it.
I bought this, recommended, in order to clean my car. I’ve always struggled to get it looking as good as it did before and get all the bits off the floor. This does help. It doesn’t pick up everything but in its defence there were some bits that I’ve never been able to get rid of. Doesn’t have a long battery life. In order to really get a deep clean on my car it ran out of charge before I’d finished. This is a good little hoover for the car and now it’s been deep cleaned I don’t think that will be an issue moving forward. Slightly pricey for what I want it for but if you’re going to use it around the house I think it would definitely get all those bits up.
If, like me, you grew up in a house where the B&D dustbuster was an under-stairs mainstay but have memories of a rather wheezy suction and a disappointing dribble of dirt and grit whenever you tipped the unit down then you’d be forgiven for having doubts about the dust-buster name.
Forget all that – this is a great little unit. Ignore the funky design ergonomics – it actually works really well, it folds up super compact to charge and can be adjusted to have a conventional – or less conventional feel in the hand for any job. The integral extension nozzle and flip-up brush are a nice touch.
Make sure you know what you are doing with the buttons before you use it and have it full of dust and fluff – there is more than one button that will pop open the bin and deposit it all over the floor – but once you’ve figured out the buttons this isn’t an issue.
Power is great for a handheld – comfortably vacuums hair and fluff off sofas, the odd feather out of a cushion cover etc. This isn’t just for sucking up dry cereal off a countertop like some of the cheaper ones.
Longevity and service life have yet to be seen, but my first impressions are extremely positive.
I did a lot of research before settling on which handheld vacuum to buy, and chose this because reviewers said it had good suction, good dust capacity, and decent filtering. I’ve only had it a few days and it is a little heavier than expected, but not so much that it puts you off doing quick cleaning tasks. The suction is great for what it is.
Most of the poor reviews seem related to the (poor) longevity of the batteries and the fact that B&D don’t ofer a replacement pack. But if you don’t mind getting down and dirty with a soldering iron, seems you can replace the 18350 batteries inside the pack yourself (see youtube vids for guidance).
I should be able to report back in a year or two as that seems to be how long you can expect B&D’s batteries to last… be interesting to see if better quality Japanese ones last longer.
Absolutely love this little dustbuster. I spend most of time running around after the lockdown kids, trying to educate them. Now I can run around after them cleaning as well, perfect.
Suction is very good, surprisingly good for such a small vacuum in fact. Miles better than the slightly cheaper models I’ve bought from un-pronounceable manafacturers over the years. Filter is easy to replace and blow clean.
This thing is perfectly capable of sucking up cereal, oats, sand, dirt, LOLSurprise accessories, Thomas Minis, craft balls, googly eyes, hair bands, polished stones brought back from the Med by grandparents, cake, more oats (why do kids like oats so much?).
It can feel heavy after a while (it takes quite some time to hoover the family car due to the sheer amount of litter the kids manage to expel). My suggestion is to angle the vacuum downwards and let the body run along the floor to take the weight off (I have more of a runner’s build, or so I tell myself).
I paid about 60 or so. Bargain given how many toys it’s already hoovered up!
Edit: A few months on and I still love this thing.
I was keen on purchasing a handheld vacuum cleaner, as I had recently got a new car, and I felt it would be convenient to invest in something that is portable and practicable. I had previously purchased a handheld on Amazon which cost between 20-30, from an independent seller. I didn’t feel it had anywhere near the power I was expecting or required. So after doing some research into handheld Vacuums, I came across the BLACK + DECKER PIVOT 18v; I watched videos of it performing and was impressed, so I decided to buy one.
I can honestly say that this product is top quality, and is adequate for my needs. The suction power is great, I’d rate it’s power 5/5. For a handheld, it’s comparable to a corded vacuum. It’s a little heavy on the hand, especially if you’ve been holding it for the full length of it’s run time, (approx. 10mins full charge).
The extendable hose at the front of the vacuum is very useful – as is the pivoting mechanism which enables you to reach otherwise difficult places. There is also a useful brush pad, which folds out from under the tip of the main hose.
Access to the filtration basket for cleaning can be done with ease by simply holding in the button which is located on the base of the hose at the top, and rotating the handle on the device round.
The run time of this vacuum is sufficient for smaller jobs. The compromise of the lower battery life in comparison to some other handheld vacuums – which can be very costly, is worth it based on the sheer power performance of the suction.
PROS:
+GREAT SUCTION POWER
+CONVENIENT, VERSATILE & NOT TOO HEAVY
+EASY TO CLEAN, MAINTAIN
NEG:
-RATHER NOISY
-SHORTER BATTERY LIFE THAN SOME OTHERS
-NOT PRACTICABLE FOR LARGE JOBS
I had already bought the 18V version of this device and found the design to be excellent with multiple positions to suck at the dust and more importantly a cradle that keeps the device charged. This lower powered version has exactly the same design and features and to be honest I can’t really tell the difference in sucking power. As long as you use this for focused short bursts of cleaning, for example, after a meal to suck the crumbs or after having done a bit of cooking it works very well. This means that although you will still have to bring out a bigger vacuum for the deep clean it won’t be required as often. The battery is pretty decent and will last a good ten minutes or more — enough for spot cleaning but you may need a couple of charges for a thorough cleaning of the car.
The current price of 38 is excellent value for money (I believe it is for Prime customers only?) — just have a search for it in your local Argos etc. The build quality is superb and I think as long as the motor is solid and the battery charge holds this will be giving us years of service. It is also very easy to empty the dirt with the heavy part of the vacuum (the motor) detaching from the front nozzle and dirt collection container which can both be washed. It works better on hard floors vs carpet since it does not have a rotating brush at the front but as I said for targeted cleaning of specific areas it is very good. I have a VonHaus Stick Vacuum Cleaner which is corded and is half the price but although powerful not being cordless make it a lot less convenient.
This vacuum cleaner is a god send !!!! it is absolutely amazing, with a strong succion power. I am truly amazed how well it works.
every day I clean all kids mess after they go to bed, in 20 min the house is super clean.
You can also use it for things you cannot do with your big vacuum cleaner like cleaning your wardrobe drawer.
The weight: I have read reviews about the weight saying it’s heavy. This vacuum is supposed to be used to do spot cleaning, not to clean a whole house for an hour so the weight is really bearable. my 3 years old can use it. But yes, indeed, it is not lightweight.
The noise : it is true that it is a bit noisy but hey it’s a vacuum cleaner. definitely more than my super silent Miele big vacuum cleaner but far less than my awful previous Electrolux vacuum. It is not that bad and again, my kitchen blender is much worse.
Dust falling when folding the vacuum: yes if something is blocking the tube an leaves the little plastic door opened.
Vacuuming pets hair : Wonderful, I put the little brush and vacuum my sofa and bed every day, in two minutes its super clean with no cats hair. I can also clean the rug on which my 10 months old crawls on, within seconds.
I think I will never use again my big vacuum cleaner and leave it to the cleaner, this one is the best for me ! you can also use it to dust clean. With the brush you can clean computers, shelves, piano keyboard, tables, toy boxes play pads, etc, etc, etc… I love love love it.
I STRONGLY recommend.
Update after two years of use:
I still love this little vacuum cleaner. the only problem is the little side door that has been broken twice. Black+Decker should revise this because it definitely breaks, even if you handle it softly. this is the same problem with the Black + Decker – PD1820L, same side empty door. Amazon has nicely replaced for free two times the device, because there is a 2 years warranty, but I know this will break again.
So this time I have decided to buy the BLACK+DECKER 10.8 V Lithium-Ion Dustbuster with Cyclonic Action, 21.6 W that has more succion power (I was very surprised) and the dirt bowl is integrated to the vacuum. There is a button to press to take it off so not possible to break it and the nozzle doesn’t pivot so no dust falling when folding.
Our upright hoover is somewhat lacking & cumbersome, so we decided to out source some of the tasks to a hand held. We decided on this Black & Decker model, as we wanted to try a different brand, and B&D are known for producing good home & work tools. We went with the 18v as it provides more suction, but at the added cost, we didn’t want to risk lower. Here is our experience:
Contents:
1x BLACK+DECKER Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuum, 18 V, Dark Titanium hoover.
1x Base re-charger with attached UK plug wall socket charger.
1x Pair of screws & wall plugs.
1x Instruction booklet.
Rough dimensions:
10.5″/26cm length (when compact) 16″/40cm (when nozzle extended) 19″/48cm (with crevice tool extended) – 6.5″/16cm height – 6″/15cm width (widest part)
Likes:
+Good suction.
+Pivoting nozzle locks to whichever angle you need it after decompressing the button, and folds up making it all neat & compact.
+Easy built in pull out attachments. Small pull out brush & 4″/10cm extending crevice nozzle.
+Solidly built & quality feel.
+Visually it looks very smart & modern.
Considerations:
-It’s heavier than we thought it would be (weight is at the rear, under the handle).
-Makes as much noise as an upright hoover.
-Quite dear at 89.99, at time of purchase.
-Be prepared to empty it quite often if used frequently.
Note: Can’t comment too much on the battery life yet, as we haven’t used it for a really extended period of time at once. Done several +/- 5 minute jobs, and it’s been okay.
In conclusion, we have been very pleased with the 18v BLACK+DECKER Lithium Compact Pivot Vacuum. It makes little jobs around the home much more convenient. Recommended.
Bought this some months ago to replace a very much older dustbuster that the battery had finally given up on. I love it.
Its wall mountable and fairly compact so I mounted it it on the end of the kitchen cupboards tucked against a wall, out of the way, at just the right height to reach down and grab it. So I use it most days, even if its just to pick up crumbs from the worktop. I’ve emptied out after most uses but recently took it apart to clean it thoroughly so decided now was good time to review it.
Its a great little tool. Its powerful and picks up all sorts with no bother.
It has quite a long cable to reach a plug so there’s some flexibility on where to mount it.
It comes with a smart charger so no overcharging is going on.
Its very powerful for a small unit and is comfortable to hold.
It feels very solid. The head pivots easily when holding in the pivot release button.
Power button is right under your thumb. It does not have to be held, the power stays on as you release it and you have to flick it back to cut the power.
There’s an extending crevice tool to reach into small spaces and an integral brush head that folds back out if the way when not in use.
The dust chamber is quite small as you’d expect, so needs to be emptied after every use really. There’s a simple catch on the dust chamber cover, release it, fold it back and just turn it up over the bin. You may have to fish fluff out of the
chamber as fluff tends to wedge itself in, as with any other vacuum cleaner.
There are 2 filters. A plastic filter that encloses a fine pleated filter. Both are removable and washable. I had to use a brush and a blunt implement to clean out the pleated filter but its come up clean and perfectly reusable although it will need replacing at some point eventually. Replacements are readily available.
I’ve not experienced any issues with debris falling out. You obviously to wait a moment to ensure everything has passed into the dust chamber before releasing the power and folding the nozzle back to store the unit. If you mount it before the nozzle is emptied then obviously that debris will just drop back out!
One thing to note, if (when) you disassemble it for washing do make sure the plastic filter cage is clipped firmly back into place before using it again or debris will get into the motor and may cause it to burn out. (I thought mine was back in place but when i picked it up to use again i luckily noticed the filter cage was rattling about.)
To sum up. I love it. I thought long and hard because when you can pick up a dust buster type cleaner very cheaply this seemed extravagant for something you only use for a few moments, a few times a week, especially given that our previous version had fallen into disuse because the battery was failing and it was in an awkward place outside the kitchen. But having located it in the perfect spot for my home to ensure it gets used I am very happy with this vacuum.
I like a good suck as much as the next man and the Dustbuster Pivot from Black+Decker has certainly delivered a satisfying experience.
The obvious choice that I started looking at when purchasing a cordless vacuum was some of the Dyson models. However, the high performance and strong brand reputation sadly command a higher price tag too. So much to the extent that some of the entry level models are double the price of the Black+Decker.
My past experiences with cordless vacuums have been poor to say the least. Most of them have the power of a nat’s fart and I regularly found it more productive to get my Yorkshire terrier to hoover up crumbs from the floor. This particular B&D model is rated at 18v as opposed to some of their lower 10.8v and 14.4v models. Indeed, this 18v model is more expensive than the aforementioned 10.8v & 14.4 but, at around 60-70, is far less than the equivalent Dyson without compromising on suction. It really does pick up a heck of a lot of crap from the floor and I regularly use it to clean my car or rooms in the house. When powered up, there is a reassuring high powered whirl from it’s motor that sounds a lot more akin to a corded vacuum as opposed to one of the cordless variety. You name it and the B&D has picked up all, but the most demanding, rubbish that’s been embedded in my carpets.
Although suction power is most probably the most important element, it would not be a complete product if the rest of the components and design didn’t live up to this high standard. However, I can happily report that as far as flaws go, there is very little to criticise with this product. The next highest priority on most people’s lists will most probably be battery life. B&D rate this product at 10 minutes which quite frankly doesn’t sound all too impressive. In reality, I’ve actually found the battery life to exceed the manufacturers claims. A nice change I might add. Couple that with the immense suction power and, in that time, you can get a lot of work done. Think of it this way, if it sucks up twice as good as a vacuum that lasts 20 minutes, then you will still be twice as productive since you’ve completed the work in half the time. What this basically means in reality, is that I can pretty much do the entire car with battery to spare.
The overall ergonomics of this product are very good. It has a swivel head which allows you to manipulate it to a variety of positions in order to get into hard to reach places such as the top of bookshelves or door pockets in cars. Another very useful feature is that all the attachments are built into the device rather than having to attach them manually. This is great because it keeps it’s footprint down to a minimum. Just pull the end of nozzle and out comes a thin extension piece or, if you have some thicker carpets, just flip the brush down from the underside. You can tell that someone has put real thought into the usability of this product.
The vacuum comes with it’s own charging station which is a nice touch. Things like this help to keep it charged up and ready to use when it’s needed rather than having to manually plug a cord into the wall and vacuum each time you use it. The swivel head folds back on itself when charging to reduce it’s size and the docking mechanism is very slick and easy to use requiring no effort to dock or un-dock it.
There are very few negatives to this vacuum but there are a couple of small things that could perhaps be implemented in future models to further enhance the usability. Firstly, I find that the waste hatch can too easily come open which means on a couple of occasions, the vacuum has decided to spill it’s contents on the floor. Secondly, as previously mentioned, the battery life is fine. However, because it’s so capable, you just want to keep sucking things up and keep moving onto room after room. Something that the battery in this isn’t designed to do. I can’t really hate on the product for this as, at best, it was designed to clean no more than a car. If in a future model B&D decided to add a removable battery pack (even if it’s sold separately), then we can effectively double the product’s run time and tackle bigger challenges. A feat that I am sure this product is capable of doing.
So, would I recommend this? Yes.
Would I buy this again? Yes.
I bought this at the request of my wife, and she loves it. It’s cleans well, is quite powerful for something that’s battery powered, and the battery lasts longer than I expected. The unit actually looks nice too, as it’s a very modern design. The pivot function is easy to use and useful. The unit is well balanced in terms of weight, but if you are weak in the arms you wouldn’t want to use it too long. It’s not as powerful as a corded vacuum of course, and will not get food out of very thick rugs for example, but works well on most surfaces. It’s good for the car too as it has an in-built nozzle thing, but it won’t get into the really tight areas of a car (though I think that would be the cast for most of these types of vacuum).
Some people have complained in reviews about the air vent at the back, and reported that it blows the dirt about. We’ve had it for a few weeks now and not had this problem. You’d need to hold the unit very low to the floor and for the dirt to be very light AND for you to be starting to clean at the wrong end of the dirt, i.e. don’t start cleaning in the middle of the floor and you won’t have a problem (though, like I said, we have not had this problem at all).
Emptying the barrel is mostly easy, though if you have vacuumed lots of dust or hair you are likely to have to get your fingers in it (or a stick or something thin) to pull some of it out as it tends to stick to the inside barrel.
Overall, I would recommend this as a great portable vacuum to clean up small areas with ease, notwithstanding it’s slight limitations.
Bought this to vacuum our cars. I read good reviews about this vac and wanted one with decent suction power. I had previously used vacs that you plug into the 12V car power socket, but found this type to be pretty useless with suction power levels on a par with that of a small gnat breathing in !
Amazon delivered it promptly and my first impressions getting it out of the box was that it was of a robust construction. Closer examination confirmed this – a good solid, well engineered product.
First use was to vacuum up the mess in my wife’s car boot area after returning from a trip to our local recycling centre with piles of garden rubbish. No matter how carefully you line the boot with protective sheets, there’s always a layer of c**p that finds its way underneath them.
The vac easily sucked up the debris – OK not as powerful as my upright Dyson, but still a decent suction power. The small nozzle means that it takes a little longer to cover a wide area like the boot area as opposed to larger nozzles you get on full size vac, but at least you don’t have the hassle of trailing extension leads and manoeuvring around a bulky cleaner.
Emptying and cleaning is straightforward and I like the idea of a reusable washable filter and washable dust container. You can buy spare filters although I think they are a bit pricey at nearly 9.
You get about 10 minutes of cleaning before the lithium battery runs down – would be better if that was a bit longer as cleaning our three cars would be a bit of a push to do it in 10 minutes, but not a big issue. Charging time is about 3 to 4 hours.
In conclusion – I’m pleased with it. It’s a well made product with decent suction power.
I bought this for a workshop and don’t think that is the ideal application. We have had a 7.2v Dust Buster for a few years which works fine. At 18v this does have a bit more suction but
I Don’t Like
a) It is heavier
b) The waste is sucked into the drum at a tangent and then revolves around it. There is a filter in that drum and only about 1cm between the filter and the side wall. So larger items or long/thin items can get jammed in that space and fluff build up around to cause a blockage. This is what causes people to complain about stuff falling back up – always a good idea to keep the nose up with these things anyway.
b) Soft start i.e. it takes a few seconds to get up to speed. The other one we have is on immediately which is better if you want to go round pecking at odd bits of stuff.
But I do like
a) Lithium Ion batteries – always a good option, though less of an advantage here I think than something like a cordless drill that you might not use for weeks.
b) The flap up brush. Often these accessories are clip-in so don’t use them – or just lose them. Being able to just snap it up and down is great.
c) Easy emptying – just a simple catch to dump the waste out sideways from that drum. And the filter (pleated drum type) is easy to get out and clean.
d) Decent stand – which you can also wall mount.
All in all I’m not convinced it is worth the extra. It is a perfectly decent machine for light work but on balance I think it’s an unsuccessful yoking together of a powerful motor and decent battery with poor capacity.