While large or full-size shop vacuums are great for job sites and workshops, portable vacuums are just the thing for the decorating carpenter or homeowner. At just two gallons in size, the Milwaukee 0880 M18 Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum is great for punch lists or any light job where a full-size vacuum would be cumbersome or too easy for the job requirements.
Although it's called the Milwaukee "M18" Wet/Dry Vacuum, it actually runs on either an M18 (18V) Lithium-Ion battery or the company's older 18V Ni-Cad battery. Both will provide enough power to suck wet or dry material into the onboard 2 gallon storage tank. This vacuum is designed to be so portable that it doesn't even need an electrical outlet to work—yet it's big and strong enough to handle decent cleaning jobs with ease. When we saw this tool, we quickly felt the need to grab one and take it out for a dry…or wet run.
Milwaukee 0880 Build Quality
The Milwaukee 0880 M18 Wet/Dry Vacuum comes in the standard Milwaukee colours, black and red, making the whole vacuum look like a small freezer with the company branding on it. It's actually a good looking, and there's very little wasted construction, with every nook and cranny carefully thought out for optimal ergonomics and easy access to accessories and the battery compartment. Most notable is the rather streamlined exterior, with just a single hose outside the rectangular main container. This helps keep the tool easy to carry without worrying about extraneous attachments and attachments that might get lost in transit or at the job site.
It really is a portable tool, which seems to be one of its main strengths. Lift the top cover, secured with two black plastic latches, and the M18 Wet Dry Vacuum reveals a narrow crevice accessory and a mini floor nozzle. Both of these accessories attach easily and securely to the top of the vacuum motor housing when not in use. The on/off switch lifts up and penetrates the top cover, making it easy to turn the vacuum on and off. It's a big switch that's easy to use with gloves on. With the lid closed, you can pretty much toss this tool in the back of your truck, and even stack some items on it.
hidden battery compartment
Inside the lid is also where the battery compartment sits, easily fitting a single M18 battery – XC or Compact. There is also a legacy sled for use with older 18V NiCd batteries, making it a tool for the vast array of battery technologies across Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee 0880 vacuum cleaner is actually divided into three parts: the hinged lid, the main body and the canister. The lid and jar are black plastic and the body is red with the Milwaukee logo. There are two latches on the front and back that allow the can to be completely disengaged and allow it to be emptied easily without a bag (or having to take the entire vacuum to the trash). The jar is lightweight but sturdy enough not to give the impression of being flimsy or flimsy. The general feeling is that you can toss this vacuum around without worrying about it breaking easily or accidentally coming loose without manually turning it on.
A strong rubber gasket surrounds the main body of the vacuum to provide a secure, airtight seal, ensuring you get all the possible suction power from your vacuum without wasting any energy. The filter is attached to the body of the vacuum cleaner and can be removed by simply turning it counterclockwise by hand – no tools required. Replacement 0.3 micron washable HEPA filters (49-90-1900) can be purchased from Milwaukee or any of its retail or online distributors for approximately $20. Includes a filter, which can be used with wet or dry vacuum cleaners, but must be fully air-dried after exposure to water (after passing vacuum cleaner water or cleaning and rinsing to remove dirt).
test and use
We have used the Milwaukee 0880 M18 Cordless Vacuum on a variety of tasks. It's an excellent tool for simple cleanup jobs and can be carried from place to place with ease and convenience. Since it runs on the M18 platform and weighs only 10 pounds (before adding batteries), the tool's extreme portability is unmatched for its capacity. We embarked on a project that involved sucking out about 50 lbs of leaves from the gap area between the covered front porch and the exterior wall of an old bungalow (ok, I'm exaggerating a bit). Since the leaves are well wedged in, multi-layered, and located in multiple directions, they're not very happy.
The M18 Wet and Dry Vacuum worked well, but it's clearly nowhere near the suction power of a full-size shop vac (which removes leaves in one pass). Just putting your hand over the air intake produces reasonable suction, but not on par with a full-size wet/dry vacuum. The Milwaukee M18 Wet/Dry Vacuum has approximately 45 cubic feet per minute. That's equivalent to some corded 2.5 gallon models we've seen on the market, but only 1/3 the size of the larger 4+ HP models. Since the suction runs through its narrow 1-1/4-inch hose, it works efficiently and provides enough suction for light-duty jobs. This tool is definitely designed for smaller jobs and easy cleanup. The 2 gallon water tank also means you won't have to empty it as often as those 1/2 and 1 gallon models.
runtime test
On the Milwaukee XC battery we let the Milwaukee 0880 Wet/Dry Vac run for 10 minutes and 10 seconds, although we could hear a drop in frequency during the last 30 seconds and thus the tool's suction power. Throwing in an 18V compact lithium-ion battery to do the job, we got 5 minutes and 30 seconds of use, a little more than half that of the XC battery. Given this, you'll definitely want to go with a full-size XC battery; however, both are fine for limited pickups and jobsite cleaning. One thing to keep in mind is the 2 foot hose, we can extend it up to 48 inches.
That's not enough for overhead work or even standing work without placing the vacuum on a table or ladder platform. That’s not bad, however, Milwaukee doesn’t even offer extension kits for the hoses, and we didn’t find any extras. Don't worry though, this is likely a calculated move based on the fact that our local home improvement depot stocks a full range of adapters, hoses and other accessories, including filters.
The Milwaukee 0880 Vacuum was quick to deal with the endless leaf debris we left around the edge of our front porch, but it wasn't as powerful as a full-size shop vac.
Conclusion and Pricing
A portable wet/dry vacuum like the M18 model from Milwaukee is one of those tools that every skilled worker should have. Homeowners will also appreciate the portability of the 0880-20 and the fact that it is compatible with Milwaukee's new M18 Li-Ion batteries as well as their older 18V NiCds.
Professionals looking for extra powerful suction will need to stick with full-size shop vacuums. For decorating carpenters and those looking to minimize tool dust, the M18 Wet/Dry Vacuum will instantly fit most exhaust systems and provide an excellent lightweight solution. At $129 bare metal, Milwaukee offers above-average value (we've always found it well below online retail prices). Great tool.