Home Depot has a good-looking deal on Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel cordless 6-gallon wet/dry shop vacuum right now.
Buy the cordless vacuum for $219, and you get a free M18 High Output 8Ah battery.
Sorry, this isn’t one of the new tabless batteries that are coming out soon,
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Milwaukee says that their M18 Fuel 6-gallon vac outperforms 3.5 peak HP corded vacs.
The vacuum comes with the single battery M18 Fuel motor head, 6 gallon container with drain, rolling cart base, filter, 1-7/8″ hose and a selection of similarly-sized extension wands and nozzle attachments.
$219 for the vacuum and an 8Ah battery seems like a good deal.
Back in 2022 for the winter holiday season, the deal was $249 for the vac and a free accessory. For the 2023 winter holiday season, the price was $219, and you didn’t get anything for free.
Looking to buy the bigger and more powerful 9-gallon vacuum?
Acme Tools have a similar deal with the 9-gallon vacuum for $299, but keep in mind that you’ll need another battery for that vac’s M18 X2 motor head.
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Home Depot has a free tool promo for the 9-gallon vac; you buy the vac for $299 and get free M18 Fuel impact wrench or angle grinder.
Nate
Can this unit take the small collection bags like the VF350x series? I presume the VF3503 might fit. The thing is, does the hose entry port have the required geometry for the bag mouth to attach to?
Nate
Answered my own question: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Fleece-Dust-Bags-for-6-Gal-M18-FUEL-Cordless-Wet-Dry-Shop-Vacuums-5-Pack-49-90-1979/319226352
Alexk
Does it pay to buy something with the HO batteries or wait for Surge batteries if it isn’t for immediate need? After pipeline, do I wait for newest vacuum?
Mostly, I’m wanting to get the table saw and sliding miter, and would prefer it comes with the Surge.
JR Ramos
I think with something like the vacuums the new batt isn’t going to be a lot of benefit unless you maybe use it regularly in a scenario like running it on max but only for brief periods of a minute or less, turn it off for a bit, and do that repeatedly. In that situation the added oomph can give better performance while not suffering run time as badly (less voltage drop followed by quicker voltage bounceback compared to standard li-ion cell packs). I guess we’d need to see a test but I’ll bet that if the new batt is just run full-on it’ll have the same run time within a small amount as the standard cells but it’ll have the highest initial performance (voltage) and sustain that a bit longer. Vacuums take a lot of juice but not as much as some tool loads where the new batts really shine. On my Milwaukee vacs I’ve killed three batts (two 12 and one 18) and now just keep a few of each dedicated to those tools, don’t run them as low, and cycle them after each charge. Since you want the table and miter saws it probably makes sense to invest in the new batts (maybe more so for the table saw than the miter unless you’re cutting thick or really dense material all the time).
Stuart
You mean Forge batteries?
Shop vacuum-style cleanup vacs can serve multiple roles, but it sounds like you are okay waiting for the dust extractor vacuum.
I very highly doubt that you’ll see a similar promo with the Forge batteries.
I’d bet part of the pricing here is to burn through HO 8Ah battery inventory. There’s nothing wrong with the High Output batteries, and I don’t think you’re going to see much difference if you equip this vac with a HO or Forge battery.
Runtime is a limiting factor with cordless vacuums. The power tends to be dialed back a little to ensure users get usable runtime.
If you’re spending full price, buy the Forge battery. If you’re spending $20 more than just the Forge battery and getting a cordless wet/dry vacuum, get this promo now and look for a Forge battery deal when your other batteries start to wear from age.
But first you have to determine if you want a cordless shop vacuum or a cordless dust extractor vacuum. If the latter, think it over. There might be other deals in a few months as the winter holiday season approaches.
Alexk
There is a Forge 8ah for $199 and a 8ah HO for $199 at HD.
The vacuum comes with the 8ah HO for $219.
I want the Forge but am not in the immediate market for one. Have a 6ah HO that came with my track saw. Do I look at it as if I’m getting a cordless vacuum for $119 and a 8ah HO for $100? That kinda makes sense.
I don’t kid myself. I’m feeling like a tool junkie in need of a fix, and trying to convince myself that I can stop anytime.
Jim Felt
Naw. It’s a permanent affliction. (Speaking from a “too many interests” personality disorder perspective).
Saulac
Only if the tank is Packout compatible, or simply is the PO bucket. If Milwaukee did this, would they make more or less $ overall?
Stuart
Conforming to tool box form factors tend to force design compromises and sacrifices.
If you need a Packout-compatible vacuum, buy the Packout-compatible vacuum or wait for the dust extractor https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-cordless-dust-extractor-0888/%3C/a%3E .
neandrewthal
I feel like there haven’t been bare tool deals in a while. I think there are others like me who now have plenty of batteries.
Stuart
Yes, and no, it depends on what you’re looking for.
I think it’s part of their marketing strategy, and it tends to be very effective.
chip hershberger
It’s good deal, as long as your expectations are tempered to what it is and limited to.
I used the Ridgid shopvac for 3 years,cordless was great…but didn’t like it’s form.
3 yrs ago, I bought the 6 gallon (posted above)and modified the top to accept packout.
The shape is space saving, and cordless does have limitations, brief uses with tracksaw and mitersaw on cabinet installs is perfect.
No rolling out 300 ft extension cords and tripped breakers to contend with.
I think I paid $250 for the m18 with a free accessory, Ridgid which holds 2 batteries but only needs 1…was $100 before it was discontinued.