Milwaukee Tool strives to be the best at what they do. And being the best at jobsite cleanup is no exception. Milwaukee has always had an impressive lineup of wet/dry vacs. Now the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuums set out to raise the standard for jobsite vacuums by offering unrivaled performance and durability. And are part of what Milwaukee claims to be the “Most Versatile Wet/Dry Vac System” on the market.
Let’s see if this Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum can actually handle everything your shop, crew, or jobsite can throw at it.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum Overview
We got our hands on the M18 FUEL 9 Gallon Dual-Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum (0920-20). The Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum also comes in two additional tank sizes, a 6 Gallon and 12 Gallon.
This model includes two rapid charge M18 REDLITHIUM batteries, a Dual Bay Simultaneous Rapid Charger, a 9 ft. hose, two extension wands, two attachments (a crevice tool and utility tool), a large wet/dry vacuum high-efficiency filter, five vacuum bags, and interchangeable wet/dry vacuum cart.
Here are some of the features Milwaukee highlights:
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum Highlights:
- Better than corded power from POWERSTATE Brushless Motor and two M18 REDLITHIUM Battery operation
- Doubled lifespan from reinforced caster wheels, durable hose and attachments, and hard plastic housing
- Versatility and customization from the interchangeable motor heads (a corded and/or two cordless options), two styles of wet/dry vacuum carts, hoses, and many attachments
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum Features
There are three sizes in this line of Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuums; available in 6, 9, or 12 gallon tanks. All are built with a POWERSTATE Brushless Motor. We are reviewing the midsize M18 FUEL 9 Gallon Dual-Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum (0920-20). This model pairs the POWERSTATE Brushless Motor with two M18 REDLITHIUM Batteries.
The result is a cordless vacuum with stronger suction, picking up more debris than all other 4.25 peak horsepower wet/dry vacuums in the same amount of time, even when compared to corded vacuums.
The power switch is easy to find, just off to the side of the lid. The button is big and easy to press. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum has two run-time modes:
- MAX POWER MODE provides 25 minutes of cleaning, which covers about 1,075 square ft.
- MAX RUN-TIME MODE provides 36 minutes of cleaning, covering about 1,250 square ft.
The top of this vacuum also features an interchangeable motor head. This means you can easily convert your cordless vacuum into a corded one for when you have to clean a large site that requires more than 36 minutes of run-time.
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum is made of a strong, hard plastic. It doesn’t give in and would be resilient against accidental kicks or getting knocked over. That being said, this square vacuum sits securely both flat on the floor and in a cart.
The included 9 ft. hose is made to withstand being crushed or extremely twisted. The durability is clear when you compare this Milwaukee vacuum hose side-by-side to other brands. The extension wands and accessories are made with the same hard plastic as the vacuum body and with the same integrity.
The hose and attachments are 1-7/8 in. and the vacuum is compatible with other 1-7/8 in. accessories.
Attaching and locking the hose is easy. You just need to align the hose and push it into the vacuum. Locking the hose into place is a simple twist to the right.
The side handles are also made of that same hard plastic, with one handle on the front and one on the back. They have a very secure hold and won’t accidentally release when cleaning. There is also a lot of space underneath the side handles. So, it’s easy to grip when opening to change the bag or filter.
We opened up the vacuum. The inside was nice and large. The vacuum bags were easy to insert. The large wet/dry vacuum high-efficiency filter has a simple twist installation and removal.
There’s also a knob on the side of the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum for when you are using it to clean up liquid spills. Simply turn, twist, and remove. Now you can drain the water from your vacuum instead of needing to lift and pour it out.
There is another handle on top. It folds in on itself for easy storage. Despite its size, the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum isn’t heavy. Between this and the large handle, it’s easy and comfortable to move around.
These Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuums come with an interchangeable Wet/Dry Vacuum Cart. The cart rolls on four “independently swiveling and locking reinforced casters” for easy mobility while cleaning. This cart is also interchangeable with the two other Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuums sizes. So, you will always be able to use the same cart if you ever decide to upgrade to a bigger or smaller vacuum.
Removing and reattaching the tank is easy. On the cart is a foot pedal that locks the tank in place. It manages to keep a good hold on the tank while only needing light force to release it.
Another nice feature on the wet/dry vacuum cart are the four built-in accessory storage spaces. Each space is designed to hold Milwaukee vacuum accessories sizes 1-7/8 in. and 2-1/2 in. and AIR-TIP Trade Focused Vacuum Accessories. This is done by creating three different groove sizes all nested within each other at each space.
Again, we have the midsize vacuum. So, all of our attachments fit within the middle groove. We did purchase a few other attachments and played around with fitting those to the cart as well. The vacuum cart was able to hold it all, even with the additional attachments.
There are four locking 3″ caster wheels on the bottom of the Wet/Dry Vacuum Cart. The caster wheels make it easy to move the vacuum around. The locks are large and big enough to use your foot to press and lock the wheels.
There is also a Premium Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum Cart available in this versatile line. It has a 3-position push handle and replaces two caster wheels with larger wheels for improved navigation.
There are many, many additional standard attachments available. For this review, we purchased a 16 ft. hose (49-90-1984), and a 3-Piece Hose and Accessory Adaptor Kit (49-90-1991).
And if you REALLY like great accessories you should definitely check out their new AIR-TIP™ Trade Focused Vacuum Accessories line available at The Home Depot. There are several attachments in this line that we’ve all been waiting for someone to offer.
Milwaukee M18 FUELCordless Wet/Dry Vacuum Value
You can buy this Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum with the batteries included from The Home Depot for $699 or as a BARE TOOL for $299. In our research, it was hard to compare the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum to available vacuums from major competitors, DeWalt and RIDGID. While each of these brands had vacuums that shared some features of this model, neither had one vacuum that hit all three of Milwaukee’s promises for performance, versatility, and durability.
For those needing a powerful vacuum that is not reliant or restricted by a cord, the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum is perfect. It’s easy to control and move around, and empty or change filters. This level of performance is new for cordless vacuums. And the included M18 REDLITHIUM Batteries with the Dual Bay Simultaneous Rapid Charger are going to provide the continuous, reliable power you are looking for at the end of the day when all you need to do is clean up and go home. But it’s the versatility from the interchangeable motor heads, tanks, carts and various size options that make this vacuum stand out the most.
Milwaukee wanted to deliver a powerful, cordless vacuum that had the versatility to handle any jobsite, and I think Milwaukee delivered. What do you think? Could this Milwaukee M18 Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum make cleanup easier (or more fun) in your shop?
