This vac really makes the most sense if you’re already fully invested in the DeWalt 20-volt platform (or you plan to be in the future). Even with normal use, the filters get clogged over time, and there are only so many times you can bang the dust out of them before you need a new one. Home Depot stocks a number of use-specific filters compatible with several types of wet/dry vacs, including HEPA filters and ones specifically designed for fine dust.
Two of these cordless electric push mowers, both from Ryobi, receive higher Overall Scores than the top-rated gas push mower, a Honda. The adapter above is a do-it-yourself hyper tough tools adapter, so you will need to provide the circuitry to make it work. It has been reported that the Ridgid 18V batteries do have built-in over discharge protection.
And this vac is similar to the one I’ve spent countless hours using at home and on lots of job sites during my construction career. I’ve never had any problems with it, and I’ve never found another wet/dry vac that was noticeably better. Failure to pick up within the given time or refusal of product will result in a 20% restock fee.
In fact, the HD1200 is so powerful that the tester said it was pulling loose plaster off the walls, so she had to be careful in certain areas. Consumer Reports recommends more than half the battery lawn mowers in our current walk-behind lawn mower ratings. Among the more than 60 push- and self-propelled cordless electric mowers we’ve tested, most models earn strong overall ratings. So there are plenty of appealing options at a variety of prices.If you have a lawn that’s less than a quarter-acre, you’ll probably find a battery push mower that will fit your needs.
This vac makes the most sense if you already have some other tools (and batteries) in the DeWalt 20-volt line up. If you’re just starting out, however, you’ll need the kit that comes with the battery and charger; this raises the cost hyper tough tool set quite a bit and, we think, really compromises the value of this tool. But the good news is that this vac also works with an outlet, so it’s still an option, even if you may or may not be adding other DeWalt tools in the future.
And with its four casters, well-positioned handle, and manageable weight, this model isn’t that difficult to drag through a basement or clunk up a flight of stairs. The Ridgid 12-Gallon NXT Wet/Dry Vac HD1200 comes with two wand extensions and three nozzles (one for general use, another for wet spills, and a small one for detail work). They all store on the vac and out of the way—a smarter design than that of many competitors’ accessory caddies. This Ridgid vac is regularly sold on the shelves of Home Depot (where it has thousands of mostly five-star online reviews).
If your power tool doesn’t operate without the T terminal, please see the battery section below. One downside to the DeWalt vac is that the blower port (which blows out all the air the vac is sucking in) is on the canister’s side and not the rear, where we would have preferred it. There were a few times we shifted the canister and accidentally blew dust and debris all over the place, since we forgot the blower port was on the side.
It’s extremely portable, but it doesn’t have the suction power of the others. CR’s expert lawn mower tests are uniquely useful because they combine scientific rigor with real-world usage. To give you ratings and reviews of the latest models by early spring, Consumer Reports’ testers travel to Florida to conduct tests in late winter at grounds we specially prepare each year. We plant 1,800 pounds of grass seed (predominantly annual rye, prized for its dense growth).