DeWalt 10 Gal. Dust Extractor

I put this 10‑gallon dust extractor to work across a few typical jobsite scenarios—random-orbit sanding with vac ports, track saw cuts indoors, and some concrete drilling—and it did what a pro vac should do: keep dust out of the air, keep up with tools, and survive rough handling. It isn’t perfect, but it’s capable, thoughtfully built where it counts, and clearly aimed at crews that need HEPA compliance without babying their gear.

Build, mobility, and jobsite manners

At about 44 lb bare, this is a substantial unit, but it’s the right kind of heavy. The shell feels rigid, the latches and wheels are robust, and the telescoping handle and large rear casters make stairs and gravel much easier than a smaller shop vac. The handle locks positively and doesn’t wobble, so towing 15 feet of hose doesn’t yank the extractor off course. Multiple lift and tie-down points are genuinely useful—strapping it in a van or tethering it on scaffolding felt secure, and the points are reinforced, not ornamental.

Storage is a mixed bag. There’s an accessory rack and the top accepts modular boxes, so I could clip on a small case for nozzles and bags. But there’s no enclosed, onboard hose garage. The included 15 ft antistatic hose is excellent in use—light, non-marking, and static-safe—but it’s long to wrangle between tasks. A simple wrap-around strap helps, yet I still missed a proper hose cubby for transport.

Suction and filtration performance

On paper you get 155 CFM and 90 inches of water lift. In real work that translated to confident capture at the tool and strong pickup on the floor. With a 6-inch sander, the variable suction control was key; dialing it back kept the pad from sticking without choking airflow entirely. On a small planer and a miter saw, full power had debris moving decisively through the 36 mm hose with little tendency to settle. For floor cleanups—chips, screws, dust—the wide nozzle had no trouble.

HEPA is the point of an extractor like this, and the included filters are the right match. With a fleece bag and the HEPA cartridges installed, I was comfortable doing interior cuts and sanding in finished spaces. Leakage was minimal; no puff at start or fine haze in the sunbeam. The automatic filter-cleaning cycle pulses about every 30 seconds, and it works. I intentionally ran it on MDF dust and gypsum with no pre-separator—suction stayed consistent longer than non-pulsing units, and I didn’t have to stop to slap the filter. You’ll feel a brief drop and hear the pulse, but on sanders and saws it didn’t disrupt the cut.

For lead-safe and other regulated work, the extractor is spec’d to meet EPA RRP requirements when used with the HEPA filters. The sealed bagged system, effective pulsing, and solid fitment around the lid gaskets make this a credible choice for containment work where inspectors actually check equipment.

Power-tool activation and control

The auto-on function is reliable and tuned well: a short ramp at start, and a brief run-on after the tool stops to clear the hose. That reduces clogs with planers and track saws. The 15 A rating means you need to mind your circuits—pairing a high-draw saw and the vac on a 15 A breaker can be dicey. On 20 A circuits I had no nuisance trips. The suction dial is a true variable control, not a simple two-step, and it’s useful both for delicate sanding and to keep noise and power draw down during general cleanup.

One thing I do wish it had is a hose-mounted remote. Tag Ready lets you add a tracking tag, which is great for inventory, but there’s no wireless hose switch to turn the unit on for general cleanup without walking back. You can live with the foot switch and auto-on, but a remote would make this more efficient between cuts.

Noise

It’s listed at 85 dBA, and subjectively it’s in the “respectable for a jobsite vac” category. It’s quieter than many orange-box shop vacs and roughly on par with other pro extractors without luxury acoustic packages. The tone is low enough to be less fatiguing, and backing off the suction dial for sanding meaningfully drops the sound level.

Wet pickup

This unit is rated for wet and dry. For water, remove the bag and follow the manual’s guidance to protect the HEPA elements; the tank geometry drains well and the wheels/stable stance help when you’re moving with weight onboard. The pulsing system is for dry debris—don’t rely on it to keep filters clear when the environment is humid or wet. As always, dry the interior before going back to fine dust to avoid caking.

Hose and accessory ecosystem

The 36 mm antistatic hose with the Air Lock end is excellent with modern dust ports—secure twist-to-lock, no bandaid tape connections, and fewer static zaps. With many DeWalt tools, it’s plug-and-play. The flip side is compatibility with “shop vac standard” 1-1/4 inch and 2-1/2 inch accessories and separators. You’ll likely need adapters. The included Air Lock adapter handles many ports, but not all third-party fittings match perfectly. If you plan to integrate a cyclone separator or legacy nozzles, budget time to source the correct couplers and verify fit before a job. Once sorted, airflow through 36 mm outperforms skinny 1-1/4 inch hoses, and clogs are rarer.

Maintenance and operating costs

The self-cleaning filter system reduces hands-on maintenance, especially with fine dust. Running bags is cleaner and prolongs filter life, but bags aren’t cheap. On big-volume jobs (planing, demolition), a pre-separator pays for itself in reduced bag usage. For finish work and RRP, I stick with fleece bags and treat them as consumables; it’s the price of keeping dust contained and productivity high.

Access to the filters and bag is straightforward, and the latches are glove-friendly. The tank rinses clean without catching debris in odd corners. The cord is heavy-duty and long enough for most spaces; integrated wrap is basic but works.

What I’d change

• A real onboard hose garage. The long hose is great in use and awkward in transit.
• A hose-mounted wireless remote for cleanup mode.
• Clearer, broader out-of-the-box adapter compatibility for common 2-1/2 inch ports and separators.

None of these are deal breakers, but they’re quality-of-life misses that show up daily.

Who it’s for

• Remodelers, cabinet installers, and trim carpenters who do interior work and need reliable HEPA extraction with auto-on at the tool.
• Flooring and drywall crews who want consistent suction and easy mobility over rough surfaces and up stairs.
• Concrete drillers and small surface prep crews where fine dust would quickly blind a non-pulsing vac.

If you’re a homeowner looking for an all-in-one garage vac with built-in hose storage and universal 2-1/2 inch fittings, this will feel overbuilt and fussy about accessories. If your work requires containment, jobsite durability, and integration with pro dust ports, this hits the brief.

Recommendation

I recommend this extractor for professionals who need HEPA-level dust control, dependable suction with automatic filter cleaning, and jobsite-ready mobility. It keeps up with real tools, stays unclogged in fine dust, and the 15 ft antistatic hose plus auto-on make daily workflows faster and cleaner. Be prepared to sort adapters if you rely on 2-1/2 inch accessories or a separator, and budget for bags as consumables. If onboard hose storage and a hose remote are must-haves, you’ll have to improvise or look elsewhere. For most pro users, though, the performance, filtration, and durability outweigh the convenience quirks.