DeWalt Brushless Cordless Universal Dust Extractor Kit

A wearable dust extractor that punches above its weight

I’ve been looking for a truly mobile way to keep dust under control on quick drilling and cutout tasks, especially on jobs where dragging a hose back to a cart vac slows everything down. After a few weeks with the DWH161 extractor strapped to my side, I’ve come to rely on it for exactly those moments. It doesn’t try to replace a full-size dust extractor; it targets point-of-source collection with small tools and does it with far less hassle than I expected.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, the kit is straightforward: the extractor body, a shoulder strap, belt hook, a 20V MAX 2.0Ah battery, and DCB115 charger. The form factor is compact and the mounting options are well thought out. Between the multiple strap connection points and the belt hook, I could wear it messenger-style, holster it on my belt, or hang it on staging close to the work.

The build feels solid—typical DeWalt. Latches close positively, the seals around the dust box are tight, and the hose connections don’t wobble or creep loose during use. There’s a proper HEPA filter inside the dust box, which is essential for fine dust, particularly from concrete and drywall.

Connectivity and control

The extractor uses a DWV9109 stepped adapter to mate with different tool ports. That stepped design is simple but effective; I’ve connected it to SDS Plus shrouds, drywall cutout tools, and several sanders without hunting down oddball couplers. If you work across brands, the stepped adapter helps you bridge most ports with a snug fit.

Wireless Tool Control (WTC) compatibility is another smart touch. Paired to a WTC-enabled tool or the separate key fob, the extractor starts and stops automatically as you trigger the tool. It’s one of those quality-of-life features that reduces fumbling with switches, especially when you’re up a ladder. Just note the fob is sold separately; I paired mine to a DeWalt rotary hammer with built-in WTC and had zero hiccups.

On-tool performance with rotary hammers

For concrete and masonry, I paired the DWH161 with SDS Plus hammers using the appropriate shrouds (DeWalt’s DWH200D and D25301D work well). With the correct shroud in place, the setup is compliant with OSHA 1926.1153 Table 1—an important box to check on commercial sites.

Collection on anchor holes up to 1/2 inch was excellent. Dust plumes were minimized to the point that cleanup afterward was basically a quick sweep. The extractor’s brushless motor and 350W output give it enough headroom to keep up with constant drilling without bogging. What impressed me most was consistency: even as the dust box filled, suction dropped gradually rather than suddenly. If you keep the filter reasonably clean, it maintains reliable capture.

Drywall, sanding, routing, and carpentry tasks

On the lighter-duty side, I used it with a drywall cutout tool for outlet boxes and recessed lights. It kept airborne dust down dramatically compared to running the tool bare. For detail sanding and jigsaw work in occupied spaces, the DWH161 is a huge quality-of-life upgrade; there’s no long hose tether, so I was more willing to grab it for a quick cut or a batch of edge sanding. With a trim router, collection is decent—very good on shallow passes and profiling, less perfect on aggressive plunges where chips can outrun a small hose. That’s expected for a compact unit.

Filtration and dust box capacity

The HEPA filter is the star here. Fine particulate from concrete and drywall is exactly what cheaper collectors struggle with. After multiple sessions, I didn’t see telltale haze or “blow-through” around the exhaust. The dust box is larger than the one on DeWalt’s compact onboard hammer vac (45% bigger by their spec), which translates to fewer trips to the bin. It’s still a small box, though. On a full day of drilling, I emptied it a few times; on drywall cutouts, it fills faster than you’d think because gypsum packs tightly.

Maintenance is straightforward: the box pops out easily, the filter can be tapped off or replaced, and the seals wipe clean. I’d keep a spare HEPA on hand if you frequently work in fine concrete dust; once a filter gets loaded with ultrafine particles, suction suffers until you clean or replace it.

Ergonomics and portability

Wearing the extractor is a non-issue after you get the strap length dialed in. I preferred cross-body carry so the unit sits behind my hip, out of the way of ladder rails and harness gear. The belt hook is handy for brief tasks, but over time the shoulder strap is more comfortable. The hose is flexible enough to follow your movements without fighting the tool. Importantly, the center of gravity stays close to your body, so it doesn’t feel like a pendulum when you move quickly.

Noise is lower than a full-size jobsite vac, though it’s still a vacuum—ear protection remains a good idea, particularly in echoey concrete spaces.

Runtime and charging

With the included 2.0Ah battery, I averaged around 10–15 minutes of continuous high-suction use, and considerably longer in stop-and-go tasks like layout drilling. For long stretches, I switched to 5.0Ah or 6.0Ah packs, which made the setup a practical all-morning solution. The DCB115 charger is standard fare and tops off compact packs quickly during lunch breaks.

If you plan to use WTC and keep the extractor spooling up frequently, larger batteries are worthwhile. They also add a little weight, which actually made the unit hang more stably for me.

Compatibility notes

• SDS Plus rotary hammers with the correct shrouds: excellent capture and OSHA Table 1 compliance when set up properly.
• Drywall cutout tools: very effective for point-of-source capture.
• Sanders, routers, and jigsaws: good to very good, depending on the tool’s port design and your technique.
• Cross-brand use: the DWV9109 stepped adapter helps mate to most ports; you may still benefit from a small adapter kit if your fleet spans many brands.

What it’s not designed for

The DWH161 isn’t a replacement for a high-CFM dust extractor tethered to a sander for full-surface finishing or for collecting large chip volumes from planers or track saws. It’s also a dry-only solution; don’t use it for slurry or wet pickups. If your task produces continuous heavy chips or demands sustained, high-volume airflow, a larger vac with a thicker hose is the right tool.

Durability and service

After rides in the van and a few inevitable bumps against scaffolding, the housing and latches are none the worse for wear. The brushless motor should aid longevity, and DeWalt backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. Those support terms matter for a wearable tool that’s going to see daily site abuse.

Small gripes

• The included 2.0Ah battery is convenient for weight, but many users will want a 4.0Ah–6.0Ah pack to stretch runtime.
• Wireless Tool Control is excellent, but the key fob isn’t included. If your tools aren’t WTC-enabled, budget for the fob.
• The dust box is larger than compact onboard units, but during aggressive drywall or masonry work you’ll still be emptying it a few times per day.

Who benefits most

• Concrete trades doing repeated anchor holes or small chiseling tasks at height.
• Remodelers and service techs who bounce between short, dust-producing tasks.
• Finish carpenters working in occupied spaces where hose management and noise matter.
• Anyone who wants OSHA Table 1 compliance on SDS Plus drilling without dragging a shop vac and hose bundle around.

The bottom line

The DWH161 hits a sweet spot I didn’t realize I needed: real HEPA filtration and on-tool dust capture in a package that you can wear without thinking about it. It’s responsive with Wireless Tool Control, surprisingly capable on masonry work with the right shrouds, and flexible enough to cover drywall and light carpentry tasks with minimal fuss. It won’t replace a big extractor for high-volume sanding or cutting, but that’s not its job.

Recommendation: I recommend the DWH161 to pros and serious DIYers who need portable, point-of-source dust collection across multiple tools. It’s compact, genuinely effective with a HEPA filter, and thoughtfully designed for jobsite mobility. Pair it with a larger 20V MAX battery and the WTC key fob (if your tools don’t have WTC) and you’ll have a grab-and-go dust solution that saves time, keeps sites cleaner, and helps you stay compliant on concrete drilling.