DeWalt 60V MAX Cordless Dust Extractor

A cordless extractor that prioritizes portability over brute force

I’ve spent the past few months using DeWalt’s 60V MAX DCV585 cordless dust extractor on punch lists, light demo, and concrete spot-grinding jobs. I went in hoping for corded performance without the cord. What I got is a well-thought-out, jobsite-tough vac that shines in short, mobile tasks—and runs out of steam when you push it like a corded unit.

Build and ergonomics

The DCV585 feels like typical DeWalt jobsite gear: dense plastic housing, solid latches, and a form factor that sits securely on the ground or the back of a van. At about 19.5 pounds bare, it’s not featherweight, but the carry handle and balanced footprint make it easy enough to move between rooms. The 2.0-gallon tank is on the small side, but that also keeps the footprint compact. It stacks cleanly with T-STAK boxes; I kept my airflow accessories and extra bags in a T-STAK on top, and it traveled well.

The 8-foot anti-static hose with AIRLOCK is excellent. The fittings lock on securely, and anti-static hose is a must when you’re collecting fine dust from concrete or drywall. The built-in hose wrap is actually useful, and the hose hasn’t kinked on me.

Controls and convenience

Two features make this vac feel modern in daily use:

• Wireless Tool Control: The included remote pairs quickly and lets me toggle the vac on and off from the hose. For intermittent cuts, hole drilling, or short grinding passes, not walking back to the vac is a big time saver. The pairing has been reliable, and it reconnects automatically.
• Automatic filter cleaning: Dual filters pulse on a set interval to keep airflow up. You’ll hear it “thump” as it cycles. In fine dust, it matters. Suction stays more consistent over a bag’s life than it would without an auto-clean.

The vac is rated at 125 CFM. That puts it beneath high-end corded extractors, but above small cordless cleanup vacs. Noise is very jobsite-normal—not quiet, not outrageous. Conversation with hearing protection is fine.

Filtration and compliance

The included HEPA filter is the real deal, and the vac meets EPA RRP requirements when used with that filter. For concrete work, DeWalt lists Table 1 compliant solutions up to 5-inch tuckpointing and surfacing when paired with an appropriate shroud. I ran it with a 5-inch grinder and a DeWalt shroud for door-threshold corrections and stair nosing cleanups. With careful technique and a good seal, visible dust at the tool was very well controlled. As always, compliance depends on the specific task, duration, and your setup, so treat the rating as part of a system.

For interior renovation with lead-safe practices, the HEPA cartridge captures fine dust effectively. The auto-clean pulses can puff a trace of dust if you’re careless during bag changes; keep the tank closed when pulsing and bag offloading to a minimum, and you’ll be fine.

Performance and suction

Where the DCV585 succeeds: short, portable, targeted extraction. Where it struggles: sustained, high-load concrete grinding or large-volume debris. That 125 CFM rating is enough to keep a sander, cutoff saw, or grinder shroud honest for quick passes. On drywall spot sanding, hole drilling, and trim work, it keeps dust out of the air and off the floor.

Under a continuous heavy load—think long surfacing passes on a slab—it doesn’t have the overhead of a corded 140–150+ CFM extractor, and you feel it. Suction remains steady while the tank is empty and the filters are cycling, but bag capacity and runtime are the bottlenecks.

Runtime and battery strategy

This is the section that will make or break it for you. With a high-capacity FLEXVOLT pack, I see roughly 10–15 minutes of continuous grinding extraction per battery. On intermittent tasks where the vac isn’t running nonstop—cut, stop, reposition, cut again—I can stretch that well beyond a half hour because the wireless remote prevents needless runtime. If you intend to grind continuously, you will need a stack of charged packs and a charging plan.

Practical tips that helped me:
- Use a pre-separator when possible. Pairing the vac with a small cyclone on a 5-gallon bucket keeps chips and fines out of the tank. Suction stays higher, the auto-clean works less, and runtime effectively improves because the filter isn’t loading up.
- Keep batteries warm and rotate them. Cold packs sag sooner under the extractor’s draw.
- Accept that this is a sprint, not a marathon. For all-day grinding, a corded extractor is still the right choice.

Bags, tank, and cleanup

The 2.0-gallon capacity is honest—and limiting. Fleece bags capture fine dust well and keep the HEPA cartridge cleaner, but you’ll fill them quickly in concrete work. I’ve had best results with:
- Folding excess bag material neatly so it doesn’t balloon into the filter area.
- Swapping bags early during heavy dust to keep airflow up.
- Using bag + pre-separator for anything more than light grinding or drywall work.

The tank design is easy to open and clean. Latches are positive, and the interior wipes out without awkward corners. For wet pickups, remove the bag and use the appropriate filter setup per the manual. Don’t soak the HEPA cartridge; let components dry completely before reinstalling.

Hose and compatibility

The AIRLOCK system is legitimately good. The hose locks solidly to DeWalt shrouds and sanders, and I didn’t fight random disconnects. With third-party tools, expect to carry a couple of step adapters; once fitted, performance is fine. Static shocks were noticeably reduced compared to generic hoses, which matters on cold, dry days.

Portability and storage

Between T-STAK compatibility, the compact footprint, and the hose wrap, this vac packs neatly. I keep it stacked beneath a T-STAK organizer and slide the whole tower into a van cubby. For facility maintenance or multi-level jobsites, carrying the DCV585 and a grinder in one trip is easy. That’s a big part of the appeal.

Where it fits—and where it doesn’t

Shines:
- Punch-list and service work where cords are a headache or a safety issue.
- Interior renovation requiring HEPA filtration and tidy handling.
- Short, intermittent cuts and grinding with the wireless remote.
- Jobs where portability and quick setup matter more than maximum airflow.

Falls short:
- Continuous concrete grinding or surfacing where you’d run a vac for long stretches.
- High-volume cleanup; the 2-gallon tank and bag fill quickly.
- Users expecting corded-class CFM and water lift from a cordless package.

Durability and warranty

No complaints on durability so far. The shell shrugs off bumps, the hose hasn’t abraded, and the filter-cleaning mechanism hasn’t hiccuped. DeWalt’s 3-year limited warranty, plus 1-year free service and 90-day satisfaction guarantee, offers a reasonable safety net.

Value

This is a premium-priced bare tool, and you still need a FLEXVOLT battery and charger if you don’t already own them. If you’re expecting a one-to-one corded replacement, the price-to-performance will feel steep. If you value cordless mobility, HEPA, and a thoughtful feature set—especially Wireless Tool Control—the package makes more sense. Owners already invested in FLEXVOLT will see the best value.

Recommendation

I recommend the DCV585 for tradespeople who prioritize mobility and clean, compliant extraction on short, distributed tasks: door installers doing threshold corrections, remodelers working in finished spaces, facility techs bouncing between rooms, and anyone who benefits from cordless setup and wireless on/off. Pair it with a pre-separator and fleece bags, and it’s an efficient, tidy system.

I don’t recommend it as your primary extractor for sustained concrete grinding, surfacing, or large-volume cleanup. The combination of 125 CFM, 2-gallon capacity, and battery runtime just isn’t intended for marathon work. In those scenarios, a corded extractor will be faster, stronger, and more economical.

Used within its lane, this vac is a smart, thoughtfully designed cordless extractor that makes many small, dusty jobs easier—and a lot cleaner.