Bosch SDS-max Speed Clean Adapter

Why I reached for this adapter

Concrete drilling creates two problems at once: dust that nobody wants to breathe and debris that slows drilling. I’ve been using hollow SDS‑max bits for anchor holes because they turn both problems into one solution—extract dust as you drill. The piece that makes that work is the Speed Clean adapter. It’s a small plastic connector that mates an SDS‑max hollow bit to a 35 mm vacuum hose and routes the spoil through the bit’s core. Simple part, big impact—when everything is set up right.

Setup and compatibility

The adapter is lightweight (about a fifth of a pound) and made of rigid plastic. It slides onto the bit shank and provides a 35 mm connection for your vacuum hose. The fit on the bit is positive; it doesn’t feel sloppy, and it doesn’t rattle under hammering. On the hose side, it’s designed around the European‑style 35 mm standard. If you’re running a Bosch, Hilti, Metabo, or Festool vac with a 35 mm hose, it’s plug‑and‑play. If your shop vac uses a 2‑1/2 in. or 1‑7/8 in. hose, plan on a step‑down adapter or a reducer cuff. Friction fit works, but a proper rubber reducer keeps the connection secure and preserves airflow.

A few practical notes from setup:
- Keep the bit and adapter mating surfaces clean. Fine dust on the interfaces acts like lapping compound and accelerates wear.
- Verify airflow before you drill. Close any unused ports on your vac and make sure the filter is clean; this system lives and dies on available CFM.
- The adapter is for SDS‑max hollow bits. It won’t solve compatibility for SDS‑plus; that’s a different piece.

On‑site performance

With a capable vac attached, the system delivers what it promises: it pulls fines straight through the bit’s center while you hammer. In practice, that means no pausing to pump the bit to clear flutes, far fewer blow‑outs with a bulb, and a much cleaner hole wall—especially important for adhesive anchors.

I tested the adapter on a mix of 5/8 in., 3/4 in., and 1 in. holes in 4,000 PSI concrete, using a mid‑size SDS‑max rotary hammer and a 35 mm hose on a dust extractor with automatic filter cleaning. Drilling speed felt on par or slightly faster than conventional fluted bits because I wasn’t wasting strokes evacuating debris. The hammer maintained a steady bite, and the hole bottoms were free of packed fines. Pulling the bit out, there was minimal dust plume at the surface—just a faint puff when I broke through the last few millimeters.

Where the adapter really earns its keep is overhead and in occupied spaces. Overhead drilling becomes far less miserable—no shower of silica in your face mask, no mess raining onto finished surfaces. On slab, I could keep the workspace clean enough that I didn’t need a dedicated vacuum pass after drilling, which saves real time on multi‑anchor layouts.

If airflow drops, the performance penalty is immediate. You’ll notice spoil begin to cake at the hole bottom, hammer feedback gets chattery, and extraction at the bit ports weakens. That’s not the adapter’s fault per se, but it highlights that the whole chain—bit, adapter, hose, and vac—has to be matched. With clean filters and full suction, the adapter does not feel like a bottleneck.

Dust control and compliance

Silica exposure rules aren’t getting looser, and the hollow‑bit plus adapter setup is one of the cleanest routes to compliance. The through‑bit extraction reduces airborne dust at the source and leaves holes ready for anchoring without extra cleaning steps in many workflows. I still verify with a quick brush or blow in critical adhesive applications, but the amount of dust left is markedly lower than with flute‑only evacuation and external shrouds.

As always, pair it with a vac that’s appropriate for silica, ideally with HEPA filtration and auto filter cleaning. The adapter’s 35 mm interface matches the hoses on most dust extractors built for this task, which helps keep the system sealed and efficient.

Durability and maintenance

The adapter is plastic, which raised an eyebrow at first. In practice, it has held up to hammer vibrations better than I expected, provided I used it with a properly aligned rotary hammer and a tight hose connection. I’ve put it through multiple days of drilling in cured concrete, including some leaning and awkward angles, and the body hasn’t cracked. The wear I do see is primarily cosmetic scuffing and a slight polishing of the contact points.

That said, it’s not indestructible:
- Heat and abrasive dust are the enemies. If the vac is underpowered, fines accumulate and heat builds, which can soften plastic and shorten service life.
- Side‑loading the bit or using a wobbly chuck transmits stress to the adapter’s collar. Keep the bit straight and let the hammer do the work.
- Dropping a rotary hammer with the hose attached is a great way to torque the connection. Disconnect the hose before moving between holes if you’re navigating ladders or rebar forests.

Basic care goes a long way. Knock dust off the adapter between holes, check the hose fit, and don’t use solvents on the plastic. If you’re on a production crew drilling hundreds of holes a day, I’d keep a spare in the box—cheap insurance against downtime.

Quirks and limitations

• Hose size mismatch is the most common hiccup. Many general‑purpose shop vacs won’t natively fit the 35 mm port. Budget for a reducer and you’re fine.
• The system depends on suction. With a clogged filter or small vac, you’ll still drill, but you won’t get the dust control or speed benefits that justify the setup.
• This is an SDS‑max solution. If your anchors top out in the SDS‑plus range, look for the corresponding adapter and bit family rather than trying to cross‑fit.

None of these are deal‑breakers, but they’re worth understanding before you roll it out across a crew.

Who it’s for

• Concrete contractors and MEP installers who already use hollow SDS‑max bits or are moving toward cleaner, faster anchor drilling.
• Facilities teams working in occupied buildings where housekeeping and silica exposure are concerns.
• Anyone with a 35 mm‑equipped dust extractor looking to tighten up their drilling workflow.

If you live in occasional DIY land with a big box shop vac and a couple of wedge anchors a year, the setup is arguably overkill unless you specifically want the cleanest process.

Bottom line and recommendation

The Speed Clean adapter is the quiet hero of a smart system: it’s not flashy, but it reliably links the bit to the vacuum and gets debris out of the hole as you drill. In my use, it’s easy to set up, efficient when paired with a proper extractor, and durable enough for regular jobsite work if you treat it like part of a precision toolchain rather than a consumable. The main gotchas are hose compatibility and the need for adequate suction; both are solvable with the right hose reducer and a vac designed for fine dust.

I recommend this adapter to anyone running SDS‑max hollow bits, especially crews targeting cleaner holes and better silica control. It saves time, reduces mess, and supports better anchor prep. Just make sure your vacuum setup is up to the task and grab a hose reducer if you’re not already on a 35 mm system.