DeWalt SDS Rotary Hammer Dust Box Evacuator

A simple way to keep dust where it belongs

Emptying onboard dust boxes from SDS Plus rotary hammers is one of those small tasks that can undo a lot of good dust control. Crack a box open over a trash can and you get a puff of fines right in your face. The DeWalt dust box evacuator fixes that with a refreshingly simple idea: dock the dust box to a little yellow station, attach your vacuum, and let the extractor pull everything out under suction. No plume, no mess.

I’ve been using this evacuator as a centralized dumping station on top of a DWV012 and a DWV010, and it’s quickly become part of my concrete drilling routine.

What it is and who it’s for

This is a passive accessory—no motor, no electronics—that creates a sealed pathway between a DeWalt onboard dust box and a dust extractor. It’s built for crews running DeWalt SDS Plus hammers with onboard collectors like the DWH205DH, DWH302DH, DWH303DH, and DWH304DH, and it also plays nicely with the universal DWH161 extractor. If you’re already using DeWalt’s Perform & Protect dust-management setups to stay in silica compliance, the evacuator fills a very specific gap: it keeps the emptying process contained.

If you don’t use those onboard dust boxes, you don’t need this. If you do, it’s a surprisingly big quality-of-life improvement.

Setup and compatibility

Setting up the evacuator took a minute, mostly because there isn’t much to set up. The unit is compact—about 6.3 x 5.7 x 8.3 inches—and light at roughly 1.5 pounds. It’s designed to sit right on the top of the DWV012 or DWV010 extractor housing as a little “station,” and the footprint is stable enough for jobsite use. It also works with the cordless DCV585 and any extractor that has a DeWalt AirLock connection. The AirLock interface is the point: twist-and-click, solid seal, no taped adapters.

A few notes from my bench:
- The interior passage is about 1/2 inch. That’s fine for concrete dust and small chips; it’s not meant for slurry or wet debris.
- The AirLock collar snaps on positively; I didn’t get any hose pop-offs, even when dragging the vac by the hose (not recommended, but it happens).
- If your extractor isn’t AirLock-ready, plan on an adapter. Without AirLock, you lose the main convenience.

Build and design

It’s DeWalt yellow, thick-walled plastic, and purpose-built. There’s a clear top section that lets you see flow and verify the box is actually emptying. The sealing surfaces are straightforward: an O-ring and a flat gasket that mate to the dust box. Fewer moving parts is a feature here—less to break, less to gum up with fines.

A tip that sounds obvious but matters: before first use, make sure the clear cover and gaskets are present and properly seated. Without them, you can’t create the vacuum seal and the unit won’t function. I make it a habit to give the seal a quick wipe between cycles so fine silica doesn’t compromise the fit.

DeWalt backs the accessory with a 3-year warranty and a 90-day return window, which is generous for something this specialized.

In use: quick, clean empties

On a recent anchor layout—about 30 holes at 3/8 in.—the onboard collector on my SDS Plus hammer filled two or three times faster than I’d like. With the evacuator on top of the DWV012, the emptying rhythm looked like this:

1) Pull the dust box off the hammer.
2) Press it onto the evacuator’s port until it seats.
3) Switch the vacuum on (or let the vacuum auto-start if your setup supports that).
4) Watch the dust stream out through the clear section. Ten seconds later, the box is empty.
5) Pop the box off and click it back on the tool. Drill the next set.

Compared to cracking the box over a can, the difference in cleanliness is night and day. There’s no telltale puff, and the area around the vac stays clean. If you’re bagging your extractor, all that dust ends up contained in a fleece or HEPA bag, which makes end-of-day disposal a lot simpler and safer.

Two performance observations:
- Fines versus chips: Concrete fines evacuate perfectly. Occasionally, coarse chips or stringy material can hang up near the inlet. A light tap on the box clears it.
- Residual caking: If you let dust cakes form inside the box or on the box’s internal filter, the evacuator won’t “clean” those. It’s for emptying volume, not filter maintenance. You’ll still need to maintain or replace the box’s HEPA as required.

Ergonomics and workflow

What I like most is that it centralizes a fussy task. Instead of improvising a dumping spot—and spreading fine dust in the process—the crew knows to walk to the vac, snap on, and move on. Because it lives on the extractor, it’s always where I’m already going to knock my boots or change hose ends.

The small footprint and 1.5 lb weight make it easy to stash in a drawer when you’re mobile. On a rolling cart or the extractor’s top, it stays put; for transport, I do toss it in a bin so it doesn’t bounce off.

Limitations and quirks

• Ecosystem-specific by design. If your dust boxes aren’t DeWalt’s (DWH161, DWH205DH, DWH302/303/304DH), this won’t help. It’s not a universal dust separator.
• AirLock required for best results. You can adapt other vacs, but you lose the no-drama connection. The DWV010, DWV012, and DCV585 are the cleanest pairings.
• Dry use only. This isn’t for slurry from wet drilling or cores. The 1/2-in passage and seals are tuned for dry, fine particulate.
• It’s passive. “0 hp” isn’t a knock—just a reminder that your extractor’s suction dictates performance. A tired vac with a clogged filter will empty the box slowly.
• Parts check. Because the clear cover is the visual indicator and part of the seal, treat it like a consumable you don’t want to misplace. No cover, no seal, no evacuation.

None of these are deal-breakers if you’re the target user, but they’re worth calling out before you buy.

Maintenance and care

• Keep the sealing surfaces clean. A quick wipe with a microfiber rag keeps silica from cutting the gasket.
• Inspect the O-ring periodically. If you see nicks, replace it before you start fighting leaks.
• Bag your extractor. Pairing the evacuator with a fleece or HEPA bag in the vac keeps everything contained through final disposal.
• Don’t force wet debris. If you do end up with damp dust, let the box dry and then evacuate to avoid clogs.

Value

You’re paying for a simple, purpose-built accessory that removes a pain point and reduces exposure. In daily anchor-drilling or overhead layout, the time savings and cleanliness justify the slot in the kit. The 3-year warranty and 90-day return give some peace of mind for what is essentially a molded-plastic station with a few seals.

If you rarely use an onboard dust box, this is a nice-to-have, not a must-have. For crews drilling concrete weekly or daily, it moves into the must-have column.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt dust box evacuator for anyone running DeWalt SDS Plus onboard dust collectors as part of regular concrete drilling. It’s fast, clean, and integrates neatly with AirLock-equipped extractors like the DWV010, DWV012, and DCV585. You’ll still need to maintain your dust boxes and extractor, and it won’t fix a weak vac, but it eliminates the single messiest part of the process—emptying—without adding complexity.

If you’re outside the DeWalt ecosystem or only occasionally use a dust box, you can skip it. For everyone else, it’s a small accessory that makes a noticeable difference in dust control and workflow.