Designed for one-handed operation, the DeWALT DC515K 18-Volt wet/dry vacuum combines the power of a wet/dry vacuum in the portability of a cordless unit. About the size of a breadbox, this compact tool works fine for both wet and dry pickup. It's especially handy for cleaning up smaller spills as well as work and household messes, thereby saving you the hassle of hauling out the full-size plug-in shop vac. And a unique cleanup mode, good suction force and cordless convenience also make it ideal for quick jobsite cleanups. Use the nozzle located at the nose of the tool, or remove the expandable hose from the vacuum's handle to suck up debris in corners, new cabinet installations and other tight spaces.

We discovered several notable features on this unit. For starters, the $affordable DC515K includes the 18-volt battery and 1-hour charger. And the battery can be used in your other 18-volt DeWALT cordless tools. The construction is heavy duty, from the powerful motor and rubber hose, to the sturdy housing showcasing DeWALT's notable yellow and black design. The reusable pleated Gore wet/dry filter is easy to remove and rinse clean. And kudos for using a high-efficiency HEPA filter, which traps 99.97 percent of dust as small as 0.3 microns -- making this tool great for sucking up drywall dust. The tank is also easy to remove, but its 1/2-gallon capacity fills up fairly fast so you'll need to empty it more often than most.

One design flaw is that the hose does not extend to 3 feet, so you may need to hand hold the wet/dry vac in order to get to the mess. The weight is well balanced, but at 6 pounds it can get a bit heavy when holding the unit for long periods of time. And the noise level is a bit high-pitched, which makes it sound louder than it is. But for durability you can depend on, the DeWALT DC515K cordless wet/dry vac is a handy tool to have around when you're short on space or electricity.

Pros: Cordless, one-handed operation, compact, dual cleanup modes, expandable hose stores on the tool, includes 18-volt battery and charger, battery can be used in other 18-volt DeWALT tools, heavy-duty construction, HEPA filter is easy to remove and rinse clean, well-balanced weight.
Cons: Small 1/2-gallon capacity tank, expandable hose only extends to 3 feet, no attachments, seems loud due to high-pitched sound

Warranty
3 years, limited