Site icon Concord Carpenter

RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum

RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum

When cordless tools first hit the market, the push was on for ever-more powerful versions from year-to-year.  But now that battery-powered tools can out-power their cordless counterparts, we’re seeing a trend towards smaller, “right-sized” tools, incorporating appropriate power for a job but at reduced weight and bulk.  RYOBI has been introducing “compact” cordless tools too, and the new RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (Model PCL733B), a member of RYOBI’s 18V ONE+ family of cordless tools, is their new entrant into the small, compact wet/dry vacuum market.

A “Right-Sized” Wet/Dry Vacuum

I recently wrote about the RYOBI Workshop Blower (model P755), a small workshop-sized blower that puts out the smaller, controlled flows of air that are appropriate to workshop settings (as opposed to jobsites).  Well, this new RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum can be considered the “intake” counterpart to that “output” blower.  In a workshop – at least mine – I don’t like to haul around a full-size shop vacuum for small clean-up tasks.  The large vacuum is clumsier to move around, and the larger hose (and possibly cord) are always getting hung up on tools, fixtures, and work pieces.  Plus, they have way more power than I typically need.  The smaller new RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum is “right-sized” for most of my workshop needs.

Of course, it has plenty of application outside the shop too: cleaning vehicles, smaller jobs on the jobsite, and even household uses, since the RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum is smaller and easier to carry around than even most house vacuums.

RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Specs

RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Performance

This RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum is meant to efficiently suck up dust, dirt, sawdust, wood shavings, metal filings, and other similar waste products.  To no one’s surprise, it does that extremely well – it’s not even interesting for me to mention that.  To try something a little heavier, I set down some wet, compacted sand…and it got vacuumed up with the same boring effectiveness.

Using the RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum

While appropriate performance in a tool like this is pretty much a given, the make-or-break stuff is how easy, convenient, and ergonomic it is to use.  So let’s look at that.

The RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum has, of course, a 1-gallon fill capacity.  That (and motor technology) determine its size, which is about 1½ times as big as my corded RYOBI circular saw (see picture).  This is a very easy and convenient size to carry, and it hangs by its handle from your arm, not far out from your body, in a position that is very comfortable.

The hose attaches easily with a twist-lock to a pivoting 90-degree elbow at the vacuum body.  The pivoting feature means that the hose can be pivoted 360-degrees in the vertical plane, making it easy to get the hose where you want it without kinking.  The hose also wraps around the vacuum and is held in place by C-shaped clamps, providing convenient, out-of-the-way hose storage and transport.  Hose tools have attachment points on the lid/motor-housing, preventing misplacement.

The power rocker switch is big and “can’t-miss”, and a contrasting color (gray) to the lid/motor-housing (which is black).  The 18V ONE+ battery (any size) slaps easily and cleanly into the top of the lid/motor-housing, with no interference.

RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Innards

The different available filters twist into position straightforwardly as is normal in a shop vacuum.  Of course you want to remove it if you’re vacuuming liquids, and there is a float safety/suction-cut-out incorporated, again as is common in wet/dry vacs.  The only thing missing from this small unit is the ability to attach a collection bag to the intake port in the reservoir.

Also, as customary in shop vacuum, the hose can be attached to the output, turning the vacuum into a blower.  But as is also customary, the airflow can’t be modulated, so you get 45 CFM or nothing – sucking or blowing.  If you want a modulated blower, then the RYOBI Workshop Blower referenced above is your ticket.

Bottom Line

I’m glad to see more smaller, “right-sized” tools coming to market.  The RYOBI 1-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum is one that has a permanent place in my shop now…and will find jobs to do out of the shop too.  $92 (tool only) at The Home Depot.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Exit mobile version