DeWalt 2stage Quiet wet and dry vac

[Eplfan2011]

4 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

Okay, I'm puzzled, I searched this and read a lot of reviews, and of the ones I read not one mentioned how quiet it was, and to me that is the feature that sets it apart.  I would purchase one just for that feature.  An looking at the specks I saw nothing mentioned.. about the sound.

Make sure your reviewing the right vac, as far as I know it's only on the one model, the 12g one and it has this on the box 

If you look back in the thread you will see a YouTube video showing how quiet it is.

[Freddie]

Looking forward to your review. If you don’t mind, please describe what size tubes you have it connected to on the saw and if you could tell any difference in sound or if the unit gets hot when you have you pulling through smaller tubes on your saw. This has the potential to be a great option to the loud shop vac set up I have. Thanks in advance 

[kmmcrafts]

11 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Okay, I'm puzzled, I searched this and read a lot of reviews, and of the ones I read not one mentioned how quiet it was, and to me that is the feature that sets it apart.  I would purchase one just for that feature.  An looking at the specks I saw nothing mentioned.. about the sound.

In the video posted earlier the guy shows the specs on the side of the box.. shows it to be 65dbl. Not sure why they can put that info on the box but not on their website. I think that info is needed for people to make that decision to buy one. Also I noticed that they have other models that look exactly the same online.. but the one that is the quiet one is a little more money than those others.. https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-10-Gal-Poly-Wet-Dry-Vac-DXV10P/305323783

[kmmcrafts]

Just for some useless info, I did some research on vac noise a few years ago and the Festool on the lowest settings was rated at 62dbl and around 72dbl on high. This is for the MIDI model which is the quietest one I think. I think the Fein was rated at 67.. ( now my memory is going to make me tell a lie LOL)  Anyway I downloaded a app to my phone to test some things I had in the shop as well as my small Seyco vac system etc.  I don't remember what my loud shop vac was. I think it was like 86dbl but that might be a lie. The little Seyco vac was like 62dbl but I will say it gets considerably louder when some fine dust gets into the bag / filter. The bag is kinda the only filter that thing has.. while it does quite well I'm sure the thing probably is spitting some fine particles out the back of it which is why I still wear a dust mask. 

Anyway, this DW vac seems like a real bargain for the price and only 65dbl. However some of the Fein vacs can be had for not a lot more than that without the Hepa filter and I believe you can buy that hepa filter and add to it later. I see no mention of the Hepa filter for the DW. Looks like the filtration is pretty good on it.. I'm sure it's better than the little Seyco system I have since the bag is the filter. The issue with these is that for a "real" dust collection you need a Hepa filter to catch those smallest of particles as they are what is bad for you. I'll definitely buy one of these once my shop vac dies.. maybe before that. LOL 

[Scrappile]

My only point on not having anyone mention the sound level I thought it was kind of strange.  That is the one feature that would lead me to select this one over all others in that price range.  To me that sets it apart.  I just thought it would be mentioned more.  

[kmmcrafts]

15 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

My only point on not having anyone mention the sound level I thought it was kind of strange.  That is the one feature that would lead me to select this one over all others in that price range.  To me that sets it apart.  I just thought it would be mentioned more.  

Yeah, my thought too.. I only could find that info on the YouTube video review. Seems like Home Depot and even on the DeWalt website they do not list that info, LOL  Yet it's on the box so I guess at least they did that.

[Scrappile]

I think it says on the top of the unit also. I mean it says "Stealthsonic" and their other models so not.  I hope they come out with a 9 gal stealthsonic,   I checked, one of our Lowes has them and at $139.  So tempting... But.

 

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by Scrappile

[Eplfan2011]

So I had a project to do this morning and I needed to clean up so I thought I'd unbox the vacuum and do a quick review. it's not going to be technical just what I observe. 

First up this is a large vac at 12g and 5.5 HP it's not small.  There's some assembly required, to be exact 6 screws one each for 4 castors and two for the accessory holder. There a 4 accessories that fit nicely in the holder, a nice size crush proof hose and two extension wands, the collection hose has a ID of 2"

I cleaned up my mess from this morning and had no problems sucking up anything I pointed it outat, from dust to larger heavier debris, no surprises really just what you would expect from a 5.5hp vac. I also had installed the provided bag in the vac, and while using it there was no visible dust from the exhaust port.

Ok now to the sound level, FYI my hearing is pretty bad due to some heavy duty chemo drugs and I have trouble hearing higher frequency sounds any lower frequency sounds are unpleasant, hence wanting quiter  equipment. I used an app called sound meter to measure the difference in volume between different noises, probably not that accurate of a db measurement but the difference in volume should be.

First ambient noise in the room,  

Second my hawk running full speed with no load, just to give you an idea of noise level as some my be familiar 

Third my cheapo shop vac 

And finally the DeWalt

Firstly I my be wrong but I'm thinking db measurement is liner, as 12db difference doesn't sound a lot, but my cheapo shop vac screams and the DeWalt is very quiet. I think the hawk is very quiet when running with no load and the DeWalt is a couple of db more

To sum it all up, I'm perfectly happy with the purchase and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, the sound level is night and day when compared to the one it's replacing. I have all the fittings to add dust collection to the hawk but have yet to install it so I can't say how it performs there, but common sense tells me that I'm sure it won't have any problems being as 5.5hp is overkill in the first place.

Thanks for looking and I hope this helps someone thinking of buying one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by Eplfan2011

[Sycamore67]

Db measurements are on a logarithmic basis.  A 12 db difference is more than 10 times louder.

[Freddie]

Thank you for the information. I would love an update after you have it hooked up to your saw as well. I know you called it your no name cheap shop vacuum but I would like to know the name. At 73 db that is pretty good. My cheap Stinger shop vac is 94db at 3 feet away!

[kmmcrafts]

I remember when I used the app on my phone.. I expected the db to be way louder with my shop vac than my small Seyco vac and I was surprised it wasn't nearly double the db like I thought it would be, LOL But what Larry saying about it being 10 times louder makes sense.. LOL I'm almost talked into buying this vac.. My shop vac is one of the big ones with the 5-6hp. 14 gallon I think. I'm almost talked into trying this DW one though.. 

[Eplfan2011]

2 hours ago, Sycamore67 said:

Db measurements are on a logarithmic basis.  A 12 db difference is more than 10 times louder.

Thanks Sycamore67, that sounds about right (excuse the pun )

[Eplfan2011]

40 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

I remember when I used the app on my phone.. I expected the db to be way louder with my shop vac than my small Seyco vac and I was surprised it wasn't nearly double the db like I thought it would be, LOL But what Larry saying about it being 10 times louder makes sense.. LOL I'm almost talked into buying this vac.. My shop vac is one of the big ones with the 5-6hp. 14 gallon I think. I'm almost talked into trying this DW one though.. 

Well i would say do it!

About $140 from Lowes and my ears thank me! 

[Eplfan2011]

5 hours ago, Freddie said:

Thank you for the information. I would love an update after you have it hooked up to your saw as well. I know you called it your no name cheap shop vacuum but I would like to know the name. At 73 db that is pretty good. My cheap Stinger shop vac is 94db at 3 feet away!

Freddie, As i said in the post i used a app which I had no way to calibrate so how accurate 73db is!   it was used as a baseline for the increase or decrease in volume ie there's12bd difference between the two.  

My cheapo vac was one my wife picked up at Walmart, the brand is Hart.

[John B]

I had a look as it seems very interesting and at those sound levels, I'd love it, but Alas It's not avail;able in Oz at the moment and probably longer to get to the west.

WA = Wait Awhile

[BadBob]

An increase of 3db is double the sound level.

[barb.j.enders]

Thanks for the quick review and screenshots of the db level.  Like @John Bsaid, it currently isn't available in Canada.  I may consider ordering it and having it shipped to a border location for pick up. 

I have used a sound meter app on my phone.  My husband will use it in a restaurant to see how loud it is. 

[Eplfan2011]

57 minutes ago, barb.j.enders said:

Thanks for the quick review and screenshots of the db level.  Like @John Bsaid, it currently isn't available in Canada.  I may consider ordering it and having it shipped to a border location for pick up. 

I have used a sound meter app on my phone.  My husband will use it in a restaurant to see how loud it is. 

You're welcome Barb, it's obviously not silent but it's a big improvement for me at least.  I've never used the app before but it did what I needed it to do.

 There are other vacs out there this quiet but at triple the price, as to how long it will last time will tell but DeWalt stuff tends to be pretty reliable.