Makita’s new 18V cordless vacuum, model DCL500Z, is a canister vacuum cleaner that looks useful for light general cleanup tasks. It provides long reach, respectable suction power, and reasonable runtime.
Features
- 46 CFM of suction power, and 26.5″ of water lift
- Cyclonic separation helps reduce filter clogging
- 250 ml capacity (~ 1 cup)
- Removable dust canister
- Weighs 9.4 pounds with battery
- Air volume selection (low and high) via push-button switch
- LED filter cleaning and battery fuel gauge warning lights
- Filter cleaning lever helps loosen dust from filter
- Quiet operation; 64 dB(A)
- Telescoping extension wand for 38″ to 40″ reach
The new vacuum comes with floor and crevice nozzles, a cleaning brush, a reusable dust filter, and shoulder strap.
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Battery and charger are sold separately.
Makita’s 18V LXT 3.0Ah battery pack will power the vacuum for up to 12 minutes on the high suction power setting, and up to 30 minutes on the low setting.
Street Price: $332, battery and charger required (not included)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
Makita’s sales flyer (PDF) for the new DCL500Z vacuum shows it being used to clean a car’s interior and by someone cleaning up a residential floor. This suggests that it’s not really designed for jobsite cleanup tasks where you might have a lot of large debris to pick up.
Then there’s the 250 ml capacity. I have a hard time believing this, but the 250 ml (0.53 pint) capacity is listed in the manual and in the sales flyer. That’s little more than a cup. That’s smaller than a can of soda! Maybe the larger particles travel into a separate larger compartment during cyclonic separation?
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Small capacity aside, the new cordless vacuum looks like an interesting tool for quick, final, or specialty cleaning tasks. It is smaller and lighter than popular corded dust extractors and shop vacuums, and is powered by quick-charging Li-ion batteries. Unlike cordless jobsite vacs, the new Makita DCL500Z looks like it could be quieter and perhaps easier to maneuver thanks to its hose and extension wand.
The $300+ price for just the vacuum seems a little high, but it could possibly be justified by premium features such as the external filter-cleaning mechanism, cyclonic separation system, and quiet motor.
John
Really?? Seems pointless to me. I hope dewalt and milwaukee dont follow suit
Stuart
Maybe it’s meant to appeal to consumers? It’s hard to say.
John
If that’s the case, i would bet that you will start seeing the quality to dip to attract the “consumer”. Remember delta BD and skil?
do
Between all the vacuum i’ve tryed, the makita is the best! It aspiration is amazing
Allen
Looks like they could have made it be a blower also.
Stuart
Possibly not. Most vacuum/blower combinations use the exhaust air to feed the blower. It looks like Makita designed the vac to output as clean air as possible, which will probably drastically cut down on exhaust airspeed. There might also be baffles to help cut down on noise. With these things in mind, I think the vac would be a very bad blower.
matt
dyson clone…
tim
I have 2 of the stick vacs and use them almost every day for spot cleaning and general areas to replace a broom and dust pan. I love mine. It’s too bad it’s not an 18v x2 tool or I’d buy one just for the added runtime.
Pete
When I chose Makita as my platform of choice it was because it seemed like the most innovative company at the time with the largest 18v line up. So being a Makita owner I see the Makita company as mine. And lately my company has been letting me down with lame products. They’re the last company to make a battery bigger than 3.0Ah? And several reviews on amazon about the 3.0Ah battery claim their batteries have had problems.
To me it seems Makita wanted to add another tool to their LXT line up regardless of what it was and if it was desired. And this is what I’m mad about, instead of refining their current tools to catch up to the competition they use their resources to make a tool that I believe not many people will want or more important buy.
I’ve been a Makita fan for a long time. I’m now at the point where I need to purchase new batteries for my line up. Sadly I’m thinking of ditching the Makita line for the Milwaukee. They have better batteries, their 18v impact hits 2x harder, their 12v line is huge and the important part, it’s effective.
Well Makita I think it’s time we’ve had a good run. I’m going to start saving my lunch money and buy the awesome Milwaukee Fuel set as soon as I get a chance.
John
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve got 7 or 8 Makita LXT tools and regret it just about every time I see Milwaukee come out with something new.
Jc
I agree. Their prices are higher than Milwaukee. Which is rediculous. Regretting the purchase also.
Makita, you are not festool
Julian Tracy
Nobody matches Makita for the wide range of tools in their 18volt platform.
How many 18volt batt platforms have Milwaukee released and then discontinued? V18, M18, etc, etc. I could see buying into Milwaukee’s M12 platform – it’s gotten to be quite a system, but I’ve had no problems with my Makita tools and batts, and I’ve used the system for at least 7 years.
Previously, had the Bosch 18volt system – still use their 10″ miter saw/cordless planer/sawzall/cordless jigsaw – when those batts die, I’ll make an adapter to run the tools from the LXT batts.
Look at Makita’s lineup – I have yet to see anyone match the scope of tools Makita has – a few notable ones I own.
– right angle inpact (great for motorcycle/hvac/framing work)
– right angle drill (made in Japan – super heavy duty but very very small – will drill 1″ holes in joists all day long)
– blower (great for jobsite/tool cleanup, camping, inflating…)
-LED flex head worklight (same design as their older Flourescent, great light for $50 – one of the best tools I own)
– 7″ miter saw
– Stick vac
– metal cutting circ saw (will cut 3/8″ steel angle easily)
– Chainsaw
-brushless auto torque impact
etc.
I have and use both the 1.5amp and 3.0 amp batts – have been pretty happy with their longterm use and runtime.
I’d get into the Milwaukee system as a second choice, but I wouldn’t change over.
Plus – I heard stories a few years ago about Milwaukee service centers suggesting that items like switches were “wear items” and not covered under their 5 year warranty.
JT
KL
M18 has not been discontinued. The only one you’re correct about is V18. V18 users did get screwed, one of Milwaukee’s biggest mistake. But V28 users could just interchange w M28.
Alan
So they did change the case so they don’t interchange but I have the v18 drill and impact and just purchased the sawzall and circular saw in m18. I bought both tools without batteries figuring that my old ones would work. Well nope didn’t fit. So I look and the only difference was one extra male tab on the v18 batteries so I ground it off and it works great. The fit is the same no extra movement, just a way for these manufacturers to make you buy a whole new setup every few years. I’m sure the new batteries are better but I’m just glad I don’t have to shell out an extra 200.
Aleks
I recently pulled the trigger on the vacuum and here are some reasons why:
1. Brushless motor (My Brushless impact is super powerful, if its the same motor this vacuum will be plenty powerful when it finally ships to me.
2. HEPA filter with dual chamber, HEPA are usually the best for dust and allergen collection, perfect for in home use.
3. I have a few 4 AMP batteries so runtime should be excellent.
4. Very small and lightweight great for cleaning the 4 sets of stairs at work
5. Easy filter cleaning for my girlfriend when she vacuums the apartment.
6. Dual chamber design should keep the vacuum from clogging up quickly. The cheaper version BCL180 (Which I also own), was nearly powerful enough for around the home use when just cleaned, but would clog quickly and had a messy filter cleaning. hopefully this vac will also be quiter at 64db max.
7. I like the wand design, especially when light enough vacuum to carry on a shoulder belt (Which is listed as included)
8. I can vacuum my car in the parking lot without cords or any other inconveniences like lugging a 50 pound house vacuum.
9. I got a great deal on an open box product
10. And lastly because I would probably but just about anything they make that I can use lol..
But my point is that just because some of you can’t imagine the applications for this and can’t justify the price because of that doesn’t mean there is no people out there need something like this.
Personally I can see this vacuum replacing all my other vacs except the shop vac for construction debris.
This vacuum is obviosly a house vac, I would not use it as a shop vac.
We will see next week when I get it in and get to test it out.
Aleks
So I finally got my vacuum in and have put it thtough its paces. This thing is pretty impressive! My $500 Dyson Cyclone isn’t really better, it has a bit more suction then the makita but it is much larger, heavier and corded, not to mention $200 more.
I picked my Makita up at just over $200 so I feel like it was completely worth it.
This has to be one of the quietest vacuums I have ever used and I haven’t seen any corded models with two speed settings, which is actually pretty awesome especially since at the lower setting you can easily have a conversation while vacuuming. I can vacuum up a mess next to someone reading and they would hardly be bothered.
That alone can be a reason to pull the trigger for some people. I was able to vacuum my girlfriends small apartment atleast 3 times on one battery charge.
This is one of those vacuums where you will have dust so tiny inside the canister it is finer then flour. It is interesting to see the tiny particles inside the canister from floors that looked perfectly clean.
I should say the Dyson also does as good on the dust but is more work all the way around. It would be unwieldly with a shoulder strap, where as the makita comes with one and is mostly convenient and comfortable.