This odd-looking contraption is the new Ryobi Devour 18V cordless weeper, P3260, which is designed to clear large debris from your floor. It’s designed for picking up scraps of wood, nails, and “trash.”
It features dual rotating brushes, LED headlights, and a large 4-1/2 gallon tub. Ryobi says it can run 2 hours on a single battery.
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Here, just watch this 31 second promo video to see how it works:
It’s like a mini street sweeper!
The Ryobi Devour sweeper looks perfect for picking up the types of things that would clog most shop vacuum nozzles and hoses.
It has a 21″ cleaning swath and can also clean up right next to walls and edges.
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It has a large 4-1/2 gallon tub, which removes easily via a centered grab handle.
The battery port is at the rear of the sweeper, as is a foot-operated on/off botton.
There are bristle deflectors, on the left and right side of the unit, and also and adjustable brush height control knob which lowers or raises the rear caster wheel. You can also adjust the handle length, for comfort.
What happens of the Devour gets clogged? The motor will stop automatically and the LED headlights will flash for 10 seconds. If that happens, take the battery pack out and clear the obstruction.
The Ryobi Devour sweeper can be stored upright, with the handles folded and facing up. It weighs 17.5 pounds.
Price: $139, battery and charger not included
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
More Info(User Manual PDF)
First Impressions
Ryobi keeps giving me the impression that they’re up for designing and building anything, and that’s a good thing.
I can imagine someone saying “I wish I had an easier way to clear up all these wood chips and other debris that I can’t just vacuum up,” and then *poof* there’s the 18V cordless Devour.
The name, though – a verb? “Devour.” It seems like “Devourer” seems more appropriate.
I haven’t seen this in person yet, but it looks like a home run. 2 hours of runtime, a 4.5 gallon tank, and LED lights? Looks like they dialed things in nicely. And the brushes are replaceable too, at least according to the user manual.
I’m trying to think of reasons why someone for use of a tool like this might not to get one. Does it take up too much space for storage? Realistically, does it take up much more space than a push broom?
mikedt
Ryobi constantly makes me wish I had bought into their battery line instead of Milwaukee’s. The added possible robustness of the Milwaukee is lost on this home putterer.
Scott K
I’ve been very happy with my Bosch tools. That being said- I totally agree. There are a number of tools that I would have bought had I invested in Ryobi’s platform. Bosch is great, but for tools that will only see occasional use, I can’t justify the purchase.
BigDan
Makita was winning the innovation battle in 2012 but they sort of gave up and haven’t done much the past few years worth talking about. I’m heavy into their batteries/products, so disappointed.
Jerry
If it works on things like loose gravel, which it should, if it works on nails, its going on my buy list. My garage gets lost of loose sand and gravel in it, which I have to sweep up and scoop out. If I get too aggressive with a shop broom I stir up a ton of dust. This looks like it has the potential to be just what I’m looking g for. Good job Ryobi. I bought into the Ryobi line a couple years ago, and have quite a line up of tools. My only problem so far has been a hammer drill which quit on me after heavy use drilling holes in reinforced concrete bigger than it was rated for after almost 2 years of ownership. They fixed it under the extended warranty for no charge, even though I told them I probably overheated it. The way they stood behind it definitely made a good impression.
Mattd
I really do like how innovative ryobi is. And the really nice thing about them is they are simply wired so adapting them to a different battery platform is not complex. There are a bunch of 3d printer plans already available for free on thingiverse.
John804
That’s fascinating. I had no idea that was possible. I just looked at Thingiverse.com and found a DeWalt to Ryobi adapter, and another DeWalt 18v to 20v adapter that incorporates a battery monitor.
C. Shields
I like the idea of an adapter, but I worry about how much communication is required between the tool and battery – for example, Milwaukee M18 tools provide low-voltage shutoff logic, not the batteries. Ryobi 18-volt batteries supposedly have low-voltage shutoff onboard, so some makers like using them for batteries since they can just hook up without monitoring for voltage.
Eric
I would really like a Dewalt battery/Ryobi tool adapter with some kind of battery alarm. I do not want another battery platform, but there are a number of casual tools I would love access to (inflation, glue gun, garage door opener, maybe this thing).
Ryobi seems to try out of a lot of things first and offer them at a price that if you already have a battery solution there is not much risk. I look at the bare tools seemingly every holiday and then do not bother because of the fairly expensive batteries that would not be of any benefit to my large and growing stable of Dewalt tools.
a2343
I made an adaptor to use Makita batteries on Ryobi. So far I have the cordless glue gun and the car/airbed inflator.
It is better to use the “B” style batteries with the LED gauge on the front, and be REALLY careful not to run them down much past half way.
I bought an old Ryobi battery for £10, and the cheapest Makita tool I could find (usually an old incandescent torch, or sometimes the housings can be for sale on their own). Then chopped the Makita tool just above the battery housing. The Ryobi battery comes to pieces nicely and you can chop off and reuse the protrusion that goes into the tool. Then married the 2 up with a bit of sanding and grinding and used hotmelt to join. If I needed it more permanent I’d have used expoxy.
I reused the connection wire from the Ryobi connector and soldered it to the Makita terminals. You don’t get the battery clicking and retaining into the Ryobi tool, but a bit of velcro strap sorts that out. Don’t blame me if you try this and burn your tools, hands, house etc.
Oh, now there are Makita housing 3d models, so you only need the terminal block which can be readily bought.
PB
Been looking into way to clean up the mess the kids make while eating. Anything that can save time is worth the buy. Only problem with a normal vacuum is if you suck up food, you’d have to empty and clean it out really well because the vacuums have all these small filter holes, fine for normal dirt but not if you don’t want things getting all moldy.
The bin looks like it is easy to clean out.
This looks better than the manual sweepers.
My main concern would be does it throw debris in other directions, which would slow you down. And how many nooks are there on the device if I was going to use it to clean up food? (Dry or relatively dry food that you could normally use a broom for.)
Definitely have to go check this out in the store.
PB
Another negative:
According to the manual you aren’t supposed to use it while pulling backward, that is difficult to do when you get to the sides and corners of things. So stopping the motors would have to be done then, I assume. But to do that, you have to reach down the the device and there is no switch on the handle.
Andrew Q
I think the power switched is designed so that you can easily poke it with your toe.
PB
You may be right!
I used to “clean” businesses in HS and I’d have to use these big ole heavy commercial vacs and who needs swivel controls when all you need is a big boot for lateral action.
Anton
You’re thinking too hard.The most perfect tool for picking up food crumbs from kids is a dog. Seriously, a little hypoallergenic one won’t shed either and is also a bonus house alarm and yard fertilizer.
michaelhammer
I use a cordless Makita stick vac to clean up after the kids. Works phenomenally well. Easy to clean
John Sullivan
I really wish that iRobot (Roomba) had taken their shop vacuum robot seriously. Unfortunately, it was just a low-frills Roomba with a yellow paint job, and suffered all of the problems that most household-duty c.2006 Roombas did. I bought several, and they were dead shortly after the warranty expired. There *is* a market for a battle-hardened Roomba-type cleaner for the workshop, but I haven’t seen a self-guided cleaning robot that’s really up to the task.
KVDE
Hi John,
Have you looked at the makita robot cleaner? If yes, can you elaborate on why it doesn’t fit your needs.
http://www.makitauk.com/products/cordless-tools/vacuum-cleaners/all-cordless-vacuum-cleaners/drc200z-18v-robotic-vacuum-cleaner.html
John Sullivan
I have seen the Makita vac, but the price (over a thousand) pushes that vac into “Oh, hellz no!” territory.
The Roomba Shop Dogs were only $250 each, if I recall… still too damn much for something with such a short lifespan, but not outrageous.
Joe Smith
I wonder how it does with fine dust in a woodshop. Kicking all that crap up into the air would be a big downside.
Tim
Exactly what I was thinking.
I would love something like this, but I’m gonna need it to have some vacuum ability to keep the dust down.
I don’t mind sweeping, but it kicks up more dust than I would like already.
Rob Weigelt
I completely agree with Joe Smith.
Joe
Ryobi is very innovative. That’s why it’s my third line of tools. They had tools no one else had, for years and years…Router, orbital sander,etc…now other companies have joined them….that sweeper looks great
Joshua Latham
It would be nice if they made a corded version for $100. I’m not sure I need another cordless lineup.
raymond
My cordless set up is called a broom, and never needs charging. I have a shop vac and a blower if things get really messy.
John
1. Multiple Brooms
2. Shop Vac
That’s enough for me.
Josh
That’s pretty cool. Don’t think I’m going to buy one but I love the idea.
Bill K
Wow this sounds good. Love to hear an actual users review. After watching the video three times I didn’t see it pick up any nails and the blocks and chips looked like they could be foam. More reason to hear a users review.
Jeff White
Looks like they’re getting into the pool game too. Saw the video of this with the pool vacuum (no idea as I don’t own a pool) and the floating speaker/light show. That one looks awesome for the lake.
C. Shields
Something like this would be fantastic for jobsite use – I work in commercial construction, and housekeeping on our jobsites is a constant battle. All floor sweeping has to be done with sweeping compound, and using a cordless floor sweeper like this Ryobi would be AMAZING. There is a seriously untapped market niche here.
I’d love to see one of the higher voltage platforms (EGO 56v, DeWalt 40v, etc.) put something together like the Devour, but built to to survive the construction environment. Larger tank, able to run forwards and backwards, detachable suction hose for corners, and HEPA filtration for compliance with OSHA respirable silica regulations.
Pete
I think thats what most guys dont understand. I personally dont see this as a garage tool, i see it as a workshop/warehouse/jobsite clean up. Where there is going to be debris added daily and needs to be cleaned daily and quickly.
Greg
I wonder if Ryobi will ever move the line beyond the 18v class. This seems like something that could benefit from a more powerful battery
James C
The frustrating thing is they have had 40v outdoor power equipment for years now. Maybe they need to market it more. I have several tools including the lawnmower and they are fantastic for homeowner use. I wish they would expand that battery line to things like this, cordless vacuum, etc.
shaughnessy
Any info about the generated sound level?
Stuart
I haven’t seen anything yet, but will ask.
Travis
Low sound level. Just a low motor drone.
ca
I already have a cordless sweeper. I call it a “broom”.
Andrew
The idea of something to clean up the shop is nice, but the use of their battery system really seems like a waste. This would probably be a 100 times better if accessible to more than just people in their battery platform, seeing as many bypass ryobi for something more robust.
Greg N
Thats the point of coming out with an innovative tool, to get people to buy into the platform. The battery is what makes this awesome.
How do you propose they make it more accessible?
Pete
He’s just mad that his chosen battery platform doesnt have innovative ideas like ryobi.
Andrew
Why buy a $20+ battery plus system for a cleaner when a cord costs less than $5
Not to mention Ryobi is a less robust brand, so I’d hate to go backwards in quality
Also, they sell push powered versions (different brands) on Amazon which don’t have to be recharged, so those are probably better with no electronics to futz around with.
It’s not innovation to add a battery system to something that already exists.
Andrew
Why buy a $20+ battery plus system for a cleaner when a cord costs less than $5
Not to mention Ryobi is a less robust brand, so I’d hate to go backwards in quality
firefly
Wow, I like it! I don’t think it will kick up dust anymore than a broom does. Now that I think about it I think overall it should kick up a lot less dust since the brush spin on a flat plane. Obviously how much dust get kicked off while using a broom depending on the person sweeping style…
Travis
The real test will be using it clean the floor in the machine shop…If it picks up those curly blue (steel) chips from the bridgeport without breaking/clogging every 5 minutes, Ryobi has a real winner on their hands.
Stuart
I don’t think it’s designed for things like that.
John804
I’ll seriously consider picking this up if it can pick up all of the sand and dried road salt that builds up on the garage floor over the winter. That stuff builds up pretty quickly. Using a broom requires letting all the heat out with the door open, or allowing all the dust to settle on everything. Usually both, actually. And a shop vac doesn’t seem to do a good job on the crusty stuff that’s always left after the sand dries out.
Beaux
I wonder if it would pick up pine needles in the driveway. Good thing about HD….Don’t like it? Return it.
Glenn
I own one. It is good for leaves on driveway, not good for pine needles
OBDave
This thing looks like it could definitely serve a purpose – and I’m also interested in the cordless shop vac on casters that recently hit stores.
That said, I’m really skeptical on battery life – I’ve got an old handheld shop vac that works great on light duty jobs, but battery life on a fresh 4.0 pack is somewhere around 15 minutes, 10 minutes at full suction. Is the only thing this does is spin brushes, with no suction component? Even then, I’d be hard pressed to believe a 2-hour lifespan, but if I could get even 10-15 minutes out of it I’d still be able to clean up the job site at the end of the day and plop the battery back on the charger…who’s sweeping for 2 hours straight anyway?
Larry
This item has received two positive reviews on Home Depot’s site before it even become available. How does that work?
Travis
I bought one 4 days ago from my local HD store. They had them in store already.
Bill K
Travis…. any owner review comments you’re able & willing to share?
michaelhammer
C’mon, Travis, what gives? You own one, we’re all dying to hear what you think of it.
OBDave
I still don’t own one, but wanted to pop in to add they’ve hit shelves in San Diego – saw them next to the new shop vacs on an endcap today. So they’ve definitely been spotted in the wild…
OBDave
I believe they send out test units to preferred reviewers/people who post a lot on their site in order to get some good reviews going by the time the product hits shelves…
Larry
Just tried buying one at Home Depot. Not available for home delivery and not available in any store within 100 miles (which includes Chicago). BTW your link to purchase at Home Depot leads back to your page.
Nate
Got to check for it in the store, doesn’t show up in the computer but voila, it’s in the store. Same for the new 3 gallon vac.
skfarmer
why not just by a karcher push broom? it is wheel driven as you push it. more than likely better made, no battery and less money.
nigeldh
I use a push broom on light snow falls on our gravel driveway. I wonder how this would work? grin
I did finally find a Stihl Kombi power sweeper head on eBay at a bargain price but it leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe on a paved surface it would work better.
Alick
If ever there was a gadget that didn’t need inventing, this is it ! What a complex, cumbersome alternative to a long handled dustpan and broom.
Innovative yes. Value engineering = very low.
A load more natural resources get used up making something that will end up in landfill once the feeble looking brushes wear out.
Stuart
The brushes are user replaceable, although the manual doesn’t mention where to buy them from. Ryobi parts department?
Jeremy
Depends on the size of area you have to clean! I have to clean a 4000sq shop. Does a broom work? Sure. Is it a giant pain in the behind? Yes. Are some people too stupid to push a broom properly? Also yes. Value engineering for a small home shop might be low. Value for a large shop? High. If it really does pick up nails and such even better, I can use it to clean the yard(paved) when I’m feeling too lazy to pressure wash. Either way, for picking up offcuts, scrap bits of wood and endless fluffy fiberglass bits etc. The rotating brush will be perfect around the bases of machines. Now you have to carry two brooms, sweep first with the small one under the machine, move dust to piles, then go around with the big one and move the piles into the pan and throw out.
I am going to buy a ryobi battery just to use this thing. I vacuum weekly as well, but pushing this around instead of sweeping before vacuuming will be just the ticket.
Greg
A lot of you have had concern about what this will pick up, and I’d like to address some of those questions.
I tried it out in my local HD and had no problem picking up big chunks of wood, steel pipe, copper tubing, nails, screws, anything big enough to pick up, just sucked right in. It is not going to get anything as clean as a broom, nor is it meant to! It would not pick up every piece of sawdust, or fine dust, but will pick up scraps as big as you would normally have to pick up by hand.
It is much more for jobsite use than these strange suggestions above. I’m not sure how well it would work on sand and salt, for example. It is designed to eat up large debris, not clean like a vacuum.
One thing people keep forgetting is how the businesses are set up. For one, they’re trying to get you to buy into the battery system so you can more easily have access to the large line of Ryobi cordless tools. Also, the batteries are some of the most affordable in the industry. I got two 4.0Ah batteries for $80 on sale last year.
Furthermore, there’s more innovation and money being fed into the departments over cordless tools instead of corded tools, which are going the way of the past.
John804
Thanks for the information. The salty sandstorm will have to continue through the winter…
honkerdown
I would love to see them have a vacuum port on the collection bin. Pair the Devour up with one of Ryobi’s cordless vacs strapped to the top. I could see the Devour getting the big bits and the vacuum sucking up the dust that might be kicked up by the spinning brushes.
Rick Solomon
Exactly what I was thinking too.
Tom
I live in a corner house with about 150 feet of curb. Lots of leaves, trash from people parking and going to the near by park and connivence store (candy wrappers, etc) To sweep all this takes forever, also there are very few times when there is not a car parked there so to have a tool that can do this quickly without having to break out the trash barrel and dust pan every time, this seems like a home run for me. The questions on the HD website say it can be used for outdoor debris as long as it is dry. I think I am going to give this a go.
John
Could it be used on grass to pick up sweet gum balls?
Stuart
I don’t know? It’s really designed for flat hard floors.
Glenn
I bought one over a year ago at a salvage store that sold Home Dept surplus/returns. I got it for several reasons. 1) I didn’t have one! 2) Gave $50 for it! 3) I use my garage for a wood shop. 4) I have several Ryobi cordless tools and about a dozen batteries.
The first time I used it was for sawdust all over the floor. It worked great! It was even picking up leaves that had blown into the garage.
I have read a lot of the comments and can respond to some of them. Noise level is low, ear protection is not needed. It hardly stirred up any dust, I did not have to sweep with a broom after using. I was told you have to cut it off to back it up. I did not find that to be true. I did not have many small wood pieces in floor, but what I did have, it picked it up. It is very easy to clean out the bin. There is not filter, and we all know how shop vacs get filters clogged with sawdust. It folds up for storage, so does not take up a lot of space.
I could probably go on and on raving about this sweeper. After using, I would have gladly paid $139 for one at Home Depot, had I not run across my bargain!
My cordless tools are 90% Ryobi. Had several Dewalts, but hated their batteries. Getting them to stay in the charger was a nightmare. The Ryobi charges are great. I also purchase 2 of the 6 bank chargers, that was another good investment.
I hope this information is helpful to anyone who is on the fence about buying one of these. Someone asked about picking up grass clipping off lawn – forget that idea! But it will pick up clippings off your driveway.
Tony
I work as a custodian at a elementary school and the school purchased a ryobi devour for me and I love it! It does a great job of picking up small twigs, pine cones, rocks, dust and dirt.
Mark E mcdowell
Has anybody used this Sweeper for the grass do you know if you can use it on your lawn to pick up twigs and other debris out of your yard