Tackle Wet and Dry Messes On The Jobsite With Hilti’s Cordless Dust Extractor
The dangers of silica dust are no secret in the construction industry. OSHA has taken great measures to warn of the risk associated with loose concrete dust and its effects on your health years down the road. Today, I’ve got my hands on the Hilti VC 4LX-22 (formerly the VC 140-2-22) cordless dust extractor that aims to increase workplace safety and adds an extra level of convenience to jobsite cleanup.
Pros
- Compact profile
- Bluetooth compatible for remote activation
- OSHA Table 1 compliant
- Good wet and dry capacity
Cons
- Expensive
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Hilti Cordless Dust Extractor Performance
Suction Power
Hilti is no stranger to the dust extractor game and already has a few corded and cordless models to choose from. The VC 4LX-22 is one of their smaller cordless models, but it still delivers up to 142 CFM of airflow and 2.47 PSI (68.4 inches of water lift) of suction power.
This vacuum comes standard with a universal filter for both wet and dry applications and a fleece dust bag for dry debris.
Hilti also offers a HEPA filter for finer particulates, such as concrete dust or silica. Additionally, this dust extractor is OSHA Table 1 compliant thanks to its filter cleaning mechanism.
Canister Capacity
The hard plastic canister holds up to 15 pounds of dust and has a 1-gallon water capacity. This is great for smaller messes on the jobsite or around your workshop.
Runtime
Hilti doesn’t explicitly state any runtime specs for this vacuum, but in the battery-powered world, this is a key factor to know before you buy.
Our testing yielded total times of 12 minutes and 39 seconds on normal mode and 19 minutes and 15 seconds on ECO mode. Both tests were run with Hilti’s B22-170 7.9Ah battery.
These numbers are pretty reasonable given this vacuum’s peak suction power. Moreover, I found that ECO mode was more than enough for picking up common debris around our shop.
Hands-On Impressions
I’ve mainly been using this dust extractor in our shop during some of our recent hammer drill testing, which involves drilling holes into a 4000 PSI concrete test block. We’ve also been generating a ton of sawdust in our recent circular saw testing. Fortunately, this vacuum made quick work of the concrete and sawdust, helping us maintain a safe, clean work space throughout our evaluations.
In addition to the jobs we used it for, the VC 4LX-22 is a great jobsite companion while cutting or grinding, dry-coring, clearing wood chips, and removing other jobsite waste, wet or dry. Its high CFM is outstanding on lightweight debris, while the water lift gives it enough muscle to manage many dust collection chores.
Hilti Cordless Dust Extractor Design Notes
Size and Weight
The Hilti VC 4LX-22 cordless dust extractor weighs in at 13 pounds as a bare tool and 17.1 pounds with the recommended B 22-255 battery. Its overall profile is similar to a standard-sized backpack, and there’s a sturdy folding top handle for easy transport. In fact, Hilti also has a rolling dolly and backpack adapter if you need to clean a larger area.
Control Panel
On top, you’ll find an On/Off dial and an ECO mode button for when you need extended runtime. This model is also compatible with Hilti’s IC-RC Bluetooth receiver and IC-RM remote control. These allow you to remotely activate the dust extractor, ultimately saving you a few trips back and forth. Just set the power dial to the Bluetooth setting, and you’re good to go.
Filter Cleaning
Keeping with OSHA’s Table 1 compliance, this dust extractor has an automatic “bump-cleaning” feature that helps keep the filter free of excess buildup. This helps your dust extractor maintain peak suction power throughout the job.
READ
OSHA Table 1 Compliance for Silica Dust Regulations
Additional Features
- 6-foot anti-static hose
- Compatible with all Hilti Nuron batteries
Hilti Cordless Dust Extractor Price
The Hilti VC 4LX-22 Cordless Dust Extractor retails for $618 as a bare tool. Hilti recommends the B 22-255 battery and charger. Hilti also lets you customize your kit, so you can choose the batteries and charger that best suit your needs. As always, Hilti backs this dust extractor with its 20-year warranty.
For fleet and tool crib managers, Hilti does offer fleet pricing for this dust extractor. This comes to $19.25 per month as a bare tool and includes no-cost repairs, one-day turnaround, and theft coverage.
Should You Buy It?
The Hilti Cordless Dust Extractor fills an important position in their vacuum lineup. Its performance is impressive considering its compact size, and that opens up some doors you might not expect for a cordless vac.
It’s excellent at collecting light to medium-weight debris, and has the CFM to support concrete applications with grinders up to 5 inches. With its compact size and backpack capability, it’s great for overhead concrete drilling, working at height, or anytime you need highly portable dust collection.
While it’s useful in nearly any jobsite environment, it’s not the best fit for every application. For example, it doesn’t support large angle grinders on concrete jobs. You’d also be better off looking at Hilti’s higher-capacity vacuums when you create a high volume of dust and debris.
With that said, if Table 1 compliance and portability are key factors in your decision-making, this is a great Pro-grade option. Plus, having multiple configurations available makes this a very appealing option across a wide range of applications.
Specs
- Model: Hilti Nuron VC 4LX-22
- Power Source: Hilti Nuron B-22 battery
- Weight: 13.0 lbs. (bare), 17.1 lbs (with B 22-255 battery)
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 8.5 in. x 13.8 in. x 15.7 in.
- Environmental Rating: IPX4
- Max Air Flow: 142 CFM
- Peak Suction Power: 2.47 PSI (68.4 IOW)
- Dust Capacity: 15 lbs.
- Water Capacity: 1 gal.
