I purchased the older model PHV 1800 a little over 3 years ago, back in May 2007. I liked it so much that I purchased another one for my in-laws a month later. For the last couple of months, the battery no longer retained a proper charge and since the battery is unfortunately not replaceable, it gave me an excuse to buy this newer model PHV 1810. As with the previous model, this is the best and most powerful handheld vacuum we've ever used in our household.
As I'm comparing the two units side-by-side, the new vacuum is a little smaller than the previous model and the dirt bin is bigger (it should hold more dirt). Since the battery on the old model is pretty much dead, I cannot give you an accurate power suction comparison between the two, but this one seems as powerful as when the previous model was new.
The nozzle has a wide range of motions, it pivots to use at many angles and has a cleaning brush built into it (you just need to flip it upwards) so you'll never lose it again. Dirt spins away from the filter so suction power stays strong. Cleaning the unit is very effective, you just click the side door open and unlike the older model, this one allows you to remove the canister and filter entirely and rinse them. The manual comes with instructions for removing and disposing of the nickel-cadmium battery, but nowhere does it say that replacements are available. One thing I liked on the previous model was when you needed to charge or use the unit; you simply put it in or remove it from a cradle; with this new model, you'll have to plug and unplug the power supply on the back of the unit anytime you need to use it.
If you want a powerful and portable vacuum, look no further. Black & Decker Pivot Vac 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac, PHV1810
I have compared new Black and Decker 1800 and 1810 side by side. Less noise is the only thing the 1810 has over the 1800, but I don't consider that an advantage in a vacuum cleaner that I want to suck! The suction, the charging stand, the design of the 1800 is far superior to the 1810. In fact the 1810 has a MAJOR design flaw: Fold the nozzle back and everything you just vacuumed up falls out the nozzle!
This thing is a powerful hand vac!
I haven't figured out if the brush feature is any good yet.
I like the smaller attachment that slides out for small areas.
Emptying out the container is easy enough but sometimes I use my big vacuum to really get the junk out.
One thing to keep in mind is it is a bit heavy but I don't mind.
I have not had any problems with stuff coming out when folding it up.
I love having this thing around!
Let me first say I buy nearly 100 products from Amazon every year and have for 5 years and have never written a review on here because I don't have a lot of time and am very busy. But I felt compelled for this product. It's simply unbelievable. I had the earlier model but after 3 years the battery finally died so I saw this new version and decided to pick it up. Black & Decker missed the mark on 2 minor things, but everything else is a HUGE improvement. First, what they missed: I was disappointed to see there's no charging cradle anymore. Bring that back. Second, the vac is front heavy. They should have installed some lead weights in the rear so it doesn't have a tendency to drop forward. It's certainly a non-issue, but from a standpoint of perfectionism, it would have made the vac more comfortable to hold in your hand. Also, I think they should have made the battery cover a different color. It's almost like the color you'd see in a baby's room. I would have liked to see a more modern kind of color, but the rest of the vac is designed very nice.
But how does it perform? This thing will BLOW you away. It's incredible how powerful it is and I love the fact that you can remove the front assembly for easy rinsing in the sink (such as after you vacuum up a mound of saw dust as I did last night). I think this product rightly deserves the title of "The most powerful hand vac in the world."
Seriously, if you need a new hand vac or aren't satisfied with your current dust buster, pick this up now. I mean it. Seriously. I'll bet you a 6 pack that you'll LOVE this thing. I got mine here on Amazon for under 60 bucks and I think I paid $[...] for the last generation when I bought it and this thing BLOW THE PANTS off the last one.
Buy it now! Seriously. No, seriously, buy this NOW!
I purchased this hand vac a couple of weeks ago for use at our vacation home. It is intended to replace an old dustbuster, the battery of which was kaput. In our other home we have the previous model--the B&D PHV1800, which we like a lot--I would give it 5 stars.
The newer model is a disappointment for several reasons--
1. Cleaning the filter is much more complicated. One must remove the entire chute and canister in order to get at the filter.
2. As mentioned in another review, the chute is susceptible to having contents of the canister fall out once the vacuum is turned off. If one empties the canister after each use, this isn't too much of an issue. Ordinarily, after cleaning up a few crumbs or a bit of sand, we would not go to the trouble. This thing is for convenience, after all.
3. No way was provided to hang up the vac when not in use. Although the charging tray for the 1800 was cumbersome, it was better than having to put the device on the floor or a shelf for charging. We finally tied a loop of nylon cord around the handle in order to hang it on a hook in the closet.
4. But the final, fatal flaw: After the first charge, the battery could never be fully recharged. The device ran down within 20-30 seconds, even after an overnight charge. Our other one, after a couple of years use, still has full power for 2-3 minutes. So the one we were sent had a bad battery.
At first we found that the 1810 had good suction and from that standpoint performed in an equivalent manner to its predecessor. We developed workarounds for the spillage, storage, and cleaning issues. But when it finally was evident that we had a faulty battery, that was the last straw. We returned the device to Amazon for a refund. I must say that since the return was within the 30 day window, Amazon was amazing! No complaints there.
All this having been said, when we get back to our vacation place, we plan to order another one of these. If the battery works satisfactorily, giving us the same use as our 1800, I will re-review and give the item 3 or maybe even 4 stars. If you get one, be sure to use it a lot in the first 30 days. If it doesn't live up to your expectations, you can use Amazon's great return policy and get another device. - Handheld Cordless Vacuum - Cordless Vacuum - Black And Decker - Hand Vac'
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