Bosch 300 CFM Dust Extractor GAS20-17AH

The new Bosch 300 CFM dust extractor is coming and the major talking point is, well, it’s a 300 CFM dust extractor with automatic filter cleaning! Suction power at this level opens the door to a couple of possibilities you won’t approach with a standard vacuum.

Pros

• 300 CFM lets you run two 6″ grinders on one vac and remain Table 1 compliant
• $1499 price point is well under the cost of most other 250+ CFM models
• Pivot point lets you easily dump heavy loads
• Drain hose lets you easily remove wet loads
• HEPA filter included making it Table 1 compliant for all applications out of the box
• 27′ cord and 16′ hose give you more than 40′ of reach

Cons

• No major drawbacks

Big Power

First of all, 300 CFM gives you the ability to run 9-inch grinders on concrete with room to spare and the 17-gallon capacity will let you work for a long period before emptying. Remember that you need 25 CFM for every inch of grinder wheel under OSHA’s silica dust regulations.

What it also opens up is the ability to split the suction with a Y-connector and use two tools at once. Pulling out the grinder example again, you can have two guys wrapping up concrete surface prep with a pair of 5-inch or 6-inch grinders and get the job done faster.

Pulling this kind of air comes at a power cost, though. The Bosch 300 CFM dust extractor requires 17.5 amps to run – so you’ll need to be on a 20-amp circuit. The plug is a 120V, 20A, so there’s no cheating.

Bosch intends for this model to work on commercial and industrial sites and they should have that kind of power available. You definitely will when you’re running on a jobsite generator.

Testing Results

Regardless of what kind of power we feel like we’re getting, it’s the rated CFM that drives OSHA compliance. The rest is just icing on the cake.

While it’s not the identical water lift test manufacturer’s use for their specifications, we have a water lift test to get head-to-head comparisons.

The Bosch 300 CFM dust extractor pulls 71.5 inches in our test- 4 inches less than their 150 CFM model. Its 2.88 pounds of pull force on our scale doesn’t look too impressive against wet/dry vacs that pulled much more. So what gives?

Keep in mind that CFM is the air volume coming through and water lift/pull force measure the strength of its pull. The 300 CFM model simply pulls twice the amount of air through with a similar amount of force as their smaller vac.

In the field, the pull force is excellent. It easily pulls concrete dust, dirt, and wood shavings off the shop floor. It also has enough muscle to get some of the concrete chips as well. Basically, if you like what the Bosch VAC090A and 140A gives you, this won’t disappoint you.

Smart Features

Heavy Matter

Bosch knows it’s not easy to dump 17 gallons worth of dry material. The steel frame locks the vacuum down and gives you the ability to pivot it for emptying.

You can splash concrete slurry on your boots if you want, or you can use the water release hose. It connects to the base of the canister and clips into the accessory organizer on the back. To empty it, just pull the plug on the hose and set it on the ground to let gravity do its job.

If you need to separate the vacuum, two clips on the back separate it from the frame without the need for any tools.

HEPA Compliant

The Bosch 300 CFM dust extractor comes with a HEPA filter, meaning you’re 100% compliant out of the gate. You get better performance and less expensive filter replacements by using a standard filter when OSHA allows it, though. Grab the right filter for the application to get the best cost-efficiency and performance when you’re running it.

When You Need a HEPA Filter for Table 1 Compliance

Noise Level – Thanks, John!

John pointed out that I didn’t add a noise level rating and he’s right. With the hose extended out, the dust extractor reaches a reasonable 74 dB(A) standing next to it and reading from my ear.

The hose makes a difference, though. With it in a coil on top of the vacuum, the suction noise adds to it to reach 92 dB(A).

Additional Features

• Easy rolling wheels and casters
• Water level sensor shuts off the motor before damage occurs
• 16-foot, 35 mm anti-static hose
• 27-foot power cord

Pricing

Retail prices are $1499 – about $250 less than Hilti’s 300 CFM model. The VAC090A runs $549 and the VAC140A is $649, both with HEPA filters. It doesn’t take a lot of math to see that two of either costs less than one GAS20-17AH. Then why buy it?

One reason is to minimize the amount of equipment on site. Transporting and keeping track of half the number of dust extractors is easier by far. It’s also a little easier on your generator. Two of the smaller vacs need 19 total amps and this one uses 17.5.

But the big deal is that the cost of getting a 250+ CFM dust extractor can be thousands of dollars and this brings the price down much lower.

The extractor comes pre-installed on its steel frame with the wheels and casters already in place. Here’s what comes with the package:

• HEPA filter
• 16′ anti-static hose
• Wet/dry floor nozzle
• Elbow
• Two metal extensions
• Heavy-duty 3-layer filter bag 5-pack

You can get the Y-adapter for $49 separately. It has a plug for one end so you can use it solo with full suction. Make sure you grab a spare hose if you’re going to run two tools.

The Bottom Line

The Bosch 300 CFM dust extractor bridges the gap between 125 – 150 CFM portable vacs and 250+ CFM vacs that cost thousands of dollars. It’s an intelligently designed vac that lets you run two grinders at once and keep OSHA compliance in check.

This definitely isn’t a dust extractor for everyone, though. The cost and 20-amp plug make it best for commercial and industrial construction projects rather than smaller residential ones.

Bosch 300 CFM Dust Extractor Highlights

• 300 CFM
• 17-gallon capacity
• HEPA and OSHA Table 1-compliant
• Automatic filter cleaning every 15 seconds
• Pivots on the frame to make dumping easier
• Available Y-connector for two users
• 120V, 20A circuit required
• Water level sensor protects motor during wet vacuuming
• Includes:
  • HEPA Filter (VF430H)
  • (5) Heavy-duty 3-layer filter bags (VB170)
  • 16-foot anti-static hose (VH1635A)
  • Elbow connector (VX100)
  • Suction tubes and floor set (VX460)

Bosch 300 CFM Dust Extractor Specifications

• Model: Bosch GAS20-17AH
• Power Source: 120V, 20A circuit
• Motor: 17.5 amps
• Airflow: 300 CFM
• Capacity: 17 gallons
• Warranty: 1 year
• Price: $1,499.00

This review originally published on October 10, 2018 as a preview. We’ve updated it with first-hand experience from using it.