Recent content by stephenk

I wasn't aware that buttons on the hose were a problem with these models. But, I didn't really research that, since I was only interested in the models without the powerhead. This one doesn't have any buttons or electronics on the hose because it doesn't have the powerhead.

Here are my initial impressions: -The vac has good build quality, including nice attachments and a decent filtering system. -It’s really, really quiet. I read reviews online saying it was very quiet, but I thought it would be louder than it is. I thought my Stihl SE 61 vac was quiet, but it’s...

The HEPA filtration on this vac is better than I expected. I thought it would just be a cheap add-on filter that might not do much. I’m no expert on these vas, but it appears to be a sealed system. It looks like the exhaust from the motor is forced through the HEPA filter. There’s a seal around...

Here’s how you access the HEPA filter. You have to remove this cover, which holds in place what appears to be a final foam filter. This picture also shows the carrying handle in the up position.

Here’s a look under the front cover. I was impressed to see a seal around the cover (marked with arrow). There’s a plastic caddy that holds the bag in place. To replace the bag you remove the caddy, swap bags and then put the caddy and bag back in place. There’s also a pre-motor filter behind...

Here’s a closer look at the canister. The large sliding switch is the motor suction control. It adjusts the RPM of the motor, which increases or reduces the suction. The green button is the on/off switch. The black button retracts the cord. The bag is accessed through the cover on the front of...

This vac has high-quality attachments. The extension tube is metal and it telescopes. The floor tool is better made than the others I own. The combo upholstery tool/dust brush tool is a little cheesy, but I haven’t used it enough to form a better opinion. One big negative - I think the hose is...

I just bought this new-to-me Electrolux UltraSilencer EL6984a. I’ve only had it a couple days, but I thought people here might be interested in seeing it. Below you’ll find my initial impressions. I wanted a new vac that would be good for hard floors and upholstery, so this vac is a good fit...

I considered the Intervac GarageVac. It looks closely related to the flush-mount vac. They have some interesting features, and they're made in the USA. The GarageVac sells for about $200 on Amazon. http://www.garagevac.com/ I ended up going with a small Stihl shop vac instead, because it...

Overall, my impressions of this vac are positive. I’ve used it a lot in the garage for general vacuuming and for cleaning out our cars. I’ve actually used it a lot in the house also, because it’s good for cleaning hard floors. It’s quite easy to use, it cleans well and it is quiet. It is pricey...

One thing I like about this vac is that the attachments seem higher quality than the other vacs in this price range. The attachments seem sturdy and less flimsy than the mainstream brands you can buy at big box stores. The Stihl comes with a combo wet/dry hard floor tool, an upholstery tool and...

Here’s the motor removed from the body. The filter is washable, since it’s made of plastic (PET, specifically, I believe). I can’t find a micron rating for the stock filter, but the stock replacement filters sold online by Nilfisk dealers claim to be good down to 1 micron. There are also HEPA...

The wheels are mostly plastic, which I was disappointed to see. The front wheels do incorporate some metal parts. But, all the wheels seem sturdy and have been working well.

This vac is pretty small, with a 5 gallon capacity, so it doesn’t have a drain. If you fill it up with liquid, it still should be easy enough to lift and dump out.

Here’s the back side, which shows the tool storage a little better.