Kirby floor polishers

[thunderhexed]

Reading the thread about the Johnsons polisher reminded me of a question I have been meaning to ask. I have several older Kirby's that have the floor polisher attachment with them and I'm curious to try one. Are there any kind of paste wax's on the market today that can be used since I can't get the Kirby wax?

 

[charles~richard]

You can still get canned paste wax at large hardware stores. A very good grand is Butchers Bowling Alley Wax. See link.

The Kirby does a great job of polishing, but only if you set it up the way the salesmen used to show how to do it and not how it's shown in the instruction manuals. What you want to do is lock the handle down in the lower position - so it's near the floor. Then raise the handle up so that only the brush roll is resting on the floor. You will be amazed at the beautiful gleam you get, and it's also easier than any other machine to get right up to the baseboards.


http://www.bwccompany.com/bowlingalley.html

 

[charles~richard]

 

[parunner58]

I remember my mom borrowing the neighbors Kirby to polish our hardwood floors when we lived in Fort Knox KY. When we moved she bought a Kenmore polisher. I would love to have an older Kirby with a polisher head for it. If anyone has one that they are willing to sell, let me know, my email is [email protected]. My house is all hardwood floors and I currently use a Kenmore. I received from my grandmother when she moved, it is ok but the Kirby would do much better.
Mike

 

[charles~richard]

Mike, did your mom use it as I showed above, or with the polishing head in the "normal" position as it would be with the rug nozzle?

I am not sure why the instruction manual did not show the proper way to use the polishing head. This was demonstrated to me by an old-time, long-term Kirby man who had worked for the company since the early 1950s. He said that was the proper and intended way to do it. With the brush in the rug-nozzle position you do not get enough weight and pressure to heat and melt the wax. All it does is swish the wax around.

I have never actually seen anyone besides myself use a Kirby polisher so I am wondering how people did it, whether or not, you know, they were instructed by the salesman.

 

[thunderhexed]

awesome!

Thanks for the info! I hae hardwood floors al through my home and I am starting to feel the itch for a good polishing!

 

[thunderhexed]

another question

while waxing, where does the residue go? Does it end up all gummed up inside the bag?

 

[charles~richard]

No, it just gets burnished into the wood. You want to apply the wax SPARINGLY, otherwise you'll have a big mess on your hands.

 

[normvac]

Kirby Polisher

Charles Richard, I spent many a sat. Polishing hardwood and kitchen floors with my Brother and sister-in-laws Kirby.
My brother and Marge being 17 years my seniors. Marge showed
me on their model 512 Kirby how to use it like the sales man
showed her. It worked very well. Then I pasted waxed apt.
hardwood floors in the 70's with my new Kirby Classic. All you
had to do was damp mop, with cool water and polish when
needed. They are awesome. Usually good for 6 months on
a busy kitchen floor!
Norm

 

[compactelectra]

Butchers Wax

There are a few types, but the Bowling Alley Wax works very well. Be careful, if you use it on polyurethane floors, it will be very slippery and dangerous. This should only be used on non-polyurethane floors (which most modern floors are.) It even makes non-polyurethane floors slippery.

 

[parunner58]

Charles,

She used it as you have pictured. It did a fantastic job. That why I have been looking for one. On ebay, most of the Kirby's have the rug renovator not the floor polisher. I have also looked for the Electrolux 3 brush polishers and they to don't come with the polishing brushes, you would have to purchase them separately. Anyone with either to sell contact me.

Mike

 

[hygiene903]

Kirby Polisher

The only way I've ever used a Kirby Polisher is the way Charles described with the handle locked in the low position to keep the weight and pressure on the brush. Used to shampoo carpets that way too, by using the sprayer and suds-o-gun to apply the shampoo and the polisher to work it in, and it did a pretty decent job of it.
Jeff

 

[kevin]

Re: Reply #2 PLEASE DO NOT KIRBY SCRUB/POLISH YOUR FLOORS THE WAY USING THE SALESMAN'S PERSONAL TECHNIQUE. THERE IS A GOOD REASON WHY KIRBY DID NOT ADVISE THAT IN ITS MANUALS ...


It has the potential to restrict belt life, destroy the bearings in the brush roll, and wear the bristles down to a nub--not to mention over-stressing the motor.


The above information was given to me by an EXPERIENCED Kirby service tech (35 + years) who has dealt with these issues first hand.

Sure, from the salesperson's POV it makes perfect sense--YOU get an extra-shiny floors, and S/HE gets extra service calls!

 

[electrolux137]

~
~

Well, I have had many Kirbys of one model or the other since I started actively collecting in the early 1970s. I've polished many a hardwood floor with them and never had any of the above-cautioned problems with any of them. Granted, I wouldn't ever do an entire house at one time, just as I'd never vacuum that way, but do one room at a time.

 

[kevin]

Your Kirbys prolly share the burden while many rely on one cleaner to do all the work. Repeated use would definitely be more problematic.

CORRECTION: "YOU get extra-shiny floors ... "

 

[kevin]

No, I haven't been drinking ... guess I didn't proof my original comment very well (just noticed more errors). Instead of retyping I'll just acknowledge my carelessness. Sorry about that.