Black and Decker Automobile Vacs

[eurekaprince]

Hi everyone,

I am presently looking to find a solution to the challenge of cleaning the interior of my car while it is parked in the underground parking lot of my apartment building. I don't have access to an electrical outlet near my parking spot, so I can't use my canister vac down there. I don't want to use the vacuum at the local car wash because the end of the hose is often dirtier than my own carpets and upholstery! And I don't want to use a rechargeable cordless hand vac because I don't want to have a hand vac always plugged in as it recharges in my apartment since my electricity bill is to big already.

So.....

What I really need is a car vacuum that gets power from the cigarette lighter in my car. In looking on the internet, I see that Black and Decker has two or more wonderful vacs that plug into a car's cigarette lighter: One is a car version of the Pivot Vac - Model PAV1200W - but I can't seem to find this at any retail outlet in Canada. The other is a car version of a Dustbuster - Model ACV1205 - but this seems to only be available in the UK. There is even a car version of the little Flex canister by Black and Decker, but this is also only available in the UK (there are a bunch of YouTube clips showing this vac).

The reason why I want one of these B&D car vacs is that they all come with a little hose and additional attachments which I can use to brush the fabric of my car seats, and they also come with a crevice tool to get into tight spaces.

Short of driving down to Buffalo to get one of these vacs, do any of my fellow Canucks know where I can get these in Canada? You are not going to believe this, but the largest Canadian Tire store in Toronto does not even carry any of these B&D car vacs!!!! Neither does Home Depot or Sears Canada (they are available at Sears in the USA)..... :-(

Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated....

Here is a link to the B&D Automotive Pivot Vac available in the USA:



http://www.blackanddecker.com/power-tools/PAV1200W.aspx

 

[eurekaprince]

oops..."too big already".....not "to big already"......

 

[fan-of-fans]

I used to have a Black and Decker Car Vac Plus that was given to me as a gift back in about 1996. It looked like a regular Dustbuster, but was black with red trim and plugged into the 12V car outlet. It came in a nice fold-out cardboard box which stored the vacuum and attachments. There was a flat brush that could be fitted into the end of the nozzle to vacuum dashboards. It also had a converter that could be inserted to convert it to a 1-1/4" opening which let you fit the included full size round dusting brush and crevice tool or you could use other standard size attachments.

It was a pretty neat vacuum, but I rarely used it, since the suction wasn't really strong enough to clean dirty carpeting or floor mats well. It was probably the best 12 volt car vac I have used though. I sold it since I didn't need it. I believe my grandparents still have one as they were gifted one as well.

 

[Stepper]

I saw a youtube video review putting the B&D up against the Dyson DC31 and Dirt Devil Kone... Long story short, the Black n Decker won.

I don't understand the concept behind the pivoting nozzle though. Seems like they designed it to pivot before they knew a reason for it to do so.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

They make a Black and Decker Flex that is corded that will hook up to the lighter... I haven't used one, but I have the cordless re-chargable version. I really loved mine when I first got it, and still take it out to the car when I just want to do a quick pick up. I can't speak to the car version, but there used to be a demo of it on QVC.com. It does use a paper pleated filter, but I think the one you are considering uses the same filter. I don't say it's super powerful for getting embedded sand up, but if you stay on top of things, it really is nice. So easy to get in the nooks and crannies and the attachments make it even more versatile....

Oh wait.... I just re-read your post and saw that you stated it is only available in the UK... I know QVC used to sell it here and I know that it was on Amazon, so you might thy those places. Autozone and Wal-mart also have a cordless canister type vacuum that plugs into the lighter... I'll link to the product page below. I don't know anything about it, but the good thing about buying from Wal-mart is it's easy to return if it doesn't work well.



http://www.walmart.com/ip/Auto-Vac-Bagless-Vacuum/16888804#Product+Reviews

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks everyone for your input!

I'm actually not that concerned about deep cleaning of the carpeted floor mats in my car - those are easily removed and brought up to my apartment for deep cleaning with my Hoover Tempo upright vac.

I am more interested in getting a decent little "lighter plug powered" vac that has a hose and some attachments to clean the upholstery and dashboard and air vents and hard to get at nooks and crannies.

So far, it looks like I will have to drive down to Buffalo and shop for any of those three Black and Decker car vacs south of the border. As it turns out, all three (auto versions of the Flex, Dustbuster and Pivot Vac) are indeed available in the US. The B&D Auto Flex vac may be a good solution as they offer a mini power nozzle attachment that recharges in your home separately which is then usable on upholstery in the car.

In my Internet research, I also came upon three car vacs made in the USA by Metropolitan vacuum. They all plug into a lighter and offer about .5HP (100 watts) of power!!! They are like mini cylinder vacs and the deluxe model of this Metro Vac and Go has a hose and three classic attachments - a dusting brush, crevice tool and upholstery nozzle. It uses disposable bags and can take an optional mini turbo nozzle.

There is a Canadian distributor that sells these Metro car vacs online - eShine.ca.

Has anyone had any experience with these Metro car vacs? Apparently, this American company was one of the very first vac-makers to make a car vac that plugged into the lighter.

Also - does anyone know if running a .5HP car vac off the car battery can cause any damage or burnout to the car battery?

Thanks in advance for your help friends!!!

 

[eurekaprince]

Here's a link to the web page describing the Metro Vac n Go. The 12 volt version actually offers a .75HP motor:



http://www.metrovacworld.com/vac-n-go

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

If you find that Black and Decker Power nozzle available anywhere, please let me know. I ordered that along with the shoulder strap and the company I ordered it from took my money and then told me it was no longer available and they'd have to give me a refund. I was so mad! Those are really hard to find apparently!

 

[sanitaire]

dewalt makes a portable wet/dry vac that can be used on a battery pack or plugged in. the maintaince workers that come too my school use them too clean up there messes after they are done working.

 

[eurekaprince]

Hey Bobby! I'll let you know if I find the B&D Flex power nozzle.....they probably discontinued the product because it did not work that well..who knows?

I am really setting my sights on the Metropolitan Vac n' Go Car Vac - though it will cost me around CAD$100! I like the idea that it is a mini version of a cylinder canister vac! Sooooo cute. And the fact that it has a "normal" trio of attachments. I only hope the 11 amp/12 volt motor does not destroy my car battery! But it looks like Metropolitan has over 40 years of experience producing car vacs that plug into the lighter outlet.

(As an aside - SOOO excited for you guys down in Orlando - been following the contruction of the "New" Fantasyland and it looks beautiful...maybe I too can find my "prince" there!...)

Eurekaprince Brian in freezing cold Toronto.....

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Does anyone here have any pictures to show us of the original B&D Dustbuster-based CarVac models (these were blue from 1981-83, then black from 1984)?

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

1984 Black & Decker CarVac Commercial

NOTE: Uses race-car engine sounds.

~Ben

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I don't know about finding any princes, but if you come to Orlando, we gotta meet and have a vac play date ) I worked at Disney when I was 19, but haven't been much since. I have a friend who works there who offers to get me in for free sometimes, but once you've worked there, the "magic" is gone! )

Not sure about that mini power nozzle for the Flex.... I wanted it when the Flex was a lot newer and you'd have thought it would have still been available...