Do hepa vacuums stay hepa

[kirbykid63]

using good quality bags helps

You can greatly improve the filtering performance of your older kirby's " 1cr - 1HD " by replacing the emptors with the heritage 2 style mini emptor and fill tube. this emptor is one piece and doesnt leak dust out the bottom like the older pan style emptors, also use the micron magic or micron hepa bags these keep more dust in the bag.

 

[tolivac]

Water filter vacuums-these tend to be abused more than the dry bagless ones-the owner has to follow the makers procedures to the letter to get the best use of the machine-otherwise he would be better off with a bagged vacuum.Use it and throw it in the closet users should not go near water trap vacuums.If these are abused horrible odors and corroded motors are sure to result.If water trap vacuums are used properly-they can work well.I like my bagged machines better-even though I do have several Rainbows in my collection.Water vacuums can be messy.
I can agree on the improvment of filtration on the older Kirby models by using Heritage type#2min emptor and fill assembly-use the whole bagged assembly on my older Kirbys-works great.and it can work with the Filtrete bags.filters better and holds more-and its kinda fun to see the dirt and stuff go thru the translucent mini emptor into the bag.Oh yes when we had our duty roster as a kid-we had a Kirby 511-I looked FORWARD to the vacuuming duty!and Dad had us empty the bag into one of the flowerbeds!The vacuum dirt did make interesting fertilizer.

 

[danemodsandy]

I Have to Say:

I'm very impressed after nine months of owning my TriStar CXL - it stays cleaner inside than any other vac I've ever owned. This generation of TriStar had quadruple conventional filtration; there is a cloth bag, a paper bag that goes inside the cloth one, a motor filter, and an exhaust filter. There is virtually no dust inside the machine, ever. Dust does not re-appear in the room shortly after vacuuming, the way it does with other machines. While I don't consider this a HEPA machine (though HEPA bags and filters are available for it), it's very good about filtering out the nasties.

New TriStars (the Mg Series) are HEPA, and they have one huge advantage over a lot of other brands - they're still cast metal (the aluminium-magnesium alloy that has always been used on Compact/TriStar machines), not plastic, and therefore far less likely to begin leaking due to fatiguing of the body material. The one problem you could run into is dropping one onto a hard surface; it is possible to crack a TriStar body by doing that. However, TriStar makes replacement body sections available, so the machine can be repaired. Try that with some of the plastic-body machines!

 

[kirbyotronic]

Evan,

I have almost 20 Kirby's, one of my best Kirby's is a 1987 Heritage II. I use either Kirby's second best, or the best HEPA bags in it. First if all, I've never seen any dust coming out of the fill tube as you say.

I also have 5 G series Kirby's, again, I've never seen a speck of dust that came out of the fill tube.

You think Kirby's have some "stank", eh? Sometimes it's true, mostly with the regular paper bags. My Sentria smelled a little funky with the second best HEPA bags in it, only because I hadn't used it in one and a half months. My G5 has the best in it, I just recently turned it on, I hadn't turned it on in ATLEAST 3 months, absolutely no smell at all.

I've used a Filter Queen before, it had a clean cone and everything, even then, it smelled like somebody had sucked up diarrhea, and it worked up my brother's allergies severely. Over all I was not impressed. I'm not trying to make you mad here, but since it was a trade in, nobody wanted it, it got thrown in the dumpster out back.

I'm with Jack, lighten up and stop being so defensive, please.

~Alex Elliott,
Kirby Master, FQ'S worst nightmare.

 

[kirbyboy1]

WOW Alex its sad that your have to bring up your childish fight on here. I can tell you have matured at all. I just have one question then why was filter queen certified by 3 independent labratorys to be 3 times better then hepa? I guess the guys in the clean room must be idiots while you who has never used one because you told me you never did knows everything about hepa filtration. One question do you even know what hepa means. NO you dont. So before you open your dumbass mouth I would suggest researching the facts. Good bye mr Alex I hope your sentrias transmission breaks and you cant find another. Good day/
Evan Strittmatter
Antonym of a dumbass unlike Alex

 

[kirbyboy1]

Also my filter queen will out clean a kirby anyday. It doesnt matter. Kirbys dont clean there the worst vac ever.

 

[aeoliandave]

Darlin' boy, if Kirbys are the worst vac ever why is your screen name kirbyboy1? No information in the profile?

One suspects 99% that this is NOT Evan Strittmatter posting & goading. Don't fall for it, Alex. 'Evan' - post a picture showing you with today's newspaper.

One suggestion that will serve you well whoever you are or wish to be - turn on the spellchecker.

Dave, who has been around the block more than a few times.

 

[kirbyotronic]

Dave,

Haha, I was thinking the same thing! Why is your screen name kirbyboy1 if Kirby's are so bad?!!

I'm pretty sure it's him though, being that he's even been like this on AIM.

But it's all in the past now, either he deleted his account or he got kicked out.

Merry Christmas, and happy vacuuming all!
~Alex.

Ps, it wouldn't hurt Evan to use a spell check once and a while, and find out what a antonym is.

 

[aeoliandave]

"Antonym of a dumbass unlike Alex"

Since there's no grammar or sentence structure logic at play here from the self appointed FQ Princess, let's parse this phrase, shall we?

An antonym being a word of opposite meaning, 'Antonym of a dumbass' would be a smartass.

'unlike Alex' would indicate that Alex is neither. This is known as a backhanded compliment, intended or not. And in readable fact of the word on the page Alex's opinions (as well as Bill, Chris, Dave, Jack, Mike, Rex, Richard and Sandy's) come across as carefully considered and balanced based on comprehensive real world experience. Congratulations Alex.

 

[kirbyotronic]

Another thing he said was "I can tell you have matured at all", I don't see an "n't" at the end of that "have". So gee, thanks for the nice compliment Evan!

I'm just happy it's peaceful now, with the FQ princess gone. At least I know how to spell, and I know how to use grammar.

Oh yes, FQ Princess, about my Sentria's transmission, I highly doubt it will brake, "cuz" it's not made of plastic like your precious little Filter Queens. Even if it did, my best buddy at the local Kirby service center has a box of 5 brand new ones, and I always get 15% off everything!

I think he's just jealous, being that he doesn't have the newest model of Kirby, and that any Kirby could clean better than an FQ.

I'm pretty much done now, I don't want to get kicked out and I don't want to forums taken away!

(PS, ran my spell check before this was posted, something the FQ Princess has never done in his/her life)

Merry Christmas, and Happy Vintage-Vacuuming to all!

 

[electroluxxxx]

Just my 2 cents.
Merry Christmas to you too. and to think that a 14 yr old could tell people off that are twice his/her age. I think someone should call his/her parents and let them know what they are dealing with. I could tell you right now "It is not normal"
and alex you are right!!!! it is nice and quiet now that the nagging is done. lol
Merry christmas to all.

 

[electroluxxxx]

by the way dave how many inches of snow did you get up there???

 

[tolivac]

Tristars-used to sell these-the older models were the best-the older "Pig" style ones.don't have the models at hand now.bought the last of one of these new-Metallic Grey body with the "pignose HEPA" filter.the new MG machines are a minor dissapointment to me-and stopped selling them.Yes the body is tough magnesium metal-but inside is a cheap Chinese motor.the MG machines have less power than the CXL and older ones.some of the Tristar MG's that me and freind sold are coming in to the Vacuum Hospital for motor Replacements!these use the same motors as the Eureka -eletrolux low priced canisters!I don't want to step on toes-and apologize-but that is what I saw when a TriStar MG was opened for motor repairs.I have both the MG1,2 in my collection along with a CXL.In general don't like the "Electrolux" flavor in the newer Tri-Star machines.Like the older ones better.I thought the older "Turbobrush" was better than the "electrolux" type one.

 

[kirbyotronic]

Mike,

He isn't 14, he's only 13. He told me months ago that he was 12 when he joined, and lied and said he was 13. I actually waited until my 13th birthday last October.

Right now, we have 11 million inches! Just kidding, we have 8 inches. We'll have a white Christmas indeed! We have a snow "sandwich" actually, first layer is snow, second is a quarter inch of ice, and some more snow. Very chilly, I can't wait until Christmas when I can have my North face jacket!

I'll take some pictures soon, I don't have my camera right now.

 

[kirbyotronic]

Rex,

Speaking of "pig-ish" shaped cleaners, I have a nice Compact Electra C6 (I think that's the model). It has all of the attachments, original cloth hose, original paperwork, and the tacky 60's glittery flower power hassock. I love it to bits.I found it in September at a thrift shop for $20. I need to find a filter for it, it has the original, I poked it once and I made a little hole in it. So obviously, it's the original!

I'll post pictures of all of my collection, but again, I don't have my camera.

PS, the pig is Turquoise Aqua color, don't know if that helps but I'll throw it in there anyway!

 

[tolivac]

I am also trying to look for vacuum cleanrs that came in those Hassock style storage cases-so handy!I have an Aqua Blue Compact-think it may be from the fifties-has a rocket and satellite decal-logo on the machine.It works well.Is the motor filter on yours bad-a newer one should fit.however the newer cloth bags won't fit the older machines-the bag rim is too thick-you can't close the lid.those older Compacts were kinda cool.and they WORK-hard to put them down-same with older filter Queens.In tests I have done at home-My Kirbys will perform better on a carpet than any of my FQ's-however as a canister vacuum-the FQ is better than the Kirby with its hose.I like the older all metal FQ machines best-and yes they are more powerful.Tested with a vac guage and a Baird guage.the older ones have greater airflow and more suction pressure.same thing with the TriStars.the FQ is an interesting vacuum though-the best of both worlds and disposable filter with a bagless container.again empty them outside.forget the stupid newspaper on the floor gag.At one time I lived in a high rise apartment house-one time I was dumping a shake out Kirby bag-and out of the chute I heard-"Cough-cough-Stop emptying that bag"Waited until the other trash patron was done-one the floor below me.I can imagine the cloud of dust he was in when he opened the garbage chute door!

 

[myvacsrock]

Heres my Two-Cents!

.............


(Sorry, i am fairly pointless, i know)

 

[danemodsandy]

Compact / TriStar

The "pig" shaped Compact / TriStar machines were made from 1940-1998 - a pretty phenomenal manufacturing run. There were lots of changes over the years, sort of like the original Volkswagen Beetle - always recognisable, but not the same from year to year.

The last generation of "real" TriStars (the CXL to EX-20 models - 1990-1998) are really good machines. They have Ametek motors. Power nozzles were fitted from the 1970s on (after a false start in the early '60s). Standard filtration was: cloth bag, paper bag, motor filter and afterfilter. You could also buy a big, ugly "superfilter" to replace the standard disc afterfilter; a pic is below.

The cloth bag being sold today should fit Compacts at least back to the C2 (1949-1954). If it does not, I wonder why?

P.S.: Whoever noted the "Electrolux flavour" of current TriStars is more right than he knows. TriStar is now owned by the same company that owns Aerus, once Electrolux in America. Aerus is their retail-sales brand, and TriStar is their direct-sales brand. For some strange reason, my local Aerus agency carries nothing for TriStar; you'd think the company would handle their servicing through local Aerus agencies. I'm also not a big fan of the newer TriStars. The motor issue aside, plastic wands and the lack of a cordwinder are inexcusable on a machine in that price range.

 

[williamr1248]

Do hepa vacuums stay hepa

Sandy,
Thanks for the information on the Tri-Star. I bought one from a door-to-door salesman back in the 90's. Mine looked just like your picture except the after filter was bigger. Mine is still packed away in the original box. I ordered a straight suction rug tool As I remember the Tri-Star had very strong suction and air-flow. The tools were so cool because they were clear with sparkles in the finish. I have never seen or used one of the newer machines. I have the original paper work and I am sure it was something like $1150.00. I remember the salesperson telling me they were a big staus symbol in Japan.

 

[danemodsandy]

Rob:

Wow, an MIB TriStar! Sounds like you might have a CXL, a DXL, or an EX-20. $1150 was a lot for a vacuum back then, but as with everything, they've gotten even more expensive. The suggested selling price (frequently, and often heavily, discounted) for a TriStar Mg2 is $2600.

I also made sure to get a rug tool for my CXL. Not cheap! But it was worth it. My floor tool came with something called a "rug shoe", which is a clip-on adapter that converts the floor tool to a rug tool, but it was not easy to use, and I didn't like the fact that it flattened the floor tool's brush strips when it was clipped onto the floor tool. So, I shelled out something like $65 to get the "real" rug tool. Makes all the difference, because I have some rugs that shouldn't get vacuumed with the power nozzle. I knew about the rug tool because I grew up with a Compact C2; the late TriStar metal tools (rug tool and floor tool) are nearly identical to the C2 tools I was so familiar with.

I also got two extra wands for my CXL, since we have a stairwell with a high ceiling, and the spiders just loooooove it up there. Very nifty vacuum cleaner, and you're right, the clear/glitter tools are cool, at least when they're freshly washed. Their drawback is that they get dirty-looking inside, and it shows up very quickly. The plastic tools (upholstery tool, crevice tool and dusting brush) on the C2 we had when I was a kid were grey. The grille for the upholstery tool was electric blue; it's beige today. For those who aren't familiar with Compact/TriStar machines, the upholstery tool has a little snap-in grille to use when vacuuming curtains, so they don't get sucked into the tool. You take it out for upholstery cleaning, to get maximum suction.