Ok, maybe the rest of you knew this because I am not out here a lot, but I was just shocked to find out that Air-Way is no longer in business! From what I understand, some companies have scrambled to get some bags made to the air-way standard. Anyone know of a company that might have some of the original air-way bags (14 layer or 28 layer)?
Purple Air-Way Vacuum
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Air-way vacuum bags
I just ordered some Air-way vacuum bags from Vac Shac in Festus, MO where I ordered my Purple Air-Way from in 2000. The guy said air-way no longer made 28 layer bags and said
he would send me 14 layer bags and that I should just
cut the top off of one bag and put the other in it to
get the same result. Well, I just got my bags. I
used one inside the other and was surprised to find
how much dirt went into the other one. On top of
that, there was dust on the inside of my canister and
on the first filter, which has NEVER happened before.
The guy said nothing about them not being genuine
air-way bags (which they obviously are not).
I have written Charlie here on the boards an email asking if he can help me, but have not heard from him yet. I think I'm going to call the company that sent me those vacuum bags and ask if I can return the remaining bags for a refund. I want my air-way to last as long as possible, so I want to get good bags.
Anyone who can help me, please do. If you know Charlie, could you please point him to this thread?
I just ordered some Air-way vacuum bags from Vac Shac in Festus, MO where I ordered my Purple Air-Way from in 2000. The guy said air-way no longer made 28 layer bags and said
he would send me 14 layer bags and that I should just
cut the top off of one bag and put the other in it to
get the same result. Well, I just got my bags. I
used one inside the other and was surprised to find
how much dirt went into the other one. On top of
that, there was dust on the inside of my canister and
on the first filter, which has NEVER happened before.
The guy said nothing about them not being genuine
air-way bags (which they obviously are not).
I have written Charlie here on the boards an email asking if he can help me, but have not heard from him yet. I think I'm going to call the company that sent me those vacuum bags and ask if I can return the remaining bags for a refund. I want my air-way to last as long as possible, so I want to get good bags.
Anyone who can help me, please do. If you know Charlie, could you please point him to this thread?
aeoliandave
Well-known member
Air-Way......The Death Knell Has Sounded....
This is the sad news thread from January 2008.
http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2008/2569x98.htm
This is the sad news thread from January 2008.
http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2008/2569x98.htm
Thanks for that link. I also found the link from 2006 when the Air-way bag maker machine died. I obviously had loaded up on bags before that happened in 2006 and just ran out recently. Ugh! Don't know what to do. I can use these bags, but I'm afraid it will shorten the life of my vacuum since it seems to allow so much small dust particles through it.
hoover28
Well-known member
hoover28
Well-known member
yes
the allerx bags. thay dont make the meltblown bags any more.
Chris
the allerx bags. thay dont make the meltblown bags any more.
Chris
Scott -- I'm right down the road from you in Richardson. The ones I ordered are white. I thought they looked a bit thin when I got them. I'm glad I did the double bag thing, but they STILL let dust through. Very frustrating...I will be interested in knowing how the two sets of bags do for you. Please let me know.
I will say the original bags NEVER let any dust through at all. My white filter pad that is right next to the bag never got dirty and there was never any dust in the bag chamber when I gave it the white glove test. Now, with the bags I just ordered, with one inside the other, the bag on the outside had plenty of fine dust/dirt in it from the interior bag that was SUPPOSED to be catching it all AND the white filter was dirty. Also, the chamber was dusty. These bags were nowhere near oem specs.
I will say the original bags NEVER let any dust through at all. My white filter pad that is right next to the bag never got dirty and there was never any dust in the bag chamber when I gave it the white glove test. Now, with the bags I just ordered, with one inside the other, the bag on the outside had plenty of fine dust/dirt in it from the interior bag that was SUPPOSED to be catching it all AND the white filter was dirty. Also, the chamber was dusty. These bags were nowhere near oem specs.
Then I will at least know where I can buy GOOD bags in town.Thankfully the company I first ordered bags from said they would take back the one set that had not been opened. I just ordered some bags from Air-Tec. Another member said they ordered bags from Charlie here on the boards and that they are from the maker of Black Knight. I did find a thread where Charlie said that Black Knight & Air-Tec have the same owner, so my guess is that they use the same bags. So, I just ordered from Air-Tec since Chris says the bags work just fine.
The gentleman at Vac Shac said that they have the collars on the bags specially made for Air-ways because none of the other bags out there that others sell make a good seal. I became a big skeptical when he followed that up with, "So, did you know Air-way went out of business? If your vacuum breaks down, you won't be able to get parts anymore. If you would like a new vacuum, I could talk to you about a miele." I will say he was a very nice gentleman, but the fact that he said NO other bags out there would have a good seal and work with Air-ways well made me a little frustrated since I had read so much out here about a couple other bags that do work well (the Air-Tec & Black Knight and the Filtrete 3M). I can't imagine folks out here recommending these bags if they did not work well. Oh, and the kicker is that the Air-Tec bags were a couple $$s cheaper than the other ones I ordered at first! HA!
Thanks for all your help! Can't wait for my new bags to get here...
The gentleman at Vac Shac said that they have the collars on the bags specially made for Air-ways because none of the other bags out there that others sell make a good seal. I became a big skeptical when he followed that up with, "So, did you know Air-way went out of business? If your vacuum breaks down, you won't be able to get parts anymore. If you would like a new vacuum, I could talk to you about a miele." I will say he was a very nice gentleman, but the fact that he said NO other bags out there would have a good seal and work with Air-ways well made me a little frustrated since I had read so much out here about a couple other bags that do work well (the Air-Tec & Black Knight and the Filtrete 3M). I can't imagine folks out here recommending these bags if they did not work well. Oh, and the kicker is that the Air-Tec bags were a couple $$s cheaper than the other ones I ordered at first! HA!
Thanks for all your help! Can't wait for my new bags to get here...
Does anyone have contact information or links for the Black Knight and Filtrete 3M bags? I called a few days ago to Air-Tec and the man on the phone seemed confused that I wanted to order bags. He told me that he could sell them to me directly and then he acted as though the conversation were over. I wasn't able to start an order, because it seemed like he thought that I was on my way to his location to buy them from him in person. I tried to explain that I was several states away, but he didn't seem to get it. I sent an email to Air-Tec's email address listed on their website, but no response. I would appreciate any information on the Black Knight and Filtrete 3M bags.
By the way, does anyone have any experience with the Air-Tec BK2000 vacuum? Does BK stand for Burger King? The Air-Tec tools look like old Air Way tools...I love the old style upholstery/drapery brush. I wonder if parts are compatible with Air Way?
By the way, does anyone have any experience with the Air-Tec BK2000 vacuum? Does BK stand for Burger King? The Air-Tec tools look like old Air Way tools...I love the old style upholstery/drapery brush. I wonder if parts are compatible with Air Way?
charles~richard
Well-known member
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- Aug 25, 2006
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What you were told about the newer bags not giving a tight seal with the Air-Way is accurate. The top collar on the new bag is thin plastic, whereas the older ones were thicker cardboard. I have saved the collar from an older bag that I insert along with the plastic-collar bag to get a proper seal.
The Air Tec bags work very well in both the new and older Air Way machines. After Air-Way stopped making the greenish color bags that they had done for many years they went to a blue color bag. I never felt the blue bags worked nearly as well as the Air Tec bags. I use my Air-Way all the time and love it. As far as repair, any good Vac Shop will be able to fix the vacuum for you.
It is my understanding that you can not use the older Air-Way bags with the card board collar in the newer Air-Way machines. The suction is much stronger in the new models and will fold the cardboard collar bags back into the machine.
Morgan
It is my understanding that you can not use the older Air-Way bags with the card board collar in the newer Air-Way machines. The suction is much stronger in the new models and will fold the cardboard collar bags back into the machine.
Morgan
williamr1248
Well-known member
purple Air-Way vac
Morgan:
What you said about the older cardborad collars is true. I tried one on my newer Air-Way Signature and it pulled the bag into the compartment.
Charlie: what you said is true too but it depends on the Air-Way. The new bags with the plastic tops did not work well in my old 66 Sanitizior but they work great in my parents 88 and the new Signature Series. Maybe the rubber seals have just worn down a little on the 66. After all it is over 50 years old!
Morgan:
What you said about the older cardborad collars is true. I tried one on my newer Air-Way Signature and it pulled the bag into the compartment.
Charlie: what you said is true too but it depends on the Air-Way. The new bags with the plastic tops did not work well in my old 66 Sanitizior but they work great in my parents 88 and the new Signature Series. Maybe the rubber seals have just worn down a little on the 66. After all it is over 50 years old!
I did get an email from Charlie and I called him. We talked for a bit and he told me that I will be just fine with the Air-Tec bags and that is what he would have recommended anyway. He did tell me that basically the owner of Air-Tec was a former employee of Air-Way quite a while back. He opened his own company (Air-Tec) and made his vacuum. Basically it is just like the Air-Way but with enough differences so he would not infringe on any patents, etc. Charlie said the Air-Tec vacuum is great also.
Oh, the guy that answered the phone at Air-Tec did sound very confused to me, too. However, I told him I wanted to order 4 sets of bags. They were $16.95 for a set of 8 bags, $6.17 for shipping, and $3.39 for tax. Now, I have no idea why I was charged for tax since I do not live in that state, but I figured it wasn't worth the hassel to call back and fight over $3.40. I did get my bags in 3-4 days. So, you could always call him back and just say, "I would like to order some AlleRx bags." He'll ask how many sets...tell him and then he should ask for all your info. Yes, speak slow and clear and all should be well. Just know you will be charged tax. To me, it was worth it to get GOOD bags.
Oh, I was incorrect...the Air Tec bags were more expensive per bag than the others I ordered (about $0.50 more per bag), but I'll be saving money in the long run since my vacuum will actually last since I have good bags.
You can order the filtrete bags on www.filters-now.com. Just go to the menus on the side of the page and hit the Vacuum Filters. Then choose Airway from the list. It is $19.95 for 12 bag pack. I have ordered AC filters from this website several times, so they are a good site.
From what I have read out here, my conclusion was that the Air-Tec bags are better than the 3M filtrete bags? Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Oh, the guy that answered the phone at Air-Tec did sound very confused to me, too. However, I told him I wanted to order 4 sets of bags. They were $16.95 for a set of 8 bags, $6.17 for shipping, and $3.39 for tax. Now, I have no idea why I was charged for tax since I do not live in that state, but I figured it wasn't worth the hassel to call back and fight over $3.40. I did get my bags in 3-4 days. So, you could always call him back and just say, "I would like to order some AlleRx bags." He'll ask how many sets...tell him and then he should ask for all your info. Yes, speak slow and clear and all should be well. Just know you will be charged tax. To me, it was worth it to get GOOD bags.
Oh, I was incorrect...the Air Tec bags were more expensive per bag than the others I ordered (about $0.50 more per bag), but I'll be saving money in the long run since my vacuum will actually last since I have good bags.
You can order the filtrete bags on www.filters-now.com. Just go to the menus on the side of the page and hit the Vacuum Filters. Then choose Airway from the list. It is $19.95 for 12 bag pack. I have ordered AC filters from this website several times, so they are a good site.
From what I have read out here, my conclusion was that the Air-Tec bags are better than the 3M filtrete bags? Someone correct me if I am wrong.
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