Royal, Kirby, Sanitaire for use on hard floors?

[Sanifan]

Hi,

Yes, I know the hairs are standing on the back of your neck because the brushroll would trash the floor. But has anyone adapted one of these high-airflow machines to work on hard floors by taking out the brushroll and belt?

The reason I ask is because I'll be moving to a house with mainly hard floors and it would be a shame to keep these great direct air vacs tucked in the closet.

I know the Kirby can be turned into a canister vac, but what about just taking out the belt and brushroll?

I imagine it would be best to fashion some sort of brush around the nozzle to loosen dirt so it can be sucked up. What do you think?

 

[fanonthefloor]

Kirby

Kirby actually says just turn the vac off turn the belt lifter un til the belt is lifted, as if you were going to take off the head, anmd turn on to the last setting.

 

[vac-o-matic]

Well...

Buy an nice area rug or two to keep your uprights in use! Kirby used to make a clip on felt attachment for bare floors I believe, don't know if they're still avaiable or not. Hopefully when Kirby introduces their new model, they've addressed the bare floor issue, as so many people are ripping up perfectly good carpeting to go to hardwood floors.

 

[bimmer740]

Kirby still makes the Bare Floor Pad as far as I know. Its not really a pad as it has a row of bristles along the bottom. I ordered one directly from Kirby years ago after I bought my Diamond Edition and I think I paid around $20. The "floor pad" isnt the greatest but it does ensure that you wont scratch the floor as you can with the bottom of the metal rug nozzle. If you have a lot of bare floors and a Kirby is the only machine you have, then its a good idea to purchase one. I would rather just use the machine in the canister mode since its to hard to get under and around furniture with vacuum in upright mode. One small gripe about the floor pad it is can make the machine a little difficult to stear on uneven floors such as tile flooring.

 

[Sanifan]

They still sell it...

Thanks for the link on Kirby floor pad. Yes, a number of online vac shops and Amazon have it for about $20. I'm considering getting it, but I like your idea about just using the Kirby as a canister. One thing that's turning me off about using the Kirby as an upright on bare it that it's so unweildy. The smaller and lighter Royal and Sanitaire would work much better, IMO. Too bad they don't have a similar floor pad for hard floors.

I think it's more of a conceit for me anyway. I'll most likely be using my Dyson DC23 turbinehead with a Flatout floor tool, or a Sebo Felix with a parquet attachement. You can't beat the Felix for easy handling and maneuverability. Still, I don't want the Kirbys, Royals, and Sanitaires to go to waste.

Yes, I'll also have area rugs, so I could always use them there.

 

[a007kirbyman]

sanifan (Khoi) & Kirby Bare Floor Pad...

Hello Khoi.

If you haven't already acquired the Bare Floor Pad elsewhere, shoot me an email & I will provide you all of my contact info. If you have, keep me in mind next time as a source for your Genuine Kirby wants & needs. I'm sure I will be able to save you substantially.

I carry only Genuine Kirby parts.


It is only: $10.30 + s/h, thru me. [Bare Floor Pad 205906S]



Cheers & hagwknd all,

Bill

 

[jfalberti]

Hey Bill

Been a long time. Hope all is well with you and family. Did you see my Sentria project I just completed?

Have a good weekend.

Joe

 

[jfalberti]

Hey Bill

Been a long time. Hope all is well with you and family. Did you see my Sentria project I just completed?

Have a good weekend.

Joe

 

[a007kirbyman]

Joe & Sentria...

Hello Joe.

I did see your thread of 're-constituted orange juice.'

Oops, (my bad ~~lol~~), wrong subject! Kidding aside, yes I saw your Sentria project. You did well, nice job on building a complete system.

I (we) are well on my end, TY. I hope the same w/ you & your's!?!?!

Talk soon. Cheers & hagd all,


Bill

 

[tolivac]

I forgot what model# it was but Royal breifly made brushrolless metal uprights for hard floors-the rear lips of the nozzle had brushes on them.Caretakers of wood gym floors and basketball courts liked them.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

tolivac

Rex,

That would be the model 311 produced between 1945 and 1987. They are indeed quite rare, as I only found two of these to date on eBay. One was dated 1979 and the other from 1974.

~Ben