Used Rainbows--besides pawn shops they end up in trade in piles at vac shops.The vac shop salesman convinces the customer the Rainbow is inconvenient to use-so the customer trades in his Rainbow to the machuine the vac shop is selling--or heaven forbid--to the Kirby salesman!Have seen Rainbows in Kirby sales vans trade in piles-often those are NOT in good condition because the former owner didn't use the Rainbow correctly.A Hyla I got from the Rainbow trade in pile here was packed with long,gross dog hair!Had to change the paper bag in my NSS after using the NSS to clean out the Hyla.Also figure the former Hyla owner didn't use the machine right.
Should I sale my Rainbow or keep it?
- Thread starter tekjunkie28
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vacuumdevil
Well-known member
NPC #kirbyisbestvacuum
@kirbysthebest only measuring CFM will give you misleading results you need inches of water lift and CFM.
Working water lift will show you this. Stay tuned I'll post a video on it for you.
@kirbysthebest only measuring CFM will give you misleading results you need inches of water lift and CFM.
Working water lift will show you this. Stay tuned I'll post a video on it for you.
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
NPC #kirbyisbestvacuum
@myles_v Good advice saying to just generally look for a Kirby.
Why have a love affair with Kirby . they simply don't have the power of modern bypass Motors.
Don't be a NPC and just look at one number.
Measure your vacuums properly and look what they're picking up. Rainbows are one of the best cleaning portable home vacuums.
@myles_v Good advice saying to just generally look for a Kirby.
Why have a love affair with Kirby . they simply don't have the power of modern bypass Motors.
Don't be a NPC and just look at one number.
Measure your vacuums properly and look what they're picking up. Rainbows are one of the best cleaning portable home vacuums.
Is the working waterlift device a STANDARD to measure vacuum cleaners with?Is it readily available?If so would like to have one.I would pit my Kirbys,Royals,even Sanitaires against ANY clean air machine out there.These machines wORK and work well.and are really easier to maintain.
sptyks
Well-known member
Vacuumdevil: That's an interesting looking device, but suction and airflow measuring gadgets don't tell you diddly-squat about the actual effectiveness of any given vacuum cleaner!
The real performance test of ANY vacuum cleaner is actual <span style="text-decoration: underline;">MEASURED</span> dirt removal from identical carpet samples. FACT: Direct Air vacuums like the later Kirby Generation series or 7 to 10 amp Royal metal vacuum cleaners excel at this type of test.
The real performance test of ANY vacuum cleaner is actual <span style="text-decoration: underline;">MEASURED</span> dirt removal from identical carpet samples. FACT: Direct Air vacuums like the later Kirby Generation series or 7 to 10 amp Royal metal vacuum cleaners excel at this type of test.
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
@tolivac yes it is a standard device that's readily available.
"WORKING VACUUM
The best method to demonstrate this to consumers is a comparison of sealed vacuum to working vacuum. Using a vacuum gauge and test Y, you can measure the suction of a vacuum while air is flowing through an opening which best represents the use of a hose and attachments.
While sealed vacuum is a great toold for identifying leaks in a vacuum system, working vacuum is a great way to demonstrate sustained cleaning or lack thereof. All vacuum systems have to deal with fine dust particles, and the type of filtration will largely impact how long the system can operate before these particles impact its performance. The Cyclonic action of VACUFLO outperforms competitive paper and cloth bags, meaning your customers will have better long-term suction.
http://www.vacuflo.com/WBA/Content/support/industry-terms
"WORKING VACUUM
The best method to demonstrate this to consumers is a comparison of sealed vacuum to working vacuum. Using a vacuum gauge and test Y, you can measure the suction of a vacuum while air is flowing through an opening which best represents the use of a hose and attachments.
While sealed vacuum is a great toold for identifying leaks in a vacuum system, working vacuum is a great way to demonstrate sustained cleaning or lack thereof. All vacuum systems have to deal with fine dust particles, and the type of filtration will largely impact how long the system can operate before these particles impact its performance. The Cyclonic action of VACUFLO outperforms competitive paper and cloth bags, meaning your customers will have better long-term suction.
http://www.vacuflo.com/WBA/Content/support/industry-terms
Vacuumdevil:Where can one obtain the working vacuum device-would like to have one with my other vacuum cleaner test gauges.I have the suction meter-came with a TriStar demo kit.
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
@tekjunkie28 Keep the rainbow! Buy a new SEBO Felix .
tekjunkie28
Well-known member
I'm hopefully picking up a brand new Sentria 2. I say brand new because apparently it has only been used a few times and it belonged to this girl's grandmother. We shall see. What would I be looking for to determine how many hours this think has been ran? She sent me a video of it and it looks clean and seems to run great. The house also looked gorgeous from what I saw.
myles_v
Well-known member
vacuumdevil
I won't disagree that Rainbow makes good vacuums, but if you're only considering carpet cleaning ability then I believe the Kirby is superior. Rainbow is superior for all-around cleaning, especially above-floor and hard floor.
I've never been a huge fan of either vacuum for daily use, though. I've had around 6 Rainbows or so and I always get tired of dealing with the water, the novelty wears off quickly for me. I don't currently own one, I sold my last Rainbow for $250 on Facebook Marketplace. They do hold their resale value much better than any Kirby does. I've had even more Kirby machines than Rainbow, but now I only own one and I haven't touched it in months. I prefer my Miele for daily cleaning, it cleans and filters well.
I won't disagree that Rainbow makes good vacuums, but if you're only considering carpet cleaning ability then I believe the Kirby is superior. Rainbow is superior for all-around cleaning, especially above-floor and hard floor.
I've never been a huge fan of either vacuum for daily use, though. I've had around 6 Rainbows or so and I always get tired of dealing with the water, the novelty wears off quickly for me. I don't currently own one, I sold my last Rainbow for $250 on Facebook Marketplace. They do hold their resale value much better than any Kirby does. I've had even more Kirby machines than Rainbow, but now I only own one and I haven't touched it in months. I prefer my Miele for daily cleaning, it cleans and filters well.
tekjunkie28
Well-known member
Would you buy a Sentria 2 never used. But doesn't come with Shampooer or zippbrush for $150?
tekjunkie28
Well-known member
Correctional.. Very slightly used. Attachments look brand new. No bags or belts. Belonged to an elderly lady
vacuumdevil
Well-known member
rivstg1
Well-known member
I like the Miele’s Too, I just don’t care for the repair/upkeep costs. After I saw some of the bills for repair ( parts & the complexity) & $$ for filters. That’s why, I prefer the Kirby or Rainbow to them...much much easier and cheaper to maintain it seems to me. But , I was tempted to buy one at a thrift store but it was missing the powernozzle.
tekjunkie28
Well-known member
So here are my current options and I would love to know yalls thoughts.
1. Sentria 2 with attachements but no zippbrush or shampooer. Attachments never have been used from what I saw. Vacuum has very little use from what I saw but I didnt have hands. Vacuum apparently belionged to the girls grandmother who only used it a few times. I have no way to test transmission but the motor works. No extra bags or belts. $150
2. Sentria at local pawnshop. Used with shampooer but no zip brush. Attachments look OK. I have not seen it in person but pics look good. No clue how many hours are on this machine but bag looks clean from pics. $130
3 "refurbished" Avalir from the local dealer. No clue what was done but it comes with shampooer, zip bursh (i think) and extra shampoo and bags. I doubt motor was serviced but I have no clue. I can get more details. shampooer is new they say. also will have 1 year warrenty with that dealer. $300
4. Wait for better offer which may or may not come.
1. Sentria 2 with attachements but no zippbrush or shampooer. Attachments never have been used from what I saw. Vacuum has very little use from what I saw but I didnt have hands. Vacuum apparently belionged to the girls grandmother who only used it a few times. I have no way to test transmission but the motor works. No extra bags or belts. $150
2. Sentria at local pawnshop. Used with shampooer but no zip brush. Attachments look OK. I have not seen it in person but pics look good. No clue how many hours are on this machine but bag looks clean from pics. $130
3 "refurbished" Avalir from the local dealer. No clue what was done but it comes with shampooer, zip bursh (i think) and extra shampoo and bags. I doubt motor was serviced but I have no clue. I can get more details. shampooer is new they say. also will have 1 year warrenty with that dealer. $300
4. Wait for better offer which may or may not come.
myles_v
Well-known member
tekjunkie28
I'd go with option 1 or 2. If you're keeping the Rainbow then don't worry about the Kirby shampooer, the Rainbow is a much better deep cleaner because extraction is generally more effective than dry foam. I'd look out for one with all of the basic attachments; hose, extension wands, upholstery tool, dusting brush, crevice, hard floor, etc. You can always buy a Zipbrush elsewhere if it's something you really want, but I've never found it useful. The upholstery tool is fine for furniture and for stairs I've always used the smaller handle attachment that converts the Kirby to a handheld machine of sorts.
I'd go with option 1 or 2. If you're keeping the Rainbow then don't worry about the Kirby shampooer, the Rainbow is a much better deep cleaner because extraction is generally more effective than dry foam. I'd look out for one with all of the basic attachments; hose, extension wands, upholstery tool, dusting brush, crevice, hard floor, etc. You can always buy a Zipbrush elsewhere if it's something you really want, but I've never found it useful. The upholstery tool is fine for furniture and for stairs I've always used the smaller handle attachment that converts the Kirby to a handheld machine of sorts.
tekjunkie28
Well-known member
This Kirby is insane. The airflow with the attachments is A LOT more then my rainbow. Is that normal?
So this raises the question again... what do I have the rainbow for?? A glorified air purifier? I have a few other issues that I will make a new thread for.
I used the foam gun and a brush and did my dining room chairs. AMAZING! They are mostly clean. I have never had them come clean ever with water extraction.
So this raises the question again... what do I have the rainbow for?? A glorified air purifier? I have a few other issues that I will make a new thread for.
I used the foam gun and a brush and did my dining room chairs. AMAZING! They are mostly clean. I have never had them come clean ever with water extraction.
rivstg1
Well-known member
good to hear of updates
now your comment about water extraction not being as effective as the dry foam....thats really surprising. I"ve had good fortune with water based cleaning on cloth/carpet, I've used my kirby foam on my stairs and carpets but I didn't really notice a big difference before/after....also, b/c I did spot treating with cleaners for stains, so it masked the 'dramatic' if any, cleaning the dry foam might have done.
Its really interesting hearing your contrast of the Kirby's and Rainbow's performance in vacuuming... Like I mentioned, I have both as well, but I didn't notice such a massive difference ( even though I know the airflow/cfm is vastly superior with the Kirby). I DID notice the junk picked up by the Kirby using the dirt meter after I had used the Rainbow for so long.
now your comment about water extraction not being as effective as the dry foam....thats really surprising. I"ve had good fortune with water based cleaning on cloth/carpet, I've used my kirby foam on my stairs and carpets but I didn't really notice a big difference before/after....also, b/c I did spot treating with cleaners for stains, so it masked the 'dramatic' if any, cleaning the dry foam might have done.
Its really interesting hearing your contrast of the Kirby's and Rainbow's performance in vacuuming... Like I mentioned, I have both as well, but I didn't notice such a massive difference ( even though I know the airflow/cfm is vastly superior with the Kirby). I DID notice the junk picked up by the Kirby using the dirt meter after I had used the Rainbow for so long.
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