So, let's talk dirt devil hand vacs

[real1shep]

<a name="start_35167.379377"></a>By the way, how is the hose suction on the typical Royal or Dirt Devil hand vac with front hose connection? If it's decent, one of these with the attachment kits may become my next car cleaning machine. It would be easy to manuever, not having a canister or shop vac to move around the car, and would probably clean the carpet and floor mats well. I haven't found a machine that can do that well, most seem to scatter the sand.

The bagless Classic handvacs use a pan style converter, similar to what Black and Decker, Kenmore and some other hand vacs did.


 


The two hand vac Dirt Devils I have are not much for vacuum with the hose. The 120 volts model is usable, but compared to a good canister vac-dismal. It will get the job done, but stuff coming up from the floor of your car (like rocks) will be like bullets to the plastic fan impeller. They're somewhat hard to find. They do a decent job on car carpets though if they aren't really dirty with sand, rocks etc. Portability of course, is their swan song.


 


Kevin

 

[kenkart]

I have

Bunches of Royal 501s, from the 40s on up, I even have a straight suction one called a Rex.

 

[real1shep]

How much 'better' do the older ones with the metal housings perform, if at all? And what yr did they launch into the plastic fantastics like mine?


 


 


Kevin

 

[kenkart]

The old ones

Perform much better because they have a better motor and a deeper blade fan, they really do a good job.

 

[real1shep]

Is the....

fan impeller metal? The motor on my 12 volt model is just a non plus RC motor and the 120 volt not much better.


 


Kevin

 

[broomvac]

Dirt Devil Ultra Hand Vac

Finally got this bad boy all cleaned up. I think it turned out pretty nice!

Although I've had several 103's and Plus's before, I'd never had an Ultra until this one, so I was curious to see how it would stack up against the others.

With a new genuine bag and belt, this Ultra performs well from the nozzle in my opinion, albeit while being very loud. It seems to have the edge on even the 3 amp Dirt Devil Plus.

I'll agree with the others above, though, that the suction through the hose is mediocre at best. Light stuff can be picked up, but good luck sucking up anything heavy. But hey, at least it keeps you from sucking up any metal screws or the like into the fan!

broomvac

 

[real1shep]

Looks like new!


 


Dog hair in the cars was always my nemesis. While the Dirt Devils can vacuum the hair up OK with the roller brush, the hose suction struggles.....find myself using the crevice tool as a scraper first to loosen the hairs from the carpet, then suck....pretty useless. But gawd...bringing out a wet & dry shop vac feels like pulling an elephant through the keyhole. Tries to tip over.....they are loud as heck etc. If I bring out a canister vac, everything is great....but I hate doing that. I think I'll dedicate one canister vac to the outside like that.....use the Dirt Devils for touch up.


 


It's a function of time, patience and elbow grease, really. I had a nice sports car in college and this little 12 volt vac for the interior...nothing else. I had a Dalmatian too, which shed hair everywhere all yr long. The dog rode with me in the car...the car was spotless....not a hair to be found. Knowing what I know about vacs now, what folly. But hey, ignorance is bliss...lol!


 


Kevin


 

 

[fan-of-fans]

I like using my Shop Vac to clean the car as it's light weight and sucks the sand out of the carpet very well, I use my Eureka Mighty Mite attachments with it. But it is very loud and then I have to dump the tub and clean the filters off.

I use a canister sometimes but it's heavier to move around and not as strong, but you have better attachments on board. Sometimes I take the floor mats out and use the power nozzle on them.

I never found the 12V vacs to be very powerful. I used to have a bunch of cheap ones and a Black and Decker Dustbuster Car Vac 12V that was probably the best of the bunch.

Now back to Dirt Devil handvacs, that Ultra looks pretty nice, seems to have a big motor. Any idea of the age? I didn't realize these are still being made, but they are.

Thanks for the info on the suction also. I don't usually get gravel or rocks in my car, and never have pet hair, but just sand. Which may cause damage to a plastic fan, I hadn't thought about that with these being fan first machines.

There is one of the regular Dirt Devils at a thrift here in the box with the attachment kit. I think they wanted $8 which was tempting.

 

[real1shep]

If the old ones have metal impellers, maybe that's the way to go.....buy two and use one for parts.


 


That's why I don't like the shop vacs...the suctions and CFM is best on the two inch hose which has so much suction it pulls the darn thing toward you if the suction is maxed.....like an accordion. And yes, cleaning the filters.......although I retrofitted my Sears to take those big bag liners....but the whole affair is just too bulky IMO.


 


The canisters work best because as you say, they have the most suitable attachments. The generic shop vac attachments are cheap and don't perform well except on concrete floors etc.


 


The 12volt Dirt Devil I have is really more toy than anything. The noise from the thing intrigues bystanders...lol. It does OK on just carpet with the brush roll.


 


Kevin

 

[crazykirbydude]

They made a 120V version of the black-and-yellow checkered "auto" version. It is called the Dirt Devil 500 and was supposed to come with attachments more suited to car cleaning. I have it somewhere. I don't care for it too much, as the filtration is terrible. This cleaner has plenty of power, but it only utilizes a shake out bag. It does not have the "spout" for the paper bags to fit onto, just a wide opening. This would not be a problem if it weren't for the outer bag. Every time the bag gets bumped, a HUGE cloud of dust flies out. I would say if you are going to get one, get one with the bag "spout". On a different note, I've always thought 12V car vacuums were complete garbage. I bought a no name 12V car vacuum a few months ago, and from the beginning there was almost no suction or airflow, the thing was loud and vibrated a lot and it would throw grit out the exhaust port at your face. It came with two tools. Both were absolutely useless. I believe it's some generic Chinese design, as I've seen this same cleaner under multiple brands. It looks just like this, same tools and everything. The only difference was mine had a white motor housing and a blue dust cup. It was labeled "Super Wet&#92Dry Vac"

 

[real1shep]

I totally agree with that and with the B&W checkered 12volt Dirt Devil.....the bag in the only filtration. But then again, mine is not house borken and never been inside. Same with the red one that is almost identical, but is 120volts. Since it is the same as far as bag fitment, I assume there is no paper filter bag for it either?


 


Kevin