The Kirby TurboSander - A superb invention...

[twocvbloke]

In this day and age where everything is electrically powered and things need big noisy motors, the Kirby TurboSander is just a wonderful invention...

I just used mine to sand down a plywood board prior to painting it, and it made me think, if I had used an electric sander, I'd have it hooked up to a vac and also plugged into the mains, but, the TurboSander eliminated the need for using more electricity and having tangled up wires and hoses, cos the power was derived from the airflow from the vacuum itself...

Brilliant invention, worth the investment if you like doing DIY woodwork, even if you don't have a Kirby, cos it'll work on other vacuums too...

 

[whirlpolf]

I agree. A nice tool.
I use it for my bathroom tiles and grouts. We have very hard water and there is some iron in it as well, so there is always this greyish-brownish stuff and the tiles feel rough to the touch. You need a lot of elbow grease to get that clean manually.
Now I just use the spray gun to moisten the tiles with concentrated vinegar and leave them for 30 mins. After that I take the sander and the green scouring pad and pull it over the tiles flat and at an angle, I pull the front edge through the grout only once. Done! Smooth as a baby butt, all looks like new.
Besides I feel so safe when using it in a wet environment, there's no motor in it: The kirby outside in the hall, the double-length hose goes all the way through the entire bathroom.

But beware: The turbo sander doesn't like cement or plaster. I've ruined one of them when flattening walls before we put new wallpapers on them. The fine cement dust kills the bearings.

But what the heck, I have got a couple of spare ones ;-)

 

[kirbylux77]

And to think it can be used as a massager, too......

I think I may just have to buy one one of these days.....just to get a good back massage from one's partner would be worth it, let alone it's many uses!

Rob

 

[twocvbloke]

"Sensual massage...."

The Kirby LegendII manual I had (no idea where it's gone) claimed that the Kirby TurboSander can provide a sensual massage for tired and aching muscles, but, I have tried it, and unless you wear earplugs, it's not very nice!!! :S

Maybe if you used it on a Central Vac it might be sensual, cos the sound of a Kirby blaring away next to you isn't pleasant when you're relaxing....

 

[kirbylux77]

True enough David! Either that, or use a long universal extension hose & keep the Kirby in another room....

I still want to find one eventually, though, just for the sake of having all the optional attachments.

Rob

 

[twocvbloke]

The attachment set I want is the complete Heritage Turbo Group, with the turbobrush (have one but the bearings are shot), the turbosander (yeah, I know I have one, but I want a Heritage one) and the TurboClippers, gotta love air-powered hair grooming tools....

especially as my mop needs a good trimming...

 

[kirbylux77]

Uh oh, you might be jealous of me then, David.....

I just picked up my Kirby Heritage last spring, complete with all the Turbo Group attachments, for only $50 CDN. All I need to get now is the turbosander & the turboclippers....

BTW, regarding the turbobrush that's part of the Turbo Group....I also have a turbobrush, not a zippbrush, that's for a Heritage II. But, I was under the impression that the turbobrush was discontinued & replaced with the zippbrush when the Heritage II came out. So, how rare are these & what year was the turbobrush officially discontinued?

Rob

 

[tolivac]

Shop-vac makes a similar turbo sander to use on their shop-Vacs-they have one at lowes on sale-just may get it to compare it to the Kirby version-Oh yes-when a freind of mine remoldeled his house-used a G4 turbo sander to help him sand the drywall-used the sander with my NSS M1 vacuum-no problems!worked just fine.Just cleaned it out often.

 

[djtaylor]

Rob, the Turbo Brush is still made, but the Douglas devision of S&F. They were called the Rug Rat. I always felt it worked better than the Zip Brush. The Zip clogs easy, needs loads of care and bogs down with even light pressure. I prefer the Turbo Brush/Rug Rat.
Justin

 

[kirbylux77]

Thanks for your help, Justin....

However, I know that the Turbobrush is still being made under the "Rug Rat" name. And, like you, I prefer the Turbobrush over the Zippbrush.

What I am really seeking to find out, though, is what year did Kirby stop having the Turbobrush made for them? I have always believed that the Turbobrush ended with the Heritage I.

Like I told David in this post, I have a complete Turbo Group attachment set, with the Turbobrush, in the dark gray color that the Heritage I attachments were made in. However, I also have a Turbobrush that is in the dark black color the Heritage II attachments were made in; it obviously was originally sold with a Heritage II.

So, does anyone else on here know what month & year Kirby officially discontinued the Turbobrush? Was this perhaps made for just a few months until they perfected the design for the Zippbrush & started manufacturing it?

Rob

 

[richardc1983]

Ive just bought a turbobrush on ebay the other day!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Sorry to bring up a four-year-old thread, but yes the Turbo Brush did make it into Heritage II sales for its first season (1984-85) only, which by then was not only black in color but production was now in Canada (along with the Turbo Sander) instead of the U.S. In fact, these had been made in Canada after about 1983.

~Ben

 

[countryguy]

I bought a similiar turbine powered brush in the mid 80s. It was ivory in colour and labelled Rug Rat. I bought it at a Home Fair from an independent vacuum dealer.

Gary