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@sptyks again that's a opinion!
I believe we have had this discussion before.
Many bypass Vacuums do clean better . Even Royal realize that and made the power cast which cleans better then the previous direct air machines.
I stated before Kirby's have their place but for the most part are not practical in today's market.

Also why the Kirby bag filters well, it is not considered a sealed system in any sort of way. Especially with how the fan gasket rots . The cooling fan circulates dust. picture is an example of that .

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Powercast vs Royal metal direct air machines---Afraid NOT!!!The direct airs are MUCH better,more effic ient and have larger bags.The Powercast FAILED-and it was just too heavy and fragile.Have two of them.
Both my Royals and Kirbys are sealed-the IQ Air particle meter reads zero on either if the synthetic cloth bags are used.I measured at several areas of their bags and got ZERO!
Oh yes-the Powercasts could trip 15A breakers,too-even if they are the only appliance used on that circuit.The Powercasts were a handsome machines---nothing else.The Powercast needed a powerdrive to make it easier to push.A cleaning service in town here tried them-PROMPLY returned the Powercasts because of weight,small bag capacity(No synthetic bags available)and they were fragile.The cord hooks and handles broke.That cleaning service went back to their Sanitaires!
 
Wow, heated topic!

I've seen vaccumdevil's particle counter video of a Kirby, and yes, it does read a "0" at the bag, but not at the little vent on the motor housing. That's most definitely the motor fan stirring up dust. And, if your rug nozzle to fan gasket is dried-out, it's going to leak there, too. Not to mention if your fill tube is split anywhere, or isn't properly connected to the Emp-tor. Lots of areas for potential leakage.

None of this means that I'm getting rid of my Kirbys; I use them because I like using them. The seals/fill tubes on all of them are all in good shape, and I could care less about whatever dust the motor fan kicks up. If I ever start to have problems with allergies, I'll look in to getting something like a Miele or Sebo upright (or even better, a central vac perhaps). I love Kirby's, but they are not the "end all/be all" of vacuums.
 
@vacuumdevil...

I'm sorry, but you just don't know what you are talking about: I can see in your profile that you do not even own any G series Kirby's or 10 amp Royals. The royal 880 that you list is an older 4 amp model that does not even come close to the 10 amp Royal Everlast in cleaning performance.


 


And, Just like any other fine piece of  machinery or vacuum cleaner, The Kirby's and Royals do need  periodic maintenance on gaskets, fill tubes, and brushrolls to maintain top performance. Believe it or not all vacuum cleaner motors will accumulate dust over several years of use. This does not mean that the Kirby motor spews dust everywhere while you vacuum. I have taken apart many Kirby motors over the years and I have never seen the amount of dust shown in the BOGUS photo you posted.


 


Also, there is no such thing as a Bypass Air vacuum that will clean better than a Kirby G series or 10 amp  Royal metal upright! The Royal Powercast was a horrible failure. It was the heaviest cleaner on the market and it's performance was much worse than the 10 amp Royals or G series Kirby's.


 


If CRI, the foremost authority on all vacuum cleaners says that Kirby is tops in it's class for cleaning performance and emissions, then that says it all. I suggest you get your facts straight before posting any more of your biased and misguided information on this forum.


 


 
 
how many times are we going to have this conversation?

@sptyks I've worked in a vacuum shop full-time since 2006 I have plenty experience with the generation series of Kirby Vacuums.
The power cast was definitely a failure but you asked for a vacuum that would out clean a Kirby that was portable bypass system. There are plenty of other vacuums I could have named.

There are plenty of vacuums on the CRI list that are ranked the same as Kirby that are bypass machines. So I guess you just proved yourself wrong.

We've had this conversation before if you recall.
I know it is in your opinion that Kirby's are the best vacuum ever and that will never change which is okay !

That doesn't make Kirby's being the end all to vacuums fact.

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I really like my Kirby G6, but it doesn't work for all types of carpets/rugs. Kirby is best if you have flow trough high pile carpet. Kirby is clearly designed to pull air through the carpet and if the carpet is rubber backed it causes problems. I noticed this in my latest "deepclean" test. I tested Dyson Dc40 mkII, Sebo Felix and Kirby G6 (latest stiff brushroll). I was blown away that the Felix was the best. I used a lot of time to get the test accurate as possible.
So because Kirby has high airflow and low suction it couldn't keep up with the Felix. But this was tested on the medium pile rug (rubber backed).
 
I just took my Legend II apart not that long ago, and the internals were covered with dust, so I don't believe vacuumdevil "faked" that video. The motor fan can't help but pull it in along with the air.

I like my Kirby's, but I'm no fanboy. I recognize that they have their faults, and I choose to live with them. I don't feel the need to defend them on a forum, because I recognize that there are vacuums around that are just as good or better.
 
huskyvacs
My rug is medium pile and not so thick. Sebo Felix is easy to use on it without problems, but the Kirby sucks the rug to the nozzle and it becomes very hard to use. It just tries constantly drag the rug with it.
Kirby rely to the airflow, suction is very low. High air flow vacuums need a flow through rug to work right.
What I meant is that Kirby would most likely won the test if it had change to do it on the flow through rug.
I have higher pile flow through rug and Kirby shines on it. Not other vacuums what I have can match the Kirby on it :)
Here you can see the problem:
 
The Orecks do a good job on the sealed back and glued down carpets-that's is what they were designed for.The Oreck floor nozzle doesn't seal to the carpet as the Kirby,Royal,Tacony tandem air machines do.If I have to use the Kirby,Royal on sealed carpet-you have to raise the nozzle just to the point where the brush just touches the carpet-no further down.The variable height Royals are good for this as opposed to the "Aut-To" matic ones with the height pedal that tries to mimic the Kirbys.
 
I'm no expert on Vacuums, but I have read a bunch on this forum and on the subreddit, as well as youtube. Due to recommendations I have recently purchased a Sebo D4 to compliment my Oreck machines (XL21 and IronMan). I could have had my late grandmother's 1987ish Kirby for free.

I think what we've determined is that there's a lot of good vacuums, but what you're doing with them will matter a lot. The Kirby I found impractical - the size and weight and difficulty for people in my family to service it just make it mostly non-working a lot of the time (it's pretty complicated to change a belt or unclog compared to the XL21 anyway - it also weighs 3x or more as much).

The Oreck XL21 was great when we had a LOT of open carpet, but it's not practical for us once we replaced the living room flooring with laminate and throw rugs. (The Orbiter now... it's very practical, but you have to vacuum or sweep first).

The Sebo seems to have the best of both worlds - it's not as light as the Oreck, but it's not as heavy as the Kirby. The ET-1 Powerhead is as even more maneuverable than the XL21, and can get in places the Upright sort of struggled with (we have too much stuff making open areas very non "straight" and lots of chairs to dodge). It has the brushroll off option the XL21 doesn't so we can switch to area rugs or the couch without switching vacuums like we had to with the Oreck XL21 to Iron Man).

Now, maybe we never had the "right" carpets (my grandmother got the Kirby for a a very low pile, and an almost felt over concrete carpet) - but the Kirby never cleaned in any amazing way. We also never hauled it over to the medium carpets for any testing, so IDK if it would have blown away our Orecks there either. But it never really impressed me for anything except being a tank and the little penny catcher thingy. Maybe we just never really understood how to use it either. But no other vacuum I've seen required any special knowledge to use reasonably well. So I really don't get the Kirby love - at least for us it is a great conversation piece, but isn't ever actually used by anyone.

I wonder if the Vacuum Tech on Reddit is actually basing on price (the Sebo D4 was like $200 or more less than the Kirby, and the Kirby sales is very sketchy for new per the net) and what normal people *might* actually be able to do.

I will say, I agree with him that I don't like bagless (too messy to empty, have to go outside and vacuum the bagless with a different vacuum almost lol), and I wouldn't recommend a Wal-Mart or Best Buy vacuum. The XL21 is still running after 11 years, we would kill the "cheap" ($200) vacuums every 6 months to 2 years. After 3 of those, we decided to risk the $750 on the Oreck, and not only have we not had vacuums breaking seemingly all the time, we also haven't had to buy another - the Sebo was for convenience and getting out of sweeping... Even considering that the needs changed, we paid $750 for 11 years vs probably closer to $1200 and 6 hassles of replacing a useless "cheap" vacuum.
 
The sebo D4 really is one of the best kept secrets in the vacuum industry and a wonderful vacuum! It would be hard to find a better portable vacuum in my opinion as a vacuum technician.

The Oreck xl21 so pretty good machine as well but serves a completely different purpose.

There are a lot of people who trade their Kirby or say they hate their Kirby because of the weight and how impractical the tools are in the use. You are right on the money as good as Kirby's are there just not practical in today's world.
 
Last night I checked out the new house I'm moving into and its entirely hardwood besides a loft in the attic. I guess I now have a carpet vacuum for a hardwood house. Anyone have tips on making a kirby more suited for hardwood or maybe another vacuum you wouldn't be scared to buy used on the cheap? Sorry to derail the subject.
 
@maplebanjo

I'd look in to getting a canister. Miele offers a wide range of options starting around $200 for straight-suction models (no provisions for a powered head), to around $500 or so for models with a powered head. If you keep your upright for the loft, you might get away with having a suction-only Miele. But if you plan on having area rugs, you might want to pop for one with a powered head, particularly if you have pets.

If you go used, and don't mind having a non-sealed unit, look in to getting a used Electrolux in good condition. I have an Epic 6500 that was refurbished by a seller on eBay. Picked it up for around $250. Love it, use it every day on our laminate floors and our area rug in the living room.

Kirby's will work on bare floors, of course, but having a canister on-hand is very convenient.
 
@jp10558

You picked a great vacuum. If I were getting a new canister, it would probably be a D4. It's hard to beat Sebo or Miele for the price, especially considering what a new Aerus goes for.

Yes, there is a lot of love on this forum for Kirby, and some of it is blind! I use mine because I like them and they do a good job for what I use them for. I know they're not the best vacuum around, but that doesn't bother me. Kirby's not paying me to defend their reputation!
 
@ MapleBanjo

I'm not sure for what models but mostly all Kirbys have a hard floor tool that you fit over the brushroll to make it a hardwood cleaner. Kirby also has a dedicated hard floor buffer as well.

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One other thing about the Sebo I can't get over is how quiet it is. The Youtube videos don't do it justice. It's about 1/2 as loud as "normal" vacuums. You can easily talk over it - it's not a "wake up the house" when you turn it on turbine like the Oreck Iron Man for instance. I keep wondering if it's actually at full suction, but the spinny light and performance assure me it is.
 
Sebo D series

The Sebo D4 is a great machine, I have the D1 which is very similar but is a straight suction machine and does not use an electric power nozzle, love it. A very quiet full size machine with a large bag. And I'm guessing the smaller K and E series of machines are just as good. And the D series probably has the longest cord on a canister cleaner.
Mike
 

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