Vacuumalex Answers Your Questions to Upright Vacuum Ratings

[vacuumalex]

Vacuumalex Responding to Questions
Hi there,
Thanks for all the input. I just wanted to answer some of your questions. First, I don't personally own a Kirby, I have only used my friend's. It is a superior cleaner, but I think that my Royal is just a touch better. The vacuums that I have had with plastic fans didn't clean as well as those with metal fans. I do agree Royals' are not as good of quality as they used to be, it's unfortunate. I am also not a big fan of bypass motor vacuums. I think that the best one I have used is a Dirt Devil MVP. I liked it better than a Hoover Windtunnel or Eureka Boss. However, like I said, the Dirt Devil had good suction but when the brush wore out it cleaned pretty poorly. One other reason I don't like bypasses is because most of the time, the suction is only on one side, I think that the suction needs to be in the center and the brushroll casing needs to be curved like that of some other vacuums. This would direct the dirt into the suction rather that hoping the suction will pull it off to the side. I have never used a Hoover Dial-A-Matic so I can't say how they work. As for Concepts Ones and Two's, I have vacuumed some very tough carpets in my time and the Hoover Concept One by far out performed any bypass model that was used on the same carpet. This is where I have had most of my experience with Hoover Windtunnels and Eureka Bosses. It has just always been my experience that bypass vacuums while convienent with attachments, are not as good of cleaners as those like the Royal, Kirby, Concept One and Twos or Hoover Elite or Sanitaires etc. When I have shopped for new vacuums and have tested Sebos or Mieles, it took several passes to effectively clean the carpet when the same carpet was cleaned much better and quicker by other models, in particular, Royal, Riccar and Sanitaires. While Sanitaires are very good cleaners I still think the Hoover Elites of the early/mid 1990's and early 2000's had a slight edge above the Sanitaires. The situation is similar to comparing Royals and Kirbys, they are both excellent vacuums, it is only my opinion that I believe one cleans slightly better than the other. Hope that this helps clear up any confusion. Thanks! Alex

 

[petek]

Again another duplicated post.. please stop.. it's very confusing

 

[tristar]

If nobody responds to these "new" threads, they'll die where they were posted. Easy enough solution no?

 

[ohio_tuec]

Alex, I just want to say I understand and respect everything you posted above. We all have our "favorites" and no matter what machine we may feel is superior, every machine may have its flaws in another mind's eye. I do feel however, if you do try a bypass vacuum, the Dial-A-Matic is the machine by which all others MUST be judged. True, it does not have a center suction inlet, and the brushroll may have been flawed, but overall, I've come to find it is an excellent performer. I myself dislike the fact that sometimes the plastic frame cracks where the metal handle is inserted. I really thought the Dirt Devil clean air could be a competitor, but time as proven otherwise. Most early Dirt Devils were discarded of years ago due to motor failure. On the contrary, many DAM's 40+ years old, are still proving their worth today! The power drive versions were unnecessarily heavy, but for Hoover, it was a first.

 

[tolivac]

In my goings-I like kirby better than the Royals-Its not really the Material the fan is made from--but the DESIGN of the fan.The Kirby fans are better designed than the Royal.But durability wise the Royal fans win.I saw a demo from Royal years back-before they were owned by TTI-The Royal sales rep took several pennies and put them in his hand.He put the hose adaptor on the Royal upright(Commercial model) and allowed the vacuum to suck the pennies out of his hand.The machine had the shake out commercial bag-and dumpted them out for us.The pennies were bent-he took the front part off the fan housing-the fan was ok-just one blade slightly bent,another nicked.Bill(Vacuum Cleaner Hospital-the vacuum dealer that carried Royal out here at the time)and me commented a plastic Kirby fan would have broke from that test.The metal fans are more rugged.They are better able to withstand erosion-the soil here is sandy.The Sanitairs from the University out here have their fans eroded(plastic)and their fan housings.Bill was able to get metal replacement fans and steel fan chamber liners for the Sanitaires-they held up much better.Sanitaires are good basic upright direct air cleaners.Kirby and Royal are still better in performance and durability.The Sanitaires are eaily fixed.Its now said from Sanitaire they are going to Magnesium housings for their machines.This would be better-light but more durable.
On the clean air machines-found these to be outstanding-SEBO,and the new Melie S7 upright.The direct machines still do a bit better though-and with less motor power.I am still amazed how well a 4-5A Hoover Convertible does against many clean air machines with 10,12A motors.The Hoover can beat them!Again design of the machine.The Hoover's simple airpath doesn't clog and provides less resistence to airflow and dirt flow.Same with Kirby,Royals.