Vorwerk Kobold VK135: Massive Airflow

[mike811]

I got this rough looking, but fully working compact upright and like usually: I measured the airflow. What a shocker. I can't believe that this thing can pull so massive airflow.
It has clean air design and the motor (900 w) is tiny in physical size.
Well all I can say it's the most powerful clean air vacuum cleaner what I have ever measured. And one of the smallest.

 

[vacfan1982]

Very simple airpath helps. I really want a Vorwerk they are fantastic vacs!

 

[blackheart]

Interesting!

What is the diameter of the motor? What is the Fan like? A short path definitely has something to do with it and it appears you don't have the teeny brushroll that comes with the new model so it should be a great performer

 

[mike811]

Motor diameter is 115mm
Height is 127mm
So very small, but I guess it runs at very high RPM
Fan looks like a typical suction fan.
https://www.saubersaugen.de/out/pictures/master/product/1/sol_4.30.135_1.jpg
Powerhead is fairly big:
https://www.staubsaugermanufaktur.de/images/product_images/popup_images/12559_2.jpg

 

[vacuumdevil]

I wish we had these across the pond here in the US.

 

[mike811]

It's very clever design. Much like the Sebo Felix. Felix is powerful, but this Vorwerk is on the another level.
Like many other "home cleaning system" vacuums Vorwerk has huge amount of accessories. I just have powerhead and hard floor nozzle, which is genius. No other upright is so nimble on the hard floors.
These are just very expensive to bought new. Accessories are also expensive.
Only thing what is missing is the manual height adjustment for the powerhead. It's hard to push on full power, but lowering the motor speed helps a lot.

 

[tseg]

I saw your video. Congrats on this interesting curiosity. I say that because while the airflow is impressive you also make mention the powerhead is very difficult to move on the carpet at full power. Is the hard floor head equally constrained? If only the balance of the vacuum were built to accommodate the motor specifications. If having to always back off to use it in practical terms, all that air flow remains a curiosity. But interesting proof of concept.

 

[mike811]

Hardfloor nozzle is very easy to move on full power.
There is suction selector in the powerhead. It's a slider what allows you to select three different levels. It helps a lot.
For carpet vacuuming I would recommend to select the second motor speed (1 is lowest,3 is highest). On it it's still very powerful and it becomes much easier to push. You can try out different combination of motor speeds and powerhead suction selector settings.

 

[mike811]

Here is complete video of it. I love it!

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I have always wanted one of these. Is there a way to buy one that would work on American currant?

 

[mike811]

You would need a step up transformer to use this 220 volt vacuum from 120 volt outlet.
I am planning to buy a step down transformer to use US 110 volt vacuums.

http://https//www.ebay.co.uk/itm/St...687704?hash=item4b4033dc18:g:UV4AAOSwVB1ay3Rg

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Where these vacuums ever sold in the states?

 

[mike811]

They sold Vorwerk in the US, but I don't know how long time ago.
They should bring it back.

 

[suckolux]

Fascinating machine! Lovely video that shows its workings and details, always fun to watch your videos.Love the machine

 

[mike811]

Well thank you so much

Vorwerk with the hard floor nozzle.
It doesn't get more weird looking than this

 

[blackheart]

Vorwerk in the US

A long time ago they did have them. Here's an older model I think it was a 120 that i had, interestingly it was a direct air machine. It was kinda neat but I don't recall it being all that powerful, of course they've changed a good amount since this model.

 

[mike811]

I guess those older models wasn't very powerful.

I just tested the hardfloor nozzle and I am stunned. No other upright has done so well on the hard floors. 109 cfm airflow will help for sure.

 

[suckolux]

Wow, impressive performance, strange looking floorhead, but you can't fault that cleaning there.

 

[rolls_rapide]

That Vorwerk hard-floor head seems to be quite a sensible design, with its spring-loaded adaptability.

I think Hoover-Candy once partly copied that floor head design when they had a nozzle which could slip sideways into narrow gaps for their 'Silent Energy'. It wasn't a great success - I seem to remember a Youtube video showed the head clicking back out of position at awkward moments.