Who has “created their own” vacuum!

[jo]

I love and hate certain things about some vacs and vice versa on other vacs. Hence I’ve learned to adapt or swap parts or attachments to create better versions. This can involve mixing brands and styles and even use size adapters.

If you’ve done the same…please share and post with photos too!

Jon

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Jon,

Well, one of the rarer vacuums I want to get - the American Lincoln Super-Sweep - has a disposable bag system that can also accept an inner cloth shake-out bag, but the latter is too restrictive, so my plan (if and whenever I get my hands on such a machine) is to convert it using the shake-out bag system from my 1979 Tradition 3CB.

~Ben[this post was last edited: 10/29/2021-21:45]

 

[human]

Mix-n-match...

I frequently play mix-n-match on vacuum parts. It's just part of the fun. There's my Kirby G5 that came to me in pretty rough shape that I've put to rights using the least expensive used parts I could. The most obvious mixmatch on that one is the Ultimate G bag. I've also got a Eureka 'Ironsides' canister that came to me with no wand or power nozzle, just a hose, which after a little experimentation, I found that I could use an Electrolux 1205 wand (the one with a pigtail connector at the top end) and any of my Electrolux power nozzles with it. More recently, I have eliminated the dump bags from two of my Kirbys, a Heritage 1HD and a Classic III, by installing a Heritage II bag system on each of them.

 

[jo]

Me too,

I did a Eureka conversion too. An orange canister that belonged to someone who I cleaned for. The power nozzle was horrible on her Chinese rugs which were covering the shag carpet in her apartment . It stuck to the rugs something awful so I used an Electrolux combination rug and floor tool on the wand for cleaning the Chinese rugs.

I’ve fit an Electrolux blue pn-1 with numerous other brand canisters. A Hoover porta power actually that didn’t have a power nozzle at all!

On the reverse I used a unique reversing Panasonic power nozzle with my Electrolux model AF. I have to say, that reversing power nozzle is very nice, the reversing action of the brush roll really works to give it a self propelled feel. The Panasonic that it came with was quite large and had 4 big buttons on it to co tool the motor speed. Not sure what model it was. It failed quickly and went back out to the trash where I found it assuming that was whay the owner chucked it in the first place. I kept that power nozzle a while though. Eventually donated it to downsize.

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Custom Kirby Builds

My “Ultimate Gsix” and my close buddy’s “Killer Bee” are prime examples of custom vacuums.

Both are identical, except his is an Avalir/Gsix hybrid. Mine is an Avalir/Gsix/Ultimate G hybrid. Both are fantastic machines and have a lot of power (from the modified Metal Fans). We’ve done a lot to them to improve performance. And they sound amazing too.
Here are videos of each.

The Killer Bee

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Ultimate Gsix

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Forgot to mention…

What we did to the machines exactly.
Applies to Both:

Metal Base Pan
Avalir Motor with Diamond Speed Switch added
Gsix Tech-Drive Unit
Diamond Top Motor Shell
Avalir Headlight Assembly
Avalir Cord
Gsix or Ultimate G Handle Assembly
Gsix or Ultimate G Cloth Bag
Avalir Emtor & Fill Tube (F Style Bags)
Ten Blade Aluminum Fan (Blades Modified for increased airflow)
Metal Armature Fan (Cut to Fit)
Avalir Front Axle & Wheels
Avalir 2 Belt Lifter
Gsix Bumper

 

[human]

Holy Hybrids, Batman!!!

Those are really cool frankenkirbys! Totally outclasses what I did with my G5. I especially like the Gsix/Avalir. With both models using black as their primary trim color, it really hangs together as a whole. To the untrained eye, it would be easy to assume it came that way from the factory. I think you've really managed to bring together the best of the G series in one machine.

Well done!

 

[n0oxy]

mixing attachments and power nozzles

Absolutely! I'm a big central vacuum person and many of those attachments and power nozzles are designed to work with standard central vacuum hoses, but I prefer to expand that to canister cleaners as well. I'm not really an upright person, canisters, backpacks and central vacuums are my thing. I actually like to mix attachments so much that I will not purchase any vacuum that has a nonstandard hose end unless there is an adapter to make it standard. Usually this is pretty easy, vacuums such as the Miele canisters use a 35 MM hose end and many other brands use 32 MM, those adapters are easy to find. Sebo is a bit unique, there hose end is a bit larger but I do have an adapter for that as well. When the European Electrolux company was still selling vacuums here, they had kind of a square hose end, my Ultra One uses that but I have an adapter that lets you use 32 MM attachments. Some of the Titan vacuums use a nonstandard hose end and electrical connection, so I avoid those. There is some difference in the spacing of the two prong outlet on different canister vacuum hoses but for the most part, if your power nozzle has a cord rather than using a direct connect wand, they will work. An Electrolux 1205 with the Lindhaus power nozzle? Sure. Or how about the Tristar DXL paired up with a Wessel-Werk EBK360 power nozzle? You bet. The Riccar Prima paired up with a Centec CT10? Definitely! The possibilities are endless. I know some collectors only want to use the tools that are included with a particular vacuum because they want to experience that vacuum as it originally came. That's fine, but I think you limit yourself that way.
I also have some favorite attachments for hard floors, and I will use those regardless of the vacuum I am using. This is why a vacuum not having a standard hose end or an adapter is a deal breaker for me.
Mike

 

[mjhoshaw]

I built a wet-dry vac years ago

I used a 20-gallon grease drum from the truck shop I worked at, a dolly I got from the shop, a new 7 amp, 2-stage Lamb peripheral-bypass motor that I ordered through the shop, an inverted plastic hanging flower pot for the motor cover, and the hose, hose port, and tools from my orange Eureka 550 canister.  I used a Shop Vac pleated filter held in place by a threaded rod and wing nut.  It didn't have a float or float cage, but I tried to be careful not to let it overfill.  It did once when I drained my parents' washing machine, but I shut it off immediately and the motor soldiered on unharmed.  When later I got a real shop vac, I re-assembled the Eureka along with an orphan Eureka power nozzle I bought at K-Mart for 8 bucks, and used it for several more years until our volume of cat fur led me to purchase a full-sized Eureka upright.


 


I never took pictures because I built it for function, not looks.  It certainly wasn't a thing of beauty, but it advertised nicely for the oil company whose product it once contained.


 


As an aside, that motor found a second home in the organ pipe blower of our custom-built player piano/nickelodeon.


 


As a second aside, shortly after I built the vac, a water pipe froze and burst above my parents' living room.  I came home early from work and pulled up the water, saving their carpet.  Their insurance company paid me for the cleanup because I spared them from carpet replacement.