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Tristar

best vacuum ever. Im looking to buy one.

Get a CXL though. Not one of the new ones. Superior suction. Same motor as on fq but the design is much better and more compact.
 
Bill,
Both are excellent vacuums with great suction and superior filtration. But I would choose the Compact/Tristar because I think they pull around a little easier and the convenience of the disposable bag over empting the Filter Queen. Either one is a good choice, but for the tri star as said above don't buy the new ones they are not of the same quality as the ones made like the Compact design.

Sam
 
TriStar!

The nice thing about a TriStar is that it's bulletproof, idiot-simple technology backed up with superb build quality. The canister is a housing, a fan, a motor, and a switch, period - unlike today's nervous-Nellie, electronically-controlled vacs, there just isn't anything to go wrong. Way before there was HEPA, TriStar was offering quadruple filtration (cloth bag, paper bag, motor filter and after filter); when you use one, there is no vacuum-cleaner smell at all.

Unlike a Filter Queen and some of the other "specialty" vacs, a TriStar is easy to figure out and use, basically like every other canister vac, only better. The TriStar power nozzle on the later CXL, DXL and EX-20 machines is really really good, leaving the carpet fluffy and clean but not leaving harsh grooming marks. I have a cat and a Bissell ProHeat 2X carpet machine, which for most Bissell owners, means that the Bissell pulls up a lot of pet hair that their vac missed; many new Bissell owners complain about having to pick up ginormous wads of pet hair when they use the cleaner. I didn't have that problem at all, even with a tuxedo cat on ivory carpet.

I second the statement that you need to get one of the older, IEC-built machines based on the Compact design, not one of the new MG-series machines. The new machines don't have the Ametek motor, and while the canister housing is still magnesium alloy, there's an awful lot of plastic used for wands and the PN. And the price is very high for a new one - I understand that list price is about $2600.

Figure about $400 to buy a decent CXL or later Compact-style machine and put it into really good shape with the complete selection of tools. I have never repeat never repeat never seen a Compact-style TriStar offered on eBay that was complete and correct.

P.S.: Bill, I've been trying to email you, but it keeps bouncing. Any idea what's up?
 
I am a huge filter queen lover but I would have to say that if it were the better power head I was looking for it would be the Compact/ Tri-Star. Love both machines though!!!
 
HUH?

Never seen a compact style tristar that was complete on ebay??? They are all over the place.

For cheap too. $200-$300
 
Sandy

Let me try emailing you and then try replying to my email. Don't know why it would be bounding back. I the Model G cord, straps, and wheel to Cody. I do have another turquoise hose cord, but it is not OEM.

Bill
 
Um Tri Star easy to use?

NOOOOO. Go for a Filter queen like a majestic or triple crown. There simple to clean up and operate. Let face it neither of these cleans never lose suction. Its like using a normal vacuum the clog. But they still mantain suction longer. Did you think of a Dyson DC17. Great upright vacuum. The Dyson Baby canister will be coming out get that. Your getting a vacuum cleaner the never clogs and cleans deep. What about a Miele

Filter queens are great vacuums but there is only one problem which is emptying it. but it will clean just as well if not better then a Tri Star. The power heads have never been the best but still very good. You have the cellulose cone that you replace once a month. ITs very simple to do and you can wash it and remove any odors. Go for a Filter queen, Dyson, or Miele.
 
Yea right

I would never buy a diesoon as they are terrible and cant pick up anything. I tried a Miele today while at a store. Terrible and cheaply made. overpriced.

Filter queens are hard to use. A tristar- just twist in the hose and plug it in, press the switch. Thats it. So easy. The most simple machine to use.

Filterqueens have too many accessories and buttons.
 
Easy to clean?

A filter queen takes 10x as long to clean out and is less sanitary. Its like emptying a shopvac!

The Tristar is simple. a little paper cup. Pull it out and throw away. Really simple.
 
'I would never buy a diesoon as they are terrible and cant pick up anything.'

A few people will disagree with you there.

'I tried a Miele today while at a store. Terrible and cheaply made. overpriced.'

More than a few people will disagree with you there.
 
Cheap plastic crap. yah Sure. Um No it is the best canister vacuum made. Hell you cant even adjust the suction on a tri star. It clogs so fast. Ugh I cant even go there. Maybe you should read up on your vacuums. Oh Dyson is using a digital motor in there new cleaners. So guess what no carbon dust. No Filter unlike the Tristar that takes what 4 or 5. Yeah I would rather buy one vacuum and not have to replace filters.
 
Compact over Filter Queen hands down.

Both have the original nostalgic look if that's a consideration, weigh about 12 pounds hoseless & tool-less and pull 80" or more. All conditions being equal both resist clogging and suction loss longer than any other consumer grade vacuum cleaner.

Filter Queens come in basic black or brown with mylar stuck-on prone to scrape damage graphics, have a plastic bucket (the steel bucket adds more weight) and the dolly tends to fall off when picked up and bumped unless you get the salmon pink one with the cordwinder trolley. And frankly, looks old fashioned and frumpy. Which has it's own charm of course. On the plus side the Filter Queen can have a tool ring to carry all those accessories but they will contact walls and furniture before the ring bumpers do.

The Compact/Tristar comes in many cheerful colors, has a sleeker narrower shape, doesn't bang your leg so much trundling up & down stairs and takes up less room in the closet.

Emptying an FQ is like emptying a Shop Vac without the bag - you really want to be outside. Compact you simply grasp the bag ring like knitting bag handles, close, lift & toss. No need to shake the cloth bag every time, the paper liners are that good.

Power nozzles? No contest. As many have noted before the FQ PN is like pushing a stubborn shoe box around particularly against the nap - and it skews laterally because the wand swivel connector is poorly designed & inherently wobbly. The Compact PN goes where it's pointed.

Filter Queens are top heavy. Compacts are low to the ground and un-dentable magnesium.

As much as I adore the 6 different FQ models I have, if that's the form factor I'm after I would choose the all polished chrome steel Fairfax with the racy red accents. It's just more modern...and takes an optional capacious paper bag in the bucket.

Compacts? I third the statement that you need to get one of the older, IEC-built machines based on the Compact design, not one of the new MG-series machines. There's simply no other vacuum cleaner like it, unless you drift over to the 'Design Gone Bonkers' Haley'sComet, MiracleMate, or VortecForce school of awkward styling...and the we're really talking weight penalty.

Dave, "the more you know, the more you know."

Miele is rightly the class leader of canisters...and Dysons?...in this thread's league they have no class, just 'classtic'.
 
Miele

How can anyone love a piece of $#I%. These things are like any walmart vacuum. CHEAP!!!!! CHEAP!!!!

They could not even perform on the stores demo. I almost laughed when they attempted to pick up some fluff stuff and paper. It took soo many passes. My kirby could do it in 2. My mom- a vacuum no-nothing-at-all. Laughed when we got in the car. She knows and could care less for vacuums. She said that was a poor excuse. And with that price tag... not even considering.

I would take a 45 year old Kirby over a New Miele just because they are that bad. Not to mention dIEsOON who is just one step above miele. Yes- I would buy a dieson before a Miele.

They are just CRAPtastic machines.

Tristar all the way.

CLOGGING!?!?!?! My grandfathers tristars have NEVER NEVER NEVER had a problem. Never clogged. EVER.. One of the MIELEs at the store in fact clogged up. The guy blushed and said the machine was not working right and quickly switched to another. Which it still did the same thing
 
Oh My I must make a youtube video. Some people will never learn!!!!!!!!! Did you ever think of this. If compacts never clog then why do they need a bag. Why didnt they use cyclonic action only? Yeah I went there.
 
Let's try to stay focused, people.

Comparing apples against birds. The thread is about Compact/Tristar or Filter Queen and which has the better power nozzle.

In our humble and helpful collective opinions...
 
Um May I ask you something. When I say clog I hope and pray to god that you know I mean the bag pores not the actual hose or wands. Right?
 

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