|
Thread Number: 15690
SEBO CONSUMABLES & NEWS |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 166919 1/23/2012 at 23:29 (4,474 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
I'd have thought a topic would have been put on here before now, but for all those SEBO fans, SEBO have now replaced the paper dust bags with synthetic white dust bags. I bought a K1 Pet at Christmas there (totally love it, so much more practical than my dated K3 Premium) and was surprised (but delighted) to find that the K1 Pet 2012 model comes with two spare dust bags - both are white synthetic disposable dust bags. SEBO confirm that from now on, all K dust bags will be the synthetic material dust bags. Pity though that they haven't extended the same added flap as the Felix design though.
The Felix dust bags have also been replaced by white synthetic disposables. They seem to last longer than the paper dust bags and hold much better filtration qualities. Also there's a new charcoal filter cartridge for the Felix which copes better with keeping back pet hair odour and the current 2012 model year in the Felix line up has a new improved quieter motor taken from the Sebo D series. There's a new D series model, the D Professional for the commercial industry. It comes with a manual replaceable 15 metre cord as opposed to the 12 metre on my D2 Total. D series tools have also been added on SEBO's website - I've now replaced the bulky upholstery brush on my Felix with the smaller triangular D model SEBO brush in lieu of the T shaped stiff upholstery brush that usually sits on top of the tool storer. 
| ||
| Post# 166921 , Reply# 1 1/23/2012 at 23:31 (4,474 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 166997 , Reply# 4 1/24/2012 at 14:00 (4,474 days old) by turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK) | ||
I just don't ever see many Sebo fans on here | ||
| Post# 167128 , Reply# 5 1/24/2012 at 21:50 (4,473 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
baglessball:
No difference in motors - just a new colour. I like the D series a lot but it is a big vacuum and I don't like power head models like the D4. Much prefer a cylinder vacuum either with a turbo brush or a suction only head. blakaeg: Sebo actually sent me a demo D series vacuum as I write a whole load of reviews online not just about SEBO models and you'll find my video of it here: You are correct that the bags are made of the "electorate" electrostatic material, but I wouldn't agree with you that it's the same as the motor protection filter on the K series - that is like flattened cotton wool and is a much softer material. These bags mimic very much the same kind of material you'd find with Bosch dust bags, Miele dust bags but closer in feel to the Electrolux dust bags that Lux sell with their basic pet lover Z2255DZ upright vac. I love the Felix because of its compact size - but I hate the canister idea and have only used it a couple of times without the power head and find the whole idea too bulky. I also have an X4 and an early X1.1 in dark blue with blue floor head and blue fascia/inserts. Sebo are currently trialling the synthetic bags for the X series but they are quite expensive and Im not sure Sebo are happy to produce them on a mass scale. They sent me a sample and they're good! | ||
| Post# 167307 , Reply# 7 1/26/2012 at 11:19 (4,472 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
HI Sanifan
The new bags replace the old paper bags and the cost price isn't really any different - I think! Trouble with my Felix is that a box of bags lasts a whole year, so the last time I purchased the paper bags was last year and the price was just below £10 / $15.71 and the newer soft material back cost me £8.80 / $ 13.82 I would say since the Rosso red model was launched, the newer motor is in them. There is no differentiation of model numbers where you can tell whether new Felix models have the newer motor - all that has been released is that the new Felix range from 2012 has the upgraded motor. | ||
| Post# 167323 , Reply# 9 1/26/2012 at 12:52 (4,472 days old) by blakaeg (NW London, UK) | ||
|
I meant to say Serial Number when I referred to X and Y. | ||
| Post# 167444 , Reply# 12 1/27/2012 at 06:21 (4,471 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
Sanifan. With regards to the new Felix, I think some owners had moaned about the noise or the air thrust problem. It's been a minor bone of contention when online reports and reviews slate the Felix. I too had issues about it but never moaned or found the Felix to be obtrusive when it overheats - set at the highest power level - but then I don't require my Felix to work at the highest level, but I'm glad they have fitted a new motor. SEBO's first port of call is reliability and efficiency - so even if they haven't received complaints, they would want to maintain their reputation.
Michael - with regards to a headlight or the preferred name I like, from Hoover - "Dirt Searcher" - headlights are a common U.S added feature. Sebo would probably not consider putting anything like that on, because it means more replacement parts and as a commercial company first and foremost, it would be "one more thing to go wrong." I'm not keen on a headlight - I think they are wasted on upright vacuums. Most don't give an even spread of light or low enough so you can actually see what's in front. The exception to the rule are the dirt searcher lamps fitted to vintage Hoover uprights - they're much bigger and thus give a bright light - until they begin to wear out and the spread of light gets smaller. | ||
| Post# 167445 , Reply# 13 1/27/2012 at 06:22 (4,471 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 167978 , Reply# 14 2/1/2012 at 16:24 (4,466 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 168070 , Reply# 15 2/2/2012 at 14:03 (4,465 days old) by blakaeg (NW London, UK) | ||
|
So does that mean the powerhead in my 2006 Felix will start to play up at some point? | ||
| Post# 168072 , Reply# 16 2/2/2012 at 14:42 (4,465 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
It can do - but then again it depends on the kind of treatment you put the Sebo through - if you have fitted floor/carpets then you probably won't. My home has a mix of woollen carpets with thick surface top rugs over the them to catch heavy traffic dirt and the initial problem I had was turning the head left and right going off the thick rug back onto carpet when the first fault occurred. Sebo replaced the wiring and put in the improved part - that was 3 years ago, and now the problem has returned - but 3 years ago the floor head was also in a much better condition than it is now - not scuffed and and not looking like it has seen 5 years thorough use!
| ||
| Post# 168084 , Reply# 17 2/2/2012 at 19:29 (4,465 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 168113 , Reply# 18 2/3/2012 at 06:51 (4,464 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
So I thought I'd show you how I customise my Sebo Felix. Especially in light of the fact that the new D series has brought smaller, better designed tools. One of the gripes I don't like about the Felix is that it only comes with two additional cleaning tools and like the X, you have to buy the separate dusting brush. Trouble is I seldom use the T shaped cleaning tool unless I'm doing the car seats with it or chairs in the home. So I went about thinking how I could custom build the Felix so that it doesn't use the clamp method - that limits the use of the 3 stage height option on the handle.
So at first I looked in my spares and found an old Sebo K1 slip on T shaped upholstery tool and found that it fits snuggly between the bottom hose partition and the wrap around waist-filter. Even in use, it hardly falls out if you stuff it in there! But then I also located the T shaped tool onto the end of the crevice tool which always sits on the bottom nib of the slideable storer point but in use, the K1 T shaped tool always seems to fall off. 
| ||
| Post# 168114 , Reply# 19 2/3/2012 at 06:56 (4,464 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
So the next thing to do was to try out a different way - by finding somewhere on the Felix to store the K1 tool - and what better way than at the back of the handle, just below slipped onto the top cord tidy?
In use it will stay on and it doesn't disturb my hand. Only problem is, it needs to be jammed on - and I don't know anyone who has ever used the hanging loop hole on the back of that plastic slip tongue anyway - I always felt it was too heavy for the Felix to be mounted up on a hook with the ET-1 dangling! You can already see the K1 tool is revealing the edge at the side expanding as it's on the top cord storer tongue (dont know what the right word is but you get the right idea!). 
| ||
| Post# 168115 , Reply# 20 2/3/2012 at 07:00 (4,464 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 168116 , Reply# 21 2/3/2012 at 07:03 (4,464 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
Sebo D Tools
Lastly, the upholstery tool has been replaced from the traditional clamp and brush idea to the newer triangular long dusting brush that comes with the D cylinder vacuum.
The smaller size of the brush makes it more compact when using the 3 stage height option. I was never keen on the more traditional brush that was larger and was too close to my fingers when the handle was set at the lowest. 
| ||
| Post# 168144 , Reply# 22 2/3/2012 at 14:19 (4,464 days old) by blakaeg (NW London, UK) | ||
|
You did a great job there with the tools ;-) I think the Felix tools are better than the D machine tools, especially that upholstery nozzle. Has your Felix motor been ok all these years? | ||
| Post# 168150 , Reply# 23 2/3/2012 at 14:52 (4,464 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
Well the upholstery tool as you may know is smaller on the D series - the longer one is perfect for giving the Felix that much needed extension pipe reach even if we do know that it doesn't come with a straight suction tube as an added extra. The longer crevice from both the K, C and X series is also one of very few that can get inside my Hotpoint tumble dryer filter shaft all the way to the bottom to clear it off fluff!
As for motor problems, when the problem initially started, it was like, 2 years after ownership and that's when the power head started to cut out. It got sent back to SEBO and this is when they improved the wire inside the neck so that when you turned left or right, the wire would not come out. This is a design improvement that has been added to the current 2011 and 2012 model year range. Other than that the power head has only just started to cut out - but only randomly - and I don't think it's the wire to blame here - I may take it apart and inspect inside. I don't want to buy another Felix at this time anyway (not after I just bought a K1 Pet at Christmas, there)- but rather, will just use my Dart 1 power head or the ET-H that came with my K3 Premium - a machine I dont rate very highly, sadly. The only problem with the ET-H is that it won't allow the Felix to lock to the upright position - unless you store the machine front facing with the handle set against a wall. It also has an auto sensor height adjustment as opposed to the 4 stage manual dial. | ||
| Post# 168163 , Reply# 25 2/3/2012 at 20:12 (4,464 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 168239 , Reply# 30 2/4/2012 at 09:47 (4,463 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 168241 , Reply# 31 2/4/2012 at 09:52 (4,463 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
Apparently when the Felix first came to the UK it was available with the Kombi head and no variable power. The Dart is like that where no variable power slider is standard - just on/off slider. However they also sell a Dart With Variable slider control but no power head, which at the time was not available when I bought the Dart.
Very confusing! As for motor noise, if you have K series and remove the name plate and filter and then put back the name plate, the noise level difference is a shock! | ||
| Post# 168313 , Reply# 33 2/4/2012 at 19:24 (4,463 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
My model isn't an Ice Blue though - it's a Navy model. The reason I put an Ice Blue exhaust filter on it was simply because where I store my Felix, there's rough casting on the wall where the "house vacuums" go and whenever the machine was pushed against the wall, the back of it would get paint marks on it. Plus I quite like the Ice Blue design - I've thought about ordering the new Vogue filter cover but then I'd have to get the matching tie clip things too. Paint marks don't seem to show up so easily on the lighter colouring.
The original hose split after two years and I had to make do with a second hand one off EBAY for a Classic. Eventually got the newer hose from SEBO - apparently it stretches a bit better than the original ones. However the Dart hose and the Felix hose are not the same in terms of the plastic handle part that slips into the machine. This is because the Dart's brush bar will continue to rotate because no stop lock has been added in the suction air channel on the main body before the floor head. Its true that the Dart could probably handle a variable suction dial on it. I try not to mess with the electronics too much on my Sebo vacs unless of course something goes wrong. Whilst I love the way the Felix moves, we do seem to have apparent different levels of carpet even though the same runs all throughout the house, so I'm frequently changing the adjustment dial - much prefer the X1.1 in this respect for the auto decision! As for the suction dial on the K - I've never really thought about it TBH - I much prefer the current model's flatter surface and the fact that you can feel the dial going through nibs as the suction gets higher. I found the older model's dimpled and somewhat raised concave design often moved too easily, especially if the hose rubbed past it and for all that many people slate the K on its look, it's a far better thought out cylinder vacuum than any Miele vacuum - no arm wrenching to lift the suction tubes because they're so light anyway, the air driven turbo brush is far more compact than Miele's STB 205 and the Parquet Deluxe and Kombi are also well thought out - whereas on a Miele if you want to clean flat to the floor you have to twist your arm and the tubes to get the floor head to lay flat - not with the SEBO deluxe floor tools. Also the LED bag fill light compared to piston style and the quality of build is much more substantial than Miele. Also what I like about the K is the fact that you never get to see the motor, even after you have removed the filters and the protection filters are also pretty good too. It is also far easier to store the model than Miele's daft side parking. Bosch went onto the use similar design from the K series where the central parking is more compact and less likely to appear bulky. Miele offer that with their S2 but it's about time they did that with all their models. I agree with you with regards to the parts diagrams - but unfortunately the Felix ones just show a standard imploded diagram of the Dart model's smooth handle without the nib on the back. | ||
| Post# 168360 , Reply# 35 2/5/2012 at 08:15 (4,462 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
Sanifan - I think you made the right decision and the Fun model is a little known rare investment - keep it good and you may find in years to come if you ever sell, the Felix Fun may gain a little more monetary value. It didn't sell well in the UK due to its colour but I've since seen second hand ones go for silly money because of their rarity. I didn't mind the colour at all against the Classic "Chav-Burberry" like version.
I think the K3 Premium is a good idea, if you have a small home and little space. However unlike the U.S love for canisters and power heads, I'm just not a fan of this idea at all. Maybe it's my vintage-traditional upbringing, that a cylinder/canister vacuum should be lighter with a suction only floor head (or a good air-driven turbo brush), compared to an upright with a permanent electric roller brush. I don't think you're missing out though - I find the Felix much more controllable and faster even though it only has that 1300 watt total power compared to the 1800 watts on the K3 Premium. The more modern K3 Vulcano is only slightly better (regardless of its uprated 2100watts) - this is because SEBO fit a 1.8 metre hose on the K3 Premium whereas the Vulcano has a slightly bigger 2.1 metre length - and it is abundantly better in use. I bought a K3 Vulcano many years ago for a friend and tried it before I handed it over - just to test it to see the difference on my K3 Premium. The K series is traditionally a vacuum built for small to medium homes given the amount of power cable you get and the K3 Premium is like a canister & powerhead "basic" model because it has a short amount of cord (or even now if it has been given a bit more) you still have to put up with the shorter hose on it. There's more of an issue here because the electric embedded cord inside makes the hose less flexible and feels too stiff to be of any great versatility. The K models without the electric hoses are far better, lighter and just easier to pull the machine around. I don't like the electric set up either - even if the older auto adjusting ET-H is good, it is bulkier than the ET-1 (I note that SEBO U.S offer the more modern Felix ET-1 floorhead) whilst the connection of the hose to the electronic handle is also bulkier and doesn't move as freely. Again you're limited by the space efficiency and faster performance because of the hose and a tendency to keep stepping over the hose or changing hand position because the hose can't move around as much. I've spoken to SEBO about it many times, but they're happy with the design and it's built to the standard so that it doesn't fail. You can see here that they're going with the reliability and efficiency rather than comfort. However, the K3 Premium / powered canisters have had problems with the pig tail plugs that fit between the handle and the electrified suction tubes - which are also thus, heavier than the standard suction tubes. I had a failing plug in the first year and when SEBO sent out the replacement one, it was only a short time thereafter that the plug started to work intermittently. Now my K3 Premium is used with either the turbo brush head or suction only but it sees very little use due to it's inherently-difficult to use embedded corded electric hose. | ||
| Post# 168856 , Reply# 36 2/8/2012 at 17:44 (4,459 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
Today I went to Glasgow to get my passport renewed and had to spend 6 hours in the city before it could be processed. What better way to visit John Lewis and see their exclusive X4 Excel upright. Reason it's an "exclusive" to John Lewis is simply because JL didn't want to keep "knowingly underselling" price match all the time with X4 Extra uprights, hence the change of name and colour to differentiate the models.
Anyway I also test drove the Panasonic MC-UG614/ I note that another member on here had already created a thread on this model as it is known as a Kenmore Progressive Glide. If Panasonic or Kenmore decided to match the specs of the Felix, then this upright couldn't be closer if it tried. Here's the specs: 5.9Kg Swivel head and 2 motor system. 7 metre cord Tool kit Mini turbo brush hard floor to carpet adjuster/on/off. 3.5 litre capacity bag, 1900 watt, 250 air watts (Claimed). I love the design to a point - the 14" floor head is too big to get around tables and awkward furniture though. It has a brush on/off pedal at the back - and it's a bit noisy. However, whilst it has a similar price band to the Felix (£219) and dust capacity, JL have yet to stock the dust bags - but worse of all - it comes with a shoe bag in which crevice tool, upholstery tool, mini turbo brush and a short hose are included. You have to manually attach the hose onto this machine and there's a poor plastic stabilizer that slips into the back of the floor head so that it doesn't fall over. Shame you can't slide it into the back of the floor head when not in use, so it's a part that could get lost over time. Still, now I know why Sebo never put a looped handle on their upright - its lovely and curvy on the Panasonic but it twists my wrist painfully when turning left or right. 
| ||
| Post# 169068 , Reply# 38 2/10/2012 at 03:50 (4,457 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
Price wise it costs £219 which puts into direct pricing with the Sebo Felix, this side of the UK. When looking at the specs despite the additional tool kit you get with it, the bag capacity alone side lines with the Felix too. It is slightly lighter than the Felix though but not eco friendly sporting its 1900 watt motor.
For hard floors and a staircase I'd just rely on my Sebo D2 - its 12 metre cord ensures I'll get around everywhere or even the smaller K1 Pet / Komfort model. | ||
| Post# 169508 , Reply# 39 2/14/2012 at 09:44 (4,453 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 169511 , Reply# 40 2/14/2012 at 10:18 (4,453 days old) by Sanifan () | ||
|
You have to hand it to Sebo for making things exciting. While the Felix color schemes may not be to everybody's tastes, they are the most graphically exciting vacuums currently out there. | ||
| Post# 169606 , Reply# 41 2/15/2012 at 06:26 (4,452 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Post# 171135 , Reply# 42 2/27/2012 at 17:23 (4,440 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
So, for all you Queen fans, the next Felix is being released. It's called the Sebo Felix Royale. It is being launched to celebrate our British Queen's Jubilee.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO sebo_fan's LINK 
| ||
| Post# 171136 , Reply# 43 2/27/2012 at 17:25 (4,440 days old) by sanifan () | ||
|
Sweet! | ||
| Post# 172550 , Reply# 44 3/8/2012 at 18:40 (4,430 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
www.aaavac.com/seboacc.htm...
An interesting floor head "cover" I've never seen before - anyone have one of these? 
| ||
| Post# 172626 , Reply# 45 3/9/2012 at 11:13 (4,429 days old) by Sanifan () | ||
|
Bumpers... Hi, Sebo_fan. Ha ha, never seen that bumper but I can see it could be useful if it works. I looked around and aparently there is an aftermarket for these. Here is one for the ET-1 PN... 
| ||
| Post# 172627 , Reply# 46 3/9/2012 at 11:15 (4,429 days old) by Sanifan () | ||
|
Sanitaire bumper... I actually have run across a lot of ads for Sanitaire bumper online but had no idea they were available for a very wide range of PNs and vacuums. Looks like there are several different manufacturers making these. 
| ||
| Post# 172642 , Reply# 47 3/9/2012 at 12:56 (4,429 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
|
| ||
| Forum Index: | 
| Other Forums: |
|
|
|
|
|
Comes to the Rescue!
