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Thread Number: 21475
Vorwerk, Who has one? |
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| Post# 240201 , Reply# 1 7/16/2013 at 04:16 (3,937 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
Im puzzled as to how the Vorwerk can remove more dust than an automatic height adjusting S7 upright by Miele with forceful suction AND a SEBO Felix with half the power and a manual dial. Sorry but I don't believe it, I'd have to see it and thoroughly poke through the kind of "extra" dust that the Vorwerk has apparently picked up.
A lot of people I've spoken to who used to own Vorwerk now own either SEBO's Felix or the X series. The reason isn't just down to better performance but also because bags and consumables are far more wider available. Also both SEBO brush rolls are kinder to carpets in general - viewable dust gets brushed and sucked out. I don't think you need any more than that but then that's because I learnt the hard way; I used to think that any conventional upright vac paled in the shadow of Dyson's cyclonic ones until I realised that when I was vacumming every day because of pets, the Dyson had a habit of removing far more than the top carpet layer. Of course you get those who claim that the Dyson doesn't deep clean etc, but even if you have to clean every day with a brush/upright vac, you'll start to pick up more of the carpet tread and wear it out. The Dyson bin filled up with the same colour of the carpet and that's when I realised I was actually destroying the carpet. Now I have a cylinder/canister with a suction only floor head to remove any top layer dust and only use any upright once or twice a week for heavy dirty traffic areas. Also Im not sure of the pricing where you are, but in the UK the latest prices brand new are far too expensive. This post was last edited 07/16/2013 at 04:48 | ||
| Post# 240202 , Reply# 2 7/16/2013 at 06:39 (3,936 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa) | ||
I was a vorwerk agent for a while but dropped the brand due to many issues, The main one been that ther reliability was not what it used to be yet the prices stayed the same. I was not impressed with the latest models including te Vk140 as to me it seamed a step backwards, Noisier and with a smaller bag, I also dont like the fact that you still ave to disassemble the whole machine just to vacuum the couches or corners. Or have to change heads to vacuum a wooden floor. To me it just did not make sense to buy it as a customer when there were better made more user friendly machines for half its price.
They used to get cross with me because I told the customers to keep there old Vk 122's because they were better machines instead of trading up to the new ones. | ||
| Post# 240203 , Reply# 3 7/16/2013 at 06:47 (3,936 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa) | ||
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| Post# 240210 , Reply# 4 7/16/2013 at 08:34 (3,936 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota) | ||
I've got one!
A VK-120. I found this on ebay it came to me from Florida. The listing said the power nozzle didn't run. I couldn't for the life of me get that nozzle completely apart so i called the US headquaters and asked them when i got it disassembled i found that the carbon brushes were worn down the wire.
Anyways...it's a decent vacuum doesn't but i kind of wish the brush motor were a little stronger and it would use a top fill bag. Really it doesn't see too much usage due to lack of tools. 
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| Post# 240213 , Reply# 5 7/16/2013 at 08:41 (3,936 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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| Post# 240217 , Reply# 6 7/16/2013 at 10:01 (3,936 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota) | ||
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They do | ||
| Post# 240218 , Reply# 7 7/16/2013 at 10:07 (3,936 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa) | ||
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| Post# 240221 , Reply# 8 7/16/2013 at 10:25 (3,936 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota) | ||
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Oh yeah | ||
| Post# 240224 , Reply# 9 7/16/2013 at 10:44 (3,936 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa) | ||
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| Post# 240572 , Reply# 10 7/17/2013 at 03:29 (3,936 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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| Post# 240656 , Reply# 11 7/17/2013 at 16:18 (3,935 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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| Post# 240828 , Reply# 13 7/18/2013 at 19:25 (3,934 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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| Post# 283090 , Reply# 15 6/4/2014 at 12:39 (3,613 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa) | ||
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You cannot fault a 122 or a 121. They are bullit proof , made when Vorwerk still made quality. The motors last forever, They are lite and easy to use. The new ones are not so great. I have had so many customers tell me that They had their 121 for 20 years no problems but then bought a 131 or 135 and every 3 years the motor blows, Not to mention the huge cost of the hepa filter that needs replacment every year, The cord of the 131 was so badly designed it broke with the most carfull of users. and since then you can no longer just shorten the cord if it does break near the machine you have to buy a whole new cord that costs a fortune.
The motors are sealed and no longer servicable either. Vorwerk is a d2d brand name with a BBS product now. | ||
| Post# 283179 , Reply# 16 6/4/2014 at 21:49 (3,613 days old) by marks_here (_._) | ||
I have model
VK 122 / Et 340 which I'm still trying to get used to the handle. I have 2 others in the attic, the one before this one with the lights on the motor casing telling you when to change the bag, the other one is with the green plastic slide on the bag, that was the first one I got in the '80s & was very fascinated with it. Getting parts for them at the time was a 4 hour drive to Orlando one way but worth it to see all the ones they had there. Cheers!!! Mark D.
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| Post# 283208 , Reply# 17 6/4/2014 at 23:40 (3,613 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
The VK 122 was definitely Vorwerk's highest point IMHO. This is the vacuum I used most often when I cleaned houses for a living, because it was light and easy to use, relatively quiet and cleaned well. Great for pet hair, easy bag change, decent capacity and some of the best tools I've used to date. In short, it did everything you needed from a vacuum and did it well.
Also had a VK 130, and like Gareth I was disappointed to see Vorwerk had taken a step backwards with their new generation models. Performed great, but the bag was significantly smaller and filter upkeep was expensive if you stuck to the recommended schedule. The cable entry was indeed a bad design, so I used to wind the cord up on the hooks and then unplug it from the top of the handle to prevent it kinking. On two occasions I had to send the cleaner in for repair - once for the speed controller, and again for the power nozzle microswitch - which didn't exactly inspire confidence in me. I sold it on once the two year warranty was up and reverted back to a VK 122, which kind of says it all really. On the subject of tools, it must be said a separate kit does have its advantages. You get a proper hose and full size tools for starters, something I consider essential for prolonged attachment cleaning. No way am I going to clean covings, skirtings, blinds, light fittings, curtains, upholstery, stairs and everything else with downsized and/or incomplete tools, and an onboard stretch hose that keeps tugging back on me or causing the upright to tip over. After dealing with all THAT fuss and bother, I soon came to the conclusion that hooking up a separate attachment kit isn't necessarily the awful imposition it is sometimes made out to be! In fact it's just like having a cylinder to compliment one's upright, only without actually having to tote around or store a complete second vacuum. | ||
| Post# 283215 , Reply# 18 6/5/2014 at 00:51 (3,613 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa) | ||
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Spiraclean
You just reminded me of the biggest flaw on the vk130 and 135, The neck of the floor tool breaks. Here in SA its over a $ 100.00 to replace ( part not labour ) If you had a heavy handed cleaning lady like some do in SA, Your built to last vorwerk would need that neck replaced once a year at least. I have customers bringing in the vk 121 and 122's that they found in "Dads" garage after a clean out. They ask me do I want it for spares it still works!! with amazement in their voices.
I tell them sure But why don't you take it home and try it out , If you don't think it cleans better than your Electrolux I will come and fetch it from you. I never hear back from them again, except for bags
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| Post# 283308 , Reply# 19 6/5/2014 at 13:58 (3,612 days old) by marks_here (_._) | ||
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Okay (out of breath)
I just used my VK155 to vacuum my carpets...what a workout!!! I forgot how much suction this thing has for such a small motor. The lines in the carpet look great, I just put in new brushes for the ET340 because the other ones were a bit worn. I actually broke out into a sweat! One day I'll have to get into the attic to find the other ones to see if there is a difference between models. Take care everyone, cheers!!! Mark D.
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| Post# 283391 , Reply# 20 6/5/2014 at 23:14 (3,612 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
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Gareth,
Never had that happen to me, but have seen several for-sale ads for late model Vorwerks where the neck is obviously defective, with both halves broken apart. Too many for it to be a coincidence. One thing I did notice was that the body of the cleaner has to be centred "just so" before being locked upright, otherwise it will topple over and come crashing down onto the floor when you let go. That can't be good for the power nozzle elbow over time. Twin motor swivel uprights really need some kind of mechanism in the neck to prevent this occurring. Even a notch on the front of the elbow that mates with a cutout in the power nozzle hood would suffice, it needn't be complicated. Really I never saw what was wrong with the ET340. It performed well, was reliable and had a long production run. And it still swivelled, long before Dyson and Sebo could ever lay claim to this ability. I get that they were trying to integrate the hard floor and dry cleaning functions into one head, but the added complexity meant reliability took a hit. It is convenient I admit, but I do feel more comfortable with separate heads that don't need to be treated with kid gloves. Different attachments for different tasks was always their USP anyway, and exactly what a Vorwerk is supposed to be all about. | ||
| Post# 283411 , Reply# 21 6/6/2014 at 07:14 (3,611 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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The Vorwerk may well lay claim to being a swivelling upright before SEBO and Dyson, but it doesn't exactly have a hose on board as a modern "all in one."
One could so easily say that the Hooverette stick vac offers the same design premise - the only difference is that the Vorwerk seems to offer a power nozzle AND comes with additional accessories. I admire old vacuums - but I think modern life these days has taken over with required smaller or additional attachments that are close to hand rather than in a bag. Its a pity that the reliability is poor. When you consider Vorwerk started out around 1930, I'd have thought the company would have made more than just what they have done. | ||
| Post# 283425 , Reply# 22 6/6/2014 at 09:44 (3,611 days old) by rugsucker (Elizabethton TN) | ||
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swivelling upright Vorwerk,Sebo,Dyson AND ! AirWay - 1920 and later with a 2 motor. | ||
| Post# 283431 , Reply# 23 6/6/2014 at 09:56 (3,611 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
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Depends on your mindset. I for one don't find onboard tools especially convenient. The main objective was always to get them to fit nicely onto the vac, often at the expense of functionality. This is why we have stretch hoses that cut you no slack while cleaning, short extension tubes (if present in the first place), and often downsized tools. That's if you get the full set in the first place, because many omit either the dusting brush or upholstery tool.
Personally I'm a heavy attachment user, and will often use the hose and tools for extended periods when giving the house a proper clean. I need a full set of real attachments, not whatever can be shoehorned into whatever room there is on the back of the vac. I understand the vast majority of people like onboard tools, and that's great, because that's what the vast majority of vacs offer. But there will always be those who aren't as keen, and that's why products such as the Vorwerk and Kirby (for example) still exist. Neither company seems interested in offering a product like anything you'd find in the shops, yet they've still managed to carve out their own niche in the market. If there were no demand and no sales, they'd have changed tack long ago. | ||
| Post# 283438 , Reply# 24 6/6/2014 at 10:33 (3,611 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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True, but a Kirby is made of metal for the most part and has always been a traditional upright vacuum cleaner for carpets. There are many great additional features such as its self driven mechanism, that helps the owner out and possibly helps to sell the upright when original thoughts about it look too heavy and bulky to push.
But the Kirby models are usually very reliable too, last for years and being made of metal are very robust. They're not indestructible but they are closer than say, products such as Oreck uprights which are still selling and are at the opposite end of the market for a lightweight upright only design. Infact when I think about it, Oreck's uprights are completely a stand alone design since there are no accessories available to turn it into suction only, let alone any cleaning tools or a hose on board. From what has been suggested here from former posts, it would appear that some Vorwerk models aren't reliable or as well built. Its a pity then given the asking prices of those models even when they appear on auction sites. Sorry, but if the machine isn't reliable, it doesn't matter to me how long the rest of it and its tools carry on for. | ||
| Post# 283453 , Reply# 25 6/6/2014 at 12:11 (3,611 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
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Again, it depends. Older Vorwerk models (the direct air ones) were known for being very reliable, because they were relatively simple in construction and there was little that could go wrong with them. It's only since the change to a clean air design with electronics and an entirely new power nozzle did the teething troubles start cropping up.
I personally think the reason Vorwerk have had a bad run in recent years is because they now seem to have a policy of drastically redesigning the machine on a fairly regular basis, each time running into a whole new set of problems before there has even been time to work out the previous issues. That never happened before when the machines remained largely the same for several years on end, with only minor incremental updates. | ||
| Post# 283487 , Reply# 27 6/6/2014 at 16:49 (3,611 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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I looked at getting a Vorwerk many years ago well before I bought my Sebo Felix. I had seen one in a hotel owned by friends and thought it was amazing. However, when she told me the cost price they had bought it for, I was really shocked (they paid around £400 in the 1990s). I gave them my X1 Automatic and they wanted a straight swap - but they weren't getting it.
I would still consider a Vorwerk but only as a collector's item. | ||
| Post# 283488 , Reply# 28 6/6/2014 at 16:57 (3,611 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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SEBO entered a contract with Windsor Industries in 1979 and the XP series was sold with either manual height adjustment models or the XP models with auto sensor. The European G1/G2 was the same with manual height adjustment but it isn't sold in the UK any more.
Aside from softer cosmetics to the plastics, SEBO domestic models feature slightly higher motors, such as 1300 watts compared to the 1200 watts on the Windsor Sensor XP and extra tools if required. Im not sure if the USA have the ultra synthetic dust bags, but those are new and last longer than the paper ones. They can also be reused again.. Previous models by SEBO domestic like the original X1 Automatic had 850 watts and then increased to 1000 watts. Our domestic X1 Automatic is similar to the Windsor Sensor XP - even if the power is different, there really isn't much of a difference. A "premium" upright in terms of it having a sensor is certainly premium - not all buyers have thick pile carpeting - that's why SEBO offer two models in most countries. | ||
| Post# 283552 , Reply# 29 6/7/2014 at 01:12 (3,611 days old) by spiraclean (UK) | ||
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If you think £400 was expensive, last time I enquired the price had shot up to £1500! Way too much, even more so now the product is nowhere near as good as it once was.
Were you ever to seek out a Vorwerk for the collection, used is the only way to go. You can pick them up complete on eBay Germany for the same money as a Vax or Hoover, because they are ten a penny over there and the supply is never-ending. As long as it's a "proper" direct air Vorwerk, it will just keep on going with little to no attention. | ||
| Post# 283567 , Reply# 30 6/7/2014 at 05:52 (3,610 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2) | ||
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