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Thread Number: 28722
/ Tag: Brand New Vacuum Cleaners
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| Post# 320536 4/6/2015 at 06:32 (3,307 days old) by shaunr1989 () | ||
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Hi all, I'm Shaun. Heard about this site from a dealer. Any honest opinions on Kirby. I've not used one yet, and it's crossing my mind as of late. Thank you, cheers! | ||
| Post# 320538 , Reply# 1 4/6/2015 at 07:19 (3,307 days old) by Dandagreer (Nashville, TN) | ||
Pros/Cons
Pros:
Excellent suction from proven design, excellent carpet grooming, myriad of attachments for above-floor cleaning, will last for decades if properly maintains, hepa filtration bags, self-propelled so super easy to push Cons: Heavy, attachment hose not convenient to put on I thinks the pros far outweigh the cons. It's a super versatile cleaning machine with arguably the best suction of any vacuum. Plus they just look cool! | ||
| Post# 320540 , Reply# 2 4/6/2015 at 07:38 (3,307 days old) by kirbyg6 (York) | ||
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| Post# 320541 , Reply# 3 4/6/2015 at 07:41 (3,307 days old) by oliveoiltinfoil (England, UK) | ||
Welcome chap, nice to see a new face every now and then !
I have used a couple of Kirbys although I don't own any. They certainly are good vacuums, but equally, not for everyone. As mention above basically; they have excellent performance, brilliant agitation resulting in unmatched deep cleaning abilities. They are dynamic in the sense you can also use it as a shampooer. They are beautifully made and will last forever. However they are heavy, quite noisy, a pig to use the attachments, incredibly expensive and poor on hard-flooring on its own. Not only that, but some of the enthusiasts who have them, especially on this site are arrogant, cocky and snobby. Imagine BMW drivers. | ||
| Post# 320547 , Reply# 5 4/6/2015 at 08:27 (3,307 days old) by marcusprit () | ||
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BTW welcome to the site of the drama queens haha | ||
| Post# 320549 , Reply# 6 4/6/2015 at 08:55 (3,307 days old) by thunderhexed (Edmond, OK) | ||
I've never used anything but.. 
a Kirby. It's really a matter of personal preference. I've tried other systems from Eureka to Royal (and I've even tried my mom's beloved Dyson). Every vacuum has its pros and cons, but for my personal tastes and needs - a Kirby has always been the top choice for me just for its power and wall to wall carpet cleaning ability - plus I like the fact that the large bag capacity means less frequent bag changes. Welcome to the forums and good luck!
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| Post# 320555 , Reply# 7 4/6/2015 at 09:42 (3,307 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
Welcome to the Forum:
I have one of each model Kirby, right here at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James, Missouri. I also have some of the gold plated models that were sales prizes. Throughout history, Kirby has always been "late to the game". Disposable bags were invented in 1920, to eliminate housekeeping's most disagreeable job (emptying the cloth vacuum bag). Kirby wouldn't put one on their machine until 1979. On-board attachments were invented in the mid 1980's to make using an upright easier and making attachment use more convenient. Kirby still hasn't figured out how to do this yet. "Late to the game". Kirby inhales the dirt through the suction fan. Fan damage is high on Kirby with hose use. The fan is running at double speed, and a rock or coin inhaled through the hose hits that spinning fan very hard. While having a vulnerable fan helps get the rug cleaner (more airflow right at the carpet), it's no good for attachment use where damage is likely (and expensive to repair). Kirby still uses a vulnerable belt, twisted into a figure 8, right in the middle of the dirt path. All the dirt inhaled must pass over the belt, meaning the belt has a much shorter life. If the belt were in its own channel, so dirt never touches it, the belt would last longer. Kirby bags are expensive (2 Hepa bags in a package for $10). Ever throw a $10 bill into a trash can and walk away? Me neither. The Kirby cleans very well. They form a good seal with the carpet. They have a great height adjustment mechanism. The brush can be adjusted to compensate for bristle wear. They clean large, open areas much better than small crowded rooms. At one time, most vacuums looked like Kirby does today. The other brands evolved, became modern, became what customers wanted. Kirby doesn't have to evolve. They are sold by door to door salesmen who work on commission. The job of the salesman two fold - one is to get into your door - and one is to make you unhappy with your present cleaner. No one wakes up in the morning thinking "I'm going to buy a Kirby today". A Kirby isn't a vacuum you shop for, comparing it in-store to other machines. Rather, you are led into an unwise purchase that in most cases has to be financed (can you say 23% interest?). The customer never sees the salesman again, and are lucky to have a Kirby sales office remain open in their town for any length of time. There are always exceptions. Some Kirby salesmen are honest people, who run an honest business - and have for years. They provide service and repairs and their customers are kept happy. Sadly, for the vast majority of Kirby owners, they regret their impulsive decision to buy one. On the other hand, vacuum collectors tend to love Kirby due to the retro look, the high performance, and the snob appeal of the machine. Even I run a Kirby at least once a week. | ||
Post# 320557 , Reply# 8 4/6/2015 at 09:51 (3,307 days old) by gottahaveahoove  (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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Hi Shaun and WELCOME!
Hopefully, here in the forum, you'll meet fun, kind, interesting people, and will gain incredible knowledge. You might even make very good friendships, as I have. Just be caerful... and enjoy and indulge your passion for vacuums. John Long, Membership Coordinator for The VCCC. | ||
| Post# 320559 , Reply# 9 4/6/2015 at 10:06 (3,307 days old) by kirbyg6 (York) | ||
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| Post# 320561 , Reply# 11 4/6/2015 at 10:22 (3,307 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA) | ||
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| Post# 320562 , Reply# 12 4/6/2015 at 10:35 (3,307 days old) by marcusprit () | ||
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Harley is correct what you like best is all that matters. Try a Kirby and if you have a local dealer try a Riccar Tandem air I'd also try a Royal Everlast too. | ||
| Post# 320566 , Reply# 13 4/6/2015 at 11:14 (3,307 days old) by oliveoiltinfoil (England, UK) | ||
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| Post# 320568 , Reply# 14 4/6/2015 at 11:20 (3,307 days old) by marcusprit () | ||
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Oh yes you could try a Sebo too. :-) | ||
| Post# 320575 , Reply# 15 4/6/2015 at 12:36 (3,307 days old) by hooverkid (PA,USA) | ||
I have a kirby heritage 2 legend (one of the lasts not too have techdrive)
Its a very deep cleaner with a huge bag and a big 15 inch nozzel that cleans large areas of carpet very well. the down sides however are it can be harder to push than a clean air upright because of the seal it forms with the carpet,it is loud but has a nice hum to it and if you are going to be taking it up and down stairs it will be heavy. Hope this helps! | ||
| Post# 320578 , Reply# 16 4/6/2015 at 12:55 (3,307 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine) | ||
 Hi Shaun,
Welcome to the Forum. You will find very friendly people on here who have a wealth of knowledge of just about every vacuum brand. They are also very eager to help new members.
I am a Kirby enthusiast. I own several of them spanning from the 500 series of the 1950's and 60's to the current Generation series. I can truthfully say that Nothing Cleans carpets Better Than A Kirby and Nothing will outlast a Kirby!
As stated above, Kirbys do have the disadvantage of being somewhat heavy at 23 lbs. but they have a self propelled transmission called Tech Drive which allows you to push and pull the machine with just your pinky finger. Also, they are made of Aircraft Grade Aluminum which you can polish to shine like a mirror.
May I ask what has you interested in a Kirby because they are not for everyone? What Do you have, mostly wall to wall carpet, or do you have mostly hard floors with some area rugs? Do you have fairly large rooms or smaller ones? Do you have a lot of furniture dispersed throughout the room such as coffee table, end tables, etc? Also Kirby's are expensive to purchase if bought brand new, but you can find almost new Kirby's on ebay for less than $300.00.
I am available to answer all of your Kirby questions.
-Stan
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| Post# 320579 , Reply# 17 4/6/2015 at 12:58 (3,307 days old) by kirbyg6 (York) | ||
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| Post# 320827 , Reply# 19 4/7/2015 at 17:45 (3,306 days old) by KC_Kirby (Kansas City, MO) | ||
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Just a point, the Riccar Brilliance is 21 pounds, the Kirby is 23 pounds. That's only a two pound difference. That's not a significant difference. Is that Riccar going to be any easier to lug up and down stairs as a Kirby? | ||
| Post# 320839 , Reply# 20 4/7/2015 at 20:02 (3,306 days old) by FantomFan (Rochester, New York) | ||
I've had about a dozen Kirbys.
Of course, they clean well and are still one of the best for carpet cleaning. Personally, I'm a bigger fan of the ones made BEFORE the Classic. Then, they got too heavy and bulky for my liking. The old ones clean just fine and have fantastic suction and airflow. The only stinker (pardon the pun) is the shake out bag. I have found a way to dispose of the dirt in those fairly cleanly though. It's not a problem unless you have bad allergies.
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| Post# 320840 , Reply# 21 4/7/2015 at 20:05 (3,306 days old) by DJub85 (Virginia) | ||
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For curiosity's sake, what other vacs do you have?
I don't have any uprights or any experience with them, so I can't be of much help with the Kirby. One of my Electrolux machines from Ebay came in a Kirby box, if that counts. | ||
| Post# 320851 , Reply# 22 4/7/2015 at 21:34 (3,306 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
Kirby convert here
I picked up a Kirby G6 from beside a dumpster a little over two years ago and now I own four. They are indeed very well made machines, made to last and made to be rebuilt so they can last a lifetime. Sure, you can pay through the nose for a brand new one, but they're quite affordable on the second hand market. I recently picked up a pristine G6 with its attachments for $50 at a thrift store. Belts and bags aren't that expensive if you buy them online. Your best source for those supplies is eBay. Although the fans are vulnerable, Kirby makes them of a special plastic called Amoled, co-engineered with NASA, that's tougher than Kevlar. You can even retrofit older machines with these new style fans as well. It's entirely possible to take a 24-year-old G3 and upgrade it with just about every technical innovation that has been added since.
For what it's worth, I don't consider myself a Kirby snob; rather, I appreciate their superior design and they work admirably for my needs. I'm also a fan of Electrolux canisters and pre-TTI Hoovers, but these days, Kirby is my brand of choice. | ||
| Post# 320861 , Reply# 24 4/8/2015 at 03:14 (3,305 days old) by NYCWriter (New York City) | ||
Hi Shaun! Welcome!
My two cents.
I live in a smallish apartment in Manhattan and use two vacuums: a 1969 Kirby Dual Sanitronic 80 and the latest model Aerus Lux Guardian Platinum canister. I love my Aerus -- eight speeds and unbelievable suction -- but the power nozzle in my opinion doesn't come close to the kind of deep cleaning and carpet "grooming" that the Kirby can do. So I use the Kirby on the rugs, and the Aerus everywhere else. Yes, it's easier to drag out a second vacuum than it is to use the Kirby attachments. Also a word about the pre-1970 Kirbys. They have much narrower nozzles and are therefore much easier to maneuver around smaller homes. | ||
| Post# 320888 , Reply# 25 4/8/2015 at 09:40 (3,305 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
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It's called 'muscle memory'...
I agree that removing the nozzle and attaching the hose can feel awkward at first but after the first few times, you literally get the 'feel' of it. One thing that may be somewhat counter-intuitive at first is the belt lifter actually INCREASES tension on the belt when you remove the nozzle and then relaxes that tension when you lower the belt back on to the motor shaft.
NYCWriter--I use a similar combination of vacs at my house. I use a 1969 vintage Electrolux 1205, sans power nozzle, for the hardwood and vinyl floors (most of the house) and my G-series Kirbys (I've got three of them) on the carpeted rooms. I recently acquired a hard floor plate for my Kirbys but I have yet to take it for a test drive. | ||
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