Kirby Metal Fan Question~

Thom,

I am curious as to the method you used to test for airflow on machines that have metal vs Amodel plastic fans. Could you please explain how you performed the tests because when I performed the Airflow tests, I found there to be no difference in airflow between these two types of fans.

Here are my findings:

There is NO difference in the amount of airflow with the new Amodel Polymer fans. I tested it myself with a Baird Airflow Meter. Yes the blades are slightly shorter, but have you counted the number of blades? The old metal fans had 10 blades. The new Amodel fans have 11 blades which compensates for the blades being slightly shorter. The 11 blades are shorter and more curved to enable larger pieces of debris like coins etc.to be more quickly thrown into the emptor instead of rattling around inside the fan case and causing any damage to the fan.

As far as durability goes, Amodel polymer is a lot tougher and more resilient than metal. Metal fans are actually more brittle than Amodel fans and more likely to suffer damage. Amodel is capable of bending slightly (like hard rubber) to absorb the shock of being hit by large debris. Amodel has been reported to be 300% stronger and tougher than either metal or Kevlar.

The ONLY disadvantage to Amodel is that it starts to melt at around 536 degrees Fahrenheit. The most common way this happens is if people use the inflator tool for more than 5 minutes at a time. This will restrict the airflow through the fan case causing the fan to overheat (past 500 deg.) and start to melt.

The Only advantage of metal fans is that there is a very slight sound difference making a machine with metal fan sound more authentic, like the vacuums of yesteryear used to sound.

The article at the link below describes how the Latest Kirby Fan (G5 thru Avalir) was developed by a joint effort of NASA and Kirby:

http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff1997/ch9.html

This post was last edited 10/02/2016 at 12:04


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Post# 360210 10/1/2016 at 17:22 (2,753 days old) by Suckomatic (Deer Park)
Checkrate/Likes Are the old metal fans preferred over the new plastic replacements? I've read that some people prefer the sound of the metal fans. Really? They sound that different? Are there any other reasons I might want to look for a metal fan? I'm just asking because I just bought a Classic III that has a plastic fan. I was a little disappointed, but it seems to sound the same as the Classic III I grew up with, if I remember correctly. By the way, I think I know of a metal fan for sale pretty cheap if anybody's looking. I'm not sure if we're allowed to mention items for sale in posts though, but if we are I'll tell ya where it is. ;)

Post# 360211 , Reply# 1 10/1/2016 at 17:41 (2,753 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Suckomatic* Kelly, This topic, indeed, is divisive among we fans of Kirby vacuum cleaners. As you say, some people do prefer metal fans for their robust cleaning action and to help preserve the overall resale value of the machine, and then there are those who believe the hard plastic Amodel fans (as used since the G5) are better. ~Ben

Post# 360222 , Reply# 2 10/2/2016 at 08:10 (2,753 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)
Checkrate/Likes 1 I have done suction tests The ten blade aluminium fan has the best suction and airflow. It made my G4 perform much better than eve before, and it made the G4 sound like a Classic from the 70s. The new plastic polymer fans have slightly less suction than the metal, but are more durable.

Post# 360227 , Reply# 3 10/2/2016 at 11:44 (2,753 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes *Metal vs Amodel polymer fans:* Thom, I am curious as to the method you used to test for airflow on machines that have metal vs Amodel plastic fans. Could you please explain how you performed the tests because when I performed the Airflow tests, I found there to be no difference in airflow between these two types of fans. Here are my findings: There is NO difference in the amount of airflow with the new Amodel Polymer fans. I tested it myself with a Baird Airflow Meter. Yes the blades are slightly shorter, but have you counted the number of blades? The old metal fans had 10 blades. The new Amodel fans have 11 blades which compensates for the blades being slightly shorter. The 11 blades are shorter and more curved to enable larger pieces of debris like coins etc.to be more quickly thrown into the emptor instead of rattling around inside the fan case and causing any damage to the fan. As far as durability goes, Amodel polymer is a lot tougher and more resilient than metal. Metal fans are actually more brittle than Amodel fans and more likely to suffer damage. Amodel is capable of bending slightly (like hard rubber) to absorb the shock of being hit by large debris. Amodel has been reported to be 300% stronger and tougher than either metal or Kevlar. The ONLY disadvantage to Amodel is that it starts to melt at around 536 degrees Fahrenheit. The most common way this happens is if people use the inflator tool for more than 5 minutes at a time. This will restrict the airflow through the fan case causing the fan to overheat (past 500 deg.) and start to melt. The Only advantage of metal fans is that there is a very slight sound difference making a machine with metal fan sound more authentic, like the vacuums of yesteryear used to sound. The article at the link below describes how the Latest Kirby Fan (G5 thru Avalir) was developed by a joint effort of NASA and Kirby: http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff1997/ch9.html This post was last edited 10/02/2016 at 12:04

Post# 360230 , Reply# 4 10/2/2016 at 12:21 (2,753 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)
Checkrate/Likes I agree that there is about no difference, but it made my G4 work better for some reason.

Post# 360235 , Reply# 5 10/2/2016 at 13:43 (2,753 days old) by Suckomatic (Deer Park)
Checkrate/Likes *Interesting* Well I guess that about covers it. Thanks everybody. And Sptyks, please, try to be a little more specific next time, wouldja? ;)

Post# 360237 , Reply# 6 10/2/2016 at 14:44 (2,753 days old) by KirbyCollector (Columbus Ohio USA)
Checkrate/Likes What's your decision?

Post# 360270 , Reply# 7 10/3/2016 at 12:58 (2,752 days old) by Suckomatic (Deer Park)
Checkrate/Likes *KirbyCollector* Well Thomas,..... I don't know. lol Being a sentimental purist, I'll likely buy a metal fan the next time I come across one. Whether or not I'll ever actually bother to install it is uncertain. I'm still recuperating from cleaning & polishing the durn thing. I would like to try the insect fumigator someday though, and those chemicals melt the plastic fans, so maybe that'll provide the proper motivation. Once I'm fully rested up.

Post# 360275 , Reply# 8 10/3/2016 at 13:21 (2,752 days old) by sptyks (Skowhegan, Maine)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Just a little FYI: The fumigator chemicals only affected the older gray Lexan fans. The new white Amodel fan is not affected by fumigator chemicals which are basically just mothball crystals.

Post# 360278 , Reply# 9 10/3/2016 at 13:57 (2,752 days old) by Suckomatic (Deer Park)
Checkrate/Likes *sptyks* Aaaaaand there goes my motivation. ;)