Thread Number: 39553
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
What would be a great first kirby? |
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Post# 419572 , Reply# 1   2/6/2020 at 11:44 (1,512 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)   |   | |
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Although you can't go wrong with a later 500 series, The Classic and Heritage series are pretty good. Just make sure any Kirbys have the newer Nasa designed white fan or metal fan, not the grey plastic one as they are prone to exploding. That includes the G3. Keep in mind, every model before the G3 did not have Tech Drive. Some, like the Classics and Heritages are heavier yet more advanced, but ones like the 500 series and Sanitronics are quite a bit lighter and just look cooler. It really depends on what you want (tech drive, disposable bags, etc).
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Post# 419573 , Reply# 2   2/6/2020 at 11:45 (1,512 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)   |   | |
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Post# 419592 , Reply# 4   2/6/2020 at 15:48 (1,512 days old) by Vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.)   |   | |
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I sent you an email... |
Post# 419597 , Reply# 5   2/6/2020 at 17:12 (1,512 days old) by KirbyG3Fan (Missouri)   |   | |
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Heya! Sorry about not responding to your email as I'm actually out of state for college right now (I'm currently at Alabama state). I also ment to reply back but for some reason my email is acting up. |
Post# 419617 , Reply# 6   2/6/2020 at 22:19 (1,512 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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As far as I'm concerned, you really can't go wrong with anything Heritage or newer. Pre-Heritage machines have shakeout bags, of which I am very much not a fan, but some of them can be converted to use filter bags. The G5 you're considering is not a bad deal for $70 since it's in good shape, having recently been serviced and updated. I've bought Kirbys for less and ended up spending a bundle fixing them up. It's fun but costs can spiral, if you're not careful. I bought a Legacy II off of eBay last fall for $50 with free shipping (pretty lucky since shipping charges are usually pretty outrageous) and ended up spending at least that much more on parts before it was all said and done. Except for the colors, G series tool sets are all essentially the same for all G series models. You might even see if he's got a Kirby toolset of some sort, even if it isn't the the G5's distinctive wine color, that he would be willing to bundle with it for a nominal price.
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Post# 419656 , Reply# 7   2/7/2020 at 19:39 (1,511 days old) by KirbyG3Fan (Missouri)   |   | |
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I went back to grab the G5 only to find out that it had been traded out for a older Hoover elite. I should've gotten it while I had the chance. |
Post# 419712 , Reply# 8   2/8/2020 at 20:53 (1,510 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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Post# 419732 , Reply# 9   2/9/2020 at 08:58 (1,509 days old) by Dandagreer (Nashville, TN)   |   | |
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Nowadays, it’s pretty easy to find even a Sentria I for under $100. All the G series are very similar, though others here have proven they have incrementally improved performance with each model. Personally, of all the G-series, I like the Ultimate G Diamond because it has a low-speed switch, which gives you some flexibility with rugs and things that a Kirby at full power would just eat.
One of the wear parts on the G series is the transmission selector. It eventually wears to the point where the finger that disengages the tech drive breaks off. It’s a fairly easy fix, but it’s something to consider. Personally, my favorite Kirby’s to use are my Gen 1 Kirbys (505–D80 Sanitronic). They’re smaller, lighter, easy to work on, parts are still readily available, and they’re easily convertible to use HEPA disposable bags. |
Post# 419832 , Reply# 10   2/11/2020 at 00:07 (1,508 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
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I'm listing what I've found in 2 years.
Sentria $50 all attachments and shampooer Sentria $60 all attachments and shampooer Sentria free all attachments and shampooer (my mother's friend gave it to me). G6 vacuum only $15 G6 vacuum only good shape $15. G5 I didn't buy because I don't like the color $30 G4 vacuum only $15 Non g series 509 all original except bag $12 Sanitronic 7 vacuum only $15 Tradition vacuum only $15 Classic 3 $10 That's only at the thrift store. There out there try Craiglist. Les |
Post# 420458 , Reply# 11   2/23/2020 at 09:34 (1,495 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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....Kirbys are dirt cheap in your neck of the woods, Les. If I even see one in a thrift store around here, it's usually priced around $50 or so, with or without tools. Sometimes they even sell the tools separately. I even once saw an absolutely beaten down Classic III priced at $110. That was beyond ridiculous. Of course, there have been the occasional outliers like the G5 I passed up—and regretted—for $19 and the Heritage II Legend that I bought last fall for $15 without a cord, which set me back another $20 for a total outlay of $35. I'm certainly not complaining; it was still a bargain.
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Post# 420513 , Reply# 12   2/24/2020 at 02:53 (1,495 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
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I have only seen a Kirby at Goodwill here once in 2010-ish...and I bought it for $8 (1CR).
I never seen another one since. I did find a hose to one and got that for $2. I was getting my Kirby fix from whatever $40 or less would get me on eBay for the last couple years. Then USPS and every one of the couriers jacked up their dimensional rates and now it costs $40 to ship a Kirby alone at the cheapest, they can get up to $85 to ship. People don't even bother listing them anymore most of the time. I have been slowly building up a Kirby collection. I just bought a Kirby last week that I believe is a 1949 or so Kirby from further away in my state but they have not shipped it yet, and I have no idea why, I hope they do today. I think the 1CR or 500 series Kirbys will be good for a beginner because they are common and not collected too seriously to have them be worth $$$, and they do not have the techdrive transmission that usually is broken on thrift store kirbies. They are really simple and basic to learn on. If you want a self propelled kirby, try searching pawn shops - they are all over in most pawn shops because people get stuck buying it from kirby salesmen and then can't afford it and pawn it off. |