My Kirby G4 is not shiny like it used to be. I bought it a few years ago as a rebuild and it looked new. I have tried several metal polishes and it still looks dull. What do I need to do to make it shine again. I asked the guy at the Kirby shop where I bought it and he said he could buff it for $70. That seems a little high.
My Kirby is Dull
- Thread starter jaxsunst
- Start date
Help Support :
Hi Jackson, You can get compound and a buffing wheel at sears or maby an auto parts.I use a bench grinder with a hard cotton wheel 6" but could use one on a drill or die grinder. Start with a white compound and finish with Mothers chrome polish. Its dirty work but in an hour or so your vac will look new!
bethann
New member
Have you tried 0000 steelwool? I use it on everything! Even the mirrors. Works great! Under a dollar, I would try it on the underside first.
neptune2000
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2004
- Messages
- 37
Make your Kirby shine...
Why not invest in the Handi-Butler attachment which is designed just for such applications... They work fairly well,and can be found for a good bit less than $70.00.
It increases the things your machine will do at a modest cost.( Alas, probably not as cheap as some of the other suggestions. ) These seem to show up with some regularity at thrifts and Yard sales - sometimes still brand new - never used. Pricing is around $10.00 ( early in the day ) to " Just take it - Please " if it's still there at closing time.
Neptune2000
Why not invest in the Handi-Butler attachment which is designed just for such applications... They work fairly well,and can be found for a good bit less than $70.00.
It increases the things your machine will do at a modest cost.( Alas, probably not as cheap as some of the other suggestions. ) These seem to show up with some regularity at thrifts and Yard sales - sometimes still brand new - never used. Pricing is around $10.00 ( early in the day ) to " Just take it - Please " if it's still there at closing time.
Neptune2000
I would try Nevr-Dull Magic Wadding available in better hardware stores. It looks like this:
http://www.antiquesupply.com/graphics/products/jewelry/701000-250.jpg
http://www.antiquesupply.com/graphics/products/jewelry/701000-250.jpg
Many vac shops have used a polish called "Flitz" to polish vacuum cleaner housings such as Kirbys and Royals.You need a cloth buffing wheel mounted on a drill to use it-a plug in or cordless drill works fine.I just need to find my buffer wheel-may have to get another from Lowes or Home Depot.
Shiny Kirbys
I have a Heritage II and my mother has a Legend II. I have polished both of them back to origianl luster with Wenol metal polish. They make 2 formulas. Red All Purpose, and Auto Wenol. I start out with the red formula to remove the tarnish and then use the blue Auto formula to polish it to a brilliant shine. This does take some elbow grease, but gives you the most BRILLIANT like new shine!!
http://www.wenol.com/
I have a Heritage II and my mother has a Legend II. I have polished both of them back to origianl luster with Wenol metal polish. They make 2 formulas. Red All Purpose, and Auto Wenol. I start out with the red formula to remove the tarnish and then use the blue Auto formula to polish it to a brilliant shine. This does take some elbow grease, but gives you the most BRILLIANT like new shine!!
http://www.wenol.com/
I took my 1956 Kirby in to the Kirby store here and had them do all the dirty work. The replaced the motor bearing, sanitized the bag, cleaned all the inside channels and the fan and then buffed the exterior to a high shine. The total I spent was about $100. The guys in the shop were so excited about this vac when it was done, one offered to buy it from me and they had it up on a pedestal like a trophy right in front of the door as you walk in. I accepted their adoration and praise ;-) and declined the offers to buy and scurried it home! You can't tell much from the picture, but it just gleams now, when I took it in, it was dull and lifeless. I bought my G4 on ebay and am planning on taking that in for the same overhaul soon.
