HEPA vacuum cleaners

George W Cannon <gwc4 [at] cornell__edu> writes

>We are currently considering purchasing a Nilfisk GS80 HEPA vacuum
>cleaner for use in cleaning frames, sculptures, and some artwork in
>our collection, and for general cleaning in our permanent collection
>storage areas.

We have abandoned use of the Rainbow water vacuums which have poor
filtration and service records, in favor of vacuums with HEPA
filters.  In gallery maintenance, the Museum uses both the Nilfisk
GS 80 and the Wap SQ 550-21.  For most tasks, I like the Wap
(800-237-2368) better because it is quieter, has integral variable
speed and auto start features, and is half the price of the Nilfisk.
It is, however, bigger and heavier. You must buy the HEPA filter
separately ($160), though we are just now having Gore CleanStream
filters (800-758-6755) made to fit the Wap vacuums for about $35.
These are new filters on the market, are made of Teflon, have
excellent filtration specs, and are washable, which the HEPA filters
are not.

David DeMuzio
Conservator of Furniture
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
P O Box 7646
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-684-7555

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:2
                   Distributed: Monday, June 24, 1996
                        Message Id: cdl-10-2-002
                                  ***