HEPA vacuum cleaners

Crista Pack <cpack [at] eiteljorg__com> writes

>Our museum is looking at purchasing a variable speed HEPA vacuum for
>cleaning objects and textiles, as well as display cases.  Most
>recommendations I've come across so far are for the Nilfisk Museum
>Vacuum, but I'm hoping to find something in a somewhat lower price
>range.  An objects conservator I recently talked to recommended
>looking at Miele and that company does advertise a model "S 251
>Miele Plus" as having an adjustable suction dial and HEPA filter for
>less than $600. Has anybody had any experience with this particular
>model?  Or could someone recommend another model or brand in a
>similar price range?

At the Museums Resource Centre we have used the Miele vacuum
cleaners with HEPA filters for at least 10 years all from the s
range.  The suction can be reduced to a relatively low level and the
inspection chamber on the hose can be opened to lower the suction
even further. The Miele's are robust and very reliable the only
disadvantage is there size so they can not sit on top of a bench. So
if you need to do very small textiles you can easily tape the hose
to the bench and use a mini accessory kit (the sort you find for
cleaning cars and computer keyboards etc).  They work together well
and this system can reduce the suction even further.

Samantha van de Geer
Museum Object Conservator
Oxfordshire County Council
Museums Resource Centre
Cotswold Dene
Standlake
Witney
Oxon OX29 7QG
+44 1865 300937


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:33
                Distributed: Saturday, December 6, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-22-33-008
                                  ***