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Comment by jeffbee | Hacker News Reader

The problem with this guy's reviews is he's presenting it as a false choice. Here he does 6 mass-market vacuums that are all about the same price, design, and performance. He doesn't really review them on any useful basis, like how long it can run between filter changes, how much toxic dust they spew into the air, etc. This video is basically "which of these garbage vacuums will you regret buying the least?"

A useful review would give you an actual choice: what's the difference between a department store brand $100 vacuum, a $500 vacuum, and a $1000 vacuum?

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> A useful review would give you an actual choice: what's the difference between a department store brand $100 vacuum, a $500 vacuum, and a $1000 vacuum?

Strongly disagree. He's reviewing vacuums that someone would actually use in their shop environment. Who the heck is going to risk dropping $1000 on a vacuum for use in a busy shop? I'd be paranoid that something would scratch it. Or never want to use it outside of the basic parameters it's designed for. Whereas with my $50 ShopVac, I have no fear of using it and it gets used all the time, and probably for things it's not meant for.

> Who the heck is going to risk dropping $1000 on a vacuum for use in a busy shop?

People who value not dying from silicosis, I guess. Obviously it depends on your use cases. Sawdust for example is not as dangerous, but you can still find various price points and performance of wood dust extractors.

Sure, but we're talking about shopvacs. Wood dust extractors are their own very different thing and usually come with a whole network of ducting around the shop. What's more, good wood and metal shop practice includes a real air purifier like from Grizzly or Jet (for cheap options) to cycle air through layers of filters. My metal shop has one, it cost $250. Wet/dry vacs are for cleaning up and maybe preventing a bit of spread at the source.

My new rule of thumb is, if I am using the shopvac, I am wearing a respirator and gloves, and taking a shower immediately after. Just too much shit goes a 'flyin, no matter what it seems you are vacuuming up.

Nonsense, with hepa filters (which aren’t all that expensive) there isn’t really all that much different between the brands.

> Sawdust for example is not as dangerous

Many woods are moderately to severely toxic. Plywood glues are probably not healthy to breathe. Most finishes are undoubtedly health-hazardous in micro/nano-particle size, when inhaled.

https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-a...

Nothing good comes of breathing micro-/nano-particles, even wood ones.

>"how much toxic dust they spew into the air"

This, to me is the most important metric. And from a person who is allergic to absolutely nothing thank spaghetti, I’ve always noticed this aspect of vacuums

To the point where I make an effort to start my vacuum out the door when first starting it such that the initial blow of the fan blasts the dust captured within to the outside.

Most people don’t realize that many vacuums have a small filter for the escape air and they never clean or change that other filter

EDIT: I also, will never have a carpeted home. The reason is, once you have a fully hardwood home, you realize just how much actual detritus accumulates in even the most lightly traveled areas.

In the 1980s we bought a house in Tahoe, and it had 2" (TWO INCH LONG) shag carpet. and it was RAINBOW COLORED.

I wish I had a pic of it, but it was literally 2" long rainbow shag carpet that was a nightmare.

https://i.imgur.com/u4sFJj2.jpg

But the entire house. 1982 cocaine house.

Carpets were invented to hide dirt. The history of the vacuum is quite amazing.

I like carpets and the feel of soft flooring in lounging areas like bedrooms and living rooms. Also good for babies and toddlers to learn to crawl and walk on.

If you dont already have a leather monger in you climate:

I HIGHLY recommend Carpet covered by Leather.

I cannot describe it - but thick leather, covering carpet, on bare-feet is amazing.

Trust me until you feel it.

I do not understand the concept. I imagine this would be like walking on a leather sofa? If the goal is to make the leather floor soft, then I would think the same soft padding under carpets would be better than carpet itself.

I assumed most will not understand.

this is not a fetish, its just a reality: Cover a carpeted space in high quality leather. Walk on it.

Seriously. its the best walking experience.

(Source: Leather over carpet in my room.)

Best leather source ever:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/s-h-frank-and-company-san-francisco

>>>Folks, if you find yourself frustrated when you come to SH Frank, you might just be struggling with entitlement, and you may just be intolerant of different types of personalities. Larry is excellent at what he does, but he's super neurotic, and probably on the spectrum

Larry is like larry david, but not funny. He is the neurotic jew Larry David wished he was....

Anyway, this guy is amazingly cool - but, and I am not joking, Walk into the shop with a wrinkled $100 bill in your hand. LITERALLY A $100 BILL

And flag it around asking about prices...

I swear this is how I bought all my leather from him and its kind of an art.

A soft pair of slippers can give a similar effect as soft flooring.

For babies to crawl on, there are mats you can lay on the floor such as these: http://en.alzipmat.com/

The mats are easy to clean, and thus may be healthier than carpets which are difficult to deeply clean thoroughly or frequently.

Carpets catch dirt, sure.

But I would prefer that dirt be trapped in a carpet than floating around my home, kicked up again every time there is a breeze.

Carpets also trap food particles and drink spills, so there's likely a hard-to-remove layer of decaying food particles in the carpet, especially if there are kids in the house. With hardwood floors, a robot can run around and pick all that up.

“PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and PM0.1 resuspension due to human walking” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35463201/

I wonder if there is more of this effect on a hard floor though?

> The reason is, once you have a fully hardwood home, you realize just how much actual detritus accumulates

Can corroborate: is horrifying.

“PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and PM0.1 resuspension due to human walking”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35463201/

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