A well cared for Nilfisk lasts forever, and it may be worth seeing if anyone is looking to upgrade theirs and would sell you the old one cheap. That said, as far as a variable speed with HEPA filtration in new for under $400, try the Eureka Airextreme 6500. http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/eureka-airextreme-6500a-canister-vacuum-cleaners.html?show=UP&itemId=2284 I have not used it myself, but I have heard good things from others on a tight budget. It isn't the BEST filtration, but it is HEPA and the allergy people are pretty picky about who makes their cut. If you go with something else, try testing the exhaust output by taking a clean square of thin white cloth and rubberbanding it over the exhaust port of the vacuum in question and vacuum up some fine dust. If you see a circle of grey on the cloth... it's not doing its job. Just because it says HEPA filter, doesn't mean the filter is fitted in a functional way. Do not try to fit a standard vacuum with a rheostat, it can destroy the motor, will null any warranty, and depending on how it is mounted, can make holes that mean the HEPA is bypassed and will decrease the function overall. Good luck! S Whitney Alexandra Jones Robertson <wajrobertson@GMA To IL.COM> [log in to unmask] Sent by: Museum cc discussion list <[log in to unmask] Subject SE.LSOFT.COM> [MUSEUM-L] Affordable museum vacuum 03/16/2010 03:42 PM Please respond to Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask] SE.LSOFT.COM> Hello all, I am curating a university collection of costume and textiles and we are desperate need of a vacuum for vacuuming our objects. It needs to be variable-speed, since regular speed will damage them, and it needs to have either a HEPA filter or the ability to be fitted with one. It also needs to be under $400 (those nice Nilfisks are out of the budget, unfortunately). Does anyone know of a good kind that meets these requirements? Thanks very much! Whitney Robertson Whitney A. J. Robertson Fashion and Textile Specialist Adjunct, Marymount University M.A. Fashion and Textile Studies, FIT '08 B.A. with Distinction, Music, UVa '06 http://fashion-museum.blogspot.com ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).