dilly dally, The substitution the OP is referring to is using type "A" Hoover bags in a Shop-Vac. The cut type "A" bag is opened like a paper lunch bag and placed over the motor of the Shop Vac and secured by a band or clamp. This was the process of many shop vacuums in the past. Now, some models use vacuum cleaner bags with small collars like the ones on the Hoover type "A" bags. Your Hoover type "A" bag is very common and can be found in most stores like Walmart, Target, Kmart, grocery stores, vac shops and even online.

While Aprince's advice to go to a store to listen to a few is OK, the reality is that the stores usually don't have many connected, and there is so much other noise in an appliance store you won't be able to tell much. Also, your home's ductwork will be different, which will have an effect on the noise level. BTW, I am assuming you are having ductwork. If you are doing a recirculating hood, then my following paragraph on ductwork is irrelevant to you. But if you DO have ductwork, check what is its diameter. If it is, e.g. 6" diameter, that will make your selection easier because it limits your choices, as most (but not all) 600 cfm hoods need 8" diameter duct. If you will be installing new ductwork, make sure the contractor installs an 8" duct, and don't let him tell you that 6" is OK, or try to sneak 6" by you. Stand firm on the 8". Smaller ducts increase noise. Many complaints about noisy hoods are actually related to a too-small duct. Try to get a hood with baffle filters, not mesh. Mesh filters clog fairly quickly, and thereby lose efficiency until you put them in the DW. Baffle filters get just as dirty of course, but don't lose efficiency as they get coated with grease. Restaurant hoods only use baffle filters. My final advice is to try to get the deepest hood you can. Since I am sure you will be limited to a 30" width hood over your 30" Bluestar range, try to buy a hood that is closer to 27" deep (i.e. front to back) if possible, and if within your budget. At the very least don't go shallower than 24". You will find lower-priced hoods that are less than 24" deep, which will not provide enough capture area over your range. The 27" deep ones, while better, are harder to find, and more expensive. So you have some shopping to do! Definitely do searches on this forum about hood brands. Don't forget eBay. Many people on this forum have gotten wonderful deals on hoods there.

The Farberware MicroBrew makes two "coffee" cups (eg. 2 * 6 oz.) of coffee. Put the coffee filter section of the MicroBrew on the bottom coffee pot section, put a #2 cone filter in the basket, and add the appropriate amount of coffee. Put the top water chamber section on top of the coffee filter section and add water up to the lip at the top section (about 1 2/3 cups). FIRMLY place the top on the water chamber section: the gasket fit must be very tight. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes depending on the power of your microwave. As the water heats, it expands and forces hot water and steam through the center cone and into the grounds, where it drips through to the bottom pot. The Faberware MicroBrew was supposed to be a big event for Faberware back in the early 90s. That apparently was not the case. If you don't like it to make coffee, hang onto it for a couple of decades - it's bound to be a collectors' item!

I would not use flexduct, kitchen exhaust carry grease vapors which would build up in the ridges of flex. You can't clean out flex duct as you can with rigid either. Somthing else to keep in mind is that rigid duct would hold up alot better to a small chimney fire than flex. Also a good quality ventless hood will have two filters. One is an aluminum mesh to catch grease vapors and can be cleaned out, the second is an activated charcoal filter for removing odors which cannot be cleaned and should be replaced every 6 months or so. I can tell you from personal experience that these hoods work quite well as long as they are kept up.