I'm not familiar with the oil cans but personally I'd go with the baffles. Baffles work well and are easy to clean.

Thanks weissman. I really appreciate the help you given me. Maybe your user name should change to wiseman :)

thanks - just curious - which model Kobe hoods are you considering.

Weissman,
It is the CH2230SQ KOBE 30" Wall Mount. At low speed it is 300CFM and the highest speed is 800cfm. Depth is 22" and it will work with 6" duct. But it has the oil cans. I found it at us appliance online.

I've got a Kobe with squirrel cage and oil cup, but it's not been in long enough to collect oil yet!

mls99,

Which model do you have? So far, are you happy with the perfomance? What kind of cooking and range do you have?

Thanks for any info.

I have the CX1830GS-8 (30") - wall mounted glass one. It's been great. The fan has 2 speed settings and an auto detect setting. I use it with a 30" induction cooktop (from GE) and the low setting is good for everything except frying. When I use the high setting for frying I can't smell anything, not even bacon. I have it mounted 30" over the cooktop. It looks fantastic.

It's quieter than my old hood, but not quite as quiet as I'd really hoped. I looked at the Futuro Futuro glass one, but it was too expensive - although it was quieter.

One thing to note: the auto setting switches the fan on when it detects a certain amount of heat or smoke: this wasn't the feature that particularly sold me on the Kobe, which is just as well as it hasn't come on yet with the induction cooktop (which only heats the pan, not the cooktop). Hope this is useful.

mls99,

thanks for the feedback.

I know some people who like the impeller fan with the plastic oil holders. They think they draw air up better because there's no baffle to interfere. I've seen the paper test at various speeds, and at the lowest speed the impellers seem to do better. Any how, the model you're looking at has a flat bottom, so it won't contain extra smoke within the hood. Glass hoods are like that too and they work fine, but are not designed for heavy duty.

alexr

Can you give details on what you consider heavy duty use? I have three boys and a husband who enjoys my cooking. I cook alot of Mexican food. Rice, Beans (simmer for 2 hours), fajitas (stir fry). I want to get it right on the hood and make sure that it can handle what I cook. I am deciding between the Kobe or Zephyr, both have the oil containers. I can possibly upgrade to the KOBE that has baffle filters.

Sure, I meant, not daily use, or constant use, but the volume of smoke, steam, etc. In those cases, the hood 'captures' the smoke/steam from billowing out while the fans do their work. Larger area hoods and deeper hoods hold the steam within the hood itself.

If the baffles or the impellers are right on the lower surface, they only suck up the steam they can get to. If there is excess, it isn't held withing the hood, it billows out into the room or up to the ceiling.

As an example, on the Kobe website there is the model you're looking at, CH122 and a similar model CH179 that has the impellers recessed up inside the hood a few inches.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kobe rangehoods

alexr

Thank you for your explanation. That makes a lot of sense. I can afford the CH179 that is 9". I'm assuming that it will capture the team and smoke. Is that correct? I like the KOBE because it will work for my 6" duct and it comes at at 21 or 22 versus the 19" that I am seeing. It also has a great range of CFM and low sones.

What I don't know is whether the CH176 is better than the CH179. There is only $25. difference. I would probably call Kobe and ask them since they sell both.

mls99, I'm also looking at the Kobe CX1830GS-8 - wall mounted glass hood over a 30" induction cooktop. I was thinking of getting the 36" but wondered if you think the 30" is sufficient since you've been using it for awhile. How do you like it? Thanks!

I have found the 30" to be sufficient for my cooking (lots of steam, frying) - the big burner is definitely under the cooktop because of the layout of the burners on the GE Monogram cooktop. I had wanted a 36" hood, but it's right up against the window, so a 36" wouldn't fit symmetrically.

Just adding that I still have no oil in the oil cup since it was installed at the end of March. I can see a very small bit of sheen on the metal bottom face of the hood, but that's all. I'm quite surprised. The hood is still as effective as it was at the beginning, and I'm very happy with it.

mls99, Thanks for the update on how you like your vent hood. It certainly is a beauty! If purchased online, where did you get it?