Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dan hughes on September 22, 2010, 07:45:53 pm

Title: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: dan hughes on September 22, 2010, 07:45:53 pm
 ;D

just got my fitst big pole
 
Ionics 50footer. second hand. few years old.

it's huge, fat, proper heavy and the clamps are 10 foot high!


my (serious) question is,

How the hell do I use it ? as in get it up and move it around by yself !!!???


Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: rg1 on September 22, 2010, 07:47:23 pm
You wont have any problems if you stick to bungalows :)
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: dan hughes on September 22, 2010, 07:53:33 pm
it's too big and heavy !!!

I can't imagine how this could be a good buy !!
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: Dave Willis on September 22, 2010, 07:57:57 pm
Stand on a ladder to extend it  ;D
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: mci services on September 22, 2010, 08:00:55 pm
after using a borrowed 40ft pole that I had to extend on the deck then jam against the wall and walk it up to vertical I thought never again, night mare. but the guy I borrowed it of still uses it most weeks
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: Wc Solutions on September 22, 2010, 08:03:45 pm
i found its alot easier with two of you - one keeps his foot against the bottom of the pole and the other goes from the brush end and lifts it up and walks down the pole unitl you meet the guy at the bottom to grap it off you to rest it against the building.

on your own wedge it againt the wall and go up from there.

hope that makes sense  ::)
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on September 22, 2010, 08:05:15 pm
walk it up the with the brush facing out, so as to not get any debri on the brush head.
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: Jeff Brimble on September 22, 2010, 08:08:20 pm
Stand on a beer crate to reach the clamps.With the pole at a 45 degree angle. Thats why I went down the fishing pole route. Sold my 60ft ergo for half price.
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: Wc Solutions on September 22, 2010, 08:10:34 pm
Stand on a beer crate to reach the clamps.

or the van  ;D
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: Davie T on September 22, 2010, 08:16:28 pm
With the most convenient clamp open, extend the pole to a window ledge as high as you can reach, rest the brush on it and walk away to a point where the angle of the pole is low enough for you to reach the clamp and close the clamp.  Repeat the process until you reach the desired height.  You can also use horizontal drain pipes instead of ledges. It's easy once you get used to it !
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: dan hughes on September 22, 2010, 08:19:42 pm
With the most convenient clamp open, extend the pole to a window ledge as high as you can reach, rest the brush on it and walk away to a point where the angle of the pole is low enough for you to reach the clamp and close the clamp.  Repeat the process until you reach the desired height.  You can also use horizontal drain pipes instead of ledges. It's easy once you get used to it !


THAT'S the kind of answer I was after!!

thank you!!   ANY MORE TIPS !!??
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: dan hughes on September 22, 2010, 08:22:32 pm
IT'S GOT A BADGE ON IT

TT DIRECT

anyone know it !!??
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: craig@kestrel on September 22, 2010, 08:23:00 pm
i have a 70ft pole and its a old omipole, i get the pole up in the air and i use it all the time and i can pick it up and move with it.
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: jouk45 on September 22, 2010, 10:42:14 pm
there is a roller that can fit on the back of the brush, that rolls up the wall as you extend the pole, think jeff brimble has one
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: s.hughes on September 23, 2010, 10:04:52 am
after using a borrowed 40ft pole that I had to extend on the deck then jam against the wall and walk it up to vertical I thought never again, night mare. but the guy I borrowed it of still uses it most weeks
Same here. It is hard going. Extend the pole, push the bottom against a wall and walk up with it, but dont stop or you have to start all over again.
That was the days before my carbon pole.
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: clarkson on September 23, 2010, 12:27:22 pm

 Hi
 I have a 60 foot ergolite that iam looking to upgrade. i cant work with it fully extended on my own its a two man job really.

 it does help if you get off the ground yourself as has been said. our favourite trick is to satand on the customers skip to get a bit of height.

 If you can take someone with you we do this. fully extend the pole, brace the end against a wall, one get a good grip at the operators end, one puts it above his head at the brush end then walks towards you pushing the pole up whilst the one at the floor end pulls like mad. it will go up. Once up against the building its not too bad but you dont have great control. try and keep the base as far from the building as the site will allow this keeps the weight on windows not on your arms(watch old leaded or georgans it will go straigh through!!!)

unless you are very fit or strong you wont be able to do many hours with it at a time thats why two man is also better, me and my right hand man do about eight windows each at a time then swap gives you 10 minute break.

last few things watch the wind if it starts to go you wont stop it falling. last thing check all the clips are nice and tight before raising as it is a nightmare to get it up then have to get it down again to tighten a clip half a turn.

iam looking at some of these modular poles in carbon fibre. some are only 2 or 3 kilos and are rigid going to look hard at them before i buy though.

cheers

john
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: ascjim on September 23, 2010, 06:55:30 pm
Them grey ones are REALLY heavy and mine dosn't have a clamp where i can reach when its up.

I just extend what i need, foot it against a wall and walk it up, job done.

You may have to bring it down again coz you have over extended it lol

But you get an eye for pole heights. Its a skill ;)
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: Mike_G on September 23, 2010, 07:18:56 pm
You will get used to it soon enough just use it for a while and it will get easier and easier
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on September 23, 2010, 09:17:07 pm
;D

just got my fitst big pole
 
Ionics 50footer. second hand. few years old.

it's huge, fat, proper heavy and the clamps are 10 foot high!


my (serious) question is,

How the hell do I use it ? as in get it up and move it around by yself !!!???




Ionics are renowned for conning their customers with unusable poles! Goosed, big time. You need a Gardiner SL2, you can do 40ft with one hand! ;)
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: s.hughes on September 23, 2010, 09:29:32 pm
;D

just got my fitst big pole
 
Ionics 50footer. second hand. few years old.

it's huge, fat, proper heavy and the clamps are 10 foot high!


my (serious) question is,

How the hell do I use it ? as in get it up and move it around by yself !!!???




Ionics are renowned for conning their customers with unusable poles! Goosed, big time. You need a Gardiner SL2, you can do 40ft with one hand! ;)
Mines a 45ft Gardener slx wouldnt be without it
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: steve a on September 24, 2010, 08:01:35 am
SL2 is the way to go, expensive but well worth it.
I used to have one of the poles they weigh in the region of 18lbs and the sections are really long, as the other guy says it's a two man job just working with it.
What I found though was that if you extend the arm you are using to hold the base and keep that arm straight then step forwards and then backwards to work the pole up and down the glass, this is  alot easier on the arms as you are using your leg muscles to actually move the weight.

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: clarkson on September 24, 2010, 09:36:50 am

  Hi
  Anyone know the weight of the sl2 is it 56 feet the biggest one, that woul do me my highest job is 45 feet working height.

  any higher and i would be tempted to get a cherry picker in and backpack it.
 
  Also everyone says these are rigid but are we talking say 1 foot of flex each way or is it bending over, and has anyone tried the ally gooseneck on the top of it.

anyone who hasnt tried an ergolite it is an experience, when the bottom and brush are on the floor the middle can be 20 feet in the air. :D



  cheers

Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: CLEANGLASSUK on September 24, 2010, 04:32:56 pm
I used the old ionics 60ft carbon pole which was 12ft closed, i used this for about 7 years had no problems at all with it. it was very heavy but putting it up we used to extend it out to about 40ft then stick the but of the pole against the kerb or a wall then walk it up until it was upright then you could just walk round the building. These old poles were about 11.5 kgs not the best pole if you didnt have arms like popeye.The only good thing i would say about these poles is , that they would last forever and you could still used them at 60ft even in 30 mph winds, you would just stand at an angle and still pole ok.The new supalites are great but they are un-usable when windy.
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: dan hughes on September 25, 2010, 02:37:36 pm
thanks for all your replies, very helpfull, some of them !

the pole has half paid for itself already after this morning, had a full morning with it ended up taking two sections off the bottom - pleanty enough for what i had !

Wasn't as bad as I expected, once it's up it's ok!

my hybrid felt well bendy , but much lighter after using the carbon !!

slx max next, once i get enough high work to justify buying one !!

yipee !!
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: ascjim on September 25, 2010, 02:45:54 pm
I used the old ionics 60ft carbon pole which was 12ft closed, i used this for about 7 years had no problems at all with it. it was very heavy but putting it up we used to extend it out to about 40ft then stick the but of the pole against the kerb or a wall then walk it up until it was upright then you could just walk round the building. These old poles were about 11.5 kgs not the best pole if you didnt have arms like popeye.The only good thing i would say about these poles is , that they would last forever and you could still used them at 60ft even in 30 mph winds, you would just stand at an angle and still pole ok.The new supalites are great but they are un-usable when windy.

Totaly agree with that. They will last FOREVER
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: clarkson on September 26, 2010, 12:49:58 pm

 Hi
 I dont agree the clamps are all worn out on mine and it s constanly coming loose and spinning real pain.

 i think if i change to the sl2 we will do this work quicker and faster with less hastle the upgrade will pay for itself.

  cheers
 
  john
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on September 26, 2010, 03:23:14 pm

 Hi
 I dont agree the clamps are all worn out on mine and it s constanly coming loose and spinning real pain.

 i think if i change to the sl2 we will do this work quicker and faster with less hastle the upgrade will pay for itself.

  cheers
 
  john

I agree with you 100% here. The SL2's are unbelievably good at height. I had a 40ft carbon facelift & the SL2 embarrasses it, totally! ;) You can use an SL2 one handed at 40ft!
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on September 26, 2010, 03:32:09 pm

  Hi
  Anyone know the weight of the sl2 is it 56 feet the biggest one, that woul do me my highest job is 45 feet working height.

  any higher and i would be tempted to get a cherry picker in and backpack it.
 
  Also everyone says these are rigid but are we talking say 1 foot of flex each way or is it bending over, and has anyone tried the ally gooseneck on the top of it.

anyone who hasnt tried an ergolite it is an experience, when the bottom and brush are on the floor the middle can be 20 feet in the air. :D



  cheers



The 56ft SL2 is 2.(something) KG, 2.5 I think. Yes I use the G-type Gardiner alloy neck on mine no problem with a super-lite brush too.

You'll not believe how light & easy it is to work at 45ft with an SL2.

HOWEVER

These are modular poles (push fit sections, no clamps) & have external hose so the innitial set up time is just a tad longer than a telescopic. PLUS- they are much more delicate than telescopic poles BUT used as per the manufacturers instructions & it's all good. Used as intended they are super-strong in use but stand on a section & it's bust! ;)

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: 50 ft + HOW THE HELL !??
Post by: clarkson on September 26, 2010, 07:42:28 pm

 Hi
 thanks for that yes it sounds miles better. especially if we can work seperatley i woudnt dream of working with the ergolite singlehanded at 45 feet  i think that could become a health and safety issue.

 i dont mind if it takes longer to set up, in fact i personally doubt it will because i spend 5 minutes checking all the clamps are tight.
 then if are judgement was out on the height we spend another 5 minutes getting it down and adjusting it. Plus if you can work alone my hoppo can start the 30 foot high stuff whilst i finish the high bits.

cheers

john