Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on March 29, 2011, 08:45:00 pm

Title: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: dazmond on March 29, 2011, 08:45:00 pm
pole came today while i was out at work.a good neighbour signed for it.no spare end base cap that i ordered though.ill have to ring them up tomorrow.

its feels like a step up from the clx!very nice and rigid even at full stretch! ;D ;D ;D

ive got a lot of windows over extensions and conservatories this week so im sure this pole will make them a bit easier!

just finished putting a pole tap on it as aqua-daptor delivery is delayed due to production issues apparently.

im hoping this pole will earn me at least 50 grand before needing a new one!!! ;) ;D ;D ;D


cant wait to get to it tommorrow!ill even work in the rain with a new pole!!25ft of pure carbon fibre!!


good prompt delivery as i only ordered it on friday morning!


happy days!


dazmond
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: G Griffin on March 29, 2011, 08:50:51 pm
You should have waited for the Aerolite, Daz  :(.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: R W C™ on March 29, 2011, 08:59:30 pm
pole came today while i was out at work.a good neighbour signed for it.no spare end base cap that i ordered though.ill have to ring them up tomorrow.

its feels like a step up from the clx!very nice and rigid even at full stretch! ;D ;D ;D

ive got a lot of windows over extensions and conservatories this week so im sure this pole will make them a bit easier!

just finished putting a pole tap on it as aqua-daptor delivery is delayed due to production issues apparently.

im hoping this pole will earn me at least 50 grand before needing a new one!!! ;) ;D ;D ;D


cant wait to get to it tommorrow!ill even work in the rain with a new pole!!25ft of pure carbon fibre!!


good prompt delivery as i only ordered it on friday morning!


happy days!


dazmond

More like £120 grand  ;)
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: bad trippy on March 29, 2011, 09:03:58 pm
Congrats Daz. The slx is a fantastic pole mate (enjoy)
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: L.U.K.E on March 29, 2011, 10:22:04 pm
Dazmond,

What brush have you gone for then on your new SLX?

Luke :)
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: dazmond on March 29, 2011, 10:36:23 pm
luke i already had a DT supalite flocked(black one) on my clx so ive screwed that on.i also have a DT supalite mono that is good for first cleans esp if the frames are really minging!!

my 20ft fibre glass is a conny roof/fascia pole

 my clx 22ft and 25ft hydra alloy poles are "emergency" back up poles now! ;) ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: bobplum on March 29, 2011, 10:42:35 pm
ive got a bentley bush ;D
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Klean07 on March 29, 2011, 11:54:03 pm
Had my SLX 36 for 8 months now. Very pleased with it. After starting off in 2007 with a Brodex 24 which weighed a ton. This slx is a breeze.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Carl2009 on March 30, 2011, 08:33:09 am
What's the Aerolite?

I have had 2 SLX's, the second bought last August. It is used every day and has been excellent. The clamps are much improved (or rather the glue is). My only problem is that the pole(s) have worn so that when it is collapsed for ground floor work the clamps won't grip sufficiently to stop sections 1 (brush) and 2 spinning. The solution is to tighten the clamp, but then when I try to extend these sections the clamps are too tight to allow me to do so, meaning I have to slacken them off.
Anyone else have this problem? Any solutions? I could hacksaw off the clamps and buy new ones and refix, losing say 6" in reach, but i'd rather not.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on March 30, 2011, 08:35:45 am
nice one mate. im gonna get one next time i buy a pole daz
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: traps7 on March 30, 2011, 11:14:12 am
Dazmond, drop a large snug fitting penny washer down inside the end cap before you put it on.

The end cap will last a very long time.

I've still got the same end cap I posted about here: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=84713.msg760700#msg760700
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: [GQC] Tim on March 30, 2011, 11:53:20 am
Dazmond, drop a large snug fitting penny washer down inside the end cap before you put it on.

The end cap will last a very long time.

I've still got the same end cap I posted about here: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=84713.msg760700#msg760700

You learn something new everyday. Thanks for that tip!
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on March 30, 2011, 12:03:17 pm
surely this mod will just wear the pole hose away quicker? and if this is the case im sure its cheaper to replace cap ends than pole hoses?

i personally broke my pole cap end and never bothered replacing it, cant see the point?!?!

regards, GB
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Gardiner Admin on March 30, 2011, 12:32:26 pm
surely this mod will just wear the pole hose away quicker? and if this is the case im sure its cheaper to replace cap ends than pole hoses?

i personally broke my pole cap end and never bothered replacing it, cant see the point?!?!

regards, GB

We always advise using these poles with end cap in place for the following reasons:

1. It protects the ends of the carbon tube. If not protected they can be easily splintered by bashing on the ground during use, this can lead to the sections splitting from the base up. This can result in the pole being more flexible when sections are fully extended or even in extreme cases sections snapping when fully extended. Such damage would not be covered under warranty.

2. It also helps prevent extra muck and grit entering the pole through the base which would lead to faster wear on the carbon sections.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: traps7 on March 30, 2011, 01:02:47 pm
surely this mod will just wear the pole hose away quicker? and if this is the case im sure its cheaper to replace cap ends than pole hoses?

i personally broke my pole cap end and never bothered replacing it, cant see the point?!?!

regards, GB


I've had that cap since that posted link in November 2009. Still looks good. I can post a picture if you want. I would have got through many more end caps without the washer.

And it doesn't wear the hose any quicker, I'm still on that same hose.

I'll always have an end cap for the reasons Gardiners have just posted.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: bumper on March 30, 2011, 01:58:41 pm
I use this jumbo ball from gardiners, just drill a hole so it pulls on end of your pole,use one of those wood drills which bore a large hole
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Rayleigh Window Cleaning Services on March 30, 2011, 02:21:19 pm
Bumper, Why are your lounge curtains on the floor?  ;D

Steve
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: bumper on March 30, 2011, 02:24:26 pm
Bumper, Why are your lounge curtains on the floor?  ;D

Steve

Ohh they fell of the washing line when i was messing about with my pole
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: traps7 on March 30, 2011, 03:09:13 pm
I use this jumbo ball from gardiners, just drill a hole so it pulls on end of your pole,use one of those wood drills which bore a large hole

Bumper, why not use an end cap? That's what they're for. ???

And Carl, I'm getting the same problem with my number 2 section on my 25' SLX. I think I'll be ordering a new section before long.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: bumper on March 30, 2011, 03:26:16 pm
were you get end cap from i looked on gardiners could not find any
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on March 30, 2011, 04:14:01 pm
I stand corrected. thankyou for the knowledge. its all been taken on board!  ;)

thanks again

GBWC
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: bumper on March 30, 2011, 04:39:39 pm
Where do you get end caps from I looked on Gardiner's - could not find any?

http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Protecta_Caps_for_the_SL-X_range.html (http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/Protecta_Caps_for_the_SL-X_range.html)
thank you  ordered  2
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: dazmond on March 30, 2011, 06:17:47 pm
first day with it today!worked most of the day in the rain!! ;D ;D ;D

great pole!much better than the clx at full stretch!glad i got the 25ft as its good to have that extra length sometimes.nice and light and pretty compact fully closed although if i add my aqua-daptor(when it comes!!)it ll be quite long.

cant quite believe the ease it reaches the awkward windows with hardly any flex!!i should of got a slx from the start!!oh well you live and learn!! ;) ;D ;D


regards


dazmond
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on March 30, 2011, 07:03:48 pm
first day with it today!worked most of the day in the rain!! ;D ;D ;D

great pole!much better than the clx at full stretch!glad i got the 25ft as its good to have that extra length  sometimes.nice and light and pretty compact fully closed although if i add my aqua-daptor(when it comes!!)it ll be quite long.

cant quite believe the ease it reaches the awkward windows with hardly any flex!!i should of got a slx from the start!!oh well you live and learn!! ;) ;D ;D


regards


dazmond

Told you so, on both accounts! ;D
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Richard iSparkle on March 30, 2011, 07:21:02 pm
ive got a bentley bush ;D

give me a call bob.  ive a got a custi in hoole for you  ;D
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Tom White on March 30, 2011, 07:22:56 pm
That was a useful post for me, thanks, Daz.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: dazmond on March 31, 2011, 08:47:22 am
sounds like your going upmarket tosh!!good luck with getting a new van! ill be after something similar next year i think.

get a  slx 25ft mate if you have nt already got one.

they might be expensive compared to some others but adding up my 20ft glass fibre/25ft hydra/22ft clx and my 30ft unger teleplus.i could of bought 2 slx s for the money ive spent!!

still at least ive got a few back up "emergency" poles.


time i got out there for todays onslaught! ;) ;D ;D


best wishes


dazmond
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: [GQC] Tim on March 31, 2011, 05:33:23 pm
first day with it today!worked most of the day in the rain!! ;D ;D ;D

great pole!much better than the clx at full stretch!glad i got the 25ft as its good to have that extra length sometimes.nice and light and pretty compact fully closed although if i add my aqua-daptor(when it comes!!)it ll be quite long.

cant quite believe the ease it reaches the awkward windows with hardly any flex!!i should of got a slx from the start!!oh well you live and learn!! ;) ;D ;D


regards


dazmond

And even though the CL-X is a great pole for the money, it simply can't touch an SL-X. I always say buy cheap buy twice. Sometimes you just have to pay that extra bit for quality tools. Your CL-X will do pretty well with cleaning conservatory roofs and the like though where a pole will get knocked about more. I'm using an X-tel for that specific purpose.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Richard Neal on March 31, 2011, 09:24:46 pm
What's the Aerolite?

I have had 2 SLX's, the second bought last August. It is used every day and has been excellent. The clamps are much improved (or rather the glue is). My only problem is that the pole(s) have worn so that when it is collapsed for ground floor work the clamps won't grip sufficiently to stop sections 1 (brush) and 2 spinning. The solution is to tighten the clamp, but then when I try to extend these sections the clamps are too tight to allow me to do so, meaning I have to slacken them off.
Anyone else have this problem? Any solutions? I could hacksaw off the clamps and buy new ones and refix, losing say 6" in reach, but i'd rather not.

I have the same with my clx, i have put some insulation tape around the end so it now has to clamp slightly further down the pole, not really a solution but its working foe me at the moment.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Tom White on April 01, 2011, 09:04:47 am
sounds like your going upmarket tosh!!

I'm just bored with the way I'm working, though it works, 'cos I work with Wor Lass.  Some jobs we'll smash with a van mounted system, and other jobs won't be much faster because of parking issues.

I think the real reason why I'm going van mounted is that because I use the 'family car' (an estate) and have to give people lifts who often don't drive (you know what I mean), and Wor Little Un is at that age where I'm 'Dad's Taxis', I'm sick to death of having to unload and load up.  I used to like finishing work and just loading up for the next day, straight away, but often because I'm using the car in the evenings, I can't do that; so I load up in the morning - and it's getting to be too much of a chore.

Me on Backpack and Wor Lass on squeegy does work for us; we're a good team; we know where to start a job and how to work together to do it quickly.

I'm just sick of loading and unloading the car, for non-work related activities, if I'm to be honest.  So having a dedicated work vehicle will be lovely.  I can finish work, sort it out for the next day, and then come morning head off.

I'm not working today because I can't face loading it up, and with the van coming tomorrow (or Monday if I'm unlucky), I may as well sit it out.

And I'm only getting an SL-X 'cos Wor Lass hasn't got the strength to use a heavier pole!  ;D

Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: chopsie on April 01, 2011, 09:19:20 am
tosh, how does it work with your misses squeegeing downs and you wfp tops? she will be hanging around waiting for the drips to stop wont she? or have you got compact work and you start 10 mins or so before her to get a head start?
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: wpclean on April 01, 2011, 10:11:37 am
what is the average life span of an slx if looked after well does anyone know ?
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: steven ainger on April 01, 2011, 10:19:24 am
ive a 18ft slx, which gets used for 99 % of my work and is still going strong after 21 months,
 good value i say, as i used to get through a couple of 17 ft xtels per year
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Tom White on April 01, 2011, 11:00:33 am
tosh, how does it work with your misses squeegeing downs and you wfp tops? she will be hanging around waiting for the drips to stop wont she? or have you got compact work and you start 10 mins or so before her to get a head start?

Yes, mate, my work is either large or compact.  We know it intimately too; she can normally start at the same time I do, and she follows me around.  I can be three-or-four houses ahead of her.  I can finish doing the last houses all WFP so that we finish together.

I've a few large(ish) commercial jobs where she starts on the inside and I do the outside then go in and help her finish.

Quite a few jobs I do all pole, and I do those on her days off.

Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: wpclean on April 01, 2011, 11:11:19 am
Tosh me and my wife work similar to you and wondered how you plan to work together when you get the van and system going ?
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Tom White on April 01, 2011, 11:25:29 am
Tosh me and my wife work similar to you and wondered how you plan to work together when you get the van and system going ?

We're probably going to have a big kerfuffle to start with, so I'll probably work a few days by myself to learn how the system works (it'll save punch ups; I can't afford to lose any more teeth), then we'll see how it goes.

I've got a backpack (actually I've got two), so maybe on some properties we'll both work from the van, and other properties she'll work from the van and I'll use the backpack? 

She tends not to like working past 2.00 pm and only four days per week, otherwise her nose bleeds and she starts threatening me with more housework, which makes my nose bleed, so a lot of time I will be by myself.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: wpclean on April 01, 2011, 11:46:34 am
I really enjoy working with my wife, we work really well together and the customers love the feminine touch and she is amazing on the admin side of the business.
I couldnt be a happier window cleaner  ;D

 
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: chopsie on April 01, 2011, 12:14:37 pm
thanks for the rely tosh. I have a mate who may or may not be doing odd days with me later this year and I think working this way would be pretty good plus keep customers happy by tradding downstairs, I would probably trad and him wfp to start. Trouble is little of my work is compact.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Tom White on April 01, 2011, 12:21:26 pm
Chopsie, as an experiment, try WFP your own house, tops, and squeegy the ground floor while it's still heavily dripping and see what it turns out like.

You'll see - once it dries - it doesn't really affect the finish.
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: chopsie on April 01, 2011, 12:24:31 pm
I will try that tosh, they will be about due for a clean in the next 6 months  :P ;D
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on April 01, 2011, 05:11:11 pm
what is the average life span of an slx if looked after well does anyone know ?

Mine's 3 years old & still used daily! ;)
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: Carl2009 on April 01, 2011, 05:14:16 pm
So Win, how do you stop the pole wearing at the bit where the clamps grip when collapsed?
Title: Re: finally got a SLX!!!
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on April 01, 2011, 05:21:33 pm
So Win, how do you stop the pole wearing at the bit where the clamps grip when collapsed?

Wipe the pole hose if the ground is wet everytime you put it back into the van. The newer Gardiner pole hose (although quite stiff when cold) is quite a small OD & seems to pick up much less dirt.