Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jonboywalton75 on May 04, 2011, 07:56:43 pm
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I've been thinking of getting an aqua dapter and just wondered whether it would be good on my SLX 22.
i've loved using my SLX as it's so light and rigid compared to my CLX 27, which i was using as an everyday pole.
I heard Dazmond say it felt heavy on his SLX and just wondered if putting an extra 200 grams on the end of my pole was a good move.
The big benefit for me would be to untether (is that a word?) from my holster and tap and then get rid of the loop of pole hose and use the microbore as pole hose.
It's so frustrating at the mo when the pole hose gets twisted round the microbore, i feel it would speed me up once again, i'm already like lightning ;D
Any thoughts Guys?
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It does add weight and will make your slx feel heavier, but having an aqua dapter is more beneficial imho.
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I bought two of 'em and will be sending them back; I didn't like them. They took the lightness out of the SLX; it was noticeably different and nicer to work with, with the aqua dapter removed from the pole.
I find it quicker to work with an external pole hose and just 'nip' the pole hose when you want to turn your water on or off. It's like having a free and easy control anywhere you can grab a bit of hose.
It's also easier and quicker to extend or shorten your SLX with an external pole hose.
Unfortunately, the yellow pole hose that comes with the SLX is naff at being able to stop the flow of water when it's nipped, so you need to get some decent quality pole hose (the red stuff on e-bay will do) to work this way.
It also has the added benefit that you can remove your brush head very easily and work with just that, when space is tight.
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I've got one and I think they're brill. I used to have a inline tap which was an absolute nightmare, used to snag on everything. Go for it , you won't regret it.
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I've got one and I think they're brill. I used to have a inline tap which was an absolute nightmare, used to snag on everything. Go for it , you won't regret it.
Yeah it's the inline tap that's doin me head in.
Cheers for all thoughts so far. :)
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Just have a tap at the end of your hosereel ,that way it works with all poles :D
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Just have a tap at the end of your hosereel ,that way it works with all poles :D
I like to be able to stop the water easily, i'm 54 so bending down is not an option ;D
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jon move the tap to yr brush head
y piece end of pole hose
easy peasy m8 ;D ;D
and simple to do
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no, do as slash says
tap on end of pole hose, keeps it simple
I dont smash mine up by dragging it on ground, I walk with it to furthest point and then hang it from a lanyard around my neck with a carbina. Just as easy to reach and turn on and off use with any pole at a fraction of the cost.
we could all go on spending and splashing out cash on our systems but at the end of the day we just clean windows.
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We had one which they replaced once, because the MK 1 type wouldn’t fit on our SLX and then when they send the second one MK 2 it worked for 6 months or so, and a crack appeared on the side of it and they wouldn’t replace it any more, so in my opinion they are not worth the money.
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I have one on the end of my glyder pole and it is true it does make the pole feel heavier, however it is really an excellent way to turn the water on and off, I would really miss using one but it would be great if they invented a carbon fiber aqua dapter.
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Setting up a remote control to start and stop the pump would be better than an aqudapter i reckon.
We have to close so many upstair windows with our pole by pushing,tapping even slamming.
I don't think that would do any good to aquadapter.
Anyone using a good range remote control?
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I've been thinking of getting an aqua dapter and just wondered whether it would be good on my SLX 22.
i've loved using my SLX as it's so light and rigid compared to my CLX 27, which i was using as an everyday pole.
I heard Dazmond say it felt heavy on his SLX and just wondered if putting an extra 200 grams on the end of my pole was a good move.
The big benefit for me would be to untether (is that a word?) from my holster and tap and then get rid of the loop of pole hose and use the microbore as pole hose.
It's so frustrating at the mo when the pole hose gets twisted round the microbore, i feel it would speed me up once again, i'm already like lightning ;D
Any thoughts Guys?
jonboy, to answer your question: YES...........untether is a word. I don`t have a clue about the aqua adapter though ;D.
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Get one! It made my clx 22 a little more head heavy, but you soon get used to that, n it saves alot of time effort and water in the long run imo.
TLC
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im very happy with mine now ive got used to it.its great that i havent got a loop of hose at the bottom of my pole.their pole hose is fantastic and it doesnt twist inside the pole.all in all i think its a great bit of kit.
i personally cant see it lasting more than 12 months though.i also think they are way too expensive.with vat and delivery( it was £70+).they should be around £35.i think a lot more window cleaners would try them if they were cheaper.
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jon move the tap to yr brush head
y piece end of pole hose
easy peasy m8 ;D ;D
and simple to do
Don't u find it annoying not being able to stop the flow when yr pole is extended., Gav.
Ive only got a 350 ltr tank, so I don't like to waste water
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do what ever you want, its your life but dont come crying to me if it all goes pear shaped :D
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You can get tap holsters to fit on your belt,thats where mine is,you don't have to bend down to turn the water off!
As for a tap at the brush head :o :o :o :o :o ???...WTF.............!!!
I can see you turning the flow off at 2nd and 3rd story buildings!!!!!!!!!! ???
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the aquadapter is a good bit of kit but wait till the winter then your all be taking them off trust me
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Why will you remove it in the winter?
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Why will you remove it in the winter?
i don't know whether you have had water freezing on the brush head but i have so if you get water on to the aquadapter what going to happen is your pull the hose and it will break. with a tap you can cover that with your hands and stop it freezing just something i thought off when i sent mine back. Dave
ps i mite be wrong and i hope so for them ones that bought it.
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Dave, I used mine all winter with no problems.
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Dave, I used mine all winter with no problems.
ok mate i was wrong but you do know it could happen and unlike the taps witch are only £6 the aquadapter is a dam site more. dave
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I changed from a trigger on pole, going back to a trigger, great bit of kit, but many times with pole extended the water wont turn on or wont turn off, have to waste time bringing pole back down
with water wasting out, used more water with it on than with the trigger.
shame when it works its great, and cleaning 30-35 houses a day the trigger gives me painful
cramps my hand
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personally i think it looks to clunky, and does the trigger do the same thing though. will think its a bit easier to control a trigger. not seen one in action to pass judgement. u ok dave
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personally i think it looks to clunky, and does the trigger do the same thing though. will think its a bit easier to control a trigger. not seen one in action to pass judgement. u ok dave
Hi mate i am ok what about you. i use a tap on the end of the pole yes the loop dose give me agrow but i can live with that the only thing i felt with the aquadapter is the weight i bought a light pole slx the last thing i want to do is add weight too it. when the pole starts to ware with the aquadapter on the end it will cause more strain on the pole sections so for that reason I,m out.
dave
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Hi wellclean,
great bit of kit, but many times with pole extended the water wont turn on or wont turn off
That shouldn't happen, please contact us through the order messaging system, or send us an email so that we can help you sort it out.
Paul
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im very happy with mine now ive got used to it.its great that i havent got a loop of hose at the bottom of my pole.their pole hose is fantastic and it doesnt twist inside the pole.all in all i think its a great bit of kit.
i personally cant see it lasting more than 12 months though.i also think they are way too expensive.with vat and delivery( it was £70+).they should be around £35.i think a lot more window cleaners would try them if they were cheaper.
Couldnt agree more with your last words...I am not shy about spending on decent nescascary kit. but this is A..NOT NESCASCARY and B..TOO EXSPENSIVE! £30 tops is what i would pay for something like that.
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i have a mk2 a/d and it works fine, where as when i had the mk1 it kept sticking.
but through all the feedback i have read on the a/d, i think most people like it, but most agree it needs to be slightly cheaper and alot lighter,
so please mr aqua-dapter, get the design team on to this and make it lighter pleeeeease.
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jonboy,
that made me laugh .
you should try a bit of yoga to loosen you up a bit ;)
i"llgo with your sugestion tosh and gove it a miss .you kno waht your talking about ;)
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we ok here dave just got soaked on a gutter clean. chucked it down here. as i see it adding weight to the pole specially at the top end will put strain on the pole down the long run.
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Why bother with something you did not have before and if it is just to turn on and off water well the simpliest way is to use a tap at end of hose reel connector to your pole then you will be able to turn it on and off and regulate flow too.. ;D ;D
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i"llgo with your sugestion tosh and gove it a miss .you kno waht your talking about ;)
It's the easiest way and no messing around. It's quicker to work like this too because it's easier to extend and shorten the pole.
It may take a little bit of practise to get used too; I don't know; I've done it for that many years it's second nature to me. Easier and simpler than a tap at the end of your pole hose too - no bending down!
But I like to rest the bottom section of the pole on the ground and shorten the pole (you can use both hands, so it's quicker) and physically takes less effort to do (and I like less effort).
And if you want to stick something that makes life a lot easier at the top of your pole, buy one of these flip fasts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_axwGwCDCg
They are the bees nees; the cat's whiskers; the panda's pyjamas; a good bit of kit.
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Hi Steven,
i have a mk2 a/d and it works fine, where as when i had the mk1 it kept sticking.
but through all the feedback i have read on the a/d, i think most people like it, but most agree it needs to be slightly cheaper and alot lighter,
so please mr aqua-dapter, get the design team on to this and make it lighter pleeeeease.
The weight of the Aqua-dapter has always been a consideration for us. It's only been recently that we've noticed it being mentioned as a negative point, as most users have said they hardly notice it, and loads of our customers use the very light CL-X and SL-X poles. When using a heavier pole, then I doubt it would be noticed.
Please bear in mind that it's only just over 200g in total. I've just done a couple of comparisons, 200g is about the weight of a small weekly newspaper (Chronicle) or my Finepix compact camera (which is really small).
This small weight only really becomes an issue when you're working extended and at an angle. When vertical or on the glass, the weight is hardly noticeable.
However, I'm not minimizing this, we are always looking at options to make the product lighter, but we also have to balance strength and durability against any reduction in weight.
The Aqua-dapter was designed, and is still being developed, by a Window Cleaner not "by committee", to make his working day easier and more profitable.
Re the price; of course, if we could reduce it, we would sell more. However, we didn't want to compromise on the quality of the product, or the customer service, which is why we decided to use premium quality materials and a 12 month guarantee.
The bundle also includes a Screw Thread Adapter, Push-fit connector and 10m of our hose, which also gets a lot of positive comments.
In addition to the costs of manufacture and development, there are also many other overheads to consider for a small UK based manufacturing business, particularly as we want to be able to give each individual customer excellent customer service. Rather than "piling high and selling cheap", perhaps having to use materials we weren't comfortable with and only being able to offer a short guarantee and basic after-sales service, we wanted to be able to make sure that everyone who buys an Aqua-dapter is looked after.
People work in different ways, so I respect Tosh's preference to have the hose on the outside (do you like the hose we supply Tosh?), but it's still the case that the majority of negative comments we read are from people who've never used or seen an Aqua-dapter. Of course, we can't hope to convince everyone, but I'll keep trying ;)
Why bother with something you didn't have before? Well, any new product takes some getting used to, but if it can save you water (even between windows), or save you bending down and searching for an inline tap, then you can be more profitable either by reducing costs, or by fitting in more jobs in the working day with the extra water available. One customer tells us he is saving 150 - 200 litres a day, and has now bought an Aqua-dapter for each of his 5 poles.
We were winners of the Window Cleaning Category and Overall Winners of the Innovation Awards at the Cleaning Show, so hopefully we're doing something right! :)
If anyone has any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Paul
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Thanks for your informative reply,
I'm not knocking the a/d, as I use it everyday on my 18ft sly.
You say the weight is minimal at about 200 g but it's the difference between using a gardiners sl brush and a vikan sill brush.
As I said previously I do like the product but would like it half the weight.
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i have a brand new 1 still in the box mk2 but carnt fit it to my carbon goose neck
so a/d do you have an attatchment for this
thanks
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they have an adapter on their website for this?
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Hi, yes we have this on the site.
Is everyone else getting notified of replies, or is this feature broken? Did the new button and 'mark as read' features ever get fixed? I noticed today that 'Insert Quote' didn't work either :-(
Paul
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yes seen these but it says still in production also i carnt see how the a/d will clamp to pole as the top of pole has a quick release clamp and the a/d wont fit into this
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as most users have said they hardly notice it,
I definitely noticed the difference in weight, and I'm about 13-and-a-half stone, so not exactly underweight myself. Wor Lass noticed the difference too.
And Dazmond noticed the difference in weight also.
Maybe it's more pronounced when you use a SLX, I don't know, but when I took it off the pole, and started working without the aqua dapter, it was a bit like taking off a tight pair of shoes; the pole just felt so much better to use.
200 grams sounds very little, and if you held it in your hand it would feel light. But at the end of an 18 foot pole it does make a noticeable difference.
Maybe I'm getting old, and for younger/fitter lads the weight poses no problems?
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Fair enough, I did say "hardly" ;) and as I said a few people have mentioned it recently, but those few who had mentioned the weight previously said they felt the benefits outweighed the small increase.
Yes, any weight is exaggerated when on the end of a length, but I was just saying this isn't a really heavy item, and shouldn't really be a problem except when working at an angle.
I also said "I'm not minimizing this" - any feedback we get it welcome and we'll definitely be looking at ways to reduce the weight without compromising on the quality.
I'll go through some of the reviews on the blog and tag those that mention the weight later http://aquadapter.wordpress.com/
We don't ask our customers their age or fitness ;) but a recent comment here on CIU was:
i've got a aqua adapter on my slx18 its brilliant i have a pole tap on my slx30 which i will be replacing very soon with a aqua adapter
Paul
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Hi David,
yes seen these but it says still in production also i carnt see how the a/d will clamp to pole as the top of pole has a quick release clamp and the a/d wont fit into this
The page hadn't been updated properly (sorry), I've fixed that now, these are in stock ready for immediate despatch.
To fit to your quick release pole you would need:
- an Aluminium Pole End Screw Type1 from Gardiners http://bit.ly/amjFod
- one of our 'Metal Thread' Screw Thread Adapters (which you may already have in the box)
- a Carbon Gooseneck Adapter
Hope this helps,
Paul
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Too heavy ;D ;D ;D Whit a bunch o fannies. I don't use a fancy carbon pole, just a silly wee Extel or Harris. Man how heavy are they....not. And at all angles. The weight of the Aqua-Dapter just never enters my mind, honestly. If they make it any lighter it will bloody float off for gawd sake. Whit a couple of poofs.
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Too heavy ;D ;D ;D Whit a bunch o fannies. I don't use a fancy carbon pole, just a silly wee Extel or Harris. Man how heavy are they....not. And at all angles. The weight of the Aqua-Dapter just never enters my mind, honestly. If they make it any lighter it will bloody float off for gawd sake. Whit a couple of poofs.
Once you go "light" there's no going back! Somebody once said that to me & I have found it absolutely true! I don't use A/D as I have no need for one & I personally wouldn't add the weight BUT I ain't gonna knock them as they seem a good product for people who do use them & they also seem to offer superb customer service also.
Weight is absolutely the issue when it comes to WFP IMO. There was a time when I would have made exactly the same comment as you Ronnie but when you discover just how much easier & faster the ultimate equipment is to use then you don't do anything to compromise that! ;)
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Of course I agree. But I never have any problem with weight unless I am on one of my nasty jobs, very few and far between though. I also have bother with wind :-[ When it blows a gale, and it does loads here, a good slightly heavier pole always goes down better with me. Believe it or not, on really windy days I have been known to throw on a heavy brush just to compensate for the top end flyaway action.
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Of course I agree. But I never have any problem with weight unless I am on one of my nasty jobs, very few and far between though. I also have bother with wind :-[ When it blows a gale, and it does loads here, a good slightly heavier pole always goes down better with me. Believe it or not, on really windy days I have been known to through on a heavy brush just to compensate for the top end flyaway action.
I have to agree with the "wind" issue, very valid point. ;)
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Hi, it,s me back again, i,ve been lurking just reading all your posts, all very interesting.
Anyway i,ve bought an a/d from cleaning spot and will let you know what i think.
The lack of bending down should be good, i always say that i need to maximize my energy potential ;D
I don,t fancy the tap at brush head idea (sorry Gav) or the tap at the end of the microbore. I,ve never liked the idea of pinching my hose. remote controls seem fiddly, external pole hose seems mad (apologies to Tosh).
The thing i think may bother me is the weight, we,ll see about that. I have just started using an slx 22 as my everyday pole and i love the lack of weight.
Never having a loop at the base of the pole will be great.
Cheers for all the tips, it,s good to get balanced opinions, even though there are some on this forum that are a bit off the wall (you know who you are).
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I look forward to reading your feedback, Jonboy!
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If people are bothered about the extra weight, using an extreme brush with the AD makes a big difference. It makes the pole feel like it would without the AD but with a standard SL brush