Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Peter Fogwill on July 21, 2013, 02:06:10 pm
-
Through brush or overhead.
How handy would you say it would be to change from a through brush spray to an overhead spray by simply turning your pole? No one will be doing this just now because there isn't a tool to do it, but if there was would you be interested?
Imagine never having to lift the brush off the glass to rinse separately. Imagine cleaning the windows with the brush on the glass then instead of lifting the brush off the glass you turn the bottom of the pole and you change from through the brush to above the brush, then another turn of the pole and the water is off ready to move to the next window? Once at the next window a turn of the pole and the water is through brush again, and another turn and its over brush.
-
Sounds excellent Peter
How much development and lead times do you estimate before getting a prototype working
Darran
-
Got one working already Darran. Just need to find out what the interest would be. Not an advantage for anyone who works the way I recommend, but would think it would be a big advantage for people who lift off the glass to rinse. Gave up trying to change the way people work, might as well try and make it easier for them.
-
I like the idea a lot Peter. The way we run/ clean is very much based on your technique but I think having an over brush jet/ jets could come in handy at times
Darran
-
Ok Darran. What it would consist of is two AquaTaps joined together. Supposing you had a separate brush that you would use when needed with through jets and overhead jets. If you used an AquaTap for everyday day use and had a spare on your brush with two sets of jets, it would just be a case of changing brushes and screwing one AquaTap into the other and away you go. You would still be able to turn the water on and off, and also control where the water was fed to on the brush.
-
im still waiting for the last device you making
-
Hi Peter.
Didn't Jeff Brimble mount 4 jets on top of his brush to get a more even rinse with his minimal water useage?
I have come to the conclusion that I require a slower water flow when cleaning (this is when I waste water) and a faster one when rinsing.
Something like this could be an interesting development as the inner jets could be throttled and full flow allowed on the top mounted jets. However, I also think that top mounted jets will open another 'can of worms' with streaking from upper window frame water droplets until the operator developes a modified cleaning technique.
Jeff Brimble doesn't clean the top frame - glass only; so his very slow water flow won't splash water above the frame and bring the dirt down. You believe in the faster the flow the better.
-
Thanks for the input Spruce.
Lots of options will be available, its hard to imagine until people starts to experiment.
Yes Jeff has messed around with overhead jets, and I have as well. I think the important part I am trying to get across is the overhead jets will be much more benifitial without detriment if you can fully control when the water comes out of them, with the advantage of having through the brush jets and again with control.
Overhead only would only need one Aquatap, as you can reduce or increase the flow from it very easily. The AquaTap on its own could make overhead jets much more practical and user friendly than they are just now.
With the Aquatap when your rinsing you could have it turned on half flow while working along the top of the glass, increasing the flow to full as you work your way down.
-
I find the ancient technique of pinching the pole hose to reduce water flow while scrubbing, and then un-pinching the hose to allow maximum water flow for rinsing seems to work ok.
-
I find the ancient technique of pinching the pole hose to reduce water flow while scrubbing, and then un-pinching the hose to allow maximum water flow for rinsing seems to work ok.
Andy, I used to find the ancient technique of cleaning windows with a squeegee seemed to work OK, then I discovered a water fed pole. ;)
-
I suppose another use would be for those people that have fan jets and pencil jets fitted to the same brush. :-\
Would your invention allow the user to switch between using fan jets or pencil jets easily without the need to disconnect jet hoses?
-
Yes Andy it would. With my initial post in mind, I would think fan jets through the brush and pencil above would be the best scenario.
-
Yes Andy it would. With my initial post in mind, I would think fan jets through the brush and pencil above would be the best scenario.
Definitely.
In my experience you have to be precise when using fan jets otherwise the spray can go anywhere.
I would only ever use fan jets with brush on the glass as I find this helps to contain the water spray.
If the fan jets were fitted above the brush it could cause problems I reckon, pencil jets above brush would be a much better choice.
-
And pencil jets are better for rinsing when the brush is off the glass. The weight of the more water volume takes more water - and whatever's in it - down and off the glass.
-
Just invent a jet that sprays as a fan on full setting then reduces to a pencil on half throttle. Flick the tap with your thumb on your hip or shut it down.
There's some clever ideas about but far too complicated for my liking.
-
Just invent a jet that sprays as a fan on full setting then reduces to a pencil on half throttle. Flick the tap with your thumb on your hip or shut it down.
There's some clever ideas about but far too complicated for my liking.
My fan jets more it less do that already but I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to reduce the flow unless it was to deal with birds dirt or something like that on the glass. With the tap you described wouldn't you like it to simpler? Wouldn't you like to keep both hands on the pole, and both eyes on the brush while you stop and start the water? To me that's simple, and any other method is complicated.
-
Surely an aquadapter could be modified for this?
I have no interest in it personally but for those that do it can't be too hard.
Ionic commercial heads have pencil and fan just attached as standard but only changeable at the head
-
Darren don't know if it could or couldn't, doesn't really concern me. I do know though that an AquaTap can though, and was wondering how much use it would be for people. Might have a look at the Ionics brush though, and see what the jets are like. Can't be very hard to fit overhead jets to a brush.
-
My honest opinion is pointless & not at all required. It's like fixing something that isn't broken. ;)
-
My honest opinion is pointless & not at all required. It's like fixing something that isn't broken. ;)
Like using a squeegee when we had a moptail chamois and scrim? or a water fed pole when we had a squeegee? There may not be anything broken just now but what about in a few years time when people start developing serious back problems?
I could see the point in negativity if it was not making life easier and safer. Good to hear negative as well as positive though, if that's how you really feel.
-
Tucker poles came up with that idea many years ago using a mixer bottle with detergent tablets
-
As per a previous post. The Ionic commercial brushes have the option for fan or pencil. when using the fan option. the spray of water is aimed just above the brush, across the whole width of the brush too. They work extremely well, with little risk of over spray.
They are great for most types of work where the window is directly above you. No good for over extensions, conservatories etc because they weigh a bit more than what we are now used to.
I asked Gardiners a while ago if they had plans to have a similar set up and the answer was negative.
If I were you Peter, I would look at developing a "clip on" device for the goose neck/neck with a john guest fitting that would allow the user to unclip from his pencil T join and clip onto the overbrush fan. Would only take a few seconds, no added weight worth mentioning and they can carry on with whatever brush, neck they prefer to use.
-
My honest opinion is pointless & not at all required. It's like fixing something that isn't broken. ;)
I agree. I rinse with the brush on for anything above ground floor work and it never causes any problems that I'm aware of.
-
Tom, wouldn't you think instead of changing manually there would be an advantage changing from the ground from through to overhead by a simple twist of the pole. That way a certain window could have the benifits of overhead and through? If I was to market the AquaTap in this way to benifit the people who rinse off the glass then a brush, or at least the fittings you described would go with it. But instead of lower the pole to change the pipe into the other fitting, surely a twist of the pole would be best?
Tosh I agree also, for people who rinse with the brush on the glass then there is nothing broken to fix. This whole post is solely for people who rinse with the brush off the glass.
-
I'd be interested in it for large glass conny roofs where you seem to leave bits behind
Darran
-
Tom, wouldn't you think instead of changing manually there would be an advantage changing from the ground from through to overhead by a simple twist of the pole. That way a certain window could have the benifits of overhead and through? If I was to market the AquaTap in this way to benifit the people who rinse off the glass then a brush, or at least the fittings you described would go with it. But instead of lower the pole to change the pipe into the other fitting, surely a twist of the pole would be best?
Tosh I agree also, for people who rinse with the brush on the glass then there is nothing broken to fix. This whole post is solely for people who rinse with the brush off the glass.
Trouble is I twist my pole on every job - I use a swivel you see, so it might not work too well for me.