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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on August 30, 2020, 03:47:29 pm

Title: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: dazmond on August 30, 2020, 03:47:29 pm
anyone else had them?.....i got a fine shard about  half  inch long inbedded in my thumb on friday.....its still in there...i cant get it out......ive replaced the offending section too(a split lengthways down the section)......i must have had 5 or 6 of them in the last few years.....one of the down sides of carbon poles! :(
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: SB Cleaning on August 30, 2020, 03:58:43 pm
Yes they are hard to get out too :(
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Shrek on August 30, 2020, 04:27:06 pm
No , I wear 2 pairs of gloves all the time
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: zesty on August 30, 2020, 04:50:13 pm
Part of the job mate!
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Smudger on August 30, 2020, 05:38:45 pm
My understanding is that CF will not work its way out of the body like a metal or wood splinter - it can then cause abnormal growths around the injury site as the body attacks the invader - try your best to remove it

Darran
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Pete Thompson on August 30, 2020, 05:39:14 pm
You need to re-lacquer your pole sections.

As soon as the lacquer wears off you get the dreaded black hand syndrome. If you don’t re-lacquer them right away you get carbon splinters.

Re-lacquering takes about 30 minutes, and once it’s done it’s like a new pole. I do my poles approx every 6 weeks.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Don Kee on August 30, 2020, 07:19:32 pm
Hot water should sort it out.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: windowswashed on August 30, 2020, 07:47:39 pm
I had one go under my thumb nail, didn't realise it was there but my thumb went infectious.
Doctor said she had to pull my nail off or I could do it, so I stuck a hot skewer in my nail and lifted it off, it was the only way to remove it.
Took a year to grow back and was very sensitive all that time. Don't recommend leaving a carbon splinter inside at all, nothing like a metal or wooden splinter.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Shrek on August 30, 2020, 08:01:36 pm
I had one go under my thumb nail, didn't realise it was there but my thumb went infectious.
Doctor said she had to pull my nail off or I could do it, so I stuck a hot skewer in my nail and lifted it off, it was the only way to remove it.
Took a year to grow back and was very sensitive all that time. Don't recommend leaving a carbon splinter inside at all, nothing like a metal or wooden splinter.

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: dazmond on August 30, 2020, 08:46:17 pm
You need to re-lacquer your pole sections.

As soon as the lacquer wears off you get the dreaded black hand syndrome. If you don’t re-lacquer them right away you get carbon splinters.

Re-lacquering takes about 30 minutes, and once it’s done it’s like a new pole. I do my poles approx every 6 weeks.

It's nothing to do with lacquering.....its section 2 that had a small split in it....anyway I've replaced the section now...I couldn't be bothered lacquering a pole every 6 weeks......
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Jonny 87 on August 30, 2020, 09:20:45 pm
I’ve never understood guys not wearing gloves.

Even in summer I wear gloves. Nothing worse than eating your lunch and remembering what’s been on your hands.  :D

Just wear gloves and job done. Warrior gloves are good. They are breathable and light weight. Just a Pvc palm.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Splash & dash on August 30, 2020, 09:41:35 pm
Yes I had to have a piece removed in hospital under local anersetick   the doctor said it’s like Velcro with lots of little barbs on each strand , I kept getting it swell up and surrounded the piece with a clear liquid it took over a year to get the operation done , it’s evil stuff if you get it in your flesh .
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Splash & dash on August 30, 2020, 09:42:52 pm
I’ve never understood guys not wearing gloves.

Even in summer I wear gloves. Nothing worse than eating your lunch and remembering what’s been on your hands.  :D

Just wear gloves and job done. Warrior gloves are good. They are breathable and light weight. Just a Pvc palm.


Shards of carbon fibre will go straight through any glove and still penetrate the skin if long enough
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Dave Willis on August 30, 2020, 10:31:56 pm
Get Mummy to pull it out Dazmond
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: brianbarber on August 30, 2020, 11:45:06 pm
Had one in my finger a few times, usually a shard off a dodgy worn section.
Bout 10 mm the last one.
I use a sterilised very thin  razor blade  and gradually scrape skin away until it’s exposed, then grab with tweezers once there’s a tiny bit poking out.
 Horrible barstewards

That is all.

Mr B
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Rob.Hall on August 31, 2020, 08:16:00 am
One thing I have noticed when the poles start to ware.
As you extend them you get fine particles being released.
Only seen when the light is right.
Are we all going to get lung conditionds like when asbestos was first recognised as a problem?
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: zesty on August 31, 2020, 08:35:20 am
One thing I have noticed when the poles start to ware.
As you extend them you get fine particles being released.
Only seen when the light is right.
Are we all going to get lung conditionds like when asbestos was first recognised as a problem?

I don’t think so, it’s unlikely enough carbon is being flung into the air from repeated use...

To be fair, this could be negated if we all kept our poles lacquered 👍🏼
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: dazmond on August 31, 2020, 09:02:25 am
I’ve never understood guys not wearing gloves.

Even in summer I wear gloves. Nothing worse than eating your lunch and remembering what’s been on your hands.  :D

Just wear gloves and job done. Warrior gloves are good. They are breathable and light weight. Just a Pvc palm.

I did have gloves on mate....only nitrile disposable ones though.....I just cant wear thick gloves in the summertime....
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: SB Cleaning on August 31, 2020, 10:44:38 am
 
Get Mummy to pull it out Dazmond
;D
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: G Griffin on August 31, 2020, 12:31:11 pm
If all Daz's band got them, would it make them a splinter group?
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Stoots on August 31, 2020, 12:55:23 pm
Yes, they hurt dont they  :D they have serated edges so its nice and painfull pulling them out.

Just get a pair of pliers and pull it out quick and have a few swear words ready.


Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: AuRavelling79 on August 31, 2020, 02:45:13 pm
You need to re-lacquer your pole sections.

As soon as the lacquer wears off you get the dreaded black hand syndrome. If you don’t re-lacquer them right away you get carbon splinters.

Re-lacquering takes about 30 minutes, and once it’s done it’s like a new pole. I do my poles approx every 6 weeks.

What lacquer do you use and how do you apply it?
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Pete Thompson on August 31, 2020, 06:37:40 pm

What lacquer do you use and how do you apply it?
I’ve tried a few different types with varying results, but my favourite is Simoniz Clear Acrylic Lacquer. You can buy it in Halfords etc or amazon.

It’s a spray can, so you just spray over each section (after cleaning it off with a cloth) and it dries in about 30 minutes. I usually put 2 coats on.  Best to do it outside though because it does have a powerful smell.

Holding the spray nozzle down does hurt your hand after a while, so I’d also highly recommend getting a spray gun that attaches to the can (also available in Halfords, amazon etc)

Once you’ve applied it and the sections are dry, just re-assemble your pole and you’ll find it’s almost as good as brand new. I was so pleased with myself having discovered this.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 01, 2020, 07:57:41 am

What lacquer do you use and how do you apply it?
I’ve tried a few different types with varying results, but my favourite is Simoniz Clear Acrylic Lacquer. You can buy it in Halfords etc or amazon.

It’s a spray can, so you just spray over each section (after cleaning it off with a cloth) and it dries in about 30 minutes. I usually put 2 coats on.  Best to do it outside though because it does have a powerful smell.

Holding the spray nozzle down does hurt your hand after a while, so I’d also highly recommend getting a spray gun that attaches to the can (also available in Halfords, amazon etc)

Once you’ve applied it and the sections are dry, just re-assemble your pole and you’ll find it’s almost as good as brand new. I was so pleased with myself having discovered this.

Excellent tip. Have you found by how much it extends the life of the pole?
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Richard Groves on September 01, 2020, 09:19:54 am
I lacquer my slx approx every 6 months. My last one lasted 7 years before the first section snapped (  now slightly shorter and kept as a spare ). It's worth doing if you can be bothered and  like getting  longevity from  them.

I've even repaired a splintered section with car body filler and black spray paint. It's held up well for over a year.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Pete Thompson on September 02, 2020, 12:49:42 am
Excellent tip. Have you found by how much it extends the life of the pole?
It’s a little difficult to say, but I used to get 1 year from a pole then replace it. I discovered lacquering about 18 months ago (on a 3 month old pole) and my pole is still good. I’ll probably get at least another year from it.

I’m not one to hold onto worn stuff, I’m keen to replace things as soon as they’re past their best. I certainly didn’t mind buying a new pole every year, to me that was just par for the course. I only started this lacquering because every pole I tried gave black hands after about 5 months, and I really hated it. It was a pleasant surprise that it actually stopped the sections from wearing down too.

I would say that regular lacquering extends the life of the carbon parts pretty much indefinitely. When the sections wear, it’s the lacquer that comes off. By the time you’re getting black hand syndrome, the actual carbon is being worn away, so as long as you are conscientious about applying the lacquer regularly (ie before the black hand stage) the section probably won’t wear out.

Of course, after a while other hardware on the pole wears out, such as the clamps etc.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Dave Willis on September 02, 2020, 12:34:18 pm
Except ............ poles wear on the inside too.
Title: Re: carbon fibre splinters.....
Post by: Stoots on September 02, 2020, 05:11:50 pm
Except ............ poles wear on the inside too.

If he keeps adding lacquer to the outside and wearing the carbon from the inside eventually the entire pole will be made of just lacquer.  :D