Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jay moley on September 06, 2024, 03:48:53 pm

Title: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: jay moley on September 06, 2024, 03:48:53 pm
I use an SLX 27. No real problems so far but wondering whether I should consider something else?

Any recommendations?

Cheers
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Perfect Windows on September 06, 2024, 03:57:47 pm
We've been trialling Phantom carbon poles. Very happy indeed, but there's a length where their weight goes far over Gardiners, so we still use SLX35. Can't recall if 27ft is above or below that point.

The clamps on Phantoms are superb. Really superb. Astoundingly good. Never spin and never seem to wear out the pole at the grip point the way SLXs do.  If they are in the same weight range at 27ft, I'd give them a try.

Vin
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: jay moley on September 06, 2024, 06:41:19 pm
Anyone got an Ova8?
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: jay moley on September 06, 2024, 06:42:01 pm
We've been trialling Phantom carbon poles. Very happy indeed, but there's a length where their weight goes far over Gardiners, so we still use SLX35. Can't recall if 27ft is above or below that point.

The clamps on Phantoms are superb. Really superb. Astoundingly good. Never spin and never seem to wear out the pole at the grip point the way SLXs do.  If they are in the same weight range at 27ft, I'd give them a try.

Vin

There 27 isn't that much heavier than Gardiner's.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Smudger on September 07, 2024, 01:35:17 pm
Ova8 beats the slx in every way - the shape is great clamps are better

Only downside is you can’t easily do tubeless univalve as section 1 is too small
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: jay moley on September 07, 2024, 01:56:34 pm
Ova8 beats the slx in every way - the shape is great clamps are better

Only downside is you can’t easily do tubeless univalve as section 1 is too small

You saying you can't fit the univalve yourself? Or go tubeless?

I noticed when you go to buy it they offer a univalve fitting but it's £449 instead of £332 without.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Splash and dash on September 07, 2024, 04:31:16 pm
Ova8 beats the slx in every way - the shape is great clamps are better

Only downside is you can’t easily do tubeless univalve as section 1 is too small


Don’t you find them heavy and unbalanced?
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Smudger on September 07, 2024, 09:11:17 pm
No but I’m not a fairy 😂

Univalve fits great - tubeless is the issue
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: windowswashed on September 07, 2024, 11:40:32 pm

The clamps on Phantoms are superb. Really superb. Astoundingly good. Never spin and never seem to wear out the pole at the grip point the way SLXs do.  If they are in the same weight range at 27ft, I'd give them a try.

Vin

I found the clamps, (the red inserts) to be the quickest wearing leading to clamps spinning the quickest, the worst of all poles apart from the original Tucker poles and that's saying something ..... terrible clamping system!!!
Ova 8 eliminates that problem with the pole design, clever engineering eliminating the spinning problem. 
Personally I can't fault Gardiner poles for the best automatic clamping system where a round pole is used.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Spruce on September 07, 2024, 11:57:03 pm
I use an SLX 27. No real problems so far but wondering whether I should consider something else?

Any recommendations?

Cheers

Nothing is a perfect fit for everything and everybody. My opinion is that if something is working well for me, then why change?

My SLX22 lasted 9 years and is now a spare pole on the van.  The first section wore very thin, so has been replaced with a CLX22 first section. My SLX27 has given me no problems and is 5 years old, so I won't consider changing to another make if or when I need to replace this.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: jay moley on September 08, 2024, 08:44:22 am
I use an SLX 27. No real problems so far but wondering whether I should consider something else?

Any recommendations?

Cheers

Nothing is a perfect fit for everything and everybody. My opinion is that if something is working well for me, then why change?

My SLX22 lasted 9 years and is now a spare pole on the van.  The first section wore very thin, so has been replaced with a CLX22 first section. My SLX27 has given me no problems and is 5 years old, so I won't consider changing to another make if or when I need to replace this.

My biggest annoyance with Gardiner poles is the spinning sessions. Not sure how you've got away without that happening to you?

OVA8 is out of stock. There's only one distributor in England. Brushes look poor too. My mate reckoned you can use Gardiner brushes on them with some kind of add on to the gooseneck.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Scottish Cleaning Service on September 08, 2024, 09:41:39 am
My biggest annoyance with Gardiner poles is the spinning sessions. Not sure how you've got away without that happening to you?

The only reason their poles spin is because the bolt loosens with constant work. All I do now is add a bit of thread lock to the thread and it stays in the same place. When I do need to tighten it then I heat it up with hairdryer and tighten it.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: jay moley on September 08, 2024, 11:05:27 am
Can anyone confirm you can use Gardiner brushes on an Ova8 pole?
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Spruce on September 08, 2024, 12:36:03 pm
I use an SLX 27. No real problems so far but wondering whether I should consider something else?

Any recommendations?

Cheers

Nothing is a perfect fit for everything and everybody. My opinion is that if something is working well for me, then why change?

My SLX22 lasted 9 years and is now a spare pole on the van.  The first section wore very thin, so has been replaced with a CLX22 first section. My SLX27 has given me no problems and is 5 years old, so I won't consider changing to another make if or when I need to replace this.

My biggest annoyance with Gardiner poles is the spinning sessions. Not sure how you've got away without that happening to you?

OVA8 is out of stock. There's only one distributor in England. Brushes look poor too. My mate reckoned you can use Gardiner brushes on them with some kind of add on to the gooseneck.

By adjusting the clamps correctly from day one.

My son can't be bothered to adjust his clamps, and I've already had to build up a worn 'ring' on one section with epoxy resin.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Splash and dash on September 08, 2024, 01:09:55 pm
I use an SLX 27. No real problems so far but wondering whether I should consider something else?

Any recommendations?

Cheers

Nothing is a perfect fit for everything and everybody. My opinion is that if something is working well for me, then why change?

My SLX22 lasted 9 years and is now a spare pole on the van.  The first section wore very thin, so has been replaced with a CLX22 first section. My SLX27 has given me no problems and is 5 years old, so I won't consider changing to another make if or when I need to replace this.

My biggest annoyance with Gardiner poles is the spinning sessions. Not sure how you've got away without that happening to you?

OVA8 is out of stock. There's only one distributor in England. Brushes look poor too. My mate reckoned you can use Gardiner brushes on them with some kind of add on to the gooseneck.


We have around 28 Gardiner  poles in all sizes and models not one of them spins it’s down to lack of adjusting the clamps as required.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on September 08, 2024, 01:12:04 pm
Another tip re loosening clamps:

You can also just replace the Nyloc nuts in the clamps if they keep coming loose.

When I haven't had any spare nuts I've just removed the loose nut and placed a thin strip of electrical tape, about 3mm wide, through the nut before reinserting the bolt. Usually works for me.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 08, 2024, 01:13:26 pm
No but I’m not a fairy 😂

Univalve fits great - tubeless is the issue

Wait until the young(ish) and brave become the old and broken.  ;D

Invest in your future with high quality light weight equipment.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Stoots on September 08, 2024, 02:32:08 pm
OV8s cant spin, but they are more expensive and heavier. Plus the clamps arent as nice imo

phantoms are similar to the slx in weight but more expensive and whilst the clamps are less prone to spinning they arent as nice to use as the gardiner imo

xline poles. similar, more expensive and clamps arent as good.

Its all opinion but gardiner still make the best value for money poles on the market and they have the best clamps. The spinning being the only negative but usually by the time the clamps start spinning the pole is ready to be replaced anyway
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Smudger on September 08, 2024, 03:36:59 pm
yes you can use Gardiner brushes - just fit a streamline socket on the back the hole spacing is
virtually identical

I even fitted Gardiner goose necks - but you do have to mod them to fit
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: ֍Winp®oClean֍ on September 08, 2024, 07:03:31 pm
Regarding Gardiner smart clamps-  all you have to do is replace the spring in the clamp, and sometimes the shims too. A couple of quid to fully renew the 'smart' feature. Also, the spring housing tends to get dirty and thus the spring can't move freely, a drop of oil, teflon lube etc down the spring hole can sometimes get them working properly again. Serviced and properly adjusted  smart  clamps will never allow the pole to spin- regardless of pole wear!👍
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Spruce on September 08, 2024, 10:52:50 pm
Another tip re loosening clamps:

You can also just replace the Nyloc nuts in the clamps if they keep coming loose.

When I haven't had any spare nuts I've just removed the loose nut and placed a thin strip of electrical tape, about 3mm wide, through the nut before reinserting the bolt. Usually works for me.

On my previous slx22 I ran a tiny blob of blue locktite along the threads of the bolt. It wasn't enough to lock the bolt totally, but was enough to hold it firmly from loosening.

My poles are on the side of the van. The inside of the van got quite warm during the summer at times. I had to readjust the clamps on both my poles as I think the plastic clamps stretched a bit  in the warmth.
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: johnny bravo on September 09, 2024, 12:56:56 pm
theres a company in derby making carbon poles  with locking clamps a   wee bit lighter than gardiners      they have an anti spin mechanism built into the bottom of the poles.       they were at the cleaning show
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Don Kee on September 09, 2024, 05:38:24 pm
theres a company in derby making carbon poles  with locking clamps a   wee bit lighter than gardiners      they have an anti spin mechanism built into the bottom of the poles.       they were at the cleaning show

X line?
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Smudger on September 09, 2024, 06:02:24 pm
Ultra Reach

Cant tell you a thing about them as they only have a Facebook presence - says it all really.....
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Spruce on September 10, 2024, 07:08:15 am
Ultra Reach

Cant tell you a thing about them as they only have a Facebook presence - says it all really.....

We are also told not to dismantle the pole as that could mess up the anti spin mechanism. This is a red flag for me.

If they are selling like hot cakes, why offer 25% off for a limited time?

The advert says that all the poles are now back in stock. This says to me that this is a small business (nothing wrong with that) trying to give the Impression of a successful large business operation. (I've been associated with marketing so know all about generating sales hype.)
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Perfect Windows on September 10, 2024, 04:41:24 pm
I found the clamps, (the red inserts) to be the quickest wearing leading to clamps spinning the quickest, the worst of all poles apart from the original Tucker poles and that's saying something ..... terrible clamping system!!!
Ova 8 eliminates that problem with the pole design, clever engineering eliminating the spinning problem. 
Personally I can't fault Gardiner poles for the best automatic clamping system where a round pole is used.

Unusual - I wonder if the clamps have changed since you had one, as I've used my 22 footer Phantom carbon for just shy of two years with (literally) no maintenance at all, ever. I reckon I adjust a nut on a clamp maybe once a week. Our franchisees love them as well.

Mine are these:

(https://i.postimg.cc/6Q3wjwDG/20240910-163408.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/k2kkDrMn)

Edit: Not posting images for some reason
Edit number 2: Now they are

Vin
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: the king on September 10, 2024, 08:40:47 pm
ive got phamton clamps on my xline nano' the pole was just about worn out with xline clamps on' but the phamton clamps have given the pole a new lease of life ' adjust them every now and again'  ive had 1 snapped clamp when pole fell over and hit a stone wall' other cracked as over tightened it but to be fair i put a dob of supper glue on the crack and its been fine . for me the phamton clamps are a step up to the gardners when it comes to anti spin and not having to adjust all the time ' just wish the plastic clamp body was better grade of plastic less brittle
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: the king on September 10, 2024, 08:43:52 pm
my next pole will be the evo8 himod ill just chick a extreme brush on it and fit gardner quick release its a simple fit as cogs are same
Title: Re: Alternatives to SLX
Post by: Lee GLS on September 17, 2024, 07:37:35 am
my next pole will be the evo8 himod ill just chick a extreme brush on it and fit gardner quick release its a simple fit as cogs are same

I had an ova 8 22 high mod pole they weigh more than the advertised weight, they weigh the same as an slx 22, when I queried it I was informed that my scales were reading wrong, it's funny though as I weighed my 22 slx and they read the correct advertised weight.