Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ian m on August 27, 2006, 03:51:06 pm
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Hi
just wondering what sort of life expectancy you would expect from a glass fibre pole. ???
I know thay are all not the same but would be interested in reading what sort of experience you guys have had.
Ive been using a ionics multipole since April 2005 and it is all but knackered, I got 16 months use, is this good or bad?
thanx
Ian
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the Ionics multipole is an exel extender - thats a reasonably good life span, but it depends on how much you use the pole, are you constantly opening and closing the clamps etc etc.
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Dont snap the pole locks shut get used to moving the levers till they just "pinch"
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Thanks guys
Funny thing is all the clamps are fine, I've had to tighten them a few times, but they are still in working order. The butt ring has been replaced, but the main wear is in the pole itself, where the clamp tightens the pole has become "squeezed" if you know what I mean.
Also the pole surface has become very rough, despite me using wax and Mr sheen to polish it.
JM123 I thought the extender was the very light pole? these?
http://www.reachandclean.co.uk/acatalog/water_fed_poles_and_parts.html
Mine is a bit heavier than the one described in the pic.
thanx
Ian
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on the reachand clean website they haven't included the weight of the brush, as far as I am aware Ionics include the weight of the brush in their catalogue, is your pole the one with the small black brush, definitely residential, not commercial?
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Also the pole surface has become very rough, despite me using wax and Mr sheen to polish it.
When my pole starts to feel rough I get very fine wet/dry lightly rub it and then give it a fine coat of clear laquer (as used for vehicle spraying) I find that this can add a couple of months to the the poles life..which in my case is normally around 6 months (18ft domestic) but as I now purchase from Garner I only have to replace the pole sections ( I think I worked the costing at around £2.50 a week)
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I used to have the small black brush, then I went for a large vikan, I now use the "autobrush" from P. fogwell. It is very light and I dont feel the strain on my back.
Thats a good idea windowcleaner, just buy new sections from gardiners!!!! also using the laquer.
thanx
Ian
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if you are using the residential then gardiners don't do the seperate sections for them.
You can add a little lacquer to the worn part of the pole or for all the cost of them you could go for a new exel extender or ecoline - personally I'd go for the brodex eco-lite every time, more expensive but probably one of the very best poles on the market - also has an alloy basecap so you'll never need to replace it again, it also comes with duralok clamps which give you a much longer lifespan for the pole, so in practice the pole is lighter, more durable, easier to use, and works out better value than just about any other pole on the market.
£129 + VAT
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18 ft universal ones is what we use mainly. 6 to 9 months and chuck em away.
I can't be bothered eeking out a month or two more use out of them messing around. Less than 100 quid each and think what they earn you. I have 2 of the Eco Lite Poles. Supposed to be 18 ft but they arent. 17 ft is more like it. They do seem like good poles though and I think I will get a lot more life out of them than the others. I've only had them a few weeks so time will tell.
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Same as that, 18ft Universal and throw away after 9 months.
Am looking into the Tucker Aluminium pole as I think I may get better usage out of it in therms of durability?
Trev
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Hi Guys,
JM123 we do do replacement sections for both Residential and Professional poles, they are the same poles (universal)
18 months from an extender I would say is miraculous!!
I wish everyone looked after there poles like that.
Alex
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I too use the 18 foot extender pole 8 hours a day 5 days a week. they normaly last 6-7 months then i replace them. Down here in plymouth the 18ft only cost £69.25 to buy, not alot of money really (a few hours of work will pay for it :))
Stuart.