Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Sir Squeaky on May 30, 2007, 07:53:49 pm

Title: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Sir Squeaky on May 30, 2007, 07:53:49 pm
My carbon Superlight is wearing out at the connections after only 2 months.

From endlessly connecting and disconnecting pieces it's got thinner on the ends and splinters like buggery. :o
It's actually getting difficult to attach sometimes because of bits hanging off it.

Is there anything I can wrap around the ends to prolong the life of it a bit?
Some sort of sealant or tape?

Don't really want to be buying new bits soon. :-\
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Londoner on May 30, 2007, 08:04:03 pm
I don't know squeaky, have you talked to who you bought it off?  Is it wearing out or delaminating? My pole it "tired" after 15months but I recken at a pinch I could get another year out of it.
I think this is a warranty issue. I know you have a weight issue on your shoulders so you went for carbon fibre, but carbon fibre shouldn't wear out that quick.
     
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Jon T.C. on May 30, 2007, 08:28:11 pm
Have you you sprayed the PTFE supplied with it around the joins ?
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: matt on May 30, 2007, 08:33:34 pm
in the fishing game you "whip" the joints

whipping the joint uses a " string that you wrap around the joints and coat in a glue "

it makes the joints last for ages, i used to do it on my beach caster

some1 mentioned that they do a "heat shrink whipping " now, that you wrap around and heat up and it strenghtens the joints

Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Chris Cottrell on May 30, 2007, 08:37:39 pm
some1 mentioned that they do a "heat shrink whipping " now, that you wrap around and heat up and it strenghtens the joints

Now that I would be interested in more info on

Chris
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: matt on May 30, 2007, 08:43:52 pm
whipping is easy enough to do

will cost 10 quid for materials to do a rod


http://www.fishing.co.uk/article.php3?id=689



Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Chris Cottrell on May 30, 2007, 09:00:24 pm
but what of this heat shrink wrap?
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: matt on May 30, 2007, 09:01:42 pm
but what of this heat shrink wrap?

i dont know, some1 mentioned it a while back, i never looked into it to be honest

Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: EasyClean on May 30, 2007, 09:12:23 pm
You can get carbon spray to build up  a section that is wearing thin. You could try Maver, i remember seeing it on one of the fishing pole websites a while back.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: matt on May 30, 2007, 10:17:17 pm
You can get carbon spray to build up  a section that is wearing thin. You could try Maver, i remember seeing it on one of the fishing pole websites a while back.

http://www.fostersofbirmingham.co.uk/ST11875

6 quid a can
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: NWH on May 30, 2007, 10:28:36 pm
The spray is good for helping to release sections but it won`t stop them from splitting,squeaky go to halfords they sell heavy duty velcro male and female sticky tape it`s about 2.5 inches wide and comes in about 1 meter lengths.Buy the male version and stick it round the outside and at the bottom of each section,just one turn until both ends meet.Trim off with a razor blade till it`s flush with the bottom of the section,it really sticks but i also add a bit of super glue just to make sure,this will double the life of this pole because as you know unless you drop it or tread on it these ends on the poles are what finish them.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Jeff Brimble on May 30, 2007, 11:07:01 pm
Which sections are wearing ?
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: JM123 on May 30, 2007, 11:13:21 pm
squeeks heres a tip for you.

fill the male end where it is splitting with expanding foam, it will glue the fractured strands to it and make the inside of the pole solid.

for the female ends wrap them on the outside with heat shrink and heat it, then just wrap a little gaffer tap round it to hold it in place, hey presto!
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: James Smith on May 31, 2007, 12:13:47 am
How are you lot storing the carbon fibre pole sections on the job when not in use?

At the moment I'm putting mine on the ground & hoping some muppet doesn't stand on them. 

P.S. The main muppet I'm worried about is me  ;D
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: billozz on May 31, 2007, 07:24:23 am
You can get carbon spray to build up  a section that is wearing thin. You could try Maver, i remember seeing it on one of the fishing pole websites a while back.
would this spray work on an ordinary g/f pole and build up any wear at the clamps?
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Davew on May 31, 2007, 07:37:11 am
Squeeks get yourself a dirt cheap Ron Thompson Reload carbon pole and use that for every day use keep your Superlight for best. The whole pole is cheaper than one section of Superlight.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Sir Squeaky on May 31, 2007, 08:09:31 am
Squeeks get yourself a dirt cheap Ron Thompson Reload carbon pole and use that for every day use keep your Superlight for best. The whole pole is cheaper than one section of Superlight.
:o :o Just googled for it. That is cheap!

Might look into that.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Clear Vision on May 31, 2007, 09:06:35 am
see this Ron Thompson Reload carbon pole! I know its 11m but how many sections does it come in?

Seems very very cheap!
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: AuRavelling79 on May 31, 2007, 09:46:48 am
I reinforce my c/f pole ends with duct tape.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Davew on May 31, 2007, 06:04:43 pm
I use the reload pole as my everyday pole it feels almost the same as my Superlight for up to three story work, it's a bit more bendy but who cares? I have a normal plastic adjustable gooseneck fitted to a short length of broomhandle bonded into the end. I beefed the tip up a bit with the base of the next unwanted section. With the Superlight pole the Gooseneck is only a put over and so spins and flops all over the place with any sideways scrubbing. This one dosen't.  At sixty pounds delivered you can't complain. I've found extenders just waste so much effort and don't find the external pipe a problem at all. All this thanks to Jeff Brimble. ;)
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: macmac on May 31, 2007, 09:53:15 pm
even better, buy a carbon facelift for your domestic work & totaly forget about any of the above problems :D :D

tony
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Davew on June 01, 2007, 07:46:34 am
That would be close to £1200 pounds that squeaks would have paid out in two months if he goes down that route!!!! :o
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Sir Squeaky on June 01, 2007, 08:03:08 am
It's alright Dave, I don't know what he's talking about anyway.

Facelift?
Cheeky sod.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Davew on June 01, 2007, 05:56:49 pm
Blimey squeeks nearly 3000 posts....... when do you get time to go to work? :o
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: macmac on June 01, 2007, 09:56:07 pm
That would be close to £1200 pounds that squeaks would have paid out in two months if he goes down that route!!!! :o

You're right but if he'd taken good advice to begin with he wouldn't be writing this post either. ;)

tony
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Davew on June 01, 2007, 10:06:08 pm
Your probably right too Mac. However Squeaks probably wanted the lightest pole possible due to his shoulder injury in which case the Superlight meets those requirements. You wouldn't want it as an everyday pole though it's too fragile and too expensive imho and a total waste of money for normal two to three story domestic.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: macmac on June 01, 2007, 10:31:12 pm
Quote
You wouldn't want it as an everyday pole though it's too fragile and too expensive imho and a total waste of money for normal two to three story domestic.

but will some people ever learn or will they just continue to get manipulated/railroaded into bad decisions ::)

tony
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: darren72 on June 01, 2007, 10:49:14 pm
macmac have you got a 24ft and 34ft facelift carbon fibre or do you just take sections of the 34ft.cheers darren.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: macmac on June 01, 2007, 10:52:08 pm
macmac have you got a 24ft and 34ft facelift carbon fibre or do you just take sections of the 34ft.cheers darren.

mine's a 44ft & i just take/add sections as & when needed. 95% of time its at 24ft.

tony
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Alex Gardiner on June 03, 2007, 05:26:17 pm
Hi Squeaks,

The reason for the wear on the pole joints is that you are using this as your main pole. Used for domestic work the pole is subject to many more section changes than normal. To counter this you will need to use the PTFE lubricant spray a lot more. This actually prevents wear on each section.

The other problem is end splintering, this is nearly always caused by hitting the ends on the section above whilst assembling. Using this pole on domestic work does mean that you usually have less room for careful joint assembly and therefore it can lead to chipping which coupled with wear can lead to splitting.

The way to prevent all of this happening is to regularly spray the joints with PTFE lubricant and then assemble with care. Having said that some of the above posts have also had some good ideas about prolonging the life of the pole.

Feel free to give me a ring/email.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Moderator David@stives on June 03, 2007, 05:43:36 pm
Alex

are your new poles available yet

Dave
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Alex Gardiner on June 03, 2007, 07:30:31 pm
We are hoping to take delivery of the final prototype tomorrow, which will then go into testing. After testing we can then sign off on the project and hopefully have a supply with us by the beginning of next month.
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Sir Squeaky on June 03, 2007, 07:35:14 pm
Hi Squeaks,

The reason for the wear on the pole joints is that you are using this as your main pole. Used for domestic work the pole is subject to many more section changes than normal. To counter this you will need to use the PTFE lubricant spray a lot more. This actually prevents wear on each section.

The other problem is end splintering, this is nearly always caused by hitting the ends on the section above whilst assembling. Using this pole on domestic work does mean that you usually have less room for careful joint assembly and therefore it can lead to chipping which coupled with wear can lead to splitting.

The way to prevent all of this happening is to regularly spray the joints with PTFE lubricant and then assemble with care. Having said that some of the above posts have also had some good ideas about prolonging the life of the pole.

Feel free to give me a ring/email.
Cheers Alex.
I didn't get any spray though. ???
Never mind, you've supplied enough extra bits!

Ooh, and I haven't sent you back that original pump have I?
Oops, I'll sort it this week. :-[
Title: Re: Pole falling apart.
Post by: Alex Gardiner on June 03, 2007, 07:37:50 pm
I'll get some spray off to you if you would like.