Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: top rung on August 24, 2007, 06:13:16 pm

Title: brushes
Post by: top rung on August 24, 2007, 06:13:16 pm
What is the lightest brush i can get at the moment and whom from
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 24, 2007, 06:30:08 pm
dont no about lighest or best but as anyone tried bentley brushes ? and whats the best size jets to use ? at the moment im using a 16inch vikan oval brush which im happy with . they cost £31 + vat from window cleaning warehouse .
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Davew on August 24, 2007, 06:40:37 pm
Lightest would be a superlight (bentley) from Gardiners. Watch out for a new version coming out.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 24, 2007, 06:49:34 pm
Bentley 12" flocked from Asda etc £1.49 about 10oz
Addis monofilament from Co-op etc £3.90 about 10oz
Melody thicker flocked from Tesco    £2.99 about 10oz

Ionics also have a lighter brush now, but no idea of the weight.

Both can be slightly lightened by surforming the edges. A light brush on the end of your pole  makes the job more of a  pleasure. 
6oz may just be round the corner  ;)
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: top rung on August 24, 2007, 07:22:57 pm
Thanks for that jeff i often wondered about the brushes i have seen in coop or asda or some other places .How do you tell if they are mono filament or not .
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 24, 2007, 08:20:36 pm
Well thats a good one, no ones asked that  ???
with flocked lets say you cannot see the bristle "end" because its been flayed/crushed/splintered but with mono you can see a definite end. The flocked also look bulkier. Flocked dont scratch plastic/acrylic  but mono can.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: john tomkins on August 24, 2007, 08:54:12 pm
As jeff says , the flocked bristles have the "split ends" bristles.
The supermarket ones are light but bristles come out too easily :(
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: MNWC on August 24, 2007, 09:50:35 pm
How about these- :o :o :o

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260149836648&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=016

Marcus  ;)
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 24, 2007, 10:12:24 pm
Good one Marcus, its a £1.44 Asda Bentley. On the right of the stock u can see a bit of leftover plastic from the removed shelf hanger and the two lines of reinforcement on the brush holder
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: NWH on August 24, 2007, 10:16:10 pm
Jeff can you still get the bentley in asda,they used to do them in tescos but they seem to have stopped doing them.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 24, 2007, 10:22:37 pm
Most of the supermarkets change suppliers every couple of months, I bought a few bentley from Asda Superstore Queensferry 2 weeks ago, try Wilkinsons etc , will have another look around.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: NWH on August 24, 2007, 10:25:28 pm
Cheers Jeff i could do with a couple of bentleys.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 25, 2007, 11:00:45 am
Wilkinson/Wilco always sold Bentleys but couple months ago stopped selling them. But they are now back in stock rebranded under their  "Wilco" luxury broom" £2.49 brand, same brush but £1 more than Asda.
Homebase also sell similar Bentleys for £4.99- (rip off)  :)
Personally I prefer the Addis monofilament.
Hope this helps.

......But theres always something more exciting round the corner  ;) ;)
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: dai on August 25, 2007, 06:01:03 pm
Nothing really to add to what Jeff has said, supermarket brushes have made my Vykans obsolete. A brush ain't rocket science, it just agitates the dirt before you rinse it off. I use mono filament and flocked. No noticeable difference rinsing either off or on the glass. Neither will remove baked on bird muck without soaking and scrubbing. The amount of pressure you can apply to a brush head from the ground is limited, as you will have noticed when trying to push close windows.
I think too much is made of what type of brush is best. Almost any brush that reaches into the corners and frame recesses will do the job. Being in control when rinsing is more important to the end results. Splashing water over the tops of the frames is the main cause of spots and runs, not what type of brush you use. That's my experience anyway. Dai
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 25, 2007, 08:06:14 pm
Today ! in Sainsburys a new type of flocked JS Basic Broom £2.49
bristles a bit long but cut down would make a good mono. weight 245gm 8.5oz same as Bentley but has a different thread that wont quite fit the Cleantch thread- use some pvc tape to wrap round the thread to tighten it on.
As Dave said incorrect over jetting needs to be accurate or it will cause big probs for rinsing especially on painted frames. You only need a tiny overs quirt and down dribbles the oxide etc
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 25, 2007, 08:13:51 pm
Dave Shaw, most use 2mm jets but you will save a lot of water if you try 1mm
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: matt on August 25, 2007, 08:21:20 pm
Jeff can you still get the bentley in asda,they used to do them in tescos but they seem to have stopped doing them.

my tesco's had them, i brought 1 today

Title: Re: brushes
Post by: NWH on August 25, 2007, 08:23:13 pm
What Dai said about the brush in my opinion is wrong,the brush is just as important as the lightness of the pole.Rubbish brush rubbish job.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 25, 2007, 09:25:05 pm
How does the rubbish/good brush affect the results ?
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: NWH on August 25, 2007, 09:28:26 pm
If you take the addis brush for an example,for a start it pushes flat on the glass and is hopeless on first cleans unless your prepared to stand and scrub for ages and ages.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 25, 2007, 10:15:51 pm
So what supermarket brush do you like ?
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: NWH on August 25, 2007, 10:22:32 pm
Try the brush from B&Q Jeff,it`s blue and grey and is there own make.I think you`ll be impressed with it,much much better than the addis.I want the bentley brush as it`s brill on a group of leadlight houses that i do for regular cleans.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 26, 2007, 09:31:01 am
The flocked B&Q weighs 240gm/8.50z and has a pointed rubberised ends and is an unusual shape -a  narrower footprint at the ends, is that why you like it ?
I think woolies or one of the multiples also sell it under their own brand label.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: jouk45 on August 26, 2007, 09:59:53 am
The flocked B&Q weighs 240gm/8.50z and has a pointed rubberised ends and is an unusual shape -a narrower footprint at the ends, is that why you like it ?
I think woolies or one of the multiples also sell it under their own brand label.

is this the one your talking of jeff
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x75/trainingacademy/HL202801-S20-20Broom.jpg)
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: dai on August 26, 2007, 10:38:59 am
The Bentley monofilament is a good brush if you like stiffer bristles. You have to take care though with stick on leaded windows. I have noticed that some tend to peel if you scrub too vigorously.
 Many of us have been using supermarket brushes to good affect, to knock them
Without trying them is a bit silly. We don't use them just to save a few pennies, we just want lighter brushes that do a good job. Dai
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 26, 2007, 11:06:19 am
Yes Joe I think thats a similar one to Nwh brush the photos a bit dark but you can make out the slightly pointed ends that also looks like a bentley/homebase  so it looks like bentley make them for B&Q etc.
Not to be confused by the Bentley/Asda/Gardiners/Wilkinson rectangular shape.
Dai , yes we all need lighter everything, where do you buy your Bentley Monofilament ?
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: NWH on August 26, 2007, 11:09:52 am
That is the brush only it looks a different colour,that is the best cheapy brush i`ve used not to soft and dosen`t push flat on the glass and most of all is mega light.I think i paid £4.00 for it in B&Q without the handle.
Title: Re: brushes
Post by: Tristan R Clean on August 26, 2007, 01:00:23 pm
I have tried many a brush over the years ionics,vikans,bentleys,wilkinsons + more.

They all work - the differences are weight, durability and scrubbing power.

I work on the north-east coast and the salt that covers the windows sorts the men from boys

when it comes to brushes.

A cross beetween a superlite and a rectangular vikan would be the ideal brush.

Tristan