Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Rogue Trader on December 03, 2007, 10:26:28 pm

Title: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Rogue Trader on December 03, 2007, 10:26:28 pm
I have bought a cheap van mount system and had a 24ft glassfibre pole thrown in . It is very bendy and heavy and it must be the cheapest of the cheap! I want something stiffer? and lighter but havent got oodles of cash .... any ideas? ???
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: alanwilson on December 03, 2007, 10:37:29 pm
what about a 24ft facelift fibreglass?

or a 24ft xtel hybrid?
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: macmac on December 03, 2007, 10:39:19 pm
Don't buy fiberglass, not even the facelift f/g. hybrid or carbon realy is worth every penny.

tony
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: alanwilson on December 03, 2007, 10:43:21 pm
thanks macmac, I got a 25ft brode carbon with my system, top notch pole cannot fault it at all but looking at buying something nearer the 40ft mark now for some new work.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: chrismroberts on December 03, 2007, 11:53:04 pm
Xtel Hybrid..... BRILLIANT pole... light, strong, rigid, short when closed and long when extended. Perfect for every job!
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Londoner on December 04, 2007, 07:47:48 am
If you just want cheap then buy something shorter. I have a basic X-tel 18 in glass as my everyday pole and its very light and quick to use.
Depending on what make your old pole is it could be much heavier and more whippy.
Modern poles are definitetly better than their equivilents of a few years ago. And how often do you use the full 24ft extension? If you are like me not often, but you will still have the old pole if you need it.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on December 04, 2007, 08:37:59 am
I got a 28ft xtel hybrid and worth every penny.  Not too bendy or heavy.  Don't go for a glass fiber at that length (24ft) they are almost unusable.

Simon.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Londoner on December 04, 2007, 07:16:10 pm
But you don't use it on your average 3 bed semi do you?
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: NWH on December 04, 2007, 07:36:19 pm
Macmac i see someone is swaying you towards the Hybrid,have you used one. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Ian Lancaster on December 04, 2007, 08:12:14 pm
David Salkeld did a brilliant post about converting a Cleantech pole.  Basic pole/end screw/plastic adjustable gooseneck/vikan brush/pole hose and fittings - about £70 all in.  Replaceable locking clamps about £1.50 each.

Two of my blokes use one as an everyday pole.  Replacement clamps mean they last forever ;)

Cheap, light, rigid.

Anything else you need?
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: macmac on December 04, 2007, 08:25:44 pm
Macmac i see someone is swaying you towards the Hybrid,have you used one. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

No matey, It's just got to be better than a glass pole for those who don't want to spend the pennies on a facelift carbon. i wouldn't advise anyone to buy a glass pole.
So no need to worry, i'm still firmly in the "pro" camp ;)

tony
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: dai on December 04, 2007, 08:45:52 pm
For the past month I have been using a Harris 5 meter aluminium extension pole from B&Q. £15. I originally bought it to stick an Unger scraper on, but hey it does the job as a WFP pole, and they don't come cheaper than that. Dai
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Rogue Trader on December 04, 2007, 09:10:20 pm
what about mini poles to do downstairs .... i also got "thrown in with my system price a 13ft glass pole to do ground and 1st floor but it is a bit too long to do all ground windows and very bendy doing 1st floor.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: NWH on December 04, 2007, 09:15:14 pm
Get a 2x2 or a 3x3ft mini pole for downstairs £30-£40.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Davew on December 04, 2007, 09:23:39 pm
how do you work with a mini pole - do you cart two poles about on a two storey building?
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Davew on December 04, 2007, 09:27:57 pm
Alex, on your S2 did you ever consider making the top section shorter to give you a less cumbersome, low level pole, say four feet long?
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Rogue Trader on December 04, 2007, 09:29:26 pm
how do you work with a mini pole - do you cart two poles about on a two storey building?

What do you do Dave? ... do you have 1 pole for tops and bottoms?[
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: NWH on December 04, 2007, 09:31:04 pm
The places i do with the amount of window`s they have you wouldn`t want to do them all with a 30ft pole would you,if i could reach all window`s with an 18 or a 12ft pole i`d use just the 1 pole.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Davew on December 04, 2007, 09:35:54 pm
I see NWH. I use a cheap fishing pole - modular obviously, so all sections go up to three storeys and a bit. Just use top section about five foot i suppose for downstairs.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: NWH on December 04, 2007, 09:37:35 pm
Don`t use the top section on it`s own you`ll snap it like a matchstick.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Jeff Brimble on December 04, 2007, 09:58:12 pm
I agree, its also too long for some ground floor work.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Davew on December 04, 2007, 10:21:00 pm
Don`t use the top section on it`s own you`ll snap it like a matchstick.

been using it every day now for about nine months no problem. The whole pole was only sixty quid mind. So far i've never broken a section whilst cleaning. Trod on one though and a Maver section of my S1.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on December 05, 2007, 07:48:35 am
Alex, on your S2 did you ever consider making the top section shorter to give you a less cumbersome, low level pole, say four feet long?

That's a difficult one because overall you'll lose height which is what the S2 is all about - working at ease at height.  I am thinking about the possibilities.......
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: NWH on December 05, 2007, 04:31:32 pm
Alex how long for the new brush,cheers.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on December 05, 2007, 05:55:05 pm
Alex how long for the new brush,cheers.

We are hoping to have the new brush available to be sold with the new SL-X pole in January 2008.

That is what we are hoping! We have found that it is easier to develop a complete new pole than it is to get exactly what you want from a brush manufacturer. Originally we had aimed for November, but it has not transpired. I have been assured that by the end of this week they will have sorted out the technical details of manufacturing my design and we can then negotiate on quantities and lead times.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Ian Lancaster on December 05, 2007, 07:20:52 pm
Any details available about these new brushes, Alex?  I don't suppose there's a lightweight combined window/sill brush?  (I've only been suggesting this since I started WFP about two and a half years ago ::)
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on December 05, 2007, 08:13:15 pm
It's on its way.  A lightweight sill brush is our second brush project. We want to get the first brush spot on.  Once we've done that, the sill brush is next.
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Captain Scarlet on December 05, 2007, 08:14:39 pm
If you keep building products that wc actually need then you'll do very well Alex, Luke
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: Captain Scarlet on December 05, 2007, 08:19:27 pm
then a swivel? then a hosereel that cleans the hose as it comes in with disinfectant? then a vibrating brush?
Title: Re: What pole do i buy?
Post by: NWH on December 05, 2007, 08:49:42 pm
I  caught my Mrs with a brush like that Luke. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D