Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: d s windowcleaning on July 15, 2008, 03:44:02 pm
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ive been cleaning wfp for around 4 years now while doing a commercial building today another window cleaner turned up on the building at the side of me and used a wagtail squeegee , he was much quicker using this tool after coming home and doing a search for the wagtail i cant seem to find a supplier of this in england , dos anyone know of a supplier in this country any help thanks ?
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The guy who i bought my trolley off uses a wagtail for about 80% of his work. He hardly uses his ladders and even got rid of wfp because he was so happy with it. To look at it the wagtail looks flimsy and not that good quality, but when it was demonstrated to me i was impressed. Omnipole sell them 12" and 16".
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
Apart from the squeegee.
I think Terry Burrows would challenge you to do 3 decent sized panes in under 10 seconds.
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
Apart from the squeegee.
I think Terry Burrows would challenge you to do 3 decent sized panes in under 10 seconds.
We are talking about real life houses and windows, including ladders, not 3 big windows next to each other. Wfp is always faster, even more so if you just do the glass.
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
Apart from the squeegee.
I think Terry Burrows would challenge you to do 3 decent sized panes in under 10 seconds.
Depends on if you had to dry them ;D
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
Apart from the squeegee.
I think Terry Burrows would challenge you to do 3 decent sized panes in under 10 seconds.
We are talking about real life houses and windows, including ladders, not 3 big windows next to each other. Wfp is always faster, even more so if you just do the glass.
So you agree that you couldn't wfp shops faster than I could squeegee them?
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
im quick using a wfp mate , but this guy using a wagtail made wfp look stupid ,read birdymillers post where a guy packed in using wfp & started using a wagtail wonder why this was (maybe quicker) ........... WHY dont all the stockist sell the wagtail ??????????????? whats the reason behind ? perhaps a few comments from suppliers as to why they dont stock it .
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
im quick using a wfp mate , but this guy using a wagtail made wfp look stupid ,read birdymillers post where a guy packed in using wfp & started using a wagtail wonder why this was (maybe quicker) ........... WHY dont all the stockist sell the wagtail ??????????????? whats the reason behind ? perhaps a few comments from suppliers as to why they dont stock it .
can he do all the frames with a wagtail ?
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there are a few wagtail demos on you tube
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
im quick using a wfp mate , but this guy using a wagtail made wfp look stupid ,read birdymillers post where a guy packed in using wfp & started using a wagtail wonder why this was (maybe quicker) ........... WHY dont all the stockist sell the wagtail ??????????????? whats the reason behind ? perhaps a few comments from suppliers as to why they dont stock it .
can he do all the frames with a wagtail ?
Does he need to?
I never did frames for 10 years before I started wfp, and I don't on all of them now.
Never had any complaints about it.
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
im quick using a wfp mate , but this guy using a wagtail made wfp look stupid ,read birdymillers post where a guy packed in using wfp & started using a wagtail wonder why this was (maybe quicker) ........... WHY dont all the stockist sell the wagtail ??????????????? whats the reason behind ? perhaps a few comments from suppliers as to why they dont stock it .
can he do all the frames with a wagtail ?
Does he need to?
I never did frames for 10 years before I started wfp, and I don't on all of them now.
Never had any complaints about it.
I didnt say he needed to I asked if he could, because if he cant then therre is a downside to it.
I know what you mean about frames I didnt do them when trad either, I do with wfp and I charge for it ;)
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
im quick using a wfp mate , but this guy using a wagtail made wfp look stupid ,read birdymillers post where a guy packed in using wfp & started using a wagtail wonder why this was (maybe quicker) ........... WHY dont all the stockist sell the wagtail ??????????????? whats the reason behind ? perhaps a few comments from suppliers as to why they dont stock it .
You say your quick using WFP all i can say is your idea of being quick is different to mine,if a blokes making you look slow with 1 of them.Would we all have spent so much on poles and setups etc if a wagtail did the job,if so it must have seriously slipped under the radar.
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
im quick using a wfp mate , but this guy using a wagtail made wfp look stupid ,read birdymillers post where a guy packed in using wfp & started using a wagtail wonder why this was (maybe quicker) ........... WHY dont all the stockist sell the wagtail ??????????????? whats the reason behind ? perhaps a few comments from suppliers as to why they dont stock it .
You say your quick using WFP all i can say is your idea of being quick is different to mine,if a blokes making you look slow with 1 of them.Would we all have spent so much on poles and setups etc if a wagtail did the job,if so it must have seriously slipped under the radar.
Isnt the key to making a success, doing things that others around you dont ? Does the fact that a lot of people have spent a good deal of money on wfp systems mean that wfp is the best option ? If you found a new system , that was quicker , cheaper , and safer would you at least give it a glance ? ???
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
im quick using a wfp mate , but this guy using a wagtail made wfp look stupid ,read birdymillers post where a guy packed in using wfp & started using a wagtail wonder why this was (maybe quicker) ........... WHY dont all the stockist sell the wagtail ??????????????? whats the reason behind ? perhaps a few comments from suppliers as to why they dont stock it .
You say your quick using WFP all i can say is your idea of being quick is different to mine,if a blokes making you look slow with 1 of them.Would we all have spent so much on poles and setups etc if a wagtail did the job,if so it must have seriously slipped under the radar.
Isnt the key to making a success, doing things that others around you dont ? Does the fact that a lot of people have spent a good deal of money on wfp systems mean that wfp is the best option ? If you found a new system , that was quicker , cheaper , and safer would you at least give it a glance ? ???
A glance yes, change no, I know what these do ;)
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A glance yes, change no, I know what these do . Have you tried it Ian ?
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Even if it's quicker, that doesn't mean it's easier.
I've got plenty of jobs that would be quicker by hand, but I rather stand there waving a bogbrush around.
It's much less tiring on the wrist and arms.
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were can you get a wagtail from?
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Squeeky..... that made me laugh.
Some of your wit is brill.
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I have been singing the praises of the wagtail combie for years, I have posted on it many times.
It takes longer to rinse beading glass than to do the job with a wagtail, you just put it on the glass, the washing and blading is done at the same time, one pass job done.
This tool is the best ever for doing insides, it uses very little water.
I can't understand why everyone doesn't use one either.
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there are a few wagtail demos on you tube
Link? ??? 8)
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib8sOgKCoBk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOPkSPW03q0&feature=related
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Just got me head around WFP then you lot start talking about wagtails!!!!! :( ::)
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any good for internal con roofs?
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I believe they stopped making the Combi. Glynn at omnipole still has a few.
The combi is an all in one single pass tool, If you can get one do so. They don't show this one on utube.
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a man like dai whom many people take advice off praises the wagtail , why do you think this is a useful tool dai ????????? why isnt there a stockist in england besides omnipole when this tool is great .Even if it's quicker, that doesn't mean it's easier.
I've got plenty of jobs that would be quicker by hand, but I rather stand there waving a bogbrush around.
It's much less tiring on the wrist and arms.
until you try it/ or see it being used squeaky you will never know , this tool mate is the bizz , , wfp we all had to learn how to use this same as a wag tail you would need to learn this but it dont take long . the wag tail is a must for any serious window cleaner . thats my honest opinion of a great tool .
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Looked good, but as quick as wfp? I don't think so! It maybe a viable alternative if there was ever a hosepipe ban!! I would definately like to give one of them a go, and keep it in my van just in case. :)
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don't you get dirty water marks at the top & bottom of the glass?
it might be faster than wfp, but I don't see how it can be as good ???
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib8sOgKCoBk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOPkSPW03q0&feature=related
I could have gone and made a cup of tea while those simple windows were done. :o
Quicker than wfp? No way.
Not as quick as I could to do with a normal washer and squeegee either.
Seriously, that may be quick to some people, but to me that's taking ages.
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So you agree that you couldn't wfp shops faster than I could squeegee them?
I think I would agree to that statement, but only if you'd do it doublehanded. :)
But on a house, wfp is always quicker I found.
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I can well imagine that a wagtail might be quicker for large windows.
But what about the leaded lights and the Georgian windows that most of us domestic guys encounter every day? The wagtail would be useless for them.
Again, it's horses for courses. And a wfp has more flexibility.
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I am interested because I have a few windows that do not come up well with WP :'(
I would rather get one of these than get my ladder off
Like its been said horses for courses
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I like to see him beat me timewise over WFP,how much quicker can you get just a quick scrub with the brush ,i think some people are far to fussy with WFP there`s nothing out there to beat it for speed if your using it right.
Apart from the squeegee.
I think Terry Burrows would challenge you to do 3 decent sized panes in under 10 seconds.
We are talking about real life houses and windows, including ladders, not 3 big windows next to each other. Wfp is always faster, even more so if you just do the glass.
So you agree that you couldn't wfp shops faster than I could squeegee them?
I cannot believe that there are people still trying to argue with you Squeaky, Yes the reach & wash is not always faster and there are some houses that the water runs down off the wall and you need to let it dry before doing them... Whatever tool is best
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I am going to my local window cleaning supplies today , and I will ask him for some details . ;)
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I have used a Wagtail combi many many years ago along with a few other one pass tools, and if anyone thinks they are faster than a WFP they need to find out how to use a pole properly.
The Wagtail wasn't adopted in this country not because it wasn't any good, but because it was an Australian invention that the UK suppliers were not going to make much money on. As far as I know Omni were the only ones to supply them here. If Unger Ettore or Pullex had got involved then it would have been a different storey, but they were never going to pay an australian inventor the royalties needed to take it on board, and I am afraid they decide what traditional window cleaning tools we use.
Peter
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omnipole do not sell the wagtail they sell the sorbo swivel squeegee , and no disrespect peter i do use a pole properly and fast but my opinion is that using a wagtail is quicker .
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Omni probably stopped selling them due to lack of interest.
The Wagtail may be faster than a water fed pole for some people, but it certainly wouldn't be for me. A separate squeegee and applicator may be faster than a water fed pole for some people as well, but again not for me.
I had a set-up for cleaning all my windows from the ground with a pole before moving over to water fed, I even cleaned Georgian and leaded very effectively. I used a one pass tool for working in my hand, and adapted an American invention for application and squeegeeing with only one pole. I even made a tool for detailing for the odd occasion it was needed. Although very effective and quick still not as fast as a WFP.
Peter
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Superb for high level indoor work
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Superb for high level indoor work
Superb for all indoor work, Two mugs of solution into my B.O.B is more than enough to do all the insides of a big pub/restaurant that I do.
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omnipole do not sell the wagtail they sell the sorbo swivel squeegee , and no disrespect peter i do use a pole properly and fast but my opinion is that using a wagtail is quicker .
I got my wagtail from Omnipole - I don't know if they have the new flipper or not. Yep, wagtail can be quicker than a wfp.
ht tp://robinson-solutions.blogspot.com/2008/06/wagtail-squeegee.html
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omnipole do not sell the wagtail
We have been selling Wagtails for about 10 years!
Unfortunatly they didnt catch on like I thought they would.
I think we still have some of the original style combi's in stock, which I really liked and found easy to use ( Karl dont tell them how bad I am at squeegeeing I am now) and yes we were the main importer of Sorbo kit at one time but again they didnt catch on - Sorbo is more expensive than Ettore and Unger and we only managed to sell a small amount at trade shows where people could try them out.
Both of the above brand tools are in my humble opinion are the best for many reasons ;- Speed of use , using on a pole at height - Both of the brands were developed by a window cleaner, rather than a design team of an international corporation.
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I think the most important part of Daves post was the fact that it was a commercial building, the edges of the glass are usually deeper on commercial glass and that makes using a wagtail or any other squeegee on a pole easier, the same can not be said for residential , though, the squeegee has a tendancy to slip off the edges on house windows and while with a bit of practice you can stop this happening , you need to be more careful and this slows you down
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The old Wagtail combi`s were a little bit like the newer `Flippers``.
They don`t hold enough water/cleaning solution especially on dirty
Windows.When I adapted the `pad`part on my `combi`,I agree with
Dia,they are `the bees knees`.I use the Unger Monsoon and Pulex
Micro fiber sleeve.It does work,and ya can close out on ya stroke.
Wagtails are a bit like Peter Fog wills `LedgerMates`.They never
Really `caught on `in this country.I`ve quite a few jobs where I`ve
Gone back to `LedgerMating`simply because some phobic glass will
Not have and take to WFP. ( spotting).It does take practise but it can
Be done,
Lewis Doubtfire Gleem Clean ( The blade Runner )
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omnipole do not sell the wagtail
We have been selling Wagtails for about 10 years!
Unfortunatly they didnt catch on like I thought they would.
I think we still have some of the original style combi's in stock, which I really liked and found easy to use ( Karl dont tell them how bad I am at squeegeeing I am now) and yes we were the main importer of Sorbo kit at one time but again they didnt catch on - Sorbo is more expensive than Ettore and Unger and we only managed to sell a small amount at trade shows where people could try them out.
Both of the above brand tools are in my humble opinion are the best for many reasons ;- Speed of use , using on a pole at height - Both of the brands were developed by a window cleaner, rather than a design team of an international corporation.
after my mate spoke to someone yesterday he was told that there was none , so could you please say if you have the original combi in stock ????
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Just watched a few videos on youtube. Hardly surprised they didn't catch on! I'd of cleaned those windows quicker trad with steps/ladders - seriously.
I'm not convinced by the qualilty either, I'd like to see the windows cleaned first hand. Your not in a position to detail any odd marks as required.
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I visited a store called Wilkinsons today , and they have lots of cleaning stuff on 10 ft poles ! Cheap as well !!!! :o :o :o , yes I did say cheap !!!! ;D
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omnipole do not sell the wagtail
We have been selling Wagtails for about 10 years!
Unfortunatly they didnt catch on like I thought they would.
I think we still have some of the original style combi's in stock, which I really liked and found easy to use ( Karl dont tell them how bad I am at squeegeeing I am now) and yes we were the main importer of Sorbo kit at one time but again they didnt catch on - Sorbo is more expensive than Ettore and Unger and we only managed to sell a small amount at trade shows where people could try them out.
Both of the above brand tools are in my humble opinion are the best for many reasons ;- Speed of use , using on a pole at height - Both of the brands were developed by a window cleaner, rather than a design team of an international corporation.
But in your time I reckon you could have given Turbid-Terry a run for his money ;D
Have to admit, when Glynn first got me the Wagtail - I nearly threw it. It looked like a toy! I'm glad I stuck with it. I'm gonna give the flippers a go now.
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for what reason are you glad you stuck with it karlos ?
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for what reason are you glad you stuck with it karlos ?
I still use other tools - but the wagtail helps me out in certain situations. I mostly use it on inside cleans from balconys on a pole. Or difficult windows at height which are triangular or cannot be straight pulled. It also has a great close-out action which only a few others have i.e. the Ettore Contour, Sörbo. But if you want to fan at height I'd recommend either the Wagtail or Procurve.
ht tp://robinson-solutions.blogspot.com/2008/04/procurve-window-cleaning-system.html
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glyn h could you let me know if you have any in stock please .
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ive brought this topic back up as it may answer some questions being asked .
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Here's a stockist:
www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/index.php/vmchk/Wagtail/Wagtail-Orbital-Squeegee/Detailed-product-flyer.html
Could it be that a wagtail would be a useful addition to anyone's kit?
I started off wfp only. I then bought a squeegee and played with it. Then I started using it on a few houses.
Now I'm subbing for a minimarket chain and I use a visa versa for the store windows.
I've just bought a swivel loc and I'm going to play with that and if I like it I'll get a wagtail flipper.
Quite frankly, IMHO, a lot of the arguments on here are just silly. No one tool or technique will ever be better/faster/cheaper etc than any other. There is too great a variety of window shapes and sizes and obstacles to overcome.
wfp is good in its place
mop and blade are good in their place
visa versa is good in its place
wagtail is good in its place
etc.
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ive ordered some flippers from wcw afriend of mine who is trad uses them
no ladders just poling he was flying round.
obviously they arent brilliant for every job but neither is any tool
even wfp we had a go on my two up two downs and he was flying
if i was using a backpack i may have kept up with him but no matter
how well you have your routine down with hose it eventually always
gets snagged and slows you down.
like i said its not great for every job and my mate swears by the wagtail
but even he is considering getting a pole and backpack for more difficult work
every tool has its place
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Since I posted that - I have the new Wagtail squeegee's & I prefer them over the mark2?
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But the wagtail dosnt detail does it?
Steve
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Really good on shops,i did some with it this morning and with a bit more use it would be quicker.The only trouble with it is it dosen`t hold much water but it would be good for insides on plate glass.
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Really good on shops,i did some with it this morning and with a bit more use it would be quicker.The only trouble with it is it dosen`t hold much water but it would be good for insides on plate glass.
Did you detail them after?
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Hardly needed to to be honest,i got the 12" 1 just to see what it was like.If i was to use it for shops all the time i would go for the 16 or 18".I`d like to know how it can be used so you can clean in 1 pass.
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Hardly needed to to be honest,i got the 12" 1 just to see what it was like.If i was to use it for shops all the time i would go for the 16 or 18".I`d like to know how it can be used so you can clean in 1 pass.
The original combi is a single pass tool, it has a micro fibre pad and the blade is 1/2 inch behind it.
There is a technique in using this tool, you have to get the water to the top of the frame first, once mastered it's brilliant. I use this whenever I do trad work inside or out, mine are now 4 years old and still going strong.
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i've got one of those , could not get on with it though.
daz
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Used my flipper for the first time today. I thought it would be a bit of a nightmare and take a lot of getting used to. Wrong. Very impressed indeed. This is not the single pass tool Dai showed. I would say on first impression that it's not so good (or harder to master) on small panes, but on larger panes it is impressive. I don't see the lack of holding water as much of a downside for me. I wfp up anyway. But if you are using ladders, a B.O.B. should keep it wet. Not sure about it being faster than wfp, but for downstairs it would have a place in my toolbox (I still want to scrim which I couldn't do with a wagtail on a pole)
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i've got one of those , could not get on with it though.
daz
It only take half a day and you will be flying. Perservere.
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i've got one of those , could not get on with it though.
daz
It only take half a day and you will be flying. Perservere.
will give it another go ;)
daz