Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jeff1 on August 14, 2008, 11:04:28 am
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Nice one Alex, I like the new scoop I just spotted on your web-site.
For anyone who needs to clean out guttering from the ground using your own pole, have a look on Alex's site for the new gutter scoop.
www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/New_Contact_Details.html
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Just need Alex to put a vidio up showing it in action before i part with any more money.
Looks nice and rigid.
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Seems quite exspensive to me.
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how do reach the bottom of a half round gutter with a flat surface, wouldnt it of been better to have a threaded end so differant attachments could be added to suit the type of guttering.
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That's what i had in mind, a scoop, a hook, a spike.
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Knowing Alex he will be aready working on this, as this IMO just would not be up to the jobs we do as there are many different types of gutter.
Alex could you design a gutter vac or are you ? :-\
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Already been done, most of the parts are on Gardiners site.
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Already been done, most of the parts are on Gardiners site.
I meant as a package
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Seems quite exspensive to me.
How much is your safety worth??????
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The reason why we have brought this gutter scoop out is to provide a one-shot tool that will clear debris and growth from gutters without the need for a ladder. I realize that it won't provide a full wipe down clean and it doesn't exactly fit each shaped gutter. It will however fit in the vast majority of gutters and provide the ability to dig out any areas that need it. It has been designed for the average window cleaner (like me basically!) who doesn't do many gutters but when they are asked, usually has to get their ladders out or hire a cherry picker. This tool may well save a lot of the above hassle, it can be fitted in minutes and will clear the majority of muck. It won't suit everyone, it won't provide quite as good a clean as a gutter vac but it's also a lot lighter and cheaper.
I understand the idea of having various attachments screw on but the cost for developing a tool like this for a very small market is just not viable. As it is, with this first trial batch once the tooling costs, CNC costs, annealing costs, etc have been factored in, there is no profit in selling this first batch at all but I wanted one for a few jobs and I thought a few other people might find them useful. :)
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If you own a gutter vac or a pressure Lance, this tool (or a tool like it) will eventually be needed when you turn up to a Job and find if full of weeds, that the vac or even the pressure lance wont shift.
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The reason why we have brought this gutter scoop out is to provide a one-shot tool that will clear debris and growth from gutters without the need for a ladder. I realize that it won't provide a full wipe down clean and it doesn't exactly fit each shaped gutter. It will however fit in the vast majority of gutters and provide the ability to dig out any areas that need it. It has been designed for the average window cleaner (like me basically!) who doesn't do many gutters but when they are asked, usually has to get their ladders out or hire a cherry picker. This tool may well save a lot of the above hassle, it can be fitted in minutes and will clear the majority of muck. It won't suit everyone, it won't provide quite as good a clean as a gutter vac but it's also a lot lighter and cheaper.
I understand the idea of having various attachments screw on but the cost for developing a tool like this for a very small market is just not viable. As it is, with this first trial batch once the tooling costs, CNC costs, annealing costs, etc have been factored in, there is no profit in selling this first batch at all but I wanted one for a few jobs and I thought a few other people might find them useful. :)
Good for you Alex, i think it's a great idea. Many customers just want the odd growth cleared anyway and wouldn't be prepared to pay for a full gutter clean and this might offer the customer a cheap alternative to clear that odd blockage. Should pay for itself very quickly too if it can do the job.
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Hi Alex
(This is not a negative post - so please other readers do not read negative points into it.)
You should inform users to wear hard hats, and safety specs when using your scoop.
Debris hooked from gutters can and will fall onto to the operator below.
Broken roof tiles,glass, stones and clumps of mud could maim and injure the operator.
At the very least even particles of soil falling into the operators eyes will be uncomfortable.
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Hi Alex
This is not a negative post - so please other readers do not read negative points into it.
You should inform users to wear hard hats, and safety specs when using your scoop.
Debris hooked from gutters can and will fall onto to the operator below.
Broken roof tiles,glass, stones and clumps of mud could maim and injure the operator.
At the vey least even particles of soil falling into the operators eyes will be uncomfortable.
Very good advise there Glyn and a nice way of putting it across to Alex ;)
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Hi Alex
(This is not a negative post - so please other readers do not read negative points into it.)
You should inform users to wear hard hats, and safety specs when using your scoop.
Debris hooked from gutters can and will fall onto to the operator below.
Broken roof tiles,glass, stones and clumps of mud could maim and injure the operator.
At the very least even particles of soil falling into the operators eyes will be uncomfortable.
Good point Glyn. I always carry these items in my vehicle, they should be standard PPE for this type of work.
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Good advice Glyn, many of the gutters I do even contain sandy like material, Not very nice when you get it in your eye's.
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Alex, how does it work, do you push it or pull it or try and lift the debris out?
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Alex, how does it work, do you push it or pull it or try and lift the debris out?
It's angled so that you pull it towards you, once you've hooked it inside the gutter. I will do a video soon to show how it works.
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This is my Mk1 home made one, I'm now on Mk3 I had to make a lot of improvements to get it right, I wish alex's gutter scoop was out when I needed one quickly, its a lot more robust than the one I made and well worth the money he's asking.
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/GutterHook006Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/GutterHook004Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering003Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering004Small.jpg)
You can see it removing some large clumps, safely from the ground, you will also get these results using Alex's gutter scoop only Alex's will stay attached to your pole, Mine came detached from my pole once, Alex has over come this problem by the ability of screwing it to your pole. (I did get mine back though Lol)
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so basically you just attach this to the poles and then push it along the gutter to the end or something ?
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so basically you just attach this to the poles and then push it along the gutter to the end or something ?
Problem there is when there are brackets holding the gutter to the boards every foot or so, would be a royal pain in the bum, for gutters without this it could be good
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Now that....
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/GutterHook006Small.jpg)
is a piece of precision engineering.
May I congratulate you Jeff on the hard-work and industrious attitude you must possess to be able to manufacture a tool of such exacting quality ;)
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I have to admit. it is a good tool. Exellent might be a better description.If you are going to spend longer than an hour making one yourself then it is still probably cost effective to buy one ,albeit that they are unreasonably expensive.
It's got me a bit interested now. I thought that if you had the same, or similar profile,or semi round profile, but it was more of a leading edge tube, then a sock could be attached behind to contain the debris.
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Now that....
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/GutterHook006Small.jpg)
is a piece of precision engineering.
May I congratulate you Jeff on the hard-work and industrious attitude you must possess to be able to manufacture a tool of such exacting quality ;)
Now Matt, do I take that as a compliment or a Mickey take Lol
I'm on Mk3 now, with an added bar for strength and a plate to attach for flat bottom guttering.
A gutter scoop is like any other tool one might have in there tool box, they all take a little practice, the gutter scoop is no exception to the rule, I've not used the one Alex sells but if its anything like mine, if you just add a little angle to it, it will fly past the guttering brackets and a full length of guttering can be cleaned out within minutes and all from the safety of the ground.
I for one would like to thank Alex for his time, thought, effort and money he's ploughed into creating a gutter scoop not only to speed up our work but with safety in mind, Nice one Alex.
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i await the next posts
Alex, when are you PPE kits out, hard hat and googles ? ? ? ??
Ales, can i choose my colour for my superlite hardhat ? ? ? ?
you knows it will happen, you knows it you does :P
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i like the idea of doing gutter cleans safely from the ground, but how do you know if the downpipe is blocked, has anyone got a tool that can be attached to a pole that you can clear out the s bend, i was thinking like one of those flexible screwdiver/socket extensions that could have some sort of barb on to pull out the blockage or break it up to go down the pipe.
what do you all think.
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i like the idea of doing gutter cleans safely from the ground, but how do you know if the downpipe is blocked, has anyone got a tool that can be attached to a pole that you can clear out the s bend, i was thinking like one of those flexible screwdiver/socket extensions that could have some sort of barb on to pull out the blockage or break it up to go down the pipe.
what do you all think.
To flush I use my gutter lance, you could stick a hose on the end of your pole with a bit of velcro, you then know if the downpipe is blocked or not.
For cleaning out blocked down pipes I use a steel fish wire (mouse for electricians) if you look at screwfix's web site, you can use these for unblocking downpipes.
www.screwfix.com/cats/A235328/Hand-Tools/Cable-Access
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Can you be a bit more specific Jeff? which screwfix item?
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i await the next posts
Alex, when are you PPE kits out, hard hat and googles ? ? ? ??
Ales, can i choose my colour for my superlite hardhat ? ? ? ?
you knows it will happen, you knows it you does :P
Superlite hardhat, that's great. ;D
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Well assuming this to be some kind of squiglly rod, if you could put a half inch screw drill head on the end and then introduce a turning moment via an electrical screw driver, then I think down pipes could be unblocked from the ground.
I'm quite tempted to have a go at this.
I've never liked the idea of the lance (Too heavy ro control and messy results), I've never been sure of the gutter vac. This could be a much better system. Dry and clean and technicaly superior.
The problems as i see it.
1. getting the debris out of gutters.(and the fact that the gap to get into the gutter is sometimes quite small because the roof over hangs)
2 .unblocking down pipes.
I will make this my next project.
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I have a drain unblocker from screwfix which is a 25 feet coiled metal rod with a handle which you turn to unblock the drain, the end bit is a pointed coil which screws into the debris and breaks it up. Do a search for 'drain unblocker' on the screwfix website to find it. Plumbers use it to unblock drains.
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I have a drain unblocker from screwfix which is a 25 feet coiled metal rod with a handle which you turn to unblock the drain, the end bit is a pointed coil which screws into the debris and breaks it up. Do a search for 'drain unblocker' on the screwfix website to find it. Plumbers use it to unblock drains.
How are you going to get that up there without ladders tho, or would you insert it at the bottom if there is an opening?
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Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.
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Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.
Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.
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Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.
Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.
What you need to do in this situation is to drill a small 20mm hole low down on the drain pipe, using a stepped cone cutter. www.screwfix.com/prods/15976/Drill-Bits/Specialist-Drill-Bits/HSS-Step-Drill-4-22mm
use this hole to clear blockage, once finished you can plug the hole with a rubber 20mm Grommet.
www.screwfix.com/prods/18603/Electrical/Cable-Accessories/PVC-Grommets/PVC-Grommet-Closed-Pack-of-100#
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Can you be a bit more specific Jeff? which screwfix item?
I use a BT one very similar to this one, I made a little hook to go on the wheel at the end of it, shove this up the pipe and once you feel the blockage push and twist, then tug it down or sometimes you can push up and down like your sweeping a chimney.
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Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.
Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.
What you need to do in this situation is to drill a small 20mm hole low down on the drain pipe, using a stepped cone cutter. www.screwfix.com/prods/15976/Drill-Bits/Specialist-Drill-Bits/HSS-Step-Drill-4-22mm
use this hole to clear blockage, once finished you can plug the hole with a rubber 20mm Grommet.
www.screwfix.com/prods/18603/Electrical/Cable-Accessories/PVC-Grommets/PVC-Grommet-Closed-Pack-of-100#
I'm sure the customer would love you for that
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I will make this my next project.
The anticipation is almost too much to bear!!
;) :)
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Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.
Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.
What you need to do in this situation is to drill a small 20mm hole low down on the drain pipe, using a stepped cone cutter. www.screwfix.com/prods/15976/Drill-Bits/Specialist-Drill-Bits/HSS-Step-Drill-4-22mm
use this hole to clear blockage, once finished you can plug the hole with a rubber 20mm Grommet.
www.screwfix.com/prods/18603/Electrical/Cable-Accessories/PVC-Grommets/PVC-Grommet-Closed-Pack-of-100#
I'm sure the customer would love you for that
Then you obviously don't understand people? when it comes to spending money, its a 20mm hole with a 20mm rubber bung low down, that can also be fitted to any blind side if there is one.
The customers have 2 choices if they have a blocked downpipe, 1. remove the whole section of downpipe (more expense) 2. a small hole were you can rod safely from the ground, there is of course a third choice for yourself and that is to go up your ladders and rod from the top.
I have personally drilled holes many times, when you give a customer a choice 9/10 times they always go for the cheapest.
'O' and one last thing? when you have finished you insert the rubber bung and no leaks afterwards.
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Well for a start it should have been offset. Gardiner's tool shaft connects at the middle of the paddle, this should have been to the side because of the very many narrow openings because of tile overhang.
Jeff's version two doesn't address this either (we haven't seen version 3)
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You're going to have to invent one then Discount. Serving spoon and sellotape perhaps?
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Well for a start it should have been offset. Gardiner's tool shaft connects at the middle of the paddle, this should have been to the side because of the very many narrow openings because of tile overhang.
Jeff's version two doesn't address this either (we haven't seen version 3)
Offset - that sounds a good idea.
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That's what i had in mind, a scoop, a hook, a spike.
Can't do anything about the hook, but if you use it to push the muck along, thats the scoop, and if the debris is dry and compact and you would like to break it up with a spike like tool then by turning the pole in towards the gutter the paddle would present it's side profile and cut the crusty bits and break things up more like a plough. You would then go back along using it in it's scoop mode to collect the dirt to one end.
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£50? LOL!
Get up yer ladders an ddo it properly not fannying around with gadjets like this.
::)
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Most people who ask me only want to pay £20. With this tool it would take about seven minutes.
If they pay fifty or more, granted they expect a bit more theatre, a ladderclimb every four feet and some grazed knuckles.
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Well for a start it should have been offset. Gardiner's tool shaft connects at the middle of the paddle, this should have been to the side because of the very many narrow openings because of tile overhang.
Jeff's version two doesn't address this either (we haven't seen version 3)
Hi Clive
The off-set is a good idea, I've been working on one but its been on the back burner for the past couple of weeks.
The thing is, the range of attachments would have to be varied, I remember doing one gutter cleaning job when I was still on the ladders and the only way I could clean it was with small flat bar I had available at the time, there was just no room between the tile and the guttering edge, it was just over one finger wide gap, clearly no scoop would do this task.
Even with a gutter spike, once the guttering muck is soaking wet, this would has limited affect on clearing it, unless it was full of weeds.
On my Mk3 version I added a bar across it to add strength because it was bending when I came across a guttering Job that turned out to be a really bad weeding Job.
The third improvment I made to it, was the addition of a flat edge scoop for the square section guttering, this just slides onto the spoon scoop you seen in the photo's.
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Most people who ask me only want to pay £20. With this tool it would take about seven minutes.
If they pay fifty or more, granted they expect a bit more theatre, a ladderclimb every four feet and some grazed knuckles.
7 minutes to clear a house gutters?!!!
This is a Friday night laughin with Rowan and that other American bloke.
7 minutes. ::) ::) ::) ::)
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Think your going to struggle to clear a gutter with a scoop but ok for a short length or a small plantation.
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Would you agree that if the right tools were available there would be no need for a gutter vac or a pressure lance?
You would still be allowed the remote camera.
Rowan and martin was thirty years ago.You are now posting on the most technicaly advanced interenet forum on the planet and commenting to industry experts and pioneering inventors. Jeff and Alex are also very knowledgeable.Nathaneal not so much but he gets by.
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Um, i like the idea of cleaning by ploughing through the gutter, i just don't think it can be easily achieved for a full clean. Come on Discount get your thinking cap on and come up with a jaw dropping solution. (by 10:30pm please)
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Has anyone actually looked at this thing? ;D
(http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/gutter_scoop175.jpg)
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Has anyone actually looked at this thing? ;D
(http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/gutter_scoop175.jpg)
Thanks for posting the picture again - reminds people how great it will be hooked over a gutter ;D ;D
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That's not the only thing that I could drape over a gutter. Limp.
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Right, own up, who's bought one? I want a full gutterscoop review please. :)
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Think your going to struggle to clear a gutter with a scoop but ok for a short length or a small plantation.
How wrong you can be, This next extraction I posted on another forum, but it shows what can be done and both Jobs were completed in 70 minutes, with a home made scoop, I recon if I was using Alex's scoop the time would have been reduced.
The Mk1 scoop I designed and made was put to Good use today, at 7:00am this morning Shell and I had 2 guttering Jobs to do, they were not a complete clean Job just a clear out.
Now these Jobs were on a busy road and with 1 being the main shop of the village, it becomes very busy during the week, early Sunday morning was the only option open to us for minimum disruption to ourselves.
As you can see from the pictures the whole length of guttering was a solid extra garden, to use the gutter lance would have been possible but very time consuming, I decided to give my Mk1 gutter scoop a try out and I must admit, I was more than impressed with it, I was able to slide it under the deep rooted mass with ease and scoop out the garden.
I did have one scare when the Mk1 became detached from my pole and was hanging out of the guttering, what had happened was, With all the twisting and pushing I inadvertently unscrewed the elbow joint from my pole, luckily I was able to re-screw the pole back into the Mk1 from the ground, It does need a bolt through it somehow, the Mk1 is bolted to the elbow but the elbow is not bolted to the pole.
Signs and Hi-vis Jackets plus Shell standing as H&S officer was the order of the day.
You can see a bit of the muck on the floor, Once the Gutters were clear, the cleaning up began, Hard broom and shovel with a few buckets of water from the shop and the first big Job was complete, the second Job was the restaurant opposite, Just beyond the scaffold in one of the pictures, this Job had a garden in it as well, but withing 10 minutes the second Job was complete, the 2 Jobs were done in 70 minutes including cleaning time, then it was back home in time for breakfast.
The garden you see in this picture run the full length of the guttering
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering008Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering004Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering003Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering006Small.jpg)
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering007Small.jpg)
Just a tiny bit of the mess to clean up.
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering005Small.jpg)
Job Done
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering002Small.jpg)
The full run finished
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/hambdonguttering001Small.jpg)
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Can you even begin to imagine the force with what you have to hold the pole to get anything like a good purchse on the crap in the gutter with this thing?!!!!
It looks like it should work, but only if you have the equivalent of twenty centurion tanks helping you twist against the crud barrier.!
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To much like hard work using a pole from the ground.
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Might not be if you can hook over and pull rather than push?
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Thank God for that ;D ;D ;D ;D I was looking for the precision engineering ;D
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Now that....
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k23/jeffo_01/GutterHook006Small.jpg)
is a piece of precision engineering.
May I congratulate you Jeff on the hard-work and industrious attitude you must possess to be able to manufacture a tool of such exacting quality ;)
Now Matt, do I take that as a compliment or a Mickey take Lol
;D ;D ;D
yesssss, I were havin a laff ;)
all in the best possible taste and no offence meant mate :)
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That fooled ya didnt it, how did I get below you? ooer missus! :)
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I don't know thats spooky and I'm sat here watching the haunting
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Well for a start it should have been offset. Gardiner's tool shaft connects at the middle of the paddle, this should have been to the side because of the very many narrow openings because of tile overhang.
Jeff's version two doesn't address this either (we haven't seen version 3)
If you were to offset it, would you not end up with one that only works left or right handed so to speak?
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Good point, you could make a double off-set for right and left handed people (more costs)
I don't personally think the off-set is a good idea now, after working with my own scoop for sometime now, I think pushing it with your body weight behind your pole is a better option to using just your arms for pulling or pushing (left or right) some of those gutter gardens can be deep rooted and can take a little force to dislodge, with your whole body weight behind you I feel it a much better option.
One of the deep rooted gardens I had to do took some force to dislodge, it began to bend my scoop so this led me to improve it upto the Mk2 version and I added a bar to stop it bending and it works fine now but it goes to show the force sometimes needed to dislodge the deep rooted ones, doing this to the side I feel will tell on your arms at the end of the day.
(Just my opinion though)
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The pictures were helpfull Jeff and I think you've done a good. There is no such thing as handedness in this >:(
I did one today off ladders, but I was thinking about the problem.
It does need to be offset. And the shaft should come down at an angle. In your pictures your pole is at the right working angle except that you should be pulling not pushing (if you were using the gutter plough)
Because of the offset there could well be a turning moment (the pole wanting to twist rather than come towards you face on).
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Discount if it's offset surely your pole can only be used in one direction at one angle no?
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no ftp (but if I angle the shaft that could limit the options)
Earlier Alex said something about this being a niche tool for a small minority of window cleaners (or something similar); I disagree ,I think this has mass appeal to nearly every householder ( maybe not at £46). At twenty five pounds it could be an ebay or a one product website business to make someone a tidy few grand.
Of course northern tools would source it in china and do the same thing for a tenner, but you might be able to get a lucratrive eighteen months out of it.
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If it works you could be right, we already have the tools to reach most heights (poles) and Jeff has shown it is possible.
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If you look closely at the one Alex has for sale, I can see an improvement for some of the problems? First of all look at were the weld is that welds the plate to the tube, say an inch or two above this weld the tube could be expanded to drop the plate in just like a modular pole, there could be a pin to insert into a set of pre-drilled holes so that you could use it in any direction you choose by simply removing the pin twist the foot then re-insert the pin.
The second reason I thought about was the ability to change the foot from a flat bottom one to a round foot all by simply removing the pin and changing the foot and angling it to any direction one chooses.
(Just a thought.)
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that is a good idea jeff and very simple
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Of course, you're also going to want to inspect before and after.
Here's my Mk II offering for that.
It's an aftermarket fitting motorcycle mirror. It's a 4" diameter convex, so you can get a reasonably close-up view or a wide-angle view depending on the height of the mirror above the gutter.
Cost = £10 from a specialist m/cycle shop.
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/002.jpg)
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/001.jpg)
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/003.jpg)
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/004.jpg)
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Excellent.
How is it for inspections, can you see what's going on?
The other two brilliant aspects to this is that you can show the customer what you've done. They don't have to take your word for it that it's clear,and what a bit of kit to pull out when you do a quote.
I've had a couple of ideas, but i didn't have this one, so well done.
I'm sure there is a low tech and simple solution to all aspects of. removing the debris.The best solution that has occured to me so far is a tool that mimics a low profile trowel, this would allow the muck to be lifted outl. Some method of collection is required though to prevent the muck from falling down onto my eyes and face.
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Excellent.
How is it for inspections, can you see what's going on?
The other two brilliant aspects to this is that you can show the customer what you've done. They don't have to take your word for it that it's clear,and what a bit of kit to pull out when you do a quote.
I've had a couple of ideas, but i didn't have this one, so well done.
I'm sure there is a low tech and simple solution to all aspects of. removing the debris.The best solution that has occured to me so far is a tool that mimics a low profile trowel, this would allow the muck to be lifted outl. Some method of collection is required though to prevent the muck from falling down onto my eyes and face.
I'm right up there with you on this.
These photos are of what I've been doing this weekend.
It isn't intended to be anything more than testing a general principle. It certainly isn't offered as a finished solution.
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/005.jpg)
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/006.jpg)
It's simply a cheap trowel from B&Q with a 19 mm hole drilled through the handle. This fits snugly on the aluminium thread on a Harris pole. I had a go at my own gutters, and it certainly did clear muck out. The only problem was that it got stuck a few times! The next version will be better.
The problem is that the trowel is just a bit too wide to fit into the gutters easily. There are therefore three possible options:
1 - grind it down
2 - hammer it closed
3 - use a much narrower trowel.
I'll have a think about these when I get the time.
The finished article should be ready for unveiling next weekend.
The projected cost will be a touch under the £46 + VAT = £54.05 that Alex is asking.
Some method of collection is required though to prevent the muck from falling down onto my eyes and face.
Don't see why. Jeff1's photos just show the stuff fallen on the ground and then he sweeps up afterwards. Just let the stuff fall. You're not working overhead; you're probably working a meter or more infront of yourself. Wear PPE.
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wally i found this on the net, fairly cheap for gutter inspections,
here is where to buy
www.kitbag.com.au/prod835.htm
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Uumh, thanks joe, you're not going to suggest I wear a bee keeping hat to catch the debris are you?
Yes, the trowel, my idea would be you don't need the handle, but use the same method as alex apart from the shaft attaching to the side of the scoop (making it offset).
I'm pretty sure this would work. It would be nice to figure a way of collecting the the dirt instead of it falling into your face. It's okay for Jeff; I'm pretty sure he makes the boss stand there.
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I forgot to say we still haven't addressed the problem of unblocking the down pipe. Have you any thoughts on this?
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If you suck with a machine at the top of a blocked downspout and blow from the bottom it often clears many blockages.
The new Omni is both a suck and blow vac.
Someone also suggested using flexible electricians underfloor wiring rods from Machine Mart. to go up the downpipe.
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I forgot to say we still haven't addressed the problem of unblocking the down pipe. Have you any thoughts on this?
worm screw and drain rods maybe
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guys its not a net, its a professional telescopic viewing mirror ;D look at the link
www.kitbag.com.au/prod835.htm
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I use a BT fish wire on a reel, its fitted with a small hook on the end to unblock them.
I must say though, I don't come across that many that are blocked in there downpipes and on average I do a few guttering jobs every week.
I still prefere my CCTV for the inspections, my eye's arn't that good to see the muck in a mirror 20' away ::) for those with good eye sight, you could fit the mirror to alex's scoop.
I still think cleaning by pushing is the best option, I suppose for safety reasons its like when using a knife for cutting, you always cut away from yourself, so cleaning away from yourself any muck that fly's out will be going away from you and not towards your face or eye's.
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guys its not a net, its a professional telescopic viewing mirror ;D look at the link
www.kitbag.com.au/prod835.htm
Not being funny but i would get laughed out of town if i turned up with that,if it works for you fair play to you lol. ;D ;D ;D
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i haven't done that many, maybe 15 in total, but a lot have been blocked at the elbow of the down pipe. I usually take it to pieces and then reconnect.
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i haven't done that many, maybe 15 in total, but a lot have been blocked at the elbow of the down pipe. I usually take it to pieces and then reconnect.
If your up there Clive and its blocked, use a metal coat hanger bend a small hook on it, to unblock it? Just saves all that taking apart.
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i haven't done that many, maybe 15 in total, but a lot have been blocked at the elbow of the down pipe. I usually take it to pieces and then reconnect.
If your up there Clive and its blocked, use a metal coat hanger bend a small hook on it, to unblock it? Just saves all that taking apart.
To take it apart it takes seconds and you can be sure it`s cleaned out,some jobs you just have to get up close to it.
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Been up there hundreds of times and taken loads apart myself, poke it with a hooked wire coat hanger and you'll soon know if its clear or not and to do the Job 100% correctly you should be flushing it as well.
I'm now happy staying on the ground cleaning mine.
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Been up there hundreds of times and taken loads apart myself, poke it with a hooked wire coat hanger and you'll soon know if its clear or not and to do the Job 100% correctly you should be flushing it as well.
I'm now happy staying on the ground cleaning mine.
Hey, Jeff1,
You're the one who seems to speak most sense on this topic. That's probably because (i) you've had more experience than most of us and (ii) you've learned more from your experience.
How do you attach a wire coat hanger to your pole so it doesn't come off and get lost up there?
Can you supply a picture of that?
Wally
P.S Love your pictures.
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Been up there hundreds of times and taken loads apart myself, poke it with a hooked wire coat hanger and you'll soon know if its clear or not and to do the Job 100% correctly you should be flushing it as well.
I'm now happy staying on the ground cleaning mine.
Hey, Jeff1,
You're the one who seems to speak most sense on this topic. That's probably because (i) you've had more experience than most of us and (ii) you've learned more from your experience.
How do you attach a wire coat hanger to your pole so it doesn't come off and get lost up there?
Can you supply a picture of that?
Wally
P.S Love your pictures.
Hi Wally
I was referring to the use of a wire coat hanger if you were still using ladders, rather than taking the down pipe apart, the chances of using it on a pole and doing a good Job would be possible but very time consuming and then its knowing if you have done a good job or not.
I would look for something more stiffer than a coat hanger but still flexible enough to go around the bends if I was going to attach it to a pole, at least this way you would have a better chance of feeling for the down pipe and know its gone down there.
When I tie my CCTV onto my pole I use cable ties.
If your working on the ground go up from the bottom, this is so much quicker and you can see your mouse come out of the top and you will often see the muck come down the pipe once its hooked.
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Equipment like this is ok when you can’t use ladders, otherwise do the job properly and use the right equipment, ladders that are properly secured.
I'm sorry to be thick, but I don't quite understand what you are saying here.
Is it that you are saying that the only way to do the job properly is to use the right equipment which is ladders?
Or are you saying that equipment like this is OK for a certain amount of work, but some requires the use of ladders?
Or are you saying that it's only OK to use equipment like this when the use of ladders is not possible = ladders are the first choice?
Or are you saying something completely different which has escaped me?
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You might be right there, Ewan.
I have a simple policy on this:
If it can be done from the ground, I'll do it from the ground. If it needs ladders, someone else can do it.
That's why I'm looking out for ways of doing as much as possible from the ground.
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There’s nothing wrong with that policy, if you stick to it.
Maybe some have been on the ground to long! Or have never been able to use ladders properly.
I've been using ladders for thirty years, 20 of them in another trade and never had a fall, I also have the latest safety devices for them, but If I can do a job from the ground in half the time, and still learn of faster ways of doing a good Job, then thats the option for me.
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I've had a good think about this and the Gardiners tool looks better and better(apart from not being offset). Having re looked at the photo it's got an angle for raking and digging.
Several internet sites offer tools proporting to do the same thing and they are all rubbishy gimmicks.
I'm still building my own, but i'm now thinking that Gardiners is pretty good. Remember you can use an angle adapter to get gutters that are set in above another roof.
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Just strap a hose onto Alex's, that will work but strap it on after you have cleaned them out.
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You would have problems with hose's if you try it any other way? Internal hose would be to heavy when full of water or the internal diameter would be to small for a good wash, having the hose fitted externally would hinder your work and with the extra weight would soon make your arms ache.
This was why I said just attach a hose once you cleaned it out, you only need it to flush the guttering through.
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I'll post a pic when mines done. at the moment i can't see it being much better than the gardiners one but sometimes when i make something i get lucky.
I considered all sorts of ideas including water to drive dirt out, and power via a flexible drive burrowing the dirt out, the problem being that gutters are actually designed to trap water and dirt, and it's the being able to tip it over the side that's the problem. So you end up with the simplicity of returning to jeff/alex's idea.
If it's any consolation to any other would be Caractacus Potts out there (Ewan), the other internet solutions were real crack pot jackpot material.For such a commonplace problem. requiring a simple solution you'd have thought that our grandfathers would have already invented a tool.
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Our Grandfathers Clive, never had the restrictions of H&S, so the problem never reared its head, out came the ladders.
The problem we all have is the different gaps between the tiles and the gutter edge, I remember one Job I did were, I could just get two fingers in, so even my own or Alex's scoop would be next to useless on this type of Job, I think with all of todays technology, if there was anything out there to do a good Job on all types of guttering, someone would have come up with it by now, (I think) but like you say there is one Caractacus Potts out there that's going to produce something so simple we'll all be shocked.