Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ftp on September 11, 2008, 05:32:11 pm

Title: Alex and your brushes
Post by: ftp on September 11, 2008, 05:32:11 pm
Just wondering how they manufacture these new Superlights? Are they produced in long lengths and then cut into individual brushes? The reason i ask is because i'm just curious how easy it would be to produce different sizes or even different widths?
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Alex Gardiner on September 11, 2008, 05:48:21 pm
I can have produced anything you want.  It is relatively easy to produce different sizes and widths but the minimum order would be 200-1000 (depending on which manufacturer you use).  We are working on three new brushes in addition to the dual trim and the single trim.  Brushes to come are:  flocked, sill and large brush.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: ftp on September 11, 2008, 06:05:30 pm
Mmm i see, they look to have been sawn from a larger sheet and cut to size. I tend to use a very small Bentley probably only five inches long with the jets as close to the centre as possible purely for cleaning outside guttering. Bentley bristles don't last five minutes with hard cleaning, whereas yours seem very hard wearing, a nice length with a handy narrow stock, would seem a shame to hack a full brush down but if you ever bring out some varying sizes it might be interesting.
 Do you think there would be any advantage in a deeper dual trim? Say with another row or two or do you feel that you have the optimum dimensions?
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: matt on September 11, 2008, 06:13:56 pm
Mmm i see, they look to have been sawn from a larger sheet and cut to size. I tend to use a very small Bentley probably only five inches long with the jets as close to the centre as possible purely for cleaning outside guttering. Bentley bristles don't last five minutes with hard cleaning, whereas yours seem very hard wearing, a nice length with a handy narrow stock would seem a shame to hack a full brush down but if you ever bring out some varying sizes it might be interesting.
 Do you think there would be any advantage in a deeper dual trim? Say with another row or two or do you feel that you have the optimum dimensions?

cut a full size into TWO smaller gutter cleaning brushs, bingo, you are sorted  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: ftp on September 11, 2008, 06:17:41 pm
Yes i've already thought of that one but you don't get that nice splay both ends. AND you only get ONE sticker!  :'(
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Alex Gardiner on September 11, 2008, 06:18:38 pm
Mmm i see, they look to have been sawn from a larger sheet and cut to size. I tend to use a very small Bentley probably only five inches long with the jets as close to the centre as possible purely for cleaning outside guttering. Bentley bristles don't last five minutes with hard cleaning, whereas yours seem very hard wearing, a nice length with a handy narrow stock would seem a shame to hack a full brush down but if you ever bring out some varying sizes it might be interesting.
 Do you think there would be any advantage in a deeper dual trim? Say with another row or two or do you feel that you have the optimum dimensions?

They are cut from large rectangular sheets of material and then drilled and punched to take the bristles.  Having used the latest batch of dual trim batches over the last two days I feel it would be very hard to beat the current brush.  I realize my comments need to be taken in context with the fact that I have designed and supplied this brush ( :D) but having used it, I really would not want to go back to any of the other brushes I have tried.  I even was able to scrub off bee spots from a notoriously bad area of glass on a building today and it's the only brush I've ever been able to do that with.

Is anyone else interested in us bringing out an even smaller version as you suggest?  I'm always open to new ideas.

Yes i've already thought of that one but you don't get that nice splay both ends. AND you only get ONE sticker!  :'(

We can send another sticker to you.  We're even thinking of bringing out car stickers!
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: NWH on September 11, 2008, 06:18:53 pm
Vikan do what your looking for,Luke will post a picture if he reads this.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: ftp on September 11, 2008, 06:26:26 pm
I know but it's going to be "chunky" no doubt.


Alex, when is my Gardiners Superlight fleece going to be ready? I need to tell the embroiderers so i can hve my logo printed on to it. ;)
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: matt on September 11, 2008, 06:34:13 pm
AND you only get ONE sticker!  :'(

im sure alex would send you a free sticker

if not, my daugther got a sticker today with " good work " on it today
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Alex Gardiner on September 11, 2008, 06:35:19 pm
I know but it's going to be "chunky" no doubt.


Alex, when is my Gardiners Superlight fleece going to be ready? I need to tell the embroiderers so i can hve my logo printed on to it. ;)

I'll get the kids to start weaving  :D
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: ronnie paton on September 11, 2008, 06:37:35 pm
i would be intrestted in a smaller brushes for getting between bars and im sure there would be a few takers!
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Paul Coleman on September 11, 2008, 06:51:01 pm
i would be intrestted in a smaller brushes for getting between bars and im sure there would be a few takers!

My thoughts exactly.  A mini brush would be helpful as it's not always possible to squeeze them through by turning them when the gap between the bars is very narrow.
I was interested in what Alex said about removing bees stuff.  I had previously believed that only a hot water system could remove that stuff and, even then, not always.
I'm still on my Bentley but that doesn't look like it has a great deal of longevity.  Nice light one to get started with though.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: NWH on September 11, 2008, 06:53:42 pm
That brush goes through railings you just have to have a G fit gooseneck on the pole,i done 2 houses today with railings and no problem.You have to go in at an angle and come out at an angle.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 11, 2008, 06:57:55 pm
NWH, what pic do you want me to post?

Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Oakley Windows on September 11, 2008, 06:59:17 pm
Vikan do what your looking for,Luke will post a picture if he reads this.

That predicatable?

 ;D
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: NWH on September 11, 2008, 06:59:54 pm
NWH, what pic do you want me to post?


A selection of vikan brushes,the 1 with the mini brush in.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Oakley Windows on September 11, 2008, 07:03:26 pm
NWH did your dual trim arrive. If so, what you think?

Matt
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: NWH on September 11, 2008, 07:04:32 pm
I think i must of got sent the wrong 1 or thing.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 11, 2008, 07:10:50 pm
(http://www.vikan.dk/graphics/DESIGN2002/2004/VTS_images_04/www_VTS_sortimentA_04.jpg)
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 11, 2008, 07:12:24 pm
I made my own small brush, cutting up a bentley. Luke
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: NWH on September 11, 2008, 07:38:08 pm
Well done Luke,the 1 that would be good for gutters is the 1 on the top right.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Captain Scarlet on September 11, 2008, 07:41:21 pm
omnipole sold them  little ones off on ebay...wish i had bought them...argg

Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: trevor perry on September 11, 2008, 08:12:26 pm
hi alex
how long will it be before you get the flocked brushes in stock, and will it have the same number of bristles.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Wayne Thomas on September 11, 2008, 08:42:53 pm
Alex,

how possible would it be to have one of the new dual trim brushes at twice the length for commercial work but without any holes cut for the jets as I would like to fit 4 jets and a swivel onto it.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: stevieg on September 11, 2008, 08:45:50 pm
i need a larger brush ,about a foot or so,very light( to go on a modular ),and must be able to clean properly without "lift off rinsing"It also needs to be a cross between a vikan (which disappears into the glass)and a salmon (which scrubs well,but does leave lines if your not attentive)   off you go then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: prestigeclean on September 11, 2008, 08:49:45 pm
can we have the 4 pencil jets on all your brushes as an option , its the only reason i,ve not bought any yet regards alan
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: d s windowcleaning on September 11, 2008, 08:50:38 pm
I can have produced anything you want.  It is relatively easy to produce different sizes and widths but the minimum order would be 200-1000 (depending on which manufacturer you use).  We are working on three new brushes in addition to the dual trim and the single trim.  Brushes to come are:  flocked, sill and large brush.
hi alex could you get 1 made with a scraper type edge for the baked on bird crap ?
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Oakley Windows on September 11, 2008, 08:55:20 pm
Can you design one that puts the kettle on and makes a cuppa every 20 minutes?

 :-*

Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Wayne Thomas on September 11, 2008, 08:58:23 pm
Can you design one that puts the kettle on and makes a cuppa every 20 minutes?

 :-*



Those that have their missus working with them already do, just to make them feel important and to keep them warm ;D
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Spruce on September 11, 2008, 09:00:01 pm
Can you design one that gets on with cleaning the windows whilst I sit in the van please - cold weather coming?
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Wayne Thomas on September 11, 2008, 09:02:04 pm
can we have the 4 pencil jets on all your brushes as an option , its the only reason i,ve not bought any yet regards alan

Do you have 4 pencil jets on most of your brushes including small brushes? How do you get on with them? Do you turn your water flow down or do you work quicker? I'm curious as I can see the benefits on large glass with large brushes but not with small brushes.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: [GQC] Tim on September 11, 2008, 10:15:24 pm
Alex, can you mention again what is changed to the new brushes? I can't find where you posted it in the other thread.

Thank you. :)
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Alex Gardiner on September 11, 2008, 10:32:51 pm
hi alex
how long will it be before you get the flocked brushes in stock, and will it have the same number of bristles.

If we decide to go with a flocked version, it would be 8-10 weeks before it was on the shelf.  It will have the same bristle quantity.


Alex,

how possible would it be to have one of the new dual trim brushes at twice the length for commercial work but without any holes cut for the jets as I would like to fit 4 jets and a swivel onto it.

It would be possible. I would not be happy though building a brush that was over half a metre wide as it would have to weigh 1/2 a kilo which would limit the poles that could cope with it.  We are looking at having a larger version made but more in the region of 36-38cm wide.  We are still thinking about what jet positions would work best with this size of brush.

i need a larger brush ,about a foot or so,very light( to go on a modular ),and must be able to clean properly without "lift off rinsing"It also needs to be a cross between a vikan (which disappears into the glass)and a salmon (which scrubs well,but does leave lines if your not attentive)   off you go then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The new dual trim does give a very good cross between a Vikan and a Salmon but is lighter than both.


can we have the 4 pencil jets on all your brushes as an option , its the only reason i,ve not bought any yet regards alan

We find that two x 2mm pencil jets provide a very even spread of water on the width of brush that the Super-Lite is.  We are considering more jets if we decide to make a larger brush.  It is fairly easy though to drill extra jet holes on any of these stocks, just a question of removing a few bristles and drilling the hole.  In fact, I believe we provided the very first commercial example of a 4 jet brush over two years ago for one of our clients.  This had 4 x 1mm jets.  There is always the option of paying us more for us to customize the brush if need be  :)


hi alex could you get 1 made with a scraper type edge for the baked on bird crap ?

Yes it is possible. However, in reality this would end up damaging frames as which ever side you put it on, it would come into contact with the frame of the window.


Can you design one that puts the kettle on and makes a cuppa every 20 minutes?

 :-*


No.  :)


Can you design one that gets on with cleaning the windows whilst I sit in the van please - cold weather coming?

No.  :)  :)


Alex, can you mention again what is changed to the new brushes? I can't find where you posted it in the other thread.

Thank you. :)

Interestingly looking at the two brushes, there are very little noticeable differences.  The differences become immediately apparent when using the brush however.  Whilst the original dual trim Super-Lite offered great splay and cleaning, the new brush betters this by keeping both of those aspects and adds better scrubbing power.

The bristles are 3mm shorter than the previous model and have bristle tufts that are 0.4 of a mm closer together.  Not a big alteration but makes enough of a difference.  I still like working with the original dual trim but suspect that the new version will appeal to slightly more users.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Wayne Thomas on September 11, 2008, 11:10:59 pm
If fitting 4 jets to a brush, the best place for jets would be:

2 jets near the edge of the brush so that when the brush sits resting against the side of the wall, the jets sit directly over the frame of the window. Too far in on the brush and it's very awkward to clean the window frames properly (especially on new cleans). The othe two inner jets would be proportionally spaced between the two outer jets.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Alex Gardiner on September 12, 2008, 08:14:07 am
If fitting 4 jets to a brush, the best place for jets would be:

2 jets near the edge of the brush so that when the brush sits resting against the side of the wall, the jets sit directly over the frame of the window. Too far in on the brush and it's very awkward to clean the window frames properly (especially on new cleans). The othe two inner jets would be proportionally spaced between the two outer jets.

Thanks Wayne.
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: S.A.J on September 12, 2008, 10:28:13 am
Alex what about the sill brush, how soon could we get our hands on one of those??

Stuart
Title: Re: Alex and your brushes
Post by: Alex Gardiner on September 12, 2008, 10:44:30 am
Alex what about the sill brush, how soon could we get our hands on one of those??

Stuart

They will on the shelf in 6-8 weeks and will weigh about 390g.