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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Window Cleaning Services on October 08, 2008, 07:15:22 pm

Title: sl-x clamps
Post by: Window Cleaning Services on October 08, 2008, 07:15:22 pm
We had a good day today, sunshine and all, until the last house that is. I'm on the windows round the side, mates doing conservatory roof, borrowing my sl-x due to its light weight and rigidity. Voice from around the corner.....
...."er, we've got a problem.".
me: "oh, whats that then?"
mate: "Ive just broken last roof panel with your pole"
me:"Oh....dear.....me...what happened?"
mate:"just caught the edge of the glass panel with the metal clamp, and the whole sheet just shattered".....
There it was, the last panel with a lovely frosted look all over it. So please beware if you are using an sl-x on glass panels, particularly if the glass edge over guttering is exposed with no plastic protective strip on.
Which brings me to asking the question, are there  any other suitable less cumbersome clamps available?  8)Syd 
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: windowwashers on October 08, 2008, 07:17:56 pm
We had a good day today, sunshine and all, until the last house that is. I'm on the windows round the side, mates doing conservatory roof, borrowing my sl-x due to its light weight and rigidity. Voice from around the corner.....
...."er, we've got a problem.".
me: "oh, whats that then?"
mate: "Ive just broken last roof panel with your pole"
me:"Oh....dear.....me...what happened?"
mate:"just caught the edge of the glass panel with the metal clamp, and the whole sheet just shattered".....
There it was, the last panel with a lovely frosted look all over it. So please beware if you are using an sl-x on glass panels, particularly if the glass edge over guttering is exposed with no plastic protective strip on.
Which brings me to asking the question, are there  any other suitable less cumbersome clamps available?  8)Syd 
Are slx clamps metal  ???
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 08, 2008, 07:21:58 pm
We had a good day today, sunshine and all, until the last house that is. I'm on the windows round the side, mates doing conservatory roof, borrowing my sl-x due to its light weight and rigidity. Voice from around the corner.....
...."er, we've got a problem.".
me: "oh, whats that then?"
mate: "Ive just broken last roof panel with your pole"
me:"Oh....dear.....me...what happened?"
mate:"just caught the edge of the glass panel with the metal clamp, and the whole sheet just shattered".....
There it was, the last panel with a lovely frosted look all over it. So please beware if you are using an sl-x on glass panels, particularly if the glass edge over guttering is exposed with no plastic protective strip on.
Which brings me to asking the question, are there  any other suitable less cumbersome clamps available?  8)Syd 
Are slx clamps metal  ???

By the looks of the video on utube yes!

h ttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=w1MBCS5gerw
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Window Cleaning Services on October 08, 2008, 07:38:25 pm
Yes, an alloy of sorts but still hard, as are the bolts used for adjusting the clamps. They are the big flaw imo in the design. I have had to adjust them far more than i have on other far cheaper poles. When i do windows above a large conservatory they cattch/snag quite easily on the guttering if vi'm not careful. A problem i did not have with my old pole. They just seem to stick out such a lot. Also the first section has been adjusted so much that i had to cut some of the thread off the bolt as it wouldn't allow the clamp lever to open. Still a good pole though. 8) Syd
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: William Tyndale on October 08, 2008, 07:44:30 pm
They look like a bike seat post clamp to me??
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Window Cleaning Services on October 08, 2008, 07:46:02 pm
They look like a bike seat post clamp to me??
Spot on  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: windowwashers on October 08, 2008, 07:58:03 pm
They look like a bike seat post clamp to me??
I thought the same aswell,
And Alex if you read this please dont feel this is a knock at you because what you do is very good  ;)
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Wayne Thomas on October 08, 2008, 08:28:48 pm
Try some Tucker Pennel clamps (plastic clamps) as they should be the same size or use a different pole for similar job
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Alex Gardiner on October 08, 2008, 08:43:27 pm
They look like a bike seat post clamp to me??
I thought the same aswell,
And Alex if you read this please dont feel this is a knock at you because what you do is very good  ;)

You're exactly right, they are the same type of clamp as bicycle seat post clamps. We've just had them made to our section diameter sizes.  They are much stronger than plastic clamps and also significantly lighter (about 30%).
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 08, 2008, 09:04:36 pm
They look like a bike seat post clamp to me??
I thought the same aswell,
And Alex if you read this please dont feel this is a knock at you because what you do is very good  ;)

You're exactly right, they are the same type of clamp as bicycle seat post clamps. We've just had them made to our section diameter sizes.  They are much stronger than plastic clamps and also significantly lighter (about 30%).

Perhaps it would be an idea to get them rubber coated or the like to prevent the first post problem.
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: windowwashers on October 08, 2008, 09:07:34 pm
They look like a bike seat post clamp to me??
I thought the same aswell,
And Alex if you read this please dont feel this is a knock at you because what you do is very good  ;)

You're exactly right, they are the same type of clamp as bicycle seat post clamps. We've just had them made to our section diameter sizes.  They are much stronger than plastic clamps and also significantly lighter (about 30%).

Perhaps it would be an idea to get them rubber coated or the like to prevent the first post problem.
Could well b heavy handed staff, I have this a lot tbh.

But that could well be a good option Alex, could you not get them in plastic/carbon ? I know tooling would be a little costly but replacements would be cheaper in the long run  :-\
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Moderator David@stives on October 08, 2008, 09:13:37 pm
I have seen this happen before but with the Unger modular on a camopy above M&S  the final bill was about £12'000
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: niceandclean on October 08, 2008, 09:18:47 pm
I like the clamps, nothing wrong with them imo! They do catch on the guttering or on the bottoms of the roof sheets on the conservatories and roof canopies, but i know this happens so i am careful. I probably only do a roof week with it if i am lucky, so i will put up with the only small down side to the pole!!
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: windowwashers on October 08, 2008, 09:20:31 pm
I have seen this happen before but with the Unger modular on a camopy above M&S  the final bill was about £12'000
Ouch
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: Window Cleaning Services on October 08, 2008, 09:27:30 pm
I'm more than happy with the pole overall, i just forgot to warn my mate to watch out for the guttering etc.never mind, live and learn. Also, the new brush is is brill too! 8)Syd
Title: Re: sl-x clamps
Post by: ftp on October 08, 2008, 10:14:17 pm
Nothing to stop you turning the pole so that the levers face upwards of course. ;)