Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on January 14, 2009, 05:37:03 pm
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How are you SLX users getting on?
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Why's that then ;)
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Why's that then ;)
Because I'm looking for a new pole and will buy one soon.
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I reckon I'm gonna get a year and a half to 2 years out of mine. I've not had to hack the clamps on it yet to get more adjustment out of it, but it not as pretty as it was when new. I do take it apart every now and then to give it a proper clean to help stop it wearing.
I've a couple of mates who have one each and they are wearing faster, but they probably do use them a bit more than me.
It is a fantastic pole though, even if it does only last a year and a half it would still be worth it in my opinion.
Simon.
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Mines showing plenty of signs of wear now. However, the sections don't start to spin like a normal pole does - you just tighten the clamp a bit more. The beauty of the SLX is that it's serviceable even when worn out - bit of diy and off you go again. Send it back to Gardiners and they'll do it for you. It doesn't seem to wear in one place like most other poles (you know when your extender starts slipping in one position but is tight everywhere else).
Buy one - you won't be disappointed.
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Do you use it on domestics and have you got the extension?
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Use mine on absolutely everything i can. I haven't got an extension. I have the S2 for everything higher.
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In comparison to an HXtel, I think they wear down very quick. I've already opened up the keyholes as much as possible. Forever adjusting the clamps, always slips and even spinning at the ends where it constantly gets clamped. Even lacquered the pole twice now. The pole ribs are wearing away, hence why it spins. If I get a year before cutting sections shorter I'll be lucky. Wish it was harder wearing as it's frustrating having to keep adjusting clamps. Always keep the allen key on my person for this very reason.
Prefer the clamps and working life of an HXtel pole. Shame this pole isn't lighter, smaller diameter and same rigidity as an SLX pole.
Until something better comes along I'll put up with the SL-X with all it's wear problems, as it's still the best pole for rigidity, small diameter, lightness and perfect balance.
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Do you use it on domestics and have you got the extension?
The new slx is already 30 ft. the "old" 25 footer's extension is actually just an orange fibreglass base pole add-on. It looks a bit naff black and orange. :(
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mine's 5 months old, it works hard every day and is showing signs of wear, ridging on 2nd section is pretty much gone in places.
I think it'll last a year then I might get the 30 footer?
alex, what do you offer in the way of replacement sections/refurbs?
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mine's 5 months old, it works hard every day and is showing signs of wear, ridging on 2nd section is pretty much gone in places.
I think it'll last a year then I might get the 30 footer?
alex, what do you offer in the way of replacement sections/refurbs?
I will email you Dave.
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hmm this could be interesting as a lot of guys on here have bought the slx (and I must say I'm interested in buying a few for us as well)
can you replace each section individually?
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thanks alex
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hmm this could be interesting as a lot of guys on here have bought the slx (and I must say I'm interested in buying a few for us as well)
can you replace each section individually?
All of the sections on the SL-X (new and old) are interchangeable and can be individually replaced. The old SL-X can even be upgraded to the same size as the new SL-X by replacing the old top section with the new two top section. This will be available as an upgrade in February.
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So Alex if I wanted to up grade to the 30ft slx you can do this by replacing top section and then the pole is 30ft.
So as I have bought the xtel extension that goes on the bottom you could get to 35ft?
Roy
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So as I have bought the xtel extension that goes on the bottom you could get to 35ft?
Roy
Yes.
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Not much wear here apart from me dropping it. lol
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Price and availability at the mo?
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Price and availability at the mo?
I'm not allowed to post that information. If you send me your email address to alex@agardiner.co.uk, I'll drop you an email with the information.
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As I've posted before- Had mine since release & it's been abused daily. I don't, at all, look after my poles (although I'm not recomending this). Mine is wearing really well, just surface wear to be honest, nothing more than I would expect from any carbon pole. All clamps work perfectly & I would expect this pole to last at least another 12 to 18 months by what I've seen so far. The newest version has had some improvements & is now longer extended. Still have my carbon facelift but this only gets used for anything over the sl-x's reach now. The sl-x IMO is the best pole (of it's length) out there for many reasons, & to top it off it's a bargain price too!
When mine eventually gives up, unless anything else comes out to beat it, I'll be having another one. ;)
Tony
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Hi folks
I have been using my SLX it for about 4 months, got to the point where the sections were spinning around so much it was almost impossible to use. In the end I phoned Gardiner Poles up and they told me last week that there is a fault with the first batch of poles they produced and are fixing them for free. Give them a call if you have any problems.
Stu
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Mine did that after a few goes with it,apart from the clamps the thing that used to wind me up was when you collapse the pole the sections got stuck in the 1 below it.If i could be sure the clamps didn`t need adjusting at all the sections didn`t jam and it was shorter closed i`d give another 1 a go,people have said that in the first place i said it was the best pole ever and then slagged it off but i didn`t because the prototype pole i saw was not the same.
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Sorry to be an anorak.
I see that the closed lenght is 5' 5'', weight is 1780gm, base thickness 37mm
How does this compare to the 17' xtel i use at the moment?
If this version is longer, at 30' instead of 25' how much has this increased the closed length?
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The closed length of the SLX i had was 6ft +,the sections had to be pulled out slightly otherwise they would jam shut.The closed length of the 17ft extel is the ideal closed length IMO but the extended size would need to be 30ft for it to be good.
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so what pole do you use?
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Carbon Facelift cut down to 22ft + SL2 + 6ft brodex predator + 15ft fiberglass Facelift and a couple of others i don`t use much.
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Alex is it possible to remove the clamps to make further adjustments to the pole sections? I have filed down the slots as far as I can.
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Sorry to be an anorak.
I see that the closed lenght is 5' 5'', weight is 1780gm, base thickness 37mm
How does this compare to the 17' xtel i use at the moment?
If this version is longer, at 30' instead of 25' how much has this increased the closed length?
The previous SL-X was 5' 7" when closed (not including gooseneck etc), so in fact the closed length has been reduced slightly compared to the old model. The 17ft X-Tel has a closed length of 5' 1". To get an X-Tel of this closed length (5' 1") to 30ft would need a base diameter of 50mm as you would need to add 4 extra sections.
Alex is it possible to remove the clamps to make further adjustments to the pole sections? I have filed down the slots as far as I can.
Due to the SL-X's construction it is completely possible (and has been done) to re-bed the clamps on a new section of pole and can be done many times as the pole ages. The area on the pole that receives the most wear is the small (15mm deep) section on the top inside of the pole. To renew the clamp action you can 'knock' off the clamp (re-use or replace) and saw off the end 15mm of the pole, extend down the keyhole and bond the clamp back on. You have effectively turned the clock back on the pole by many months.
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Alex a friend of mine lent me his SLX for a few days there, (hence why I saidd in above post that I'm interested in buying a few) but I had one major concern, the clamps - now I was fine using them but I have to say nowhere near as nice as the xtel clamps - can you change the clamps and use xtel type clamps or would I have to stick to the saddle clamps?
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Alex a friend of mine lent me his SLX for a few days there, (hence why I saidd in above post that I'm interested in buying a few) but I had one major concern, the clamps - now I was fine using them but I have to say nowhere near as nice as the xtel clamps - can you change the clamps and use xtel type clamps or would I have to stick to the saddle clamps?
The interesting thing about the SL-X clamps is how quickly you get used to a sideways action clamp. It is not possible to use X-Tel clamps on the SL-X as the section diameters are different. The new SL-X actually has different clamps to the last model though. They are still sideways lever action but are easier to use and have fingertip adjustment rather than allen key adjustment.
The one downside of the X-Tel clamps (generally they are very clever clamps) is that all of your adjustment is dependent on pulling the two sides of the lever arm together. This does give quite a limited room for adjustment during the life of the pole.
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The clamps are a million times better then the X-tels, it's just a bit getting used to, after your first couple of days, you don't even notice it anymore.
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thanks for the email alex.
is it true about about a production fault and free repair?
if so, what is the fault?
the bottom half of my 2nd section has worn pretty much smooth and it spins unless the clamp is adjusted perfectly
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thanks for the email alex.
is it true about about a production fault and free repair?
if so, what is the fault?
the bottom half of my 2nd section has worn pretty much smooth and it spins unless the clamp is adjusted perfectly
The production fault was two fairly minor points and only really affected some of the first batch. The cut-out on the carbon fibre between the clamp jaws was not always wide enough so after a few months of use it artificially runs out of adjustment and the other fault is that after a similar amount of use some of the bolts (mainly the top one) are about 4mm too long causing it to foul on the clamp handle in use. Both of these can be simply remedied in our workshop (at no cost to the client). If preferred they are also easily sorted by a competent DIY'er.
Sounds like the clamp for the second section needs another 1/4 turn to ensure a tight clamping action.
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alex, thinking about it, my last post was unfair. a more accurate description would be that the 2nd section is MORE LIKELY to spin. my apologies, it's not a problem if i'm honest.
is the fingertip adjustment just new bolts, and can we buy them seperately?
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is the fingertip adjustment just new bolts, and can we buy them seperately?
It's not just new bolts but a completely different design, so clamp parts are not interchangeable.
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Those 2 designs faults are easy to remedy especily if you know someone with a grinder to grind down the bolts and a dremel to trim the cf gaps!
My slx is now working well again.
Thanks for the tip Alex on trimming off 15mm off the end of the pole. I'll try that when it comes to.
Another thing I've been doing to avoid wear is when just using the pole for only ground and first i dont open the top section but just the bottom and second from bottom.
The pole is so light it doesnt make much difference.
TDW
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Those 2 designs faults are easy to remedy especily if you know someone with a grinder to grind down the bolts and a dremel to trim the cf gaps!
My slx is now working well again.
Thanks for the tip Alex on trimming off 15mm off the end of the pole. I'll try that when it comes to.
Another thing I've been doing to avoid wear is when just using the pole for only ground and first i dont open the top section but just the bottom and second from bottom.
The pole is so light it doesnt make much difference.
TDW
Someone else who extends from the base- its faster.
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The clamps are a million times better then the X-tels, it's just a bit getting used to, after your first couple of days, you don't even notice it anymore.
Yes it did feel pretty odd at first but I don't give it a thought these days.
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I use a clampless "friction lock" on the telescopic modular and its faster to extend the top sections a bit and then extend from the base, bit of a sandwhich to explain but pulling from the bottom is enjpoyable ;)