Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: macmac on May 15, 2009, 03:56:41 pm
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Just ordered one as I've seen one (feen's) today for the first time & had a go. It looks like it could be a very, very usefull tool both on-pole & off.
Anyhow, I know quite a few on here have got them recently & just wondered how you were all getting on with them? ;)
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Thought they looked cheap, good for pole work and awkward high windows, dont hold much water and the applicator wears very quickly,but useful tool to have in van.
Chris
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I've got one, thought it was brilliant for five minutes but never use it now. ::)
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I have a few specific jobs in mind for it where it's far easier just using one hand- as the other is clinging on for dear life :o
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It's good on large panes without deep returns. Flipping the dangly cloth up over the blade is a flippin pain at times. When you finish your stroke you'll pick up all the flippin dirt and dust from the bottom or even the side of the frame. You can't flippin detail very well from the end of a pole and the flippin cloth is very thin. The only point of contact for the flippin cloth is where the blade presses it against the glass - flippin small contact area.
Flippin good on insides though where little solution is required.
Give us a flippin good review when you get it. ;)
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It's good on large panes without deep returns. Flipping the dangly cloth up over the blade is a flippin pain at times. When you finish your stroke you'll pick up all the flippin dirt and dust from the bottom or even the side of the frame. You can't flippin detail very well from the end of a pole and the flippin cloth is very thin. The only point of contact for the flippin cloth is where the blade presses it against the glass - flippin small contact area.
Flippin good on insides though where little solution is required.
Give us a flippin good review when you get it. ;)
That was flippin funny ftp,
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Think I'll cancel the flippin' thing! ;)
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No dont cancel it, atleast try it, we use 1 every week on the shop work it saves a lot of carrying around a pair of steps I think there an excelent tool
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The wagtail is a really good piece of equipment, and for me it is the squeegee and applicator of choice.
Looks cheap, is certainly expensive for what it is, but it is a bloody god tool once you get the hang of using it.
The cloth applicator part is certainly thin and doesn't hold a lot of water, but you would be really surprised just how far it will go, and it is just so light to use.
You have to work at the technique though, and it is fantastic on insides. Though I have found that I need to do a little more detailing than I would otherwise do so with a separate applicator and squeegee.
As I am mostly WFP I don't use it above ground floor, but do use it on plenty of shop fronts where WFP isn't the best choice.
Had mine a few months now and the washer part is also still going strong, cheap enough to replace anyway.
Ian
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I bought one after reading recommendations here,
hmmmmm :-\ :-\, I just could not get on with the applicator, maybe with a bit more practise I would but its a cheap and flimsy piece of material with no scrubbing power and does'nt hold any where near enough water. I ditched it after a day and just use the squegee on its own on a pole for tall shop windows, works well for me but so would any squegee with a swivel handle. 5 out of 10
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I just could not get on with the applicator, maybe with a bit more practise
For high shop windows, it's great. Easier than using steps or A Frames.
I've got some high single pane windows on my house, and I spent about an hour practising on these; and now I have no problems with the flipper.
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I ordered the flipper on purpose to try it but I'm half expecting to just use it as a squeegee. We'll see, not expecting to use it as my main tool, just as & when required. One job in mind is the inside of a hotel. big windows I normally have to take a ladder inside for. glass panes are approx 8ft x 4ft.
It's good to try new/different tools though, as I've said before, some seem so focused on wfp that trad of any kind just gets dismissed. If you put the same focus into trad it's very supprising how good & quick this method can be! ;)
Having said that, I suppose some will just be crap at it, full stop. :D
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Better than a normal blade and mop? No chance. But on a pole for hard access windows it's great. I have a job, converted barn with a vaulted roof and windows following the roof up on the gable ends, the windows are a foot high so a real hard job to do off a ladder, several stands and takes ages(confused ???), with the flipper on the pole it's flipping fast and good.
For a lot of inside work I still use a normal blade, can't beat it for speed, the wagtail is just too heavy by comparison. When I wfp though I always carry the flipper/wagtail in a boab for the odd doorway, it's then lighter than a mop and blade and therefor less hindrance.
Simon.
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I'll eat my words!
I found a flippin good use for it today. I used it to clean the underside of a conservatory roof. It was filthy too but the dangly flippy bit caught most of the drips when blading off, no step ladders needed either just a small extension pole. Whipped the applicator off to clean it when I got home and then spent quarter of an hour trying to get it back on ;D
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Well I don't think it will replace my porcupine & squeegee but I'm sure it will be a handy tool to have (as it came today). Can't help thinking that this tool has been produced in a rush, it just looks like an un-finnished project, as if it's been released too early. the bit of mop is almost laughable, it's not even cut straight, mine looks like a child has cut it out of some old woman's skirt! ;D The swivel handle IS something that is impressive though & other manufacturers should take a closer look at this. Ergonomic? I think this term is way over used in many applications- the wagtail handle is a straight piece of plastic tube! ??? not that it bothers me. Anyhow, we'll wait & see how it turns out in the coming weeks.
What I am really impressed with though is the ettore ledge-eze squeegee with s/steel channel. Man, this is one light & very easy to use tool, almost perfect for normal use. My squeegee of choice from now!
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I bought a ten inch unger applicator the other day with the microfibre sleeve. I like it but because the microfibre is so absorbant it makes it rather heavy. Doesn't drip much though.
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Personally I think it's fantastic. It saves loads of time and is a delight to use. It's definitely best to fill your bucket on a belt with your solution then you don't need to carry a bucket round too much - plus it solves the problem of the applicator part not holding much water.
I am mostly wfp now, I don't think it would cut it for all day trad cleaning - but for the occasional use it cannot be beaten.
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I bought a ten inch unger applicator the other day with the microfibre sleeve. I like it but because the microfibre is so absorbant it makes it rather heavy. Doesn't drip much though.
Yeah, I got ettore microfibre & that's quite heavy too.
Try an ettore porcupine, this is my favourite, very light, accurate & doesn't flood the place! It also scrubs the best too, as it should being a porcupine. Trouble is. they only do 'em 14" & up.
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Trouble is. they only do 'em 14" & up.
I cut 1 down from 14" to 10" just take a pair of scissors to it and sew the end up again
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Trouble is. they only do 'em 14" & up.
I cut 1 down from 14" to 10" just take a pair of scissors to it and sew the end up again
Good idea. ;)
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Trouble is. they only do 'em 14" & up.
I cut 1 down from 14" to 10" just take a pair of scissors to it and sew the end up again
Good idea. ;)
Make sure you leave an extra 1" on it when you cut it cos by the time you turn it inside out and sew it up you loose 1/2"
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im glad i kept my old trad gear i kept a 10"and 14" set, the only thing i sold was my ramsey double pointer and wish i never did,
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They are great. Takes a little getting used to though.
On insides you dont have to move everything of the cills as you can normally use the angle on the flipper to get into the corners. I just move the stuff on the cills forward to give enough room for the flipper to get behind.
Only comment: the aplicators dont last nearly as long as the trd ones.
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Only comment: the aplicators dont last nearly as long as the trd ones.
I reckon you could make your own out of an old applicator sleeve, my wagtail mop looks like an old rag! ;D
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Only comment: the aplicators dont last nearly as long as the trd ones.
I reckon you could make your own out of an old applicator sleeve, my wagtail mop looks like an old rag! ;D
You can i did this and it is better you can make 2 from 1 sleeve,you need to make sure you sew in the ends otherwise they will start to thread everywhere.
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Only comment: the aplicators dont last nearly as long as the trd ones.
I reckon you could make your own out of an old applicator sleeve, my wagtail mop looks like an old rag! ;D
You can i did this and it is better you can make 2 from 1 sleeve,you need to make sure you sew in the ends otherwise they will start to thread everywhere.
First thing I did was ditch the wagtail rubber, it looked like it had been cut by a blind man! hard to get an end clip in though, any suggestions to hold pulex rubber in?
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Any rubber should go in and grip like the 1 that came with it,i use Ettore in mine when i use it.
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Another problem IMO with this tool is the channel is curled back too much so you need to be carefull of the angle which you use it as the rubber's edge looses proper contact with the glass.
Anyone else find this?
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So would this wagtail be suitable to be used just as a squeegee to blade off HIGH indoor windows but wet with them a separate mop beforehand? to avoid using a set of steps etc? and to be able to work round obstacles etc?
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So would this wagtail be suitable to be used just as a squeegee to blade off HIGH indoor windows but wet with them a separate mop beforehand? to avoid using a set of steps etc? and to be able to work round obstacles etc?
Yes, they also make one without the added mop bit, just a squeegee. If you've ever used a swivel on your wfp it has the same effect.
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Just ordered it from WCW ;D
I thought it would help with this
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=74901.0;id=13576;image)
and this
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=74901.0;id=13577;image)
I ordered the one without that flappy dangly bit , by all accounts it doesnt hold much water, and this place gets hot on the inside.
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Err, you could have ordered the flipper and just unclipped the dangly bit when you don't need it.