Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Blue Frog Systems on July 19, 2009, 08:13:33 pm

Title: Wagtail tips
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 19, 2009, 08:13:33 pm: Got my wagtail and am trying it out on my own windows.

I just cant get the turn right

Any tips ?
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: ftp on July 19, 2009, 09:08:38 pm: Rotate the handle apparently.
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: jonnyald on July 19, 2009, 09:15:54 pm: is it a Flipper ? if so theres a learning curve , DONT give up and after about a days solid use you will get how to flip the pad properly .by angling your wrist back ,the pad flips onto the squeegee blade and then a slight flick of the wrist the other way tips the pad off the blade
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 19, 2009, 09:23:05 pm: Not the flipper. Just the standard one.

Im tring, but its leaving marksfrom when i turn.

Could it be the pressure im applying or not ?

Might try tightening / loosening the handle and see if that makes a difference
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: jonnyald on July 19, 2009, 09:47:08 pm: i too used to press too hard with mine(no need to press hard) and it helps to hold the handle nearer the end ,not near the yellow disc .

now and then i tighten the nut slightly , but never enough to stop it swivelling freely.

i think its true theres a bit more detailing to do with a wagtail but its a long time since i used a regular squeegee as wagtails are ace !
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: macmac on July 19, 2009, 10:25:48 pm: It's a knack which is very hard to try & explain in text. keep at it & it will come, it's just a new way of working.

Twist the handle rather than using your wrist, seems a bit un-natural at first from years of squeegeeing tha normal way. Oh, & yes, only very light pressure is needed, heavy pressure will leave streaks! ;)
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: macmac on July 19, 2009, 10:28:06 pm: Also, on mine at least, the supplied rubber was too long & was riding up the edges of the frame leaving more than nessesary detailing. I cut it to just protrude approx 2mm either side.
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 20, 2009, 07:02:33 am: Thanks for the tips guys. I'll stick at it!
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: tomy jackson on July 20, 2009, 07:42:27 am: can thay not be dog eard
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: G Griffin on July 20, 2009, 08:32:57 pm: Try a softer rubber, the Wagtail rubber is quite hard. Any of the main brands should do but Ettore is probably softest.

Gerry
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: jonnyald on July 25, 2009, 08:38:37 am: Quote from: tomy jackson on July 20, 2009, 07:42:27 am
can thay not be dog eard

i heard you can cut the aluminium ,bend it forward a bit too, to dog ear it . looks like it would break tho

i started with a 12 inch wagtail ,then got a 12 flipper . i now use the 16 inch flipper as main squeegee ,just wish that the yellow mop was made of coarser material, i waste time scrubbing with it as it never removes anything but the lightest dirt .

i might try cutting up an old red and white micro tiger sleeve,(might have to shave the fibres to get it to be a similar weight to the yellow pad)use that and see if it is still possible to "flip it " on the pole . i read on a diffrent forum that a "porcupine" sleeve doesnt work as it holds too much water and then won"t flip
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: tomy jackson on July 25, 2009, 08:49:29 am: thats the new way not rely tested the old way cut ruber flush with the end of chanel and bend chanel not cut
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 25, 2009, 09:10:25 am: Still not got the hang of the wagtail yet. Am going to practise tonight though as my wife is out with her sisters and others. And I'm at my sister inlaws house, so gonna do there insides as practice
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: G Griffin on July 28, 2009, 07:36:35 pm: I`m sure the flipper has its uses but not for all day use on residential. It could be useful for frequently cleaned commercial or inside jobs. I`m not impressed with the design of the tool and the pad is just too flimsy.

The Orbital squeegee is ok but does leave a lot more detailing, again probably more suited to shop fronts etc. To reduce detailing and help with turn, blade the edges with a fixed handle squeegee and then use the wagtail for the middle bit.
Not ideal :-\ but it does help and you do feel the benefits of the wagtail.

Unfortunately, it`s an occasional tool for me and wouldn`t ditch my conventional squeegees for it.

Gerry.
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: timon on July 28, 2009, 08:48:43 pm: hi timon here .bring useing wagtail flipper for about 4 months now 12 inch .great bit of kit. down side is the mop does not hold a lot of water.so wot i did was to glue about 11 inch of velcro to the back of it .just below were the rubber goes.then buy a chearp mop then sew other part of the velcro to the mop ,just use the cover of the mop.then line up the to squeegee and leve about 1/4 from the end of the rubber
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: jonnyald on July 28, 2009, 11:14:06 pm: so does the new mop flip ?

i took a red n white pulex microtiger mop(coarse fibers) ,shaved it down so the strands were only 1/4 inch and fitted it onto the flipper same as original but scrubs good / instead of the yellow original mop
Title: Re: Wagtail tips
Post by: timon on July 29, 2009, 05:38:41 pm: hi timom here .and yes the does flip and all so a lot more water then the yellow one