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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: s.hughes on August 24, 2009, 10:40:59 pm

Title: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: s.hughes on August 24, 2009, 10:40:59 pm

What would you prefer to use a Aluminium pole or glass fibre? Which is the lighter one?

Title: Re: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on August 24, 2009, 10:44:28 pm

If I had to decide between the two, I would go for a good quality glass fibre, something like a Facelift Glass Fibre.  In reality, I wouldn't choose either as neither material is really suitable for the type of work we do.  I would always go for carbon fibre.

Lightness is dependent on make and quality of each material.

Title: Re: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: s.hughes on August 24, 2009, 10:50:44 pm

I need to go 45ft and just cant afford a carbon fibre pole otherwise I would. I have a glass fibre pole, I dont know how much it weighs but it reaches 39ft and its a killer on the arms.
Theres one on ebay at the mo thats aluminium which reaches 45ft and it weighs 6.15kg. I cant think of how much that is but would that be heavy?

Title: Re: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on August 24, 2009, 11:05:26 pm

Quote from: Steve H on August 24, 2009, 10:50:44 pm

I need to go 45ft and just cant afford a carbon fibre pole otherwise I would. I have a glass fibre pole, I dont know how much it weighs but it reaches 39ft and its a killer on the arms.
Theres one on ebay at the mo thats aluminium which reaches 45ft and it weighs 6.15kg. I cant think of how much that is but would that be heavy?

I've never personally used the one on eBay but several posters on this forum have reported that it is very bendy.  Your current Universal pole will weigh 6.2 kg so the aluminium one is slightly lighter.  However, it will be more flexible.  If you can live with that, it's a very cheap pole.

Title: Re: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: [GQC] Tim on August 24, 2009, 11:08:22 pm

Quote from: Steve H on August 24, 2009, 10:50:44 pm

I need to go 45ft and just cant afford a carbon fibre pole otherwise I would. I have a glass fibre pole, I dont know how much it weighs but it reaches 39ft and its a killer on the arms.
Theres one on ebay at the mo thats aluminium which reaches 45ft and it weighs 6.15kg. I cant think of how much that is but would that be heavy?

6.15Kg at 45ft is like breaking your back. In fact, a carbonfibre pole at that height can be more then a handful if you are new to working at those heights. If you have got arms like Popeye you might enjoy the workout though.

What I would do is get a custom fishing pole for that height. Ask matt on here, he can probably give you a few tips. Anything above 30ft should be carbonfibre as standard in my opinion.

Title: Re: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: dd on August 25, 2009, 06:27:06 pm

If it is the aluminum pole I am thinking of for around £300 IMO although cheap it is a waste of money.

I use a 30ft tucker pole but would not want to go any higher with an aluminum pole, and that is a much higher quality pole than the Stream pole on ebay.

Title: Re: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: trevor povey on August 25, 2009, 07:10:50 pm

what about one of those hybrid poles ..glass fibre and carbon ???

Title: Re: Aluminium or glass fibre?
Post by: s.hughes on August 25, 2009, 07:14:04 pm

Quote from: trevor povey on August 25, 2009, 07:10:50 pm

what about one of those hybrid poles ..glass fibre and carbon ???

good question, are these any good?