Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Martin ccs on December 20, 2009, 06:49:05 pm
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as im fairly new to forums i thought i would start out by getting tips/advice on whats best to buy for a better days work and so on.
starting to find that one person says a bit of kit is amazing and the next would say its rubbish.
most seem to say the wcw backpack is one of the best around but then i see alot saying it comes with a few probs n that.
sealskins gloves are the best gloves then the next bloke says they are a waste of money and dont work!
alot say go for the slx poles from gardiners and the next bloke would say the clamps are no good!
so i guess im trying to say is it just done to what works for you or are we all just expecting to much from the kit we buy?
i hope i got my point across.
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yes and no ;D
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it is personal preference, but some times people will comment even though they have not had one of the things discussed, you need to guess what is right and wrong sometimes ;)
Ian
p.s slx now the clamps have changed they are alot better, you cant beat it for rigidity and weight this is from a person that uses one
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the thing we will never be in a world were everyones opinions are the same so it will always be like this.
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the thing we will never be in a world were everyones opinions are the same so it will always be like this.
are you sure about that Ronnie ? :-X
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Yes but this happens in most walks of life. In time you`ll find which forum members` opinions you value and those that you don`t.
Gerry.
Ps. you should ignore this, I`m one of the latter :P
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martin.
i know what you mean.
hydra pole from brodex seems to be ok; and cheaper than slx.
I think slx is very good pole but is quite dear if your starting out wfp.
better to break a cheap pole.
as to gloves i have seal skinz i think there pretty good, now starting their 2nd winter.
also glacier curve good to.
but you could try cotton or silk gloves under a pair of tesco black rubber gloves.
lee
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sorry should have said don't ave either of these poles,
but going by the guys opinions on here i trust.
goodluck.
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Everyone has different experience with different equipment. Therefore there will be many conflicting views.
There are guys on here I would trust with their views. If they said a 60ft pole was the dogs and I needed one at the time... I would buy it on their reccomendation.
I found the sealskinz grippy ones left my hands damp and cold... That's my opinion from having spent £30 and thrown them away.
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as im fairly new to forums i thought i would start out by getting tips/advice on whats best to buy for a better days work and so on.
starting to find that one person says a bit of kit is amazing and the next would say its rubbish.
most seem to say the wcw backpack is one of the best around but then i see alot saying it comes with a few probs n that.
sealskins gloves are the best gloves then the next bloke says they are a waste of money and dont work!
alot say go for the slx poles from gardiners and the next bloke would say the clamps are no good!
so i guess im trying to say is it just done to what works for you or are we all just expecting to much from the kit we buy?
i hope i got my point across.
SLX is brilliant; especially when you have upgraded to the new clamp levers.
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The wcw backpack is great value for the money. Yes it has a few things that need checking, but its not hard and you don't have to be clever
I built my business using the wcw backpack
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the thing we will never be in a world were everyones opinions are the same so it will always be like this.
are you sure about that Ronnie ? :-X
so do you think everyone will ever have the same opinions there will always be the minority on everything
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At least we all agree on the "Ladder" issue! ;)
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some people comment without ever trying things, and others comment just to air there own views.. and to argue with someone they dont like...and also.... because they are addicted to this forum.
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At least we all agree on the "Ladder" issue! ;)
what issue? everyone knows ladders are banned.
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WCW backpack is great. Sealskins used to be great but the latest pair I got are rubbish,.. possibly a change at the factory has ruined them?
And yes, ladders are,..
;D ;D
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also Martin,
some folk will just say things are rubbish whatever the topic ;D ;D ;D
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Hi
Your are listening to everyone's experience, and they are different for the same product because each person's application and expectations vary with time.
When I started WFP 5 years ago the Unger Teleplus pole was the best IMO, lasted well and the plastic lock plates were cheap to replace.
The only problem was the Ali black that would get on my hands once the initial anodising was worn. But the pole was still working fine when a Fibreglass equivelant was worn out.
So one of the local lads suggested I order a Prolong from Brodex. Long guarantee, tough as old boots and the hose is on the inside of the pole. Hardly any flex when compared to the Unger.
Ordered 2, one for each of us. But I found it too heavy to work with, I didn't have the strength like the young lad does who recommended it. One ended up being used as a towel rail in my van and the other in the garage. The young lad who recommended them ended up buying them from me later.
Then the boys on here, initially Matt and then Tosh actually, really got a few of us into converting fishing poles - fairly stiff, light as a feather but modular rather than telescopic. Some mocked, but it was a step into Carbon Fibre and for me it became the pole of choice after I got used to it. The aches in my neck and arms went. I replaced the Bentley brush with a Superlight and this was the best thing since sliced bread. But if you added bits onto the bottom to get to a 22 footer, it became too whippy.
So we finally broke the bank and ordered an SLX each about 4 months ago, a 35 foot for me and a 25 foot for Cameron. These were to be used on special jobs and we would continue to use the modular fishing poles for everyday use. An 18' SLX cost about £220.00 all in and the fishing pole cost about £50.00 all in for the same length. They are stilling going strong 18 months later. The fishing poles are fantastic value for money but had their drawbacks.
Gradually the SLX has become the pole of choice, as it was the stiffest and the most convenient to use up and down as you always had your complete pole with you and didn't have to go round after yourself and 'clean up' the modular lengths you disguarded as you went from tops to bottoms. The current clamps on the SLX generally work fine but they are not as good as the clamps on the Prolong IMO, but you will never find the perfect product.
There are so many parameters to consider - the price, weight, stiffness and ease of use for example. When it comes down to it the SLX is much cheaper than the competition, lighter and mostly stiffer. Its heavier than the fishing poles but so much more suitable for our domestic work. I believe at the least, it has enabled both of us to do an extra house a day which means the SLX is paying for itself.
And most importantly, the service offered by Gardiners is fantastic, no question. Their service has also been praised by others on this site so its not me being lucky. I've had good service from others but have also had some lousy service as well.
There are items that Gardiners are sometimes out of stock of which can be annoying to some - but as I carry a spare of virtually everything on the van including a spare pump and Varistream, (except RO filter housings and membranes,) I can always order them next time. So I am hardly ever in a 'breakdown' situation. If my order takes 1 or 5 days to come - that's fine. But my experience with the supplier would be different to someone who ordered an emergency item expecting it to arrive the following morning that didn't for whatever reason.
Would I have recommended an Unger Teleplus 5 years ago - Yes. Would I recommend an Unger Teleplus now - No. Today I would recommend an SLX and would encourage anyone to find the money to pay for it. But if the choice today was exactly the same as 5 years ago, Unger Teleplus and Fibreglass, I would still buy an Unger. But product design has continued to evolve as have our needs and expectations and will continue to do so.
Who knows, in 10 years time we may all be carrying Ultrasonic Window Cleaning Blasters around the size of a cigarette box, and a person who then recommends using conventional WFP will be laughted at.
What you find is a bunch of guys that put the pros and cons forward according to their experience - its up to you to analysis the comments, sift out any exaggeration and draw you own conclusions.
But if you are new with little experience, you will always find a comment about something that, on your own, you may never have even thought about. Even us more experienced ones still learn for others experiences on here.
Spruce
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Nicely put there spruce :)
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some people comment without ever trying things, and others comment just to air there own views.. and to argue with someone they dont like...and also.... because they are addicted to this forum.
haha, i was gonna type almost exactly the same thing, once i'd read through. ;D
I find it better to give most weight to the posts that praise a product.
The majority of posts i read on here saying something is crap, i will take note of the issue, but i usually think many are posting with little experience of said product.
They have tried but not for long enough to master.
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Hi Mark
I find it better to give most weight to the posts that praise a product.
The majority of posts i read on here saying something is crap, i will take note of the issue, but i usually think many are posting with little experience of said product.
They have tried but not for long enough to master.
Good point.
Spruce
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Having read Spruce`s first post, I now feel his opinions are ones I would value. They may not be suit me all the time, every time but I would certainly listen.
That`s what I was trying to say.
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There is a tendancy (especially regarding wfp) for people just to tell you what you want to hear rather than the whole truth & facts both good & bad. Many people will post (& very convinsingly) on a subject that they have no or little experience of & are actually just repeating something they have read. then another will do the same untill it has snowballed into an unproven, possibly false fact! :o
As far as products go, a lot of the time it can depend on what they are comparing them to i.e. For someoune who has only ever used cheap f/glass poles & then they get an alloy brodex then, to them it'll be the dogs danglies but for someone to go from an slx to the brodex might be a whole different story.
IMO you are better armed with the whole truth, even if it doesn't suit, this way you'll have realistic expectations.
But as said, it's difficult if new to the forum to decide which advice is closer to this. ;)