Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Window Washers on March 10, 2010, 08:51:58 pm
-
After today swearing quite alot I was wondering if anyone that has an slx has done anything to stop the pole spinning due to the quick wear on the pole sections 1,2 and 3. (what most would think would be the cheaper to replace as less carbon used but not the case)
pole has been used now for 4 months so not to happy if have to shell out £300 odd on replacement sections.
im think fibreglas resin may help stop the black hands and the spinning.
Has anyone else done anything, FTP I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
One more thing, the red and yellow markers, how can these be replaced have you done this if so please let me in on it.
Im looking for ways to destress and the pole is not playing ball. are there anyother option out there if this cant be sorted, a pole that lasts and is lite ????
-
WW,
Thats not good, I will have to treat my new slx with extreme care then! Do you wipe the pole hose down regulary and have you used the dry film ptfe spray?
Tony
-
Everytime I have a bath, after I have finshed, I strip the pole down and give it a good clean, you will be surprised by the amount of dirt that gets in it.
Also because of all the bath oils I use, this seems to condition the pole and kepts it in 100% working order, I have not have any wear on the carbon as yet, and the pole is almost 12 months old.
-
Everytime I have a bath, after I have finshed, I strip the pole down and give it a good clean, you will be surprised by the amount of dirt that gets in it.
Also because of all the bath oils I use, this seems to condition the pole and kepts it in 100% working order, I have not have any wear on the carbon as yet, and the pole is almost 12 months old.
are you joking ??? ???
-
I think I would definatly be in line for a divorce if my wife caught me in the bath with my new slx, she gets peed off coz i'm on here lots, but the bath thing would be trouble!!! ::)
-
Nope
I have just given them a bath.
Look after yours tools and that will look after you.
-
WW,
Thats not good, I will have to treat my new slx with extreme care then! Do you wipe the pole hose down regulary and have you used the dry film ptfe spray?
Tony
Tony you will love this pole trust me, it is great and really lite, I have a wear issue that may have been sorted by now.
You will really enjoy the pole ;)
-
Nope
I have just given them a bath.
Look after yours tools and that will look after you.
are you still talking about the pole ;D ;D
-
This slx pole I have not seen one yet hope to soon. The question I have is what finish does the surface have is it shiny or matt. Can you see the matting through thru surface coat. Does this surface wear down with time.
-
Everytime I have a bath, after I have finshed, I strip the pole down and give it a good clean, you will be surprised by the amount of dirt that gets in it.
Also because of all the bath oils I use, this seems to condition the pole and kepts it in 100% working order, I have not have any wear on the carbon as yet, and the pole is almost 12 months old.
I am now quite disturbed you in bath bath oils and pole is not right lol, I thought I was anal when window cleaning, but bathing your poles is a step to far imo.
Jokes apart do you use this pole all day every day ? if after 12 months and no wear I know the answer will be NO. I got wear in the first 2 weeks only a little but I saw it on my hands. I know have to wear chuck away gloves when using this pole as carbon in your hands cant be good for you day in day out.
-
This slx pole I have not seen one yet hope to soon. The question I have is what finish does the surface have is it shiny or matt. Can you see the matting through thru surface coat. Does this surface wear down with time.
I will be at windex next week if you want a look at an slx,
Does anyone know if Alex offers a refurb on sections ?
-
Gettig a bit worried ere guys loving the pole what's that about lol and even 1 that takes it to share his bath shocking I have the slx yup its a good pole but my god get a woman lol
-
every night i take each section of and wipe down with a clean cloth, only takes around 10mins,
-
every night i take each section of and wipe down with a clean cloth, only takes around 10mins,
10 mins a day my harris, I took my pole to bits yesterday in someones garden washed inside and out side wiped hose put back together, and within 10 mins ant was jammed up again thank gosd there was a wood next door to this house as I kicked the hell out of the trees to make me feel a little carlmer before I went to the next job. it seems to like some houses and hates others, we need a pole that loves to clean all houses
-
Everytime I have a bath, after I have finshed, I strip the pole down and give it a good clean, you will be surprised by the amount of dirt that gets in it.
Also because of all the bath oils I use, this seems to condition the pole and kepts it in 100% working order, I have not have any wear on the carbon as yet, and the pole is almost 12 months old.
I am now quite disturbed you in bath bath oils and pole is not right lol, I thought I was anal when window cleaning, but bathing your poles is a step to far imo.
Jokes apart do you use this pole all day every day ? if after 12 months and no wear I know the answer will be NO. I got wear in the first 2 weeks only a little but I saw it on my hands. I know have to wear chuck away gloves when using this pole as carbon in your hands cant be good for you day in day out.
I do use it everyday and for the first 6 months I used it on every job, now I only use it on the jobs where its required, in its place I use a smaller excel pole.
My hands still get black when I clean it
-
Everytime I have a bath, after I have finshed, I strip the pole down and give it a good clean, you will be surprised by the amount of dirt that gets in it.
Also because of all the bath oils I use, this seems to condition the pole and kepts it in 100% working order, I have not have any wear on the carbon as yet, and the pole is almost 12 months old.
I am now quite disturbed you in bath bath oils and pole is not right lol, I thought I was anal when window cleaning, but bathing your poles is a step to far imo.
Jokes apart do you use this pole all day every day ? if after 12 months and no wear I know the answer will be NO. I got wear in the first 2 weeks only a little but I saw it on my hands. I know have to wear chuck away gloves when using this pole as carbon in your hands cant be good for you day in day out.
I do use it everyday and for the first 6 months I used it on every job, now I only use it on the jobs where its required, in its place I use a smaller excel pole.
My hands still get black when I clean it
I take it the glossy finish soon wears off then?
-
ww, if its the harris you are cleaning, you need to spray water down the clamps and wipe the threads clean, i do that once a week, had mine a year and still going strong
-
Why can this finish be put back then.as long as its even.either spray or put the section between two drills like one would use a lath and use a brush to apply the resin again.
-
Had slx25 since July 2009. Still black and shiny, Never jammed, clamps lock perfectly, no black hands.
Cleaned thoroughly each day but then I clean all my equipment at end of day. It pays off.
My backpack is nearly 5 years old
My Omnitrolley is even older
Both are in excellent condition as is all of my equipment.
Going back to the slx, it is easy to forget to fully open the clamps when closing. This would cause unecessay wear. I also wonder if some of you are running the clamps tighter than they need to be so that even when you have fully opened them there is still some rubbing. When I close my slx the sections slide effortlessly but still clamp up tight enough to work without slippage.
Have occasionally cleaned my slx in the bath too - have found a brilliant way to clean inside the tubes!!!
-
ww, if its the harris you are cleaning, you need to spray water down the clamps and wipe the threads clean, i do that once a week, had mine a year and still going strong
;D I think he meant his bottom :-[
-
Had my slx for 7 months.I look after it wipeing down the pole sections every 3 days.My 18' slx gets used approx 20 hrs a week. I apply ceramic oil every week to each section. So the pole looks brand new every time I oil it and it reduces wear and carbon dust.
Neil
-
I'm surprised the SL-X hasn't been revamped with a glass fibre coating just like the Facelift carbon pole.
I cut a carbon facelift pole down to a more convenient working height when fully closed and the amount of glass wall thickness on it is over 50% in proportion to the carbon.
Amazingly the carbon Facelift pole is still a relatively light pole whilst remaining very rigid to use but has the advantage over a gardiners SL-X pole with wear issues simply because of the glass coating.
-
my slx mark 1 version is brilliant and hardly any wear my other 2 slx s with the new clamps are wearing like mad, i think alex must of used a different carbon fibre in the later models and it isnt as hard wearing.
-
my slx mark 1 version is brilliant and hardly any wear my other 2 slx s with the new clamps are wearing like mad, i think alex must of used a different carbon fibre in the later models and it isnt as hard wearing.
Wake up LOL, Pole Mark 1 by was a better quality pole, Alex kept the price the same but had the next poles made cheaper ::), by that time sl-x has a good reputation. Hooked lined & sunk ;D
I never had a mk1 so cant comparethemarket.com so not simples :(
-
my slx mark 1 version is brilliant and hardly any wear my other 2 slx s with the new clamps are wearing like mad, i think alex must of used a different carbon fibre in the later models and it isnt as hard wearing.
Same here my Mk 1 is wearing fine, I broke a section and replaced it with a Mk2 section. I m ust say that the new section is now worn far more than the existing sections.
-
I have a mark 2 SLX with the latest clamps sent to replace the bicycle type ones -it is a year old and still ok. I use it for everything. (Well - the top 4 sections)
The number 2 section is wearing the most but is still serviceable.
THIS IS MY CARE REGIME:-
I have made a hose tidy to keep the pole hose off the floor and so it hangs on a hook on my belt - this actually speeds me up as I am not having twisted or looped hose to trip over.
Between jobs or when the pole hose gets muddy or gritty I reel in the pole hose through a towel to remove the muck. This takes no extra time and I reel it on to my reel before putting the pole away.
WEEKLY:-
Once a week I take the pole apart and spray water down the insides from a jet nozzle on my garden hose. I wipe the outsides down at the same time.
I then spray it with wd40 or similar and reassemble. I clean out the end cap of any carbon dust or grass and grit.
MONTHLY
I do the above but repaint the extension markers with an enamel paint before spraying with wd40
When my new SLX22 arrives I will reassemble and keep my SLX35 for higher jobs only.
-
I've had all the versions so far. They seem to wear much the same. Some of the things I do:
Don't worry about the tape coming off - the sections slide better without it anyway.
I drill a hole in the wall where the tape used to be. When I extend the pole I look for the small hole then push the section back into the clamp by a centimetre.
If the pole keeps spinning and you are adjusting the same clamp throughout the day then it won't be wear that's causing it, it will be the bolt loosening off in the barrel every time you flick the lever open. Either fit a new barrel or a tiny spot of loktite.
If the clamp is too loose at max extension but too tight at lesser extensions then yes the pole is wearing where it is always clamped at the same point - vary your clamping positions. If the pole is that worn you can always saw off a couple off inches from the bottom.
Those of you who are tightening the screws with plyers ??? then you've probably cross threaded the barrel nut - buy some spares.
If the clamp lever feels really tight and the pole still spins then check the clamp body has not come unstuck from the shaft - superglue will fix it (don't allow any to drip inside the tube!)
I normally sell my poles on after a year and they still have loads left in them. The surface will wear, you will need gloves, you'll need to change the end cap a couple of times a year and you will need to pull the sections right out now and again to flush through - dead easy!
Use the push fit taps and rectus 21 fittings so you can whip sections off or add further sections.
I can't believe how some of you can't cope with very very basic diy ::)
-
I've had all the versions so far. They seem to wear much the same. Some of the things I do:
Don't worry about the tape coming off - the sections slide better without it anyway.
I drill a hole in the wall where the tape used to be. When I extend the pole I look for the small hole then push the section back into the clamp by a centimetre.
If the pole keeps spinning and you are adjusting the same clamp throughout the day then it won't be wear that's causing it, it will be the bolt loosening off in the barrel every time you flick the lever open. Either fit a new barrel or a tiny spot of loktite.
If the clamp is too loose at max extension but too tight at lesser extensions then yes the pole is wearing where it is always clamped at the same point - vary your clamping positions. If the pole is that worn you can always saw off a couple off inches from the bottom.
Those of you who are tightening the screws with plyers ??? then you've probably cross threaded the barrel nut - buy some spares.
If the clamp lever feels really tight and the pole still spins then check the clamp body has not come unstuck from the shaft - superglue will fix it (don't allow any to drip inside the tube!)
I normally sell my poles on after a year and they still have loads left in them. The surface will wear, you will need gloves, you'll need to change the end cap a couple of times a year and you will need to pull the sections right out now and again to flush through - dead easy!
Use the push fit taps and rectus 21 fittings so you can whip sections off or add further sections.
I can't believe how some of you can't cope with very very basic diy ::)
Well said & welcome back ;)
-
I don’t claim to be an expert on Carbon fibre but I have down some glassing a boat I build a few years back. The thing that worries me is the black hand all of you are getting. This is of some concern to me as this should only happen if the glass outer surface or gel coat is striped to expose the carbon fibre I thing the outer walls are sanded and then a out layer or surface is added which will ware out quickly if its to thin. This make sense if one is trying to reduce weight on the pole. I do feel this is matter for the manufactories to correct as I think this pole was sold before road testing was properly down. Just my thoughts on the matter.This is not good for this pole`s future.
-
A bit strong :o
What quality are we talking about? From what I've seen there has been nothing to compare Gardiners products against until maybe this week.
Who knows how the new models are going to last? No-one yet.
-
I don’t claim to be an expert on Carbon fibre but I have down some glassing a boat I build a few years back. The thing that worries me is the black hand all of you are getting. This is of some concern to me as this should only happen if the glass outer surface or gel coat is striped to expose the carbon fibre I thing the outer walls are sanded and then a out layer or surface is added which will ware out quickly if its to thin. This make sense if one is trying to reduce weight on the pole. I do feel this is matter for the manufactories to correct as I think this pole was sold before road testing was properly down. Just my thoughts on the matter.This is not good for this pole`s future.
I agree, that’s why the other pole manufacturers haven’t lowered there prices to Gardiner’s level.
They followed his lead on closed pole length as well as clamps now with Ionic’s new clamp, but not price because they know the quality isn’t there with the Gardiner poles. So they keep the advantage with quality and unfortunately keep the prices high.
Contrary to what many say on here, quality is non existence with the Gardiner pole.
Sorry but I can't take you seriousley, I've had many, many different poles from just about all the manufacturers & can say that quality does very much exist with gardiner poles!
If you have a gripe with gardiners that's your business but I'm pretty confident you only have minor knowlage & experience of the wfp market. ;)
-
Ewan
That is just a matter of opinion.
The Mk1 pole with new clamps is one of the best ever poles made, mine is still going strong and I was one of the very first to purchase that pole.
I cant say that for any of the other 30 odd poles i have bought over the years
-
Ewan what then is a quality pole?
I've had all the slx's and now the Smax - they all wear much the same. In my opinion the Mk1 was only better because the tolerances were wider. The clamp would open wider when released. I wore the carbon out under the clamps. Please point me to a better pole 'cos I couldn't find one every time I went shopping.
-
Ewan what then is a quality pole?
I've had all the slx's and now the Smax - they all wear much the same. In my opinion the Mk1 was only better because the tolerances were wider. The clamp would open wider when released. I wore the carbon out under the clamps. Please point me to a better pole 'cos I couldn't find one every time I went shopping.
I think this is the problem with the newer slz, the pole section catch to easy and you have to forever do up the clapmps, maybe this will be looked at again, alex seems to make things better all the time, his new wfp system seems to be a very good price and is trash tested. Is a shame hes not on the foum to answer the questions or give advice
-
Ewan
That is just a matter of opinion.
The Mk1 pole with new clamps is one of the best ever poles made, mine is still going strong and I was one of the very first to purchase that pole.
I cant say that for any of the other 30 odd poles i have bought over the years
I agree with you Dave from reading post about the mark 1 pole, but that is a different pole.
Any poles after this seem to have issues.
Different pole from the Mark 1, thats why, new SLX made by a different company.
Another WFP company has been offered the original Mark 1 version, should be interesting.
-
I haven't noticed much difference in wear characteristics. It may have had a different weave to the fibre. It was based on the bicycle seat clamp and so had a slot cut into the section which would crack when the clamp was closed. You could see the pole distort around the slot. The second version I had wore the quickest because it was carbon rubbing against carbon again. The latest version still wears but the clamp bodies are far better.
I considered Carbon Facelifts but two posters on here owned both and still thought that the SLX was better and cheaper.
I don't think a glassfibre coating would make any difference - I went through a glass extender in five weeks!
-
Had my slx for 7 months.I look after it wipeing down the pole sections every 3 days.My 18' slx gets used approx 20 hrs a week. I apply ceramic oil every week to each section. So the pole looks brand new every time I oil it and it reduces wear and carbon dust.
Neil
Just going back to your thread Neil. Have you thought of oiling the inside of the tubes also? Could be put on a cloth tied to string and pulled through perhaps?
John