[Andrew46]

When ordering the new slx do they fit the metal clamps now or do you need to request that these rae fitted?

Are they worth getting or are the plastic one's OK?

Thanks

[jouk45]

the new ones supplied with pole are fine, i have never had the older versions, so can not comment on them,

[Clive McDonald]

Andrew the clamps are plastic. The pole is the best thing you will ever buy. Keep it clean and the excess hose off the floor. Put car wax on it.

[krave]

Andrew the clamps are plastic. The pole is the best thing you will ever buy. Keep it clean and the excess hose off the floor. Put car wax on it.

How do YOU keep the hose off the floor mate?

After reading all the posts about hose I think im going to see if I can make a unger ergotec belt with retractable reel on it.

My pole hose wound up pretty small, So think it could be made to a alright size.

[Pole 2 Pole]

Not the easiest thing in the world to do, but i make a double loop of the pole hose and clip it into my belt holster thingy. Tow or three foot of the hose is excess but i can't cut it down as i sometimes use an extra section on my slx. The wax thing works a treat though. Once a week, or fortnight. Best tip i've had on this site EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[[GQC] Tim]

Andrew the clamps are plastic. The pole is the best thing you will ever buy. Keep it clean and the excess hose off the floor. Put car wax on it.

How do YOU keep the hose off the floor mate?

After reading all the posts about hose I think im going to see if I can make a unger ergotec belt with retractable reel on it.

My pole hose wound up pretty small, So think it could be made to a alright size.

This is what you need :

Pole hose tidy

http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/store_genspares.html

You can also order it in black.

[AuRavelling79]

Clamps - When I got my 35ft SLX in March 2009 (Which I use as a 20ft four-section pole most of the time) I got the metal Mk2 (quick release metal type) ones which are robust but ran out of adjustment and seemed to let the pole sections spin if too slack or crush the sections a bit if too tight.

Gardiners sent me the next type FoC after about six months - I call them "plastic Mk3a" - which need just a little tightening or you can break them - but which work really well. Always keep the levers on the top of the pole so that they don't catch on conservatory finials and gutters and break off.

One of these broke last month and as the biggest two sections (not often used) of my pole still have metal clamps I used one of their spares to replace it - and I have just received (FoC) the newest plastic levers Mk3b - which are stronger than the Mk3a which both fit the original Mk3 clamps. Just as well because another two Mk3a levers cracked where the bolt screws in last week.

I am fitting the newest (3b) clamp levers as the old (3a) ones break (it takes less than a minute).

So at time of writing my pole has:-

Top clamp - Mk3B
2nd clamp - Mk3A
3rd clamp - Mk3A
4th clamp - Mk2
5th clamp - Mk2
6th clamp - Glass fibre extension type.

Golden rule on the plastic clamps - keep them on top of the pole as you work and don't overtighten.

Hose tidy

I made one of these out of a 2.5L paint tin handle (thick bendable wire) which I wrapped around my webbing belt and left about 3 inches protruding to hang my pole hose on. This means I can un-loop it easily when I want to extend the pole and can also hook the hose back on when I drop the pole down again.

So the hose reel (microbore) goes to a tap on my belt which connects to my pole hose which sits on my improvised hose tidy.

It saves a lot of grit on the hose and pole innards in damp conditions..