[dazmond]

i had a busy day today.various types of domestic houses,some with awkward windows etc.used my 25ft slx with carbon gooseneck and radius sill brush all day.

last job of the day was outside gutter clean/soffits and windows(£65 all in)took me 90 mins.my shoulders are sore now though!the slx felt like a heavy fibre glass pole by the end of the day!!

been wfp 2 years now but im starting to think if i dont invest in lighter poles im gonna have shoulders problems and RSI injuries in the future.

first time in ages my shoulders are sore!!

so im thinking of saving up for 2 poles to invest in for the future.


extreme 25 ft for most domestic/smallish commercial jobs and a 47 ft extreme for higher work.

these poles are VERY EXPENSIVE but i think if i dont invest i could well be in trouble in a few years and have to pack window cleaning in.i have very big powerful arms and shoulders yet their very sore tonight even with an slx!!

i could refuse fascia/soffit cleaning add ons but ive been offering this service for a few years now and its good extra money on top of the window cleaning plus my customers are well happy i offer this service.

what are your thoughts guys?and have you had any shoulder problems??


best wishes


dazmond

[Scrimble]

dazmond why are you even using the 25ft slx? its not far off double the weight of the slx xt 18

and there not that expensive

[Lee Pryor]

I think its a good idea to invest in the best possible equipment you can afford. I dont do much on the tools today as I employ staff. They get clx poles and super max to use all day, mostly clx 18. I think I provide very good equipment to my staff compared to other employers, and as we grow and have more spare money in the pot I may upgrade them to slx if they promise to look after them.

I was on the tools today and took my house mate out to show him what we do. I said only earlier today to him that if I were back on the tools full time again that I would treat myself to the best possible system and brand new van that I could. To me thats a large thermo pure system to work with hot at a high flow and never run out of water along with the best possible poles, eg extream 18 and 25. not sure about the 47 as we dont do much at that height, probably go for slx 35.

With regard to your fascia cleans they can be neck and shoulder breaking. I think that you should charge more so that you possibly do less and are more in the money when you do one.

[G Griffin]

I think Lee is right. Just accept that they are hard work, whatever pole you use.
Or get the ladders out  .

[Richard iSparkle]

i

so im thinking of saving up for 2 poles to invest in for the future.


extreme 25 ft for most domestic/smallish commercial jobs and a 47 ft extreme for higher work.

these poles are VERY EXPENSIVE but i think if i dont invest i could well be in trouble in a few years and have to pack window cleaning in.i have very big powerful arms and shoulders yet their very sore tonight even with an slx!!

dazmond

just bought myself the extreme SL 25 myself today with carbon GN and SL sill brush to reduce the strain on me.

i have problems with my wrist and want to see if i can get away with working with the lightest equipment available.

if not i'll have to reduce my days cleaning.

it is expensive though.  almost £700 

my staff will remain with the CLX 22 with carbon GN and sill brush.  at least until the prices drop down.  staff dont ever look after your equipment like you will!

[dazmond]

Richard let us know what you think of the extreme after a few days using it!

To be fair my shoulders don't feel too bad this morning.still a bit sore but one full days work today then 4 days off!!

I do think the extremes are the way forward though.

Best wishes

Dazmond

[Richard iSparkle]

Richard let us know what you think of the extreme after a few days using it!

To be fair my shoulders don't feel too bad this morning.still a bit sore but one full days work today then 4 days off!!

I do think the extremes are the way forward though.

Best wishes

Dazmond

will let you know 

[H S and Son]

Did you TFR the gutters and PVC before doing them?

[markymark]

I agree with going for as light and as good a pole as you can afford - I swapped to a slx from a glass fibre beast and by jingo did I feel the benefit. I do have a long-term shoulder problem which I cant really cure but can work around.
As a result,  before I go out I do a small warm-up for my shoulders. Yes, I feel a right t1t but at least its at home and no-one can see me. Basically hefting the pole round all day is an exercise and I always warm-up before exercise, so QED I need to warm my shoulders up before I start work.
Also having "big strong arms and shoulders" isnt always a sign of underlying functional muscle strength. If you're a gym freak have you done any rotator-cuff or shoulder-girdle strengthening work? Just a thought....
As it stands I might ask Santa for an extreme slx25, or just longer arms and legs depending on how much I can write-off against tax 

[Ian Lancaster]

Unless a large (more than 25) percentage of your work is higher than two stories, I don't see the point in using a pole longer than 18ft (3x2 mt).  This will reach almost all two story windows, even over the average conservatory.  For the odd higher job get a longer pole out of the van.

We have a variety of 3x2 m poles, but the lads prefer converted Unger telescopic poles.  They are cheap (about £47 plus alloy end cone, plastic gooseneck and pole hose - total less than £65)

They are LIGHT - you can wave them about with one hand

The clamps are easy - twist action.

The inner locking cones last for about 3 months, but replacements are only £1.50 each.

Spend umpteen hundred pounds if you want - our poles do the job, they're almost indestructible and none of our lads have any shoulder/back problems.

[AuRavelling79]

Get your SLX25 and take the biggest section off so it becomes a 20. Put the extra 5ft on only when you need it. I've been doing this with my SLX30 for the last four years.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I think you are right looking to get the xtreme poles. I would also say look at getting the 18ft xtreme and also have extra brushes. For instance the gutter cleaning could have been done with an xtreme brush on a carbon gooseneck and probably 18ft xtreme pole.

I have days when I don't go above 18 ft all day. Before I got the xtreme my elbows always used to ache, now they only ache after a big big job. Before the xtreme I use the standard slx range.

Simon.

[Erithwc]

Insead of buying lighter poles get down the gym.

I just joined my local gym for £20 a month to help me get more upper body strength 

Paul

[H S and Son]

I just joined my local gym for £20 a month to help me get more upper body strength  ;Dl

WFP will do that for you.

[richardlingard]

or you could go the other way and use one of them brodux aluminion jobbies for five mins then pic up your current pole, it will feal well light ;-P

[Roy Cauldery]

Dazmond
Am I right in thinking that your around 40?
If you are,and at the risk of stirring up the hornets nest of those super fit guys on here, you might be finding that age is catching up with you at long last
Im 44 this year,and have done hard graft,outdoors since I was 16(inc. 7 years in the infantry).I find that I now cant do the same level of work,day in/day out as the guys I employ that are 15 years younger than me
Dont get me wrong,I can still hack it- just at a slower pace thats all.
What I'me ultimately trying to say is,do you have a bod that you can get to do these jobs for you?

Regards
Roy 

[Cliff perkins]

i had a busy day today.various types of domestic houses,some with awkward windows etc.used my 25ft slx with carbon gooseneck and radius sill brush all day.

last job of the day was outside gutter clean/soffits and windows(£65 all in)took me 90 mins.my shoulders are sore now though!the slx felt like a heavy fibre glass pole by the end of the day!!

been wfp 2 years now but im starting to think if i dont invest in lighter poles im gonna have shoulders problems and RSI injuries in the future.

first time in ages my shoulders are sore!!

so im thinking of saving up for 2 poles to invest in for the future.


extreme 25 ft for most domestic/smallish commercial jobs and a 47 ft extreme for higher work.

these poles are VERY EXPENSIVE but i think if i dont invest i could well be in trouble in a few years and have to pack window cleaning in.i have very big powerful arms and shoulders yet their very sore tonight even with an slx!!

i could refuse fascia/soffit cleaning add ons but ive been offering this service for a few years now and its good extra money on top of the window cleaning plus my customers are well happy i offer this service.

what are your thoughts guys?and have you had any shoulder problems??


best wishes


dazmond

Man up dazz lol
On a serious note how much lighter are the newer poles and do u think it would help that much.
I think its just your arms getting tired mate because of the work load.
You could try pressure washing them on a telescopic lance its well easy with that.thats what i use.

[Crystal-clear]

how much lighter will the extreme 25foot to the slx 25 foot , cos i i find my slx 25 great

[Frankybadboy]

I just joined my local gym for £20 a month to help me get more upper body strength  ;Dl

WFP will do that for you.

and how you getting on with that personal trainer you had once

[Richard iSparkle]

how much lighter will the extreme 25foot to the slx 25 foot , cos i i find my slx 25 great

25% lighter according to website.

1050g instead of 1375g

i have got tendinitus in my wrist so need to see if lighter poles mean i can still work full time.