[tompoole]

any one else get black hands when using slx in the rain?
great pole but getting ped off with black hands

[AuRavelling79]

any one else get black hands when using slx in the rain?
great pole but getting ped off with black hands

I get black hands when using the slx in the dry! But I wear those cheap builders gloves with rubber faces and woolly backs.

[Griffus]

That'll be the carbon.

[tompoole]

yep i guessed that, didnt realise it would be quite so bad.

[Griffus]

Have to say, I have carbon fishing rods and poles and neither make my hands black.

[tompoole]

1st section is fine , its the others wear laquer off after a while.

[KS Cleaning]

The newer ones have an insulation wrap around them,eliminating black hand syndrome.

[matthewprice]

can you tell us more about this wrap and which poles have it   thanks

[dazmond]

get some gloves!!i always wear gloves with cheap disposable nitrile liners underneath.the SHOWA 377 gloves are good for around £6 a pair.

messing with hoses all day dragging  them across the ground etc is very unhygenic!!

[KS Cleaning]

can you tell us more about this wrap and which poles have it   thanks

I have an SLX 25 which I bought just over a year ago,it has a smooth carbon finish and you get black hands off it.I bought an SLX 22 about 6 weeks ago and the finish is different,it is more like a wrap than a smooth finish.Has anyone else bought an SLX recently with the 'wrap' finish instead of the smooth surface my old SLX has?

[DeLuce]

I tried wearing gloves but they get on my nerves, I like to FEEL what I'm doing
 
I just by a barrier cream and when I get in the van apply, give it a mo to absorb then off I go, you still get black hands but it comes off easier. I couldn't work happily in the summer especially, wearing gloves, it would do my head in 

[bobby p]

read somewhere its as toxic as asbestos !

[mister bit]

Bloody Nora! 

[mister bit]

Just found this not that bad just says wear gloves and don't go poking any overhead cables and wear a dust mask and goggles when putting your poles up and down 

http://www.monash.edu.au/ohs/topics/info-sheets/carbon-fibres.html

[DaveG]

I used to get VERY black hands off of my battered old SLX poles.

Every month or so I give them a quick rub down and spray them with clear lacquer and hey presto nice clean hands 

[Michael Rosevear]

I use the nitrile gloves from gardiners - keep your hands nice and clean and dry.

[Mike #1]

My Elite has a wrap very similar to the SLX  but like everything overtime it wears ,

Best to buy PTFE spray from gardiners it is a dry formula which dries like a lacquer and is durable ,                                     Best to spray sections some where sheltered in order to get a even coat on each section it does dry almost white which will change colour of sections but it works .

Wished i had used this when i first got my Elite last May 1 can will spray a 4 section pole twice , MIKE

[dannymack]

gloves are for girls man up !!!!!!!!! lol !!!!!!!!!!

[Alex Gardiner]

Gloves or some other protective layer should be used by all water-fed pole window cleaners.

The one downside of using pure-carbon poles (IMO) is that with age and wear they will produce carbon  residue which can cause staining on the skin. Wearing gloves of some sort will prevent this completely.

There are many reasons why water-fed pole window cleaners should wear gloves:
1. Window cleaners hands have always been prone to cracking - this is made worse by the 'drying' effect of pure water.
2. Hygiene - when working with hose that is run along the ground it ensures good hygiene for instance when you then are eating your lunch or dealing with money etc for clients.
3. Prevents carbon fibre poles from leaving black staining.

Personally I use Nitrile disposable gloves all year round, usually a pair will last all day. In the winter I then put a pair of gloves over the top of them for extra warmth. The great thing about using these is that I can quickly peel them off to drive, eat or interact with client and my hands are completely clean to do so.

[DaveG]

Trouble is with gloves, you dont get an "all-over" tan