[chez]

Hey guys. Bought a carbon pheonix 22 at the show. Walked out with it. Got it for £189 plus the vat.
Got home and set about swapping over the brush heads etc from my old slx 22. Only had the slx 7 months and the top 2 sections gone already.
So bit the bullet and bought this pheonix. Put on a Gardiners brush, the flip fast angle and the aquadapter. Went out today and tried it out all day.
Reason I bought it was cos of the clamps look really good so easy to use and great control. The actual pole feels solid and almost more compact. Love the fact I won't pinch my fingers and can actually control the pole retracting with the clamps themselves.
Overall I think its the bees knees! One minor point is the end cap came off a couple of times but a bit of electrical tape will sort that out. Is it better than the slx? I think it is, i actually prefer it purely for the clamps. Just hope it will last a while tho. Will let you know in a few months..... Watch this space!!
Cheers chez

[R.C Property]

i've been using the 26ul for 3 months now and love it!

[jonboywalton75]

I think if u knackered up an Slx in 7 months u should adjust your technique or be a bit more careful

[SB Cleaning]

I think if u knackered up an Slx in 7 months u should adjust your technique or be a bit more careful

I was thinking that...

Had my slx 25 for just over 2 years and it was still going strong when I sold it!

[chez]

I think if u knackered up an Slx in 7 months u should adjust your technique or be a bit more careful

Yes see your point. Trouble is I adjust it so as it just grips on the clamp but still wore out quickly. Last few months having to adjust the clamps to get the top 2 sections in and out. pain! Was told I should wash the sections if possible daily. Ain't got time for that!  previous clx lasted over a year. Don't get it.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I think if u knackered up an Slx in 7 months u should adjust your technique or be a bit more careful

My first one lasted 4 years of daily use, second one been going 18 months & still strong!

[AuRavelling79]

My SLX 22 still fine after 4 years.
My SLX30 still good after 5 ...

Just buy a new clamp set every couple of years.

[elite mike]

no complaints with my 25 slx 

[8weekly]

My SLX 22 still fine after 4 years.
My SLX30 still good after 5 ...

Just buy a new clamp set every couple of years.

Have you not had the tops of the poles wearing? My CLX is 10 months old and the top two sections are now taped up.

[AuRavelling79]

A bit. But nothing much.

[Smudger]

Slx 3 yrs and going well - does need a service, not cleaned it for about 4 months now 

clx 27 lasted around 18 months before sections 1 & 2 wore down to the carbon - new one going
strong tho

Darran

[Spruce]

Hey guys. Bought a carbon pheonix 22 at the show. Walked out with it. Got it for £189 plus the vat.
Got home and set about swapping over the brush heads etc from my old slx 22. Only had the slx 7 months and the top 2 sections gone already.
So bit the bullet and bought this pheonix. Put on a Gardiners brush, the flip fast angle and the aquadapter. Went out today and tried it out all day.
Reason I bought it was cos of the clamps look really good so easy to use and great control. The actual pole feels solid and almost more compact. Love the fact I won't pinch my fingers and can actually control the pole retracting with the clamps themselves.
Overall I think its the bees knees! One minor point is the end cap came off a couple of times but a bit of electrical tape will sort that out. Is it better than the slx? I think it is, i actually prefer it purely for the clamps. Just hope it will last a while tho. Will let you know in a few months..... Watch this space!!
Cheers chez

I bet Phoenix will be happy with their sale and especially as a Gardiners convert.

I wonder how long this Phoenix euphoria will last?

In my experience in the power tool industry we couldn't please everyone. Even although Bosch was one of the best products out there, there were just some customers we were glad to see the back of. Better to let them go and destroy some other product and run it's reputation down.

No matter what industry you are part of, its so important to maintain the tools you are working with. They are what provides you your income. If you " haven't got time for that" - the simple task of cleaning and maintaining your pole from time to time, then you have no right to run the Gardiner reputation down by complaining about poor quality.

If my name was Alex, I would refuse to sell you a brush to fit it.  

No offense intended.

[SunShineCleaning]

Sounds like you went home happy.

I would say that if you dont clean and maintain any pole it will not last long.

I stripped my 22slx and 40smax yesterday while my cup of tea cooled.

[jonboywalton75]

My Slx 22 is over 2 yrs old and cos i have looked after it, it feels almost as good as my sons almost brand new Slx 25.
the Phoenix poles look good, but new Slx out soon and you can bet that will be another step up.

[chez]

Just to let you guys know I have stripped my slx down several times and cleaned it even lubricated it before it kept jamming. I really don't have the time to do that every day in the dark when I get home.
And Spruce.. Not running gardiners down they are great poles and have used them for 3 years. I am just as a user very disappointed with its longevity this time. Infact when I was at the show several people stopped me and asked where those poles were as they had similar experiences with their slx poles as me.
Time for a change
And as for hoping Alex doesn't sell me a brush for it..... Glad he is not as petty as that.
Cheers

[richard jagger]

I think the Phoenix will out last the the current matt finish slx poles.I do believe from my own experience of building a yachts that the exposed carbon finish is a softer than the harder finish of the Phoenix  pole.I know Alex has said differently but I am not sold on that fact.
    I might be wrong, but I feel this will be confirmed when we see the new range of gardener poles.I believe the surface of the Gardener pole and the clamps could and should be improved so what.Many might argue, but my understanding and experience leads me to this belief.
      I am not sure but I do believe the harder finish is added after the pole and manufactured and machined and reamed.WHICH PUTS THE PRICE OF PRODUCTION UP.i WONDER IF ALEX HAS SOMETHING TO ADD?

[tlwcs]

Did they have a stand there or did you buy it from the back of a yellow three wheeler?
Tony

[thermoclean]

The clamps on the slx are not as easy to work with as the facelift and elite poles could do with a pole as light and rigid as slx but with elite clamps.
We have found the slx clamps are a real pain to work with.

[Smudger]

I think the Phoenix will out last the the current matt finish slx poles.I do believe from my own experience of building a yachts that the exposed carbon finish is a softer than the harder finish of the Phoenix  pole.I know Alex has said differently but I am not sold on that fact.     I might be wrong, but I feel this will be confirmed when we see the new range of gardener poles.I believe the surface of the Gardener pole and the clamps could and should be improved so what.Many might argue, but my understanding and experience leads me to this belief.
      I am not sure but I do believe the harder finish is added after the pole and manufactured and machined and reamed.WHICH PUTS THE PRICE OF PRODUCTION UP.i WONDER IF ALEX HAS SOMETHING TO ADD?

Sorry mate Alex is correct - just my experience from working in the F1/wrc rally/touring car/aviation and weapons industry

Darran

[DG Cleaning]

Isn't the Phoenix a hybrid pole anyway, so unfair to compare it to a slx?