[Dave Willis]

I was reading a post somewhere where Alex mentioned that carbon wear could be reduced by adding a stronger material but it would add weight etc etc. What wears the pole away? Is it the clamps themselves or the sections rubbing?
Could the clamps be softened or the clamping areas (I'm thinking Xtreme here) be hardened?
It must happen on all poles, not just the Gardiners range.
I accept that poles eventually wear away - the bit I hate is the bit inbetween - brand new to knackered. In effect the pole is fabulous for about three months then horrible for the rest of its life.

You guys who have poles that last for years - how do you do it? Do you work with your clamps half shut and just ignore it when they wear, not care when they catch on conservatory roofs or just chuckle when the  pole spins and your brush smacks the glass. Do you giggle when your clamp releases on a forty foot pole and the whole lot comes crashing down? Laugh when you can't pull the brush neck out without adjusting the other clamps?

Come on, how do you do it?

[Perfect Windows]

I think the wear is caused solely by dirt and grit.  It gets in the gap between the tubes and, mixed with water, forms a grinding paste.  Add in a dozen extensions and contractions of your pole per clean and you're doing exactly what you would do to deliberately sand down the tubes.  The clamps are the worst offenders for two reasons.  One, they are a tighter fit and two, they are the area where all the force is applied to the pole when you're applying any kind of turning movement.  That's why they wear so much at the fully closed point.

Clean them every day and they'll last a lot longer.  Clean them every week like I do and they'll last a while.  Never clean them and they'll go in no time.

I've suggested one solution, which is a 1mm recess in the carbon fibre and a countersunk 1mm thick aluminium tube for the main wear points (fully closed/extended for most, on the bulges for an extreme).  The problem is that it would add weight and a lot of complexity in manufacturing.  I've even thought of trying to find someone to do that work to a pole; finding the right person to do it would be difficult, though.

More simply on the DIY front, I do wonder if the application of some properly strong lacquer (not the spray on stuff) at clamping points might help.

Vin

Vin

[Dave Willis]

What about a clamp that some how absorbs pole wear?
It winds me up no end that I pay stupid money for a pole and have to use it in substandard form for 80% of its life.
I want a pole that's absolutely perfect for 80% of its life then wears away at the last 20% like most thing in life do.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

As Vin says, dirt on the pole hose getting inside.

For all the improvements in WFP technology over the last few years & yet no one has come up with a cure for the biggest remaining problem!!!

[Perfect Windows]

What about a clamp that some how absorbs pole wear?
It winds me up no end that I pay stupid money for a pole and have to use it in substandard form for 80% of its life.
I want a pole that's absolutely perfect for 80% of its life then wears away at the last 20% like most thing in life do.

Agree with the "wants" bit but not quite clear on the "clamp absorbs pole wear" bit.  Do you mean a clamp that compensates for the wear on the different parts of the pole profile? i.e. clamps where it's worn as well as where it's not?

Vin

[john stracey]

I think a way of extending pole life is to use an external pole hose, i switched mine over at christmas, just by taping the hose at the top middle and bottom of the pole, the slack hose i just hold in my hand against the pole when using on ground floor have'nt had to flush pole down the inside since, and just a  wipe over with a damp cloth now and again,no more grit jamming up the pole,

[dd]

I think the clamps on the phoenix open more fully which hopefully will reduce pole wear.

[simonr]

? i been using an clx every day all day for nearly 2yrs, the one worn top bit has tape round it so it acts as normal, other sections are showing black from wear but none of them spin cos you can adjust the clamps. so it still works at 100%   i'll get another year easy out of it , while i do clean it, its not often & i've only ptf sprayed it once.   so are fully carbon ones that much weaker

[David stewart]

What way do yous clean your poles? I've started cleaning mine although too little too late now. Anyway, I fully extend each section giving a good rinse and clean with a cloth but no matter how much ya clean it, it still sounds like a grinder when closing the sections again. The trapped dirt and grit seems impossible to get out.

[SunShineCleaning]

Cleaning is important as well as flushing with water on a regular basis.


I think carbon wears quicker than composit but is not as light.

[Perfect Windows]

What way do yous clean your poles? I've started cleaning mine although too little too late now. Anyway, I fully extend each section giving a good rinse and clean with a cloth but no matter how much ya clean it, it still sounds like a grinder when closing the sections again. The trapped dirt and grit seems impossible to get out.

Fully extend, put the brush head end on the floor and run water into it from a hose.  The hole at the top of the pole is small (and blocked by the pole hose) so it fills.  When it's full, stand it up so the water empties out.  Repeat.

I've seen a video somewhere of someone who put his pole, fully extended, in a stream and leaves it for a few minutes.

Vin

[Tom White]

As Vin says, dirt on the pole hose getting inside.

For all the improvements in WFP technology over the last few years & yet no one has come up with a cure for the biggest remaining problem!!!

I work with external pole hose; it reduces the amount of dirt up the pole (that sounds rude dunnit?).

However I don't work with an external pole hose for that reason, I do it because it's a quick way to work once you get the knack.

[chez]

? i been using an clx every day all day for nearly 2yrs, the one worn top bit has tape round it so it acts as normal, other sections are showing black from wear but none of them spin cos you can adjust the clamps. so it still works at 100%   i'll get another year easy out of it , while i do clean it, its not often & i've only ptf sprayed it once.   so are fully carbon ones that much weaker

In my experience they are. First clx lasted over a year so bought an slx didn't last as long even cleaning once a month. I think carbon is weaker but much better to work with as more rigid and lighter. But probably will only buy carbon for that reason.

[dd]

Strange, people before always seem to post that the slx wears better than the clx.

Currently I have only used the clx but am in process of upgrading my poles to slx over this year (possibly try the Phoenix too).

[Smudger]

Unfortunately anything that moves causes friction - friction means wear ( same as a car engine )
ideally the clamps would need be constantly lubricated to avoid wear to the carbon or made from a
material that is 'self lubricating' and the only thing i can think of is PTFE which is too soft.

metal inserts would be good as ( for me ) any wear i have had is the fully closed position but weight/thickness and complex manufacturing process all but rule this out.

Looser clamping may actually be worse than close fitting clamps as it will 1. let larger particles get trapped in the clamp area and 2. lead to uneven wear on the pole as it 'flops' side to side in the clamp or drags on obe contact point.

I used to get a lot of grit and stuff inside the pole when i had the standard gardiners butt cap but when i changed to a thick rubber (tecbuk) one and bonded in a penny washer with a 10mm hole i have not suffered this problem - which in turn has made me lazy by not cleaning my SLX for a couple of months or so  

Darran

[dave f]

ive repaird mine by putting a leyer of varnish at top and bottom of each section it lasts a couple of months but its the inbetween thats a ball ache try replacing the clamps as well they also fail its just one of those things and i got some clear automotive laquer and gave the poles a good coat it helps fore a while to stop your hands getting black if you dont wear gloves

[andyM]

At the end of the day I can't see how the manufacturers/sellers would be too interested in making their poles last longer?

[chez]

At the end of the day I can't see how the manufacturers/sellers would be too interested in making their poles last longer?

Very true

[CLEANCARE WC]

Disagree Toshimitsu! I hated working with external pole hose and fail to see how it could be any quicker even with the nack...each to his own.

[Ronnie Bryce]

Brush onto worn sections as needed.