I've watched and was impressed with the DVD, there are a few points I would have approached a little differently, but by and large it is a good buy for the Newbie, covers decent techniques, and I've even picked up a tip or two myself
and I've been going 23 years!
But there is only so much you can get into a 45 minute DVD, so overall I thought it was good.
One tip I thought should have been in there however is that just prior to placing the squeegee on the glass, you should run the blade through finger and thumb.
1. it takes off excess water from the squeegee rubber.
2. you will feel any bits of grit, or hair or anything else for that matter that will cause lines or marks on the glass as you squeegee the pane.
It clears the working edge of the squeegee.
Ladders are not covered, but that is becoming a grey and murky area, and to go into ladder use would mean having to go into it in some depth because of health and safety.
Pole use is kinda advanced and better covered when you are more experienced.
I know some guy who have been going a fair time that are real Newbie's themselves where the pole is concerned.
It is also used almost exclusively on commercial work, a newbie starting out is not going to have the kind of work where that is needed (in general)
I watched the clip of Mark using the pole, it's how I used to use it, but I have developed a really good technique of my own, and it is quicker and more effective than the one in the clip.
One of my squeegee collection - or the handle I should say - is the Unger Swivlelock.
I've used a couple of different makes along the same lines, but in my personal opinion, so far, the Unger one is the best.
I never use the 'lock' facility, rather it is done up tight enough that it holds it position and equally I can twist it to any angle I like and it will hold that position too.
Wash the pane of glass as per the video clip.
Attach Unger Swivlelock and pull down the squeegee blade somewhere between vertical and 45 degrees (depends on height of glass)
Just as Mark shows in his video for normal squeegee technique on his DVD, start well below the top of the pane and slide squeegee up to top corner.
Because of the angle with the swivlelock the squeegee blade can now be as vertical as it would be if you were squeegeeing off a normal pane of glass with the squeegee held in your hand.
You can now either draw straight across (can be done very quickly too I might add) and finish vertically against the other side of the window frame, or, twist and draw down the side of the frame.
You then go back and do it again until you are at a height where you can reach comfortably without the pole and continue to squeegee off as normal.
By not finishing flush to the frame, but drawing the squeegee down then you of course reduce the area you need to squeegee with each stroke, but that is harder to do and easier to make mistakes, leave lines behind and so on.
I've also bought and now use the Mr Longarm pole and squeegee.
A good piece of kit it is too
Some of the technique is similar to the one I stumbled into with my normal pole and Swivlelock handle, so I adapted to it like a duck to water.
I've not used a wagtail yet, can't compare that technique...tempted too get one though, just to see what it is like in use...
Maybe I can video myself using the poles (standard and Mr Longarm) and stick it on Youtube....
I'm late now
work beckons...
Ian
