[Peter Fogwill]

The clampless pole, what a great idea. I built myself a 21ft clampless pole, much on the lines of Peter's pole about 2 1/2 years ago (still got it and another in my garage). I used it in my own work for about 4 months, trying out different ideas with it. I didn't think of trying Peter's subsequent idea of using the hose to hold the pole up, rather I developed a fitting that would hold the pole either with a section fully extended (section were only 4ft long) or fully shut. It did work quite well, but I realised that it would be a very hard pole to manufacture and be reliable for customers use. I have still got a couple of drawings of other ideas for a clampless pole (different to Peters), but at the moment I do not see this as a viable mainstream product for me to pursue. Some of our factory engineers bought one of Peter's clampless poles (as seen on youtube) to see what they thought of it (we also have Ionics, Facelift, Brodex, Omnipole, Unger, Emporium and Skypole). When designing and manufacturing any products it is good to be fully aware of all ideas out in the market place.

I like Peter's approach to many items, but at the moment I am reserving judgment on his poles until I experience his latest offering. As most know we happily stock and sell other manufactures poles/equipment in fact it is usually more profitable to do so as you do not have the development and stock holding issues to deal with. However we only do this when we are completely happy with a product, or feel that it has something good to offer to at least some of our clients. If and when Peter's new pole becomes a viable retail offering for distributors, then I am sure we will think carefully about selling it. Rather than viewing a rivals new product as a problem it is always better to see if it has anything of value to offer to the end user and then see if you can sell it as well. 

Alex, I thought you might have adopted that attitude and you are quite right.  Pity everyone never had the same attitude.   

I have come accross those that dosn't grasp the simplicity of the workings of the pole.  Like Jon people expect springs and ratchets to hold the pole up.  To me this is a method of clamping, and hence more things to go wrong. 

I have sold quite a few of the Universal clamp-less poles, and it is amazing how many people come on the phone and say the pole won't stay up, they expect hydraulics and all sorts of things.  I usually have to explain how the pole works and then they go away quite happy.

Peter

[craig21t]

how does this pole work as you say there is nothing locking it at height. i presume the new one will not be a modified universal pole then as they are way to heavy. also what heights are you looking to produce?

[*foxman]

i use a facelift pole and its lasted 2 years now its taken a lot of battering and is starting to wear in parts.as this is happening ive noticed the clamps dont last as long.is there any pole with a clamp that doesnt need to be replaced

Durapole clamps will never need replacing. Will out last any pole on the market.

[Jeff Brimble]

Foxman as a supplier your self. The original topic question was ....

i use a facelift pole and its lasted 2 years now .is there any pole with a clamp that doesnt need to be replaced

Peter's pole doesnt seem to need any clamps that need to be replaced.

[Jon-scwindows]

i will drill the hole bigger and feed the microbore through and use that to see if its easy just holding the hose to keep it at the right length. I can see it working but just not what i expected. I would still like the clamps please. Thanks

[*foxman]

I don't think so.  The time saving with this type of pole is so great that if a supplier doesn't make it available to his customers, he will doing exactly what is stated.

Peter, i must say that is a very bold statement and complete rubbish unless you can back it up......

You must realise that suppliers dont only sell to the 'fan boys' but to large customers with nationwide accounts, they need tools which will work and last.

[craig21t]

as all our work is commercial, im interested in a pole that can make us more productive, but I have serious doubts about the longevity of this type of pole. must of our work is big, ie working at one height for over an hour. so this type of pole would prob be of no benefit to us. so thats why i questioned peters statement. I can understand what foxman is saying, although he could say it a little better
lets hope peter doesn't have to give too many refunds with his money back offer.

[Peter Fogwill]

i will drill the hole bigger and feed the microbore through and use that to see if its easy just holding the hose to keep it at the right length. I can see it working but just not what i expected. I would still like the clamps please. Thanks

You should be able to pull the hose through the hole that is already there.  Do you have the braided hose supplied with the pole?

Peter

[Peter Fogwill]

how does this pole work as you say there is nothing locking it at height. i presume the new one will not be a modified universal pole then as they are way to heavy. also what heights are you looking to produce?

Craig, the pole is held at any desired height by the pole hose.  I will have a 24 foot pole closing to under 4 foot, and a 38 foot closing to just under 6 foot. 

The new one won't be a modified Universal, it will be made from scratch, hopefully very strong, very light, and very rigid, at a good price, but we will have to wait and see if all of this can be achieved.

Peter

[Peter Fogwill]

I don't think so.  The time saving with this type of pole is so great that if a supplier doesn't make it available to his customers, he will doing exactly what is stated.

Peter, i must say that is a very bold statement and complete rubbish unless you can back it up......

You must realise that suppliers dont only sell to the 'fan boys' but to large customers with nationwide accounts, they need tools which will work and last.

Foxman, every statement could be classed as rubbish unless it can be backed up, and I plan to do just that. 

I realise that large companies with nation wide accounts need tools that stand up to the job and last, and the less parts there is on a product, the less that is there to go wrong, and less down time.

Peter

[Peter Fogwill]

as all our work is commercial, im interested in a pole that can make us more productive, but I have serious doubts about the longevity of this type of pole. must of our work is big, ie working at one height for over an hour. so this type of pole would prob be of no benefit to us. so thats why i questioned peters statement. I can understand what foxman is saying, although he could say it a little better
lets hope peter doesn't have to give too many refunds with his money back offer.

I don't understand where the longevity doubt comes in, do you mean that you can't see it saving much time? or is it something different?

I understand where your coming from when you say the pole is set at the one height for over an hour, but there is no disadvantage with a clamp less pole over a clamped one.  How many times on a long window have you noticed something on the level above that is not cleaned properly?  You have to lower the pole, adjust the pole to heighten it,  put it back up to the window, only to lower it down again to carry on where you left off.  Now imagine a quick flick and you are on the bit you missed, and two seconds later you are back working where you left off.  This is only one advantage with a clamp-less pole on the type of windows you mentioned.

But of course the sections that the pole is made with in the first place has to be of at least the same standard as the sections available with a clamped pole.  But we are talking new technology here, and could the sections be any better than what is available today?  Maybe, how much of todays poles are designed with the clamps in mind, and if there is no clamps can the sections be made differently?  We will have to wait and see.

Peter

[macmac]

Peter
What if you have to let go of the pole, lean it against the building say & nip to turn flow up/down or whatever?

Tony

[Peter Fogwill]

Peter
What if you have to let go of the pole, lean it against the building say & nip to turn flow up/down or whatever?

Tony

Hi Tony good question.  The flow is preset and shouldn't need adjusted, and the water is turned on and off at the brush itself.  OK if you did want to adjust the flow, or light a cigarette or whatever, and you needed to take your hands off the pole, then lower the pole and put it back up when your ready to go again.  It only takes seconds anyway, and that is it's main advantage.  When working around houses no need to wrestle with the pole around and under washing lines etc. just let the pole down, then put it back up.

Best not to leave a pole on it's own while it is extended, best to lower it and put it back up when you want to use it again.  It only takes a second for the wind to catch it.


Peter

[macmac]

Peter
What if you have to let go of the pole, lean it against the building say & nip to turn flow up/down or whatever?

Tony

Hi Tony good question.  The flow is preset and shouldn't need adjusted, and the water is turned on and off at the brush itself.  OK if you did want to adjust the flow, or light a cigarette or whatever, and you needed to take your hands off the pole, then lower the pole and put it back up when your ready to go again.  It only takes seconds anyway, and that is it's main advantage.  When working around houses no need to wrestle with the pole around and under washing lines etc. just let the pole down, then put it back up.

Best not to leave a pole on it's own while it is extended, best to lower it and put it back up when you want to use it again.  It only takes a second for the wind to catch it.


Peter

Thanks, sounds interesting.

Tony

[cleartech]

not heard of durapole clamps .where would i get one

[Peter Fogwill]

i will drill the hole bigger and feed the microbore through and use that to see if its easy just holding the hose to keep it at the right length. I can see it working but just not what i expected. I would still like the clamps please. Thanks

The clamps are on the way, you should get them tomorrow or the next day.

Peter

[craig21t]

not heard of durapole clamps .where would i get one

the durapole is a new pole from wcw, carbon fibre 45ft, we are using one at the moment, and have to say its pretty good. its a well engineered pole and tough, lasted over 10 months now with NO breakages, which is amazing as its being used by our guys. 

[macmac]

Peter, i must say that is a very bold statement and complete rubbish unless you can back it up...... 

 

Durapole clamps will never need replacing. Will out last any pole on the market.   

Bold statements & complete rubbish pot calling kettle black :

Tony

[macmac]

Peter, i must say that is a very bold statement and complete rubbish unless you can back it up...... 

 

Durapole clamps will never need replacing. Will out last any pole on the market.   

Bold statements & complete rubbish pot calling kettle black :

Tony

Here we go : There is no pot calling at all. Read the context of that statement (if you can understand what that means). They will outlast the Facelift i know that much 

Send me one foxman (mate ) i'd like to test one, if it is indeed as good as you say i'll report so. The clamps may be good but is the pole? would a fiesta be any better for having ferrari wheels on it?

Tony

[*foxman]

Might just do that Tony! Are you going to Windex?