[Jeff Brimble]

Its 2/12 years since I originally used fishing poles and I feel that its time to mention wear. They are fantastically light but do wear. My F16 after 2 years has developed a cracking sound in the top section that fits into the Zensorflex st gooseneck. Here is a pic of the split/crack which can just be seen when you put pressure on it with your finger- it opens slightly and fans outwards.(the solid black line is just a production mark in every pole. I will fill the crack and inside tip with  with araldite to reinforce the worn rim and thinly on the outside and then fill the void with expanding foam.



This pic is after 90 minutes of horizontal vacuuming sharp grit and gravel to asses the damage caused, after 60 minutes the tube became "flexible" and after 90 minutes as thin as card and crushable. This was to asses the wear for using as a diy guttervac.



Its not my intention to cause panic, just to report that thin materials will wear.

[Captain Scarlet]

Jeff as well as your tape you could use ptfe on the sections, Luke

[Jeff Brimble]

Absolutely, but maybe it only assists as a lubricant of lets say 1 thousndths  of an inch, I am not sure that it would help the wear issue as the poles rely on friction to stop them spinning, what are your thoughts on long term wear ?

The tape is irrelevant and I wish the pic was of the pole without it. Its only there for me to see what the gravel effect was on loose tape and I had some thoughts of the gravel ripping the carbon pole appart ( It didnt) Its not where I normally use tape and only there for the testing of gravel through the tube for assesments.

[Captain Scarlet]

With the ptfe, it lubricates without letting the sections spin. I myself wouldnt like to use my Super-lite for a gutter vac, just a very expensive solution in my opinion. Do you have a wet-dry vaccum now Jeff? Luke

[Jeff Brimble]

Built mine in June, I hire a Nilfisk but will be having a good look round Carpex and Windex, especially Omni gutter vac and Ionics gutter keeper (again) Yes the wear does worry me hence the testing but the results I got are really concentrated- lets say a 30 X effect.

I mainly use swivel brushes and use something different to ptfe, you do need to really twist the pole from the ground without spinning to get the required angle, have you tried a swivel brush ?

[Captain Scarlet]

I have swivels for my brushes but dont like using them all the time, just for some jobs. I might convert a vileda swivel mop thing to go on a brush as the swivel has lots of axises rather than my current ( 1 axis ) ones, Luke

[Captain Scarlet]

you do need to really twist the pole from the ground without spinning to get the required angle,

Dont understand this sentence sorry Jeff! Luke

[Jeff Brimble]

you do need to really twist the pole from the ground without spinning to get the required angle,

Dont understand this sentence sorry Jeff! Luke

Hmm, swivel is something most wont understand either until you get a proper one in your hands, its a diy job as nobody makes them. Its a long topic for a rainy day,should be on Matts site somewhere in amongst "My bits and pieces"! I Think.

Hey I am getting excited bout windex/carpex/- off to pack.

[Captain Scarlet]

Might see you there Jeff, Luke

[windowwashers]

you do need to really twist the pole from the ground without spinning to get the required angle,

Dont understand this sentence sorry Jeff! Luke

Hmm, swivel is something most wont understand either until you get a proper one in your hands, its a diy job as nobody makes them. Its a long topic for a rainy day,should be on Matts site somewhere in amongst "My bits and pieces"! I Think.

Hey I am getting excited bout windex/carpex/- off to pack.

was going to stay up there, now cant 

[Jeff Brimble]

Try a bit further a bit further out, but get there.

[m b shaw]

JEFF i got my mate to rivet a small section of alloy pole inside. you could knock a house down with it now. also bear in mind the older poles are stronger than the new ones, as an angler i know a bit about this and you can pick up older poles cheap,then go in a tackle shop and ask if they have any spare, one off sections you can usually get somsthing to fit for a couple of quid. i work with a 50 ft pole a lot it did nt cost a penny oh sorry i had to buy my mate a drink, some mate eh.  cheers mick

[Jeff Brimble]

Good advice Mick, its one reason why I buy second hand and broken poles 

[steve jamieson]

hi jeff , could you tell me what purpose  the expanding foam serves
in your pole section . thanks steve

[Alex Wingrove]

makes the ends a bit stronger, stops them from crushing,

[steve jamieson]

Thanks Alex , do you use a modular pole.

[Alex Wingrove]

yeah, same one as jeff,

[steve jamieson]

Alex, bought myself a maver reality14.4m  pole yesterday in sale for £100
rrp £300 stuck a brush on it been using it all day , 33ft carbon pole for £100.
 Thanks to you ,jeff and others who have posted on mod poles i have
saved a lot of money and dont have a back ache tonight .
    steve

[Jeff Brimble]

Not familiar with the Reality( they keep re branding the same old pole) but start looking for a sympathetic extension including other brands that may fit into your base section to go higher.

[m b shaw]

hi steve.just a bit of advice re maver poles.great pole for fishing but not the strongest,we call them maver eggshells,but if you re careful it will be o k light as a feather.we ve found tri cast and browning poles are strongest or any old power pole.  cheers mick