[windowwashers]

so basically you just attach this to the poles and then push it along the gutter to the end or something ?

Problem there is when there are brackets holding the gutter to the boards every foot or so, would be a royal pain in the bum, for gutters without this it could be good

[Oakley Windows]

Now that....




is a piece of precision engineering.


May I congratulate you Jeff on the hard-work and industrious attitude you must possess to be able to manufacture a tool of such exacting quality 

[Clive McDonald]

I have to admit. it is a good tool. Exellent might be a  better description.If you are going to spend longer than an hour making one yourself then it is still probably cost effective to buy one ,albeit that they are unreasonably expensive.

It's got me a bit interested now. I thought that if you had the same, or similar profile,or semi round profile, but it was more of a leading edge tube, then a sock could be attached behind to contain the debris.

[jeff1]

Now that....




is a piece of precision engineering.


May I congratulate you Jeff on the hard-work and industrious attitude you must possess to be able to manufacture a tool of such exacting quality 

Now Matt, do I take that as a compliment or a Mickey take Lol

I'm on Mk3 now, with an added bar for strength and a plate to attach for flat bottom guttering.

A gutter scoop is like any other tool one might have in there tool box, they all take a little practice, the gutter scoop is no exception to the rule, I've not used the one Alex sells but if its anything like mine, if you just add a little angle to it, it will fly past the guttering brackets and a full length of guttering can be cleaned out within minutes and all from the safety of the ground.

I for one would like to thank Alex for his time, thought, effort and money he's ploughed into creating a gutter scoop not only to speed up our work but with safety in mind, Nice one Alex.

[matt]

i await the next posts

Alex, when are you PPE kits out, hard hat and googles ?  ? ? ??

Ales, can i choose my colour for my superlite hardhat ? ? ? ?


you knows it will happen, you knows it you does 

[steven ainger]

i like the idea of doing gutter cleans safely from the ground, but how do you know if the downpipe is blocked, has anyone got a tool that can be attached to a pole that you can clear out the s bend, i was thinking like one of those flexible screwdiver/socket extensions that could have some sort of barb on to pull out the blockage or break it up to go down the pipe.  
 what do you all think.

[jeff1]

i like the idea of doing gutter cleans safely from the ground, but how do you know if the downpipe is blocked, has anyone got a tool that can be attached to a pole that you can clear out the s bend, i was thinking like one of those flexible screwdiver/socket extensions that could have some sort of barb on to pull out the blockage or break it up to go down the pipe.  
 what do you all think.

To flush I use my gutter lance, you could stick a hose on the end of your pole with a bit of velcro, you then know if the downpipe is blocked or not.
For cleaning out blocked down pipes I use a steel fish wire (mouse for electricians) if you look at screwfix's web site, you can use these for unblocking downpipes.
www.screwfix.com/cats/A235328/Hand-Tools/Cable-Access

[Clive McDonald]

Can you be a bit more specific Jeff? which screwfix item?

[[GQC] Tim]

i await the next posts

Alex, when are you PPE kits out, hard hat and googles ?  ? ? ??

Ales, can i choose my colour for my superlite hardhat ? ? ? ?


you knows it will happen, you knows it you does 

Superlite hardhat, that's great. 

[Clive McDonald]

Well assuming this to be some kind of squiglly rod, if you could put a half inch screw drill head on the end and then introduce a turning moment via an electrical screw driver, then I think down pipes could be unblocked from the ground.

I'm quite tempted to have a go at this.

I've never liked the idea of the lance (Too heavy ro control and messy results), I've never been sure of the gutter vac. This could be a much better system. Dry and clean and technicaly superior.

The problems as i see it.
1. getting the debris out of gutters.(and the fact that the gap to get into the gutter is sometimes quite small because the roof over hangs)
2 .unblocking down pipes.

I will make this my next project.

[col222]

I have a drain unblocker from screwfix which is a 25 feet coiled metal rod with a handle which you turn to unblock the drain, the end bit is a pointed coil which screws into the debris and breaks it up. Do a search for 'drain unblocker' on the screwfix website to find it. Plumbers use it to unblock drains.

[[GQC] Tim]

I have a drain unblocker from screwfix which is a 25 feet coiled metal rod with a handle which you turn to unblock the drain, the end bit is a pointed coil which screws into the debris and breaks it up. Do a search for 'drain unblocker' on the screwfix website to find it. Plumbers use it to unblock drains.

How are you going to get that up there without ladders tho, or would you insert it at the bottom if there is an opening?

[col222]

Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.

[[GQC] Tim]

Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.

Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.

[jeff1]

Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.

Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.

What you need to do in this situation is to drill a small 20mm hole low down on the drain pipe, using a stepped cone cutter.  www.screwfix.com/prods/15976/Drill-Bits/Specialist-Drill-Bits/HSS-Step-Drill-4-22mm

use this hole to clear blockage, once finished you can plug the hole with a rubber 20mm Grommet.
www.screwfix.com/prods/18603/Electrical/Cable-Accessories/PVC-Grommets/PVC-Grommet-Closed-Pack-of-100#

[jeff1]

Can you be a bit more specific Jeff? which screwfix item?

I use a BT one very similar to this one, I made a little hook to go on the wheel at the end of it, shove this up the pipe and once you feel the blockage push and twist, then tug it down or sometimes you can push up and down like your sweeping a chimney.

[p1w1]

Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.

Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.

What you need to do in this situation is to drill a small 20mm hole low down on the drain pipe, using a stepped cone cutter.  www.screwfix.com/prods/15976/Drill-Bits/Specialist-Drill-Bits/HSS-Step-Drill-4-22mm
use this hole to clear blockage, once finished you can plug the hole with a rubber 20mm Grommet.
www.screwfix.com/prods/18603/Electrical/Cable-Accessories/PVC-Grommets/PVC-Grommet-Closed-Pack-of-100#

I'm sure the customer would love you for that

[Nathanael Jones]

I will make this my next project.

The anticipation is almost too much to bear!!

[jeff1]

Yes, you would have to use it from the bottom of the down pipe at ground level.

Hmm, I know quite a few properties were the pipe goes straight in the ground, including my house.

What you need to do in this situation is to drill a small 20mm hole low down on the drain pipe, using a stepped cone cutter.  www.screwfix.com/prods/15976/Drill-Bits/Specialist-Drill-Bits/HSS-Step-Drill-4-22mm
use this hole to clear blockage, once finished you can plug the hole with a rubber 20mm Grommet.
www.screwfix.com/prods/18603/Electrical/Cable-Accessories/PVC-Grommets/PVC-Grommet-Closed-Pack-of-100#

I'm sure the customer would love you for that

Then you obviously don't understand people? when it comes to spending money, its a 20mm hole with a 20mm rubber bung low down, that can also be fitted to any blind side if there is one.

The customers have 2 choices if they have a blocked downpipe, 1. remove the whole section of downpipe (more expense) 2. a small hole were you can rod safely from the ground, there is of course a third choice for yourself and that is to go up your ladders and rod from the top.

I have personally drilled holes many times, when you give a customer a choice  9/10 times they always go for the cheapest.
'O' and one last thing? when you have finished you insert the rubber bung and no leaks afterwards.

[Clive McDonald]

Well for a start it should have been offset. Gardiner's tool shaft connects at the middle of the paddle, this should have been to the side because of the very many narrow openings because of tile overhang.

Jeff's version two doesn't address this either (we haven't seen version 3)