[michael papworth]

Made it last night. Used it this morning.

It fits onto the end of a 5m Harris pole.

It works OK.

It's a prototype and there is room for improvement.



The mirror is terrific. The gutters I was working on today had had a ball of chicken wire all scrunched up and rammed hard into the top of the downspout. Of course, it caught a few pieces of moss and then in time bunged up the whole gutter.

Using the mirror, I could see that there was something there, so I just dug and dug turning to the mirror every couple of digs to see how I was getting on. After a minute I could see quite clearly what I was doing and just hooked the offending ball out and then the rest was easy.

Without the mirror I might have actually rammed the chicken wire ball deeper into the downspout if I'd tried pushing the mess down the pipe instead of digging it out. That would have left me in a right messy situation.

[Clive McDonald]

I thought the mirror was a good idea, and I shall get one.

The only thing i've tried to do that is different to anyone else is design a shape/profile/ wedge that will plough the debris and encourage it to exit over the side as you push the plough/scoop along.

but mines all theory because I haven't done it yet.....

This is a bit like the space race ain't it? The four greatest minds of wfp locked in a last minute sprint to achieve something that works.

[michael papworth]

___________________________________________________________
This is a bit like the space race ain't it? The four greatest minds of wfp
locked in a last minute sprint to achieve something that works.
____________________________________________________________


Yes, real epic stuff. And the way that we are driving technology forwards is just amazing. I'm particulary impressed with the way that we are finding different ways of using "BFT" to make interesting shaped scoops.

My next mod is going to be teflon coating the tip and fitting a heat shield round the jubilee clip to make sure that it doesn't burn up on re-entry.

The final stage is going to be to test it in near-zero gravity so I can sell it to NASA for clearning space dust from the nooks and crannies on the Space Station.

"BFT" = beaten-flat tubing.

[Nathanael Jones]

Lmao!!

The mirror is a seriously good idea,.. prob no good for really high stuff, but for 90% of gutter work its a brilliant solution.

[Ian W]

Very nice!  
Is the scoop a "BFT", as you put it? Was it an old extension pole?

[michael papworth]

Nat, I'll take the 90% and leave the 10% I can't do to others. I've found a solution that enables me to do the job from the ground AND see inside to know what's going on.

Ian, Yes, the scoop is made from BFT. The tube was taken from the handle of an old, discarded lawn mower. Jeff1's Mk 1 was also made from BFT. It looks like some kind of aluminium.

[JSMC]

do just scrape it along till it goes down the down pipe?

[michael papworth]

The technique is to push the muck along to build up a mound and then scoop it out over the side. If near a dead end, push it along then scoop it out over the end.

It's just like you'd use a trowel - push and scoop it out.

I'd avoid pushing dry stuff down the down pipe.

It's all just a variation on a theme, isn't it? Have a look at: www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=60004.msg515015#msg515015

[jeff1]

Nat, I'll take the 90% and leave the 10% I can't do to others. I've found a solution that enables me to do the job from the ground AND see inside to know what's going on.

Ian, Yes, the scoop is made from BFT. The tube was taken from the handle of an old, discarded lawn mower. Jeff1's Mk 1 was also made from BFT. It looks like some kind of aluminium.

Were getting there Wally 
BFT I thought that meant Battle Fitness Test Lol well it did when I was in the forces.

Well my BFT was an old unger pole bashed cut and shaped.

[ftp]

Still waiting some footage and reports on Alex's version, it looks nice and strong with the right thread for my Slx pole. I need convincing before parting with some cash. 

[elite mike]

hi wally
another great invention ,

keep them coming

[karygate]

think its a great idea . and must be at least £1000 cheaper than a gutter vac.
got me thinking now :

[Clive McDonald]

It's also quite revealing just how people go about solving the problem. With a background in optics, and years spent spotting new galaxies with his eye pressed up against the key hole kate end of a telescope, it's no surprise really that wally should make this convex mirror breakthrough.

Of course Alex started it all off, and his design certainly does the job, but what does it say about him that the most commented on feature of his product is that it is £46 plus Vat.

Jeff shares his ideas as he'd probably share his last sandwich. His tool works, and it was hammered from an old unger pole. A tool that spent it's life working hard, and now in it's new shape will continue to work hard. Who does that remind you of?

Then there's me, but I haven't shown mine yet. Bet you can't wait.

[AJ]

___________________________________________________________
This is a bit like the space race ain't it? The four greatest minds of wfp
locked in a last minute sprint to achieve something that works.
____________________________________________________________


Yes, real epic stuff. And the way that we are driving technology forwards is just amazing. I'm particulary impressed with the way that we are finding different ways of using "BFT" to make interesting shaped scoops.

My next mod is going to be teflon coating the tip and fitting a heat shield round the jubilee clip to make sure that it doesn't burn up on re-entry.

The final stage is going to be to test it in near-zero gravity so I can sell it to NASA for clearning space dust from the nooks and crannies on the Space Station.

"BFT" = beaten-flat tubing.

Careful! don't over engineer it. If you have zero gravity, you wont need it at all.
just a thought

[jeff1]

It's also quite revealing just how people go about solving the problem. With a background in optics, and years spent spotting new galaxies with his eye pressed up against the key hole kate end of a telescope, it's no surprise really that wally should make this convex mirror breakthrough.

Of course Alex started it all off, and his design certainly does the job, but what does it say about him that the most commented on feature of his product is that it is £46 plus Vat.

Jeff shares his ideas as he'd probably share his last sandwich. His tool works, and it was hammered from an old unger pole. A tool that spent it's life working hard, and now in it's new shape will continue to work hard. Who does that remind you of?

Then there's me, but I haven't shown mine yet. Bet you can't wait.

Clive I'd buy you a sandwitch if you never had one Lol (and a pint)
Come on Clive lets see this scoop of yours, I posted my mk1 months ago then I posted the wire operated grippers, so now its your turn.

[Alex Gardiner]

It's also quite revealing just how people go about solving the problem. With a background in optics, and years spent spotting new galaxies with his eye pressed up against the key hole kate end of a telescope, it's no surprise really that wally should make this convex mirror breakthrough.

Of course Alex started it all off, and his design certainly does the job, but what does it say about him that the most commented on feature of his product is that it is £46 plus Vat.

Jeff shares his ideas as he'd probably share his last sandwich. His tool works, and it was hammered from an old unger pole. A tool that spent it's life working hard, and now in it's new shape will continue to work hard. Who does that remind you of?

Then there's me, but I haven't shown mine yet. Bet you can't wait.

What it tells me is - I have to make money out of this (not that there is any profit on the first batch of these) and you don't 

[jeff1]

So far out of all the scoops that's been shown, Alex's, is by far the stongest and it also screw fits to any pole.

[Wayne Thomas]

The technique is to push the muck along to build up a mound and then scoop it out over the side. If near a dead end, push it along then scoop it out over the end.

It's just like you'd use a trowel - push and scoop it out.

I'd avoid pushing dry stuff down the down pipe.

It's all just a variation on a theme, isn't it? Have a look at: www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=60004.msg515015#msg515015

"Push & Scoop", you want to trademark that name before you know who does Wally. Like the mirror idea.

[michael papworth]

Clive ... Come on now. Jeff and I have shown you ours. Now it's time for you to show yours off.



If you dare!!!!





Wayne, Thanks for the suggestion. But "Push & Scoop" sounds more like something of interest to dog walkers.

[Wayne Thomas]

How about "Push & Flip" Wally