[Slash]

Recently I went to Chic Cleaning and treated myself to a 25 foot hybrid pole,a few weeks on and the second section from the brush head has a black residue on it and my hands are getting black as a result,the bottom section is grey in colour and the rest of the sections are red but when I look closely at the section in question there seems to be a net pattern effect coming through,any ideas or is this normal after a bit of wear.

[macmac]

I would say it's normal. every pole I've ever had has left my hands black. I used to have 2 excel g/fibre poles & they left my hands bright blue! You can't win, even my ladders leave my hands black!

[Slash]

Very true,I just found it odd that only one section of the pole was effected.

[macmac]

Very true,I just found it odd that only one section of the pole was effected.

It's always the thinner sections that wear & cause the blackening dust (friction) as they are extended & retracted the most. The thinnest in most cases.

If you think it's really odd then contact the supplier, you may have a bum section.

[craig21t]

the criss cross effect will be on every section bar the base section as it is a hybrid, its just the weave of glass and carbon fibre.

[Alex Gardiner]

If you take the hybrid apart you will notice that the Carbon content of the pole is on the inside of each section. This is to improve stiffness, whilst keeping the carbon content to a minimum. Where the black comes from is the the wear on the inside of each section which is probably greater than the wear will ever be on the outside.

Simple solution is to wear nitrile/latex powder free gloves whilst working - It's more hygienic as well.

[NWH]

The amount of Carbon in Hybrid poles must be right on the limit as far as being able to sell it as a glass-Carbon pole,i would say after using them that the Carbon in them must be at the absolute minimum because i found them to be rubbish no different to a glass fiber pole IMO.

[Alex Gardiner]

We have recently produced prototype glass-fibre poles that were significantly lighter and stiffer than the 'Hybrid' range. The weave and make-up of any composite material is as important to weight and rigidity as the actual materials used.

[Spruce]

We have recently produced prototype glass-fibre poles that were significantly lighter and stiffer than the 'Hybrid' range. The weave and make-up of any composite material is as important to weight and rigidity as the actual materials used.

Hi Alex
Any further developments with regard to this prototype?
Spruce

[Alex Gardiner]

We have recently produced prototype glass-fibre poles that were significantly lighter and stiffer than the 'Hybrid' range. The weave and make-up of any composite material is as important to weight and rigidity as the actual materials used.

Hi Alex
Any further developments with regard to this prototype?
Spruce

No specific developments at the moment. We had them built to explore the possibilities of different materials etc.

At the moment we are concentrating on the imminent release of the new SL-X range. These will feature an all new patented clamp design, pure carbon fibre construction and MCM™ insulated handle section. They will be 18 - 35ft in size range.

Once these are sorted we may then look at a cheaper glass fibre range using the same clamps. The prototypes we had built, although they were 'only' fibre glass, would work out at about 85% of a carbon fibre poles cost, so not really a 'cheap' pole. We will be looking at cheaper fibre glass options and how they will perform in the near future.

[Spruce]

cheers

[macmac]

We have recently produced prototype glass-fibre poles that were significantly lighter and stiffer than the 'Hybrid' range. The weave and make-up of any composite material is as important to weight and rigidity as the actual materials used.

Very true as Ducati's Moto GP development team have found. They have spent a fortune on carbon fiber chassis & swing arms & have stated that very fact. The weave is paramount to the finnished products characteristics & the fine tuning (flex etc.) is down to the way the carbon fiber is weaved.