Before I bought my Gardiner Carbon Fiber SLX pole I called a few suppliers because I was concerned about it’s durability compared with other more rugged poles, like Tucker and many others. I was talking with one supplier about [B]Gardiner Poles[/B]. He said they are very light which enables a window cleaner to make a lot more money in a day. He said sometimes they break because they are so light but who cares! When you figure in the additional revenues earned every day, because a Gardiner pole is so much lighter and easier to work with, it would be way more expensive to own a cheaper, heavier and more durable pole!
[B]In business it is wise never to confuse the purchase price with the actual cost of ownership.[/B]
I use to run with an Unger 30ft. TelePlus pole. It cost me about $100 and is the most expensive WFP I’ll ever own. Anybody who kicked their aluminium or fiberglass pole to the curb for a carbonfiber pole want to chime in?
Yeah, I will give my half cent. My Tuckers, even though they are pretty tough- still broke. The number 2, 3 and 4 sections, especially the number 2 always get bent after a long day. Those cost between 60 and 80 bucks to replace. I do like that the brush is so much larger that it covers a bigger area.
I have to say that with my carbon fibers, I am not as tired after each job which makes me WANT to work longer. I have timed my jobs and kept records of it, and with my carbon fibers I have cut even more time off than with the tucker.
Plus, I am proud to have these poles- most window cleaners in my area don’t even have a tucker. Those that do…ooohhhh awwww when they see it and hold it.
Is it worth it…oh yeah. Would I let my people use it without me being there? NOT A CHANCE. Not unless they agree to pay for parts if it breaks. Them and Tucker will just have to get along.
I have used a Tucker pole once on a large job where my SLX wouldn’t reach. I could not believe the flex and weight of the Tucker. Lighter is always better from the standpoint of the person using it. We use ours every single day.
I’m a light wfp fan - & have to agree that shelling out a load of money for the lighter poles would stop me letting any employees use them, but saying that, fusing of the poles is nobodies fault. I would also say that H&S in the UK is moving to make employers responsible for back problems etc. With this is mind, the UK is currently in no-mans land with wfp weight & looking after employees - but it will eventually happen - employers will eventually have to show they are looking after their employees, this will include purchasing of lighter poles.
I also think for most beginners that are entering the game, they will be plumping for a cheaper alternative until they prove to themselves the system works. I think the market is missing a cheaper, lighter mid-range that is agile & can be thrown around a little. Personally I think a slightly heavier shorter pole is no bad thing at 20 -30 foot as the weight of the brush & pole on the window does most of the work for you. But start using a heavy pole above 30 foot & not only do you start getting neck strain but the weight of the pole also adds to arm strain over extended periods & fatigue kicks in earlier. The comfort factor is probably the most important at 45 feet+
There is a sweet spot for each individual concerning weights & heights, but I also think ease of use comes into play at some point which includes set-up, brush type for different work & unbreakability. With the current carbon-fiber & glass fiber market in huge demand, we will pay higher prices until a lighter alternative material can be found (maybe this?).
Most window cleaners only start looking for a pole from the height of where their longest ladder runs out. But the concentration of working with a wfp is different at different heights. I would recommend getting used to a shorter pole before you go higher & results are much harder to achieve the higher you go. So for all those asking themselves which pole to get - ask yourselves which height you’re going for. Could that longer pole wait until the job would pay for it? Experience does count working at heights. Working at 60 foot is a lot different than working at 50 foot. Working above 60 foot becomes scary & takes more concentration. But the light pole wins for sure.
I own three Tucker 45c poles, nine Carbon fibre poles, and one Fiberglass pole. IMHO there is no comparison. Tucker require alot of maintenance, at least the way we use ‘em. LOTSA spare parts need to be on hand for heavy use, and buy a million Tucker tools-you’ll lose em. And use a CF 45’ all day after a Tucker all day and you’ll never look back. If you only need a WFP for a handful of jobs, then Tucker offers very low cost way to get in the game. But long term, go with CF. BTW, we do keep Tucker’s around for chemical delivery-awnings, siding, saferestore, etc.
I know the post is old. Must not have seen it or would have posted. All my poles are Ionic. I own 2 fiberglass ones and 2 carbon. The differance is extreme in weight and stiffness. I have no problems with letting my employees use them because they are a tool like any other. Just because they cost some money does not mean anything to me. Again it’s a tool. Heck the price of my truck was $25k and I let them drive it. Why am I going to worry about a $500 pole? The 35ft fiberglass pole is almost never used anymore. Only on large com or res jobs. I own a 12ft fiber that is used all the time for the lowers. But that pole is light and I would recommend to anyone looking to buy a 12 to 18 ftr. to look into the fiberglass. They are not that heavy and the cost is low. Heavy comes into play over 25ft. My fiberglass pole broke which forced me to buy carbon. I will never buy a large fiber again. They dry out and crack. There is an old saying in buiness that still rings true. You have spend money to make money. I was luckly enough to sit down with a very rich business man yesterday. Russell J. Frith my company was cleaning their HQ. I was amazed to learn that this company is ranked 20th in the country in for franchising. Heck Kentucky Fried is 21. So when this man offered to start shooting the breeze you can bet I was more then willing to sit and listen. The one thing I took from him was that he knew in order for the company to grow 1st he had to charge a fair price for the franchise. 2nd he had to spend money to reach his potential clients. If he did not spend the bread the company would never have grown to where it is today. So again point being, don’t let the price of these poles or the longevity of their usefulness stand in your way. If you do things correct and your company grows, the last thing you are going to worry about is the cost of a $1000 pole if it’s making you $20K in profit.
I’m rethinking letting my guys use the carbon fibers now. Yesterday, the 3rd day my guy was with one of my Tuckers, he slammed the sections down and broke one of the clamps, came right off of the rivet. You guys are right…I think I will put the cf in his hands…but just not my 47 slx…not until I get another one;)
Hey Tory,
How much extra money could your guys bring in using the SLX vs. the Tucker in an 8 hour day? How many 8 hour days would it take for them to make up the difference in price on the two poles? Every day moving forward after that break even day would be pure gravy, extra money in your pocket, right?
After 40 years cleaning windows and over 30 years with all kinds of water-fed I feel we have an understanding of what works.
For 20 years we only used the Tucker because that was all you had.
In 2001 I bought one of the first of the new poles when Over The Top did not want to shipped the poles
back to England . 3 ten foot carbon fiber sections and one 20 foot fiber glass section for 50’
It was a monster at 25 pounds but I loved it over my tucker pole.
That is why I made the SimPole, Inc.
buy here at wcr only 10 pounds!
That is why we will repair for free if needed and will even help you bid jobs if needed.
We just don’t sell USA made and designed poles we support your business.
We also had one of the first Facelifts that came over and still have it and I offer to make them here for them back in 2005.
We bought one of the first Garners from Shawn and I sold many of them and we loved the pole for its lightness.
I wanted the SimPole to come somewhere between the Tucker (strength) and the (Gardner) Lightness
So at ten pounds for 60 feet and ON sale for $1775.00 with a life time guarantee on the Carbon Fiber!
We are there with one of the only poles made in the USA by a window cleaner for window cleaners!@
It will take time for the window cleaners to see how good of a pole it is.
I feel if you worry about the money and don’t see getting off ladders and water fed every thing on the outside you are missing out on what water fed is.
We do jobs that are 5 years old and are 100 feet with all water fed. 4.5 billion. SNS government job
How many poles could we buy for that!
Water-fed is the future of window cleaning and if you don’t get off the ladder you are not making the money you should be.
Just get a pole and start making more money in less time with less effort and all of it with your feet on the ground!
Stay alive on the ground!
believe some one who has work at window cleaning all his life 1970-2010
It would be better to have a pole that does not break but he is right if you make money money in less time off ladders the cost does not matter!
