I wanted to warn you about a potential problem with some of the new Unger channels. I didn’t buy these from WCR, so I don’t know if they’ve encountered this yet or not.
Anyhow, I dropped my small 6" squeegee a couple of weeks ago and bent a channel tip a little. I didn’t have a spare, so I made do with my 4" and went to a local store to see if I could find a 6" Unger. I don’t buy much from local hardware stores in regards to window cleaning supplies because they generally just carry junk, but I can get an Unger channel at any Home Depot or Lowes, and those usually aren’t too bad. Unfortunately, I had to buy it with a crummy, plain stainless steel handle (which I threw away). To my surprise when I got home, I noticed that the channel is made a little shorter now–so much so that the rubber now sticks up over the top of the channel to the point of bending backwards when you come down a window–causing it to smear.
However, I went back to Home Depot tonight and noticed that they have another, slightly pricier handle/channel they refer to as a “pro” squeegee in which the channel is more like the old ones and works fine. If you go to look for it, it comes with a blue handle.
Here are the two side by side. On the left is the cheaper one, and on the right is the one that came with the blue handle. These pics aren’t that great, but I think you can tell that the one on the left isn’t as tall:
See how easy the rubber bends back over the channel causing it to smear:
Here’s the blue handled unit:
As you can see, it doesn’t bend back to the point of smearing:
I hope the guys from WCR see this thread and will check their current stock of Unger channels to see if they have this problem, because the smearing is so bad with the cheaper channels that they really aren’t worth carrying home.
That smaller, cheaper channel, did you replace the rubber in it? Or is that the rubber that came with it pictured where it almost doubles over?
Those Unger handles are commonly referred to as the “Ergotec” handles, and they are pretty comfortable. You can order an even better version here at WCR that has a slightly larger handle. To me it’s the perfect handle.
That’s probably an 18’ channel you got there with the Ergotec. If you want a smaller channel, don’t be scared to use a hack saw and cut it down. File the ends down with some sand paper to make them smooth. You’ll have a 4’ channel in no time. Just make sure to center it with the grooves on the back, so your handle will be centered on the channel.
I use the Unger ErgoTec channel in a size 14 every day. It’s my main squeegee for residential.
The Unger “S” channels that you buy from window cleaning supply stores should not have the problem that you have with the one you bought locally at the box store.
WCR is checking their stock to make sure everything’s right with them so you can’t go wrong buying your Unger channels from them.
I love the Unger ErgoTecs!!! The perfect squeegee!
The Unger items sold at Home Depot, whether “Pro” or homeowner lines, are different than the Unger sells through WC’ing distributors. Check Unger’s site to see the distinction between professional and retail…
I think I had already replaced both channels with Ettore rubbers. The Ettores are slightly taller than Unger, but not enough to hurt anything, and they work fine in the right channel (or any other Unger channel I’ve ever owned). I don’t like Unger rubbers. They’re a bit rigid, are more prone to smearing (which might be partly to do with the angle at which I hold squeegees), and I’ve had bad luck with them coming with a tiny cut somewhere on one side more often than not. Pulex are even worse with smearing. I like Unger channels, but I just prefer Ettore rubbers in them.
Those Unger handles are commonly referred to as the “Ergotec” handles, and they are pretty comfortable. You can order an even better version here at WCR that has a slightly larger handle. To me it’s the perfect handle.
Yeah, it feels fine. My only gripe with the blue handle (I guess that’s the one you’re referring to) is that it isn’t a quick release, and the nuts aren’t recessed into a groove to hold them, so you can’t tighten/loosen them without using a pliers to hold the nuts in place. Maybe the green handle version WCR sells isn’t like that though. Either way, I wouldn’t use the handle. I’ve been using the same Unger handle with a rubber grip and quick release for about 16 or 17 years now. I don’t know if they still make it or not, but it’s a heck of a handle. I use that for my smaller channels. For my 12 & 18" channels I actually use one of the old Ettore Ledgers. It’s the shortest one they made. I just hammer it down in the middle (although I keep a slight angle), and put a quick release on it, then wrap it in tape. I’m 50 now and do nothing but residential work these days, and this longer handle really helps clear some of the longer sills. Plus I’m 6’5" and have fairly large hands. The first one I hammered out like this lasted ten years. I’ve got about five on this second one.
That’s probably an 18’ channel you got there with the Ergotec. If you want a smaller channel, don’t be scared to use a hack saw and cut it down.
It’s a 10" channel, and I did exactly what you’re talking about–hack-sawed it down to 6". The channel is fine. If you need one in a pinch Home Depot comes in handy, although I had to pay quite a bit because they don’t sell channels separate from the handle anymore. But if you have to have one RIGHT NOW, it’ll work.
That last pic looks like a 7" Ledger handle. WCR sells them. I replaced the screws w/ an Ettore quick release from a Super system handle. It makes changing channels easy.
I’d venture to say that the cheaper made squeegee channel you got from HD is intended to use a different kind rubber then the usual pro rubber, like the ettore or unger. Do you still have the rubber that came stock with it to compare with an ettore?
The above link is to an extra-large Ergotec handle. It’s handle is about an inch longer then that blue one, and it makes a big difference, great for big hands… It also has a spring back plate, which allows changing rubbers easy. You can also off-set the channel real quickly, which comes in handy if you need a few extra inches of reach, or if somethings in the way such as one of those automatic door closers.
That last pic looks like a 7" Ledger handle. WCR sells them. I replaced the screws w/ an Ettore quick release from a Super system handle. It makes changing channels easy.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s a 7" Ledger. I love that thing. The first one I bought way back when was stainless steel instead of brass and actually came stock with a quick release. Like you, I had to steal a quick release from another handle for this brass unit though. I noticed the Ledgers they sell now look like they’ve got an even larger bend in them than they use to have. I’m not sure I can hammer that out correctly, so in the future I may have to go with something else like that handle Micah was talking about.
I’d venture to say that the cheaper made squeegee channel you got from HD is intended to use a different kind rubber then the usual pro rubber, like the ettore or unger.
Believe me, the original rubber bent back way too far as well. Walk into any Home Depot/Lowes and look for yourself. It sticks up at least 1/8 to 3/16" above the top of the channel. I actually tried to use it for a while but found I had to hold the squeegee nearly straight out from the window to keep the rubber from bending back too far, and it still smeared in the corners even using it like that. And that was with the original rubber. When I went back to buy that blue handled unit, I got the gal managing the place to go back and look at the two units and showed her how the one bent back too far, and even she was a little taken aback at it. She suggested I fill out the customer comment slip on the back of my reciept, but I figured that I told her about it, and that ought to be good enough.
I may end up going to your handle one day when this one wears out because the newer Ledgers look too hard to hammer out the way I want.
If you want versatility in a handle you may want to try a Ettore Contour Pro+ handle. It can lock into a 0 degree handle or be used as a standard handle.
