I know I’ve asked about poles before but I can’t find that thread. Someone (Tony Evans, I think) recommended Garelick poles.
Here’s the scoop: I’ve got a job where I couldn’t reach some 3rd story semi-circles and quarter-circles. I know I will have to scrape them. So, I need 32 feet of pole, or more, and a way to angle my scraper around the circles.
Is there an attachment that can be put on the pole for swiveling scrapers. And, is Garelick the way to go? Why or why not?
Then, I was thinking of getting the wagtail flipper for cleaning after scraping.
When I can afford it, I’ll SURELY be getting hooked up on WFP’s!!!
I used to use garelick poles for them. Now I use my wfp and Reach Around from RHG. No more using 2 poles (one w/ a backflip and one w/ a scraper) and still needing to change one out after to detail.
surely, if you need a scraper wfp would be no good? If you need to scrape round circle shapes, would the wagtail scraper do? It works on the same principal as the squeegee I think. Try e-mailing WCR direct, they should give you a straight answer. As to poles, I just use an Unger one…but if the work is really dirty, three story cleaning up a ladder is not too bad to get the windows into shape…as long as the ladder is secure!!!
Uh, what about a ladders? Slapping a scrapper on a 32 ft pole, applying it to a possible tempered piece of glass is not very effective and could cause problems.
I’m just starting out, and the only vehicle I have is a small suv. Currently, I set the 24’ ladder on the luggage rack - haven’t been able to find a ladder rack for it. I’m not sure the luggage rack will support anything much heavier, as I won’t be able to “balance the load” with the two racks.
So where do I find poles larger than 24’? Or do I just buy sections to add to a 24’ pole to make it 32’?
I know Unger makes a 30’ sectional extension pole. My father has one and i’ve used it. wouldn’t recommend it. way too wobly, especially for scraping and squeegee work.
ole, and I’ve seen the youtube video. Frankly, anything over ettore’s 27’ extension pole is useless in my opinion.
By the way, I have a 97’ toyota 4runner with a 28’, 20’, and 6’ ladder on my luggage rack. I have them balanced out equally and they hold up really well and have for about 6 months. If you have to redflag the back, it should work. just give it a test drive around the home depot parking lot and if it doesn’t feel safe, return it.
And by the way, we had to rent a 40’ ladder, and that was too much for ladder rack, but we got it to and from the job, but my helper had to stabalize it from inside the truck through the sun roof. It was interesting and we probably won’t be doing that again…
a while ago i bought a ROACH FISHING POLE . this is lighter than my alloy pulex pole and stiffer too . its about 11metres and i use a 14 inch wagtail flipper on it . i bought it off ebay .
I didnt know that…But I still think scraping should be done by hand where possible. When windows are really filthy I am not convinced that using poles or wfp works as well.
Ok, I borrowed a 32’ ladder, got up to the 3rd story, and the ladder felt secure… BUT I did not feel secure. Hugging the wall up that high and trying to reach around for my scrubber and then squeegee, then putting a towel on the squeegee to dry the edges…
Plus, the ladder was just damn hard to manage - heavy as hell.
It must be a sign of my age and knowledge of my mortality. 10 years ago, when I was 30, it didn’t bother me that much.
Where do you all stop on ladder work? I mean, do you have a height limit? The guy I bought my first WC business from, 10 years ago, had a 24’ ladder and wouldn’t go any higher… He’d use a pole if he could, but if the window was in a weird place and the pole wouldn’t work, he’d just explain to the customer that he couldn’t do it.
I think he was 45 at the time. It’d be interesting to see where you all limit your ladder height. My guess is that the younger WC’ers will go higher.
Lol… thats quite funny. I think three story windows is plenty high enough…and I hardly do any at all now. I am 44, been cleaning windows for years, and I think that the reason we do not climb ladders so high when we get older is that we have enough work not to! Infact I recently declined the opportunity to clean a three storey window at one local house…only to have someone I know quite well ask me to do her house on a regular basis and she has a few third storey windows! Lives just round the corner as well. Shall have to think about it…
3 story residential is no problem with a 28’ extension ladder providing the ground allows secure footing.
Of course the WFP cuts down on the need to use the ladder for high windows, even on first cleans if you do a pre scrub with your favorite soap and scrubber. The Reach Around tool is a great addition for your WFP when the situation calls for more aggressive agitation than you can get with a typical WFP brush.
I hate climbing anything even up to 28’. I’ve felt the hurt of a 20’ extension ladder slip out and I’ve never felt the same on ladders. I’m a believer of the wfp.
I climbed a 40’ last year to do some hotel windows and I won’t do them next year. It’s not worth a few bucks knowing if you make a physical mistake you could be really damaged or dead.
