I’m slow to discount the value of any given tool, so help me figure out the wagtail. I’ve had some success with it in pretty specific situations, but when it comes to general everyday use, I’m not convinced. Can someone help me with best use of the wagtail?
Eric
Fanning on a pole, a wrist saver over other squeegee’s or people with joint problems (if you’re old like me). The flipper is great for wetting & fanning (as long as the window isn’t too mucky). For smaller windows & cut-ups it rules. If you are pole-ing, get the adapter.
i wasnt so sure about the wagtail Flipper at first, but once id learnt the “trick” of getting it to flip its a REALLY ACE tool,infact its the only squeegee i use . its works good on a long pole or a very short 2foot pole and as KARLOS says, the wagtail adapter"s worth getting , tho its annoying when u pick it up out of the bucket its always full of water
I use a sponge after it’s had its initial dunk, as I need it for the 22" wand as well. You have the Wagtail bucket atachment Jonny - thats where I stick it to drain off!
Eric, have a look at www.wagtail.com.au and their videos. You will notice that even the young female is faster than most window cleaners and she is a first time user. Secondly notice how fast the windows are cleaned in the other videos. Thirdly if the products you are currently using are either faster or more accurate with a pole put it on video and we will donate a $500 package of tools from Wagtail to you. Here in Sydney 90% of window cleaners use Wagtail to great effect. If you check out window cleaning on You Tube using an extension pole the only fast guy is Mark Henderson (using a Wagtail) all the rest are pathetic. If you need more proof we will post another video using a 13 year old that will beat most of the window cleaners such as yourself unless of course you post yourself cleaning a window and shut us up!
Had pretty much the same experience. On a pole it can be very handy, but that is about it. Seems to me, that when using the wagtail to its full potential you really have to flick it from side to side quickly. The result is that even for larger windows you dont need a very large wagtail…if it is too big you wont be able to use this technique. Therefore, you are using a far smaller wagtail squeegee when it is quicker with a normal larger squeegee. I have time tested them on adjacent windows and unless I am getting the wagtail technique wrong (which I am not as I have copied the demo vid on you tube) then your normal larger squeegee will be better.
Ofcourse, if you are cleaning a lot of large windows and doing a lot of pole work, then the wagtail could be just what you need! Though if you work mostly on domestics as I do, the use will be limited.
With a traditional squeegee you have to use wrists and change hand movements. the Wagtail is not designed to flick from side to side but to follow the movement of the handle. If you read the ergonomic report by Professor Austin Adams www.wagtail.com.au you will see that no extra twisting is required. Wagtail squeegees are simply MUCH faster by hand and by pole just view the videos on the website. Incidently Wagtails were not permitted to enter into speed competitions when they were released and i am sure that is still the case.
why werent wagtails permitted to enter speed competitions? whats the story behind that willie?
The Wagtail Squeegees are simply too fast especially if we were to enter the medley competion. Why dont you ask the organisers of the Speed competitions.
your the "main man " willie, , what reason did the competition organizers tell you? and where are these competitions ? whats the Medley?
(also, what does the arrow indicate thats on the wagtail handles ,and on the extension arm?)
Hi Willie…did not expect any kind of reply from you. Immpressed with the dedication.
Have re-read my previous post and it clearly states that you should flick from side to side with the wagtail. Apologies to CACB who asked the initial question for being misleading…if you read it!!
I shall try to explain what I meant, that way things should be clearer and maybe if need be, you can give me further advice.
Basically, if you look at the channel part of the wagtail. When it changes direction it does so so quickly that it appears to flick. Therefore, when you are using it quickly you get the impression that it is flicking from side to side. If this makes no sense or I am seeing things, please let me know. At 44 I might be suffering from premature senility!!!
On to the point I was trying to make about larger squeegees being quicker on small windows.
At no point did I suggest that the same size traditonal squeegee is as quick as a wagtail. What I said was that due to the technique used with the wagtail (the “s” method is the most efficient way to use it) larger squeegees would be quicker on smaller windows. You cant use an 18" squeegee or wagtail to clean a 14" wide window with the “s” method. However, you can use a longer squeegee that is fixed with a different method…“z”, “straight pull”… I have found this to be quicker. Maybe if we could get the newer, slimline version of the wagtail, that can be locked, in the UK, its versatility might solve this kind of dilemma…
I would like to say though, that having rewatched some of your videos, I see that some of the users of the wagtail seem to have plenty of wrist movement. One of the things you mention in your post is that no extra wrist movement is required. Out of interest, at what point do we decide there is too much movement? And, if there is a lot of wrist movement, will it enhance or detract the effectiveness of the wagtail ?
I use an 18" yellow “old” wagtail and a 12(?)" modified with a better version of the flipper that has an aluminum backing with a cut up ettore microfiber applicator. I use them almost exclusively. My brother uses a 22" ettore super channel, and when we race for fun using our tools of choice I still smoke him.
You should probably try it for at least a day. If you are doing lots of storefronts and commercial work. They are really fast. If you do residentials, the smaller versions are nice.
shinywindowz- can you describe the aluminium backing on your modified flipper -and is the scrubbing pad trimmed down in thickness ? . last week i fitted a trimmed down pulex microtiger pad to my 18" flipper , god its brilliant, but it took me almost an hour to trim the fibres shorter with scissors yet it still holds plenty of water .
when you use the mops with long fibers like the unger one (Monsoon?) you have to tirm the fibres down, but when you use the blue ettore one you don’t have to trim the fibres down since they’re shorter, but that’s just my experience.
Here’s a link to pix of the modified wagtail. I did not modify it, but it is pretty straightforward. Aluminum, hinges, rivets, scrubber, rubber cement.
I just made a quick and dirty demo of the wagtail today for fun. the first 15 seconds is the regular wagtail. the second 15 seconds is the modified wagtail. I did not have to pre-wet the window with the modified one…
[ame=“- YouTube”]YouTube - Wagtail and Modifed Wagtail Flipper[/ame]
P.S. ChileRay I know who you are!!! I’m prepared to delete comments… 
what a beast !!! awesome wagtail flipper 
If I switch to wagtail tools, will their plane squeegee fit in the squeegee slot of my Unger bucket on a belt? Would the flipper fit in the strip washer slot?
The new blue one will fit, but not the old one.
Any of the wagtails will fit in the strip washer slot. I use 2 Ettore buckets for this reason. The “blue ribbon” line without the flipper attachment will fit in the squeegee channel slot.
