[Smart Carpet]

Hi!

I purchased a Super-LiteŽ Radius-Sill Brush Flat-Trim Medium Bristles (White Version) a few weeks back and thought I'd comment on how I have found it.

I have been using the new shape oval Vikan flocked brush for ages now.  So this is the first Sill brush I have used, and it is really handy being able to clean the sills so effectively without having to adjust the angle.  

Also, its just over 304g when wet, so is about 150g lighter than the Vikan.  


I'm not sure I feel it's as effective as the flocked brush at cleaning.  You can feel the extra surface area of the vikan flocked bristles really 'gripping' the glass and frames as it cleans, where as the Mono-filament bristles on the SL sill feel as though they need extra passes.  For example, I really was trying to lift some traffic grime from a sill, but when I ran my gloved finger across, it left a clean line.  But that was a particularly dirty window!  And I realise that the sill brushes will tend to get more dirty, so mono bristles will hang on to less dirt.

I have one small issue with it, and that is the shape of the brush stock:   I remembered reading before that:

(rubber-edged oval Vikans have engendered a very heavy handed approach in a lot of window cleaners over the years - some of this is because of the oval shape on the bristles meaning that you need to press harder in each corner to clean all of the glass) With these lightweight brushes it is better to carry out a more precise cleaning technique that does not use the brickwork recess as a perimeter to run along

But, I think that the edges of the stock on the SL sill brush stick out too far!  They extend about 10mm beyond the base of the bristles, and I find that I am hitting the edges of the frame more because I am trying to reach the edges of the glass and frame!





Anyone else find the same?  And would it adversely effect the rigidity of the stock if I lopped of the protruding edges?



Regards,


J

[dave0123]

When i first moved over from a vikan to a gardiner brush, it feels very weird! what i mean is with it being so light at not much pressure on as usual u think its not cleaning at all.... but it is and it gives a even better result...thats what i found anyway

Ive not used the sill brush  i currently have a super-lite extreme black

[Granny]

Don't worry that 10 mm will soon wear away when you catch the side of the reveal then your problem will be the bristles falling out at the ends of the brush!!!!!
Not slagging them BTW I wouldn't be without my sill brush for the ups now as you say you can clean the sills without changing the angle I love it especially with a swivel.
Would prefer them to be a bit wider though.
G.

[Alex Gardiner]

Hi!

I purchased a Super-LiteŽ Radius-Sill Brush Flat-Trim Medium Bristles (White Version) a few weeks back and thought I'd comment on how I have found it.

I have been using the new shape oval Vikan flocked brush for ages now.  So this is the first Sill brush I have used, and it is really handy being able to clean the sills so effectively without having to adjust the angle. 

Also, its just over 304g when wet, so is about 150g lighter than the Vikan.  


I'm not sure I feel it's as effective as the flocked brush at cleaning.  You can feel the extra surface area of the vikan flocked bristles really 'gripping' the glass and frames as it cleans, where as the Mono-filament bristles on the SL sill feel as though they need extra passes.  For example, I really was trying to lift some traffic grime from a sill, but when I ran my gloved finger across, it left a clean line.  But that was a particularly dirty window!  And I realise that the sill brushes will tend to get more dirty, so mono bristles will hang on to less dirt.

I have one small issue with it, and that is the shape of the brush stock:   I remembered reading before that:

(rubber-edged oval Vikans have engendered a very heavy handed approach in a lot of window cleaners over the years - some of this is because of the oval shape on the bristles meaning that you need to press harder in each corner to clean all of the glass) With these lightweight brushes it is better to carry out a more precise cleaning technique that does not use the brickwork recess as a perimeter to run along

But, I think that the edges of the stock on the SL sill brush stick out too far!  They extend about 10mm beyond the base of the bristles, and I find that I am hitting the edges of the frame more because I am trying to reach the edges of the glass and frame!


Anyone else find the same?  And would it adversely effect the rigidity of the stock if I lopped of the protruding edges?

Regards,

J

Hi J

Thanks for your detailed post. I would agree that a densely packed flocked Sill brush would certainly scrub better than a mono-filament bristle brush but the weight and the dirt holding would adversely affect the useability.

It is interesting about your observation on the edge of the stock of the brush. All of the latest version Radius Sill brushes are like this whereas the older version had bristles coming much closer to the edge. The decision to change and have this area proud of the bristle was because of the way that Sill brushes tend to be used. Most users that clean sills also like to clean the frames at the same time and we found that without this little 'buffer zone' on the stock the outer bristle bunches were becoming abraded too quickly against masonry reveals. Hence the new design with 'wear zone'. If you wanted to cut them off though I am sure that it would cause no problems at all.

[dd]

I do not think you will find a better scrubbing brush than the Vikan flocked and you can get a rectangular one as opposed to oval.

My favourite Gardiner brush is the sl dt flocked, wonder how it would be if they did a single trim version? Personally find using the sill brush frustrating because it is narrower and so seems to take ages to scrub larger panes of glass.

[Smart Carpet]

Hi J

Thanks for your detailed post. I would agree that a densely packed flocked Sill brush would certainly scrub better than a mono-filament bristle brush but the weight and the dirt holding would adversely affect the useability.

It is interesting about your observation on the edge of the stock of the brush. All of the latest version Radius Sill brushes are like this whereas the older version had bristles coming much closer to the edge. The decision to change and have this area proud of the bristle was because of the way that Sill brushes tend to be used. Most users that clean sills also like to clean the frames at the same time and we found that without this little 'buffer zone' on the stock the outer bristle bunches were becoming abraded too quickly against masonry reveals. Hence the new design with 'wear zone'. If you wanted to cut them off though I am sure that it would cause no problems at all.

Hi,

Thanks for the replies!

That's funny that the older brushes didn't have the wear zone!  I generally don't have a problem with brushes wearing out prematurely, as I do work carefully.  But I do work fast, and I found that the 'wear zone' does bash into the frames more easily, and I reckon it could chip off paint from Georgian type sash windows.

I guess I quickly take the bristles to the edge to clean, but find the stock is hitting before the bristles get to where I want them!  (if that makes sense      )

I might try cutting it down a bit and seeing how it goes.


RE. flocked bristles, I think a flocked Super Lite sill would be great.  I know they can hang on to dirt, but I tend to rinse 'Off' the glass.  Just my personal preference.

I do not think you will find a better scrubbing brush than the Vikan flocked and you can get a rectangular one as opposed to oval.

My favourite Gardiner brush is the sl dt flocked, wonder how it would be if they did a single trim version? Personally find using the sill brush frustrating because it is narrower and so seems to take ages to scrub larger panes of glass.

The Vikan brushes I use are the new shaped oval brushes, which are more rectangular with rounded corners:

[Window Washers]

Hi!

I purchased a Super-LiteŽ Radius-Sill Brush Flat-Trim Medium Bristles (White Version) a few weeks back and thought I'd comment on how I have found it.

I have been using the new shape oval Vikan flocked brush for ages now.  So this is the first Sill brush I have used, and it is really handy being able to clean the sills so effectively without having to adjust the angle. 

Also, its just over 304g when wet, so is about 150g lighter than the Vikan.  


I'm not sure I feel it's as effective as the flocked brush at cleaning.  You can feel the extra surface area of the vikan flocked bristles really 'gripping' the glass and frames as it cleans, where as the Mono-filament bristles on the SL sill feel as though they need extra passes.  For example, I really was trying to lift some traffic grime from a sill, but when I ran my gloved finger across, it left a clean line.  But that was a particularly dirty window!  And I realise that the sill brushes will tend to get more dirty, so mono bristles will hang on to less dirt.

I have one small issue with it, and that is the shape of the brush stock:   I remembered reading before that:

(rubber-edged oval Vikans have engendered a very heavy handed approach in a lot of window cleaners over the years - some of this is because of the oval shape on the bristles meaning that you need to press harder in each corner to clean all of the glass) With these lightweight brushes it is better to carry out a more precise cleaning technique that does not use the brickwork recess as a perimeter to run along

But, I think that the edges of the stock on the SL sill brush stick out too far!  They extend about 10mm beyond the base of the bristles, and I find that I am hitting the edges of the frame more because I am trying to reach the edges of the glass and frame!


Anyone else find the same?  And would it adversely effect the rigidity of the stock if I lopped of the protruding edges?

Regards,

J

Hi J

Thanks for your detailed post. I would agree that a densely packed flocked Sill brush would certainly scrub better than a mono-filament bristle brush but the weight and the dirt holding would adversely affect the useability.

It is interesting about your observation on the edge of the stock of the brush. All of the latest version Radius Sill brushes are like this whereas the older version had bristles coming much closer to the edge. The decision to change and have this area proud of the bristle was because of the way that Sill brushes tend to be used. Most users that clean sills also like to clean the frames at the same time and we found that without this little 'buffer zone' on the stock the outer bristle bunches were becoming abraded too quickly against masonry reveals. Hence the new design with 'wear zone'. If you wanted to cut them off though I am sure that it would cause no problems at all.

Have you done this on normal brushes too Alex ? as I would like to go back to your brushes for my guys as changed them back to vikan as they were killing yours way to quick, this very same problem. (I use them myself) but I dont clean often so they last ages

[dd]

Vikan do a "square" 12 inch brush. Cleaning Spot sell them. Good brush. Never got on with their mono-filament ones though.

I found the same problem with using the sill brush (older model) with it bashing the sides of some frames even though I try to be careful.

Because they are narrower I have tended to move away from using sill brush now and I much prefer a flocked brush as I find they scrub so much better.