[Smurf]

Glad I'm not the only one BDCS

Shortly after my little mishap I started using loading ramps.

[BDCS]

 i moved my van to let someone out and it fell out the side door. Been using one I got out of a skip ever since but a customer asked if it was pat tested last week - my reply was that I was qualified to pat test and never answered the question

[chris scott]

Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
 I was under the impression it's a legal requirment to keep your equipment "safe" …not a legal requirement to have it tested.
Then again any "competent" person can "PAT' test.

'According to PAT testing legislation, a competent person is someone who has experience or knowledge of being able to check and test appliances for safety purposes. Those with knowledge of electricity in general as well as anyone who has experience in electrical work can be deemed capable.'

[Smurf]

i moved my van to let someone out and it fell out the side door. Been using one I got out of a skip ever since but a customer asked if it was pat tested last week - my reply was that I was qualified to pat test and never answered the question

Easy done...
Going by the pat test bit I think you would make a great politician 

[Smurf]

Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
 I was under the impression it's a legal requirment to keep your equipment "safe" …not a legal requirement to have it tested.
Then again any "competent" person can "PAT' test.

'According to PAT testing legislation, a competent person is someone who has experience or knowledge of being able to check and test appliances for safety purposes. Those with knowledge of electricity in general as well as anyone who has experience in electrical work can be deemed capable.'

This may help with any questions you may have Chris
http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm

[BDCS]

The law only states that equipment must be safe but they can state they want it pat tested in line with their H&S policy. I have a trick megger pat tester and the C&G in pat testing

[chris scott]

My gutter vac is as safe as something can be…that sucks up water and sometimes squirts it through it's electric motors. (whilst working out side in the rain).

[Kev Martin]

I also have an Omni vac that I dropped out of my van and broke the top case where it meets the bin so I have spares - it also has a fooked motor and its 110v.

Kevin, do you keep the vacuums in stock with the 50mm hose inlet ? do they come with hose and tools ?

Karl

No mate the German engineers change the inlet from 38mm to 50mm but the leave it with all the 38mm tools.  Yes we have them in stock

[the king]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STREAMVAC-Residential-Height-Gutter-Cleaning-Vacuum-15ft-Carbon-Poles-Gutter-/351410216179?hash=item51d1ae5cf3:g:ODIAAOSwewJTnq-y

to of my friends have these and they have had them over 3 years each boath do a lot of gutter cleaning very nce hovers lots of power to pine needels r no problim at all with them eather ill b making a set up foir £700 thats 35ft ultra lite alli poles from (bladeright tauntion) and the vac will cost me about £450 tops same vac but with out the streemline sticker on it it just needs the hole blocked over and a new side angled hole to give beter suction  my friend has 2 1 is the 2k option in the link the other he made and he cant tell the difference in suction!!

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwibzY-PyfnJAhWBUhQKHfd0BgYQFgggMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bladerightcleaningsupplies.co.uk%2F&usg=AFQjCNEfqO2pUJyyXW4HPndeJkLD0-PXLw&sig2=thJW7dKhCvjcE8d9_5CmzQ&bvm=bv.110151844,d.ZWU

[Smurf]

When you say a guttervac can suck up pine needles no problem have you tried it yourself?

My own experience a guttervac is no good on jobs like this as is quicker to do by hand.  Same goes when trying to clear the gutters with pine tree debris in them.

[the king]

yes ive tryed it my self and there no problim with this 1400w vac in the link yes it blocks in the end but it u lift then dab on roof tiles they shoot down the pipe no problim in ur pic when u have a huge pile like that in the roof gully then a rake and brush is defo quicker but if u needed the vac as it to high ect or conny in the way then its fine for the vac in the link

[Smurf]

Like you say each job is different so the tools, methods & technique you choose can vary too.

Still at the end of the day if you can get away from roofline ladder work and a lot of gutter clearing jobs you can.  All be it slower in some cases then that has got to be a good thing for sure.

[Smurf]

Have you tried both your mates carbon and the ultra lite alli poles from (bladeright tauntion) as a direct comparision. If so did you not find the carbon poles a lot easier to use?


 

[the king]

thats it every job ios different , no ive not tryed the poles but my m8 has compaired them to his streemline carbon poles and he said there  is hardly any difference in waight but he said his carbon poles have broke b 4 and there wering out quick were these alli ones r strong and should last a long time i dont do a lot of gutter cleraning so they should last me a life time but its nce to have a vac in ur armry 

[Smurf]

I've got both carbon & T1 grade aerospace aluminium guttervac poles.

Out of the two carbon guttervac poles are so much easier to use especially on acute angles/awkward jobs and above 2 storey.  The set I bought paid for themselves and more some on the very first job I used them on.

Defo a no brainer if you ask me.

[BDCS]

I sold my alloy poles to a weight lifting champion and kept my carbon poles - I wonder why ?

[Smurf]

To be honest I still carry both types in the van as found on really tough straight forward 2 storey guttervac jobs can still come in handy from time to time as can get a lot more leverage to break up sods etc using my old T1 aerospace aluminium poles than the carbon ones. Old habits die hard I suppose.