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dazmond

  • Posts: 23968
medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« on: February 19, 2013, 07:30:47 pm »
i bought 2 of these the other day and ive got to say i think they are excellent.they glide easily over the glass,great for leaded and georgian windows and they are even lighter than the normal medium xtremes!!

i have one on my CLX 22FT and the other on my 40ft SUPERMAX.

my CLX is a VERY useable pole now ive took aqua-daptor off coupled with this brush.its even lighter than my 25ft SLX!albeit not as rigid but still very light and useable for run of the mill maintenance cleans.

im still i big fan of the normal medium bristle Xtremes though as i think they scrub better on dirty frames etc so ill be sticking with this brush on my SLX.

also the new connectors from gardiners are really solid,robust and my hosereel is completely leak free now!!

happy days! ;D ;D


regards


dazmond
price higher/work harder!

dd

  • Posts: 2568
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2013, 08:04:43 pm »
I tried a medium mixed sl and it did feel very  nice on the glass but for me it did not scrub very well and I very soon went back to the flocked sl which IMO is a much better brush.

I have not tried an xtreme because I do not believe any of them will scrub as well as the sl flocked.

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2013, 09:06:37 pm »



mine after 8 working days @ 40 degree hot water. They are fine once you are using cold but next to useless for hot. I don't have one bad brush. I buy them in 2's and am on the 4th now. Initially I though I was too rough but have been very careful. It isn't brick work that is doing it.

Lee GLS

  • Posts: 3844
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2013, 09:18:04 pm »



mine after 8 working days @ 40 degree hot water. They are fine once you are using cold but next to useless for hot. I don't have one bad brush. I buy them in 2's and am on the 4th now. Initially I though I was too rough but have been very careful. It isn't brick work that is doing it.

Your water must be hotter that 40deg, or you are pushing far to hard. I have been using mine with 40deg for 3 months and it has been fine.

robertphil

  • Posts: 1511
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2013, 09:24:58 pm »
looks like a genuine skunk pelt, usshole at the bottom. sell it on Ebay to a trapper !!

CLEANCARE WC

  • Posts: 4454
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2013, 09:31:12 pm »
looks like a genuine skunk pelt, usshole at the bottom. sell it on Ebay to a trapper !!

 ;D  ;D  ;D
WE CLEAN BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT WITH WATER FED POLE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT.

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2013, 10:21:10 pm »


Your water must be hotter that 40deg, or you are pushing far to hard. I have been using mine with 40deg for 3 months and it has been fine.
I'm sure it must be me but I don't know how. I tested the water today because I though that too. My water was coming out at 40.3 degrees. Not sure how pushing would make a difference, it's a scrubbing brush and I really just use the weight of the pole with a little added pressure to scrub.

I wish someone could point out what I'm doing worng. I love these brushes but at one every two weeks I can't afford them. Didn't have these problems when using cold.

CLEANCARE WC

  • Posts: 4454
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2013, 10:25:36 pm »
david how do you store your poles in the van? it looks like the bristles have been set in that position? crushed/flattened by something then allowed to dry?
WE CLEAN BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT WITH WATER FED POLE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT.

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2013, 10:29:52 pm »
david how do you store your poles in the van? it looks like the bristles have been set in that position? crushed/flattened by something then allowed to dry?
Pole leaning on the top of tank with brush up in the air. What I have found is a trip in the dishwasher when the misses isn't looking prolongs life a bit.

ben M

  • Posts: 4720
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2013, 10:32:02 pm »
david how do you store your poles in the van? it looks like the bristles have been set in that position? crushed/flattened by something then allowed to dry?
Pole leaning on the top of tank with brush up in the air. What I have found is a trip in the dishwasher when the misses isn't looking prolongs life a bit.
:o :o :o :o

Alex Gardiner

  • Posts: 7742
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2013, 10:36:01 pm »


Your water must be hotter that 40deg, or you are pushing far to hard. I have been using mine with 40deg for 3 months and it has been fine.
I'm sure it must be me but I don't know how. I tested the water today because I though that too. My water was coming out at 40.3 degrees. Not sure how pushing would make a difference, it's a scrubbing brush and I really just use the weight of the pole with a little added pressure to scrub.

I wish someone could point out what I'm doing worng. I love these brushes but at one every two weeks I can't afford them. Didn't have these problems when using cold.

You may remember back in July 2011 I sent you a free upgrade brush. I did suggest to you at the time that our soft bristled brushes were probably not suitable for your particular set up/use. I advised and sent you a stiffer bristled version which would be more suitable for hot water and hard use.

The medium mixed Xtreme brush is a softer bristled brush ideal for regular cleans with cold to warm water.  The upgraded one I sent you back in 2011 is our Xtreme standard which has bristles which are about 60% tougher - more suited for tougher use and hot water systems. How long did the 2011 brush last for you?

Alex Gardiner

  • Posts: 7742
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2013, 10:37:31 pm »
david how do you store your poles in the van? it looks like the bristles have been set in that position? crushed/flattened by something then allowed to dry?
Pole leaning on the top of tank with brush up in the air. What I have found is a trip in the dishwasher when the misses isn't looking prolongs life a bit.

You are joking aren't you!

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2013, 10:52:50 pm »
Hi Alex, Appreciate the reply. Yes, I do remember you sending me an ex demo brush back in 2011, I was very greatful for it and emailed you to thank you for it at the time. Remember, it's where I suggested you get a rubber skirt manufactureed to protect the base of the bristles and stock (the 'bumper' maybe?)

Back then it was cold water only. How long it lasted I'm not sure but certainly longer than 8 days. Problem with that brush was the number of brisles it left sticking out of customers frames. I have heard the argument that it's the customers frames being poorly put together that casues that or 'it doesn't happen on my customers'. However, the frames are what they are and the number of houses with little white bristles hanging out of the frames was getting silly. Strangly enough that doesn't happen nearly so much with the mixed extreme. No idea why.

I have never had a problem like this with the sl flocked when was my prefered brush before the extremes came along. Is that not the same bristle? I was under the impression it was a soft bristle too.

I did check your brush chart tonight and 40 degrees does seem to be within range for that brush so had discounted the temperature as a factor. I did mention I was suire it was something I was doing but for the life of me I don't know what it is.

I appreciate I sound like a whinger but I am trying to find a solution where I can keep using your brushes which I can use quicker than any others and I don't fancy using a Vikan again.

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2013, 10:53:30 pm »
david how do you store your poles in the van? it looks like the bristles have been set in that position? crushed/flattened by something then allowed to dry?
Pole leaning on the top of tank with brush up in the air. What I have found is a trip in the dishwasher when the misses isn't looking prolongs life a bit.

You are joking aren't you!
Desperation Alex, desperation. But only after the brush is already wrecked. Don't go thinking it's the cause of the problem.

Alex Gardiner

  • Posts: 7742
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2013, 11:16:20 pm »
The flocked bristle brushes use a very different material and are a different stiffness. The medium mixed bristles have a very similar feel to the flocked bristles on the glass but this is because they are actually thinner in diameter than the flocked bristles.

When looking at your previous brush and now this brush, it must be the pressure that you are using that is causing the issues. The Xtreme brushes do not need much pressure to use effectively.

I realise that a lighter brush is great but the reduction in bristle bunch count means that less pressure needs to be used. I think that it is the pressure and abrasion in use that is causing the issues not the 40 degree water (although it will exacerbate the wear).

As soon as I saw this brush tonight I thought that you simply need a bigger tougher brush.

Your comments and others from clients certainly led to the brush bumper idea. However the bumper does not affect bristle wear much and is mainly to save clients delicate windows. It does slow down abrasion on the stock edges which can be useful. I have never used them though as they add 30g to the brush weight!

I strongly advise not using the dishwasher on the brushes again as this will only accelerate any wear. The water gets very hot and the bristles are in contact for a long time with this hot water. To reform bristles simply dip the bristles only into a bowl of boiled water for about 10-20 seconds and then leave to dry.

I think Xtreme brushes are not for you - the standard flocked is probably a better match. It would still be a lot lighter than a Vikan.

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #15 on: February 19, 2013, 11:25:41 pm »
I did think it was me being heavy handed but I can't imagine working differently. If I was employed and faced loosing my job unless I cut wear down, I still wouldn't know what to change. I might see if I can get the weight of a SL flocked down a bit. Will miss the lightness of the extremes though. Cheers for the replies.

Dave Willis

Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #16 on: February 20, 2013, 07:55:18 am »
You don't need any pressure with the Xtreme mixed - it splays itself until the black middle row comes into contact with the glass. The dirt is so light on maintenance cleans there's no point in scrubbing hard. Make the brush do the work, not your arms. My Xtremes splay a bit with hot water after time but I've never managed to wear one out yet. I work at 40 at the brush head too no problem.
A swivel would help too keeping the head flat on the glass.

dazmond

  • Posts: 23968
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #17 on: February 20, 2013, 08:43:57 am »
surely a stiff red bristle gardiners brush would suit you with 40 degree water davids?

i use cold and have no problems whatsover.if a brush lasts me 3 or 4 months im happy because of the sheer ease of use due to the brushes lightness.


regards


dazmond
price higher/work harder!

davids3511

  • Posts: 2506
Followup Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #18 on: April 02, 2013, 07:49:47 pm »
After nearly seven weeks with the new brush it is still going strong. Have had to retrain myself not to press too hard and I dunk it is very hot water once a week. Its still looking pretty good tbh. Thanks to those who put me right.

Avo

  • Posts: 1634
Re: medium mixed Xtreme brush review
« Reply #19 on: April 02, 2013, 08:19:52 pm »
Been using this brush for about 6 weeks and still has a perfect splay.. What happened to those brushes  ;D