[Matt Gibson]

Righto,

I've been thinking about getting a wet vac for a while and recently had quite a few industrial units with cladding cleans and gutter cleans. Pain getting on the roof and its slow work by hand. Got a few more in the pipeline so am wanting to invest in a vac/poles etc.

Probably going to speak to Kev about a vac, unless anyone has any good suggestions.

What i'm really after is input on poles. Anyone use carbon? aluminium? I wont be using it day in day out, so not looking to spend a fortune, just something that's going to last.

What about the end bends? What is best for no blockages, ease to get into gutters etc? Do you really need multiple types/shapes of end nozzle?

Inspection cameras? really necessary? Do you get the ladders out to check anyway? or if you have all the kit do you just go along cleaning with the vac/poles and at the end that's it? job done without checking?

And how many times do you need to get the ladders out anyway for large clumps etc?

Any input much appreciated.

[chris scott]

Buy the carbon poles ...ally ones are too much of a work out.
Air flow (lpermin) and  inH2Ois what you need to check for the vac ...sucking power. Some big motors (watts) don't suck any better than a decent small one but you need a massive "Genny" to run them.
I prefer round body vacs .You can fit them with a gorilla bucket  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gorilla-Tubs-Gorilla-Tub-Extra-Large-75-Litre-Bucket-Muck-/310707479187?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item48579be293 Drill a few holes in the bottom and make a filter from geotextile membrane. The water goes through but the crap stays in the bucket...easy to empty.
We also have telescopic ally decorators poles Link here with various attachments gaffer taped to the end to break up the lumps.
We use a back pack blower to clean downspouts Link Here ...blow from the bottom up! Make a rubber "gasket " to fit the blower to the downspout to get maximum airflow . Draw rods if its compacted Link here
We use a go pro Link here   to inspect joints and make sure it's clean

[Aqua Power Solutions]

Hi Matt, firstly go for the carbon poles , they cost more but makes life on the job a lot easier. Attachments required predominantly a U bend. I run a 3000 watt motor 90 ltr capacity and it has paid for itself within 6 month. I do commercial and domestic and it has never let me down. I have the bullet camera and monitor but to be honest i dont use it. (However it is a good selling point to the customer). I still get the ladders out and assist the vac when cleaning the gutters. There is no way you can clean a gutter out properly from been on the ground but what it does do is gives your company a more professional image and repeated custom from other residents. ED

[Roland S]

i've got a set of alloy poles for sale if you're interested. i use carbon now but for the occasional job alloy are ok.

like these ones Link here

[BDCS]

I use carbon poles but fishing tubes with a 135 degree bend with various sized and flat tubes to fit the gaps etc. I have an old 3000 watt vacuum that I rescued from a skip - it sucks better than the 4200 watt version sold by the company thats offered to sue me several times - I did mention the fact that I do actually own the kit they sell and the other BD cleaning is in London and Exeter. I have a Stephill Honda 6KVA generator. I also have the Omni power pole that I've modified several hooks etc that fit in the small QR but the beauty of this is that you can unblock swan necks from the ground. The alloy poles sit down the yard as spares. I have a camera but seldom use it. I still like to have and use the ladders as you cannot always get the vac through houses - its huge which is why I'm looking at a replacement soon. I also have a row of 3 storey houses with a parapet gutter and resident gull population that are a carp design and have to be cleared regularly of the bedrooms flood, these cannot be done from the ground.
I use a gutter scoop on a painters pole to allow me to pull over 4 m of gutter with one ladder movement.
You need to be able to use and need both systems with the option of a mewp when you get stuck.
A good wet vac will be very useful in other areas - get 3 motors because you can turn the third off but not on off if its still at the factory.
Alloy poles are a work out if you use them regular but worse if you don't

[Matt Gibson]

Cheers guys, I appreciate all the info.

With the bends and things for the end of the poles, do you guys make your own? or can you buy different style fittings for different style gutters?

How do the carbon poles fit together? tapered ends?
And just HOW much of a workout are the ali poles? I don't mind buying good quality gear that's going to make my job easier, but when the price difference is that much, and i wont be using them for long periods, are the carbon poles really worth it?

I've got a 5kva generator, so i was looking at the triple motor vacs.

[chris scott]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APS-135-Degree-Silicone-Silicon-Hose-Elbow-Bend-Rubber-Coolant-Radiator-Pipe-/360592207622?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&var=&hash=item53f4f86f06
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APS-Straight-Length-Reducer-Silicone-Silicon-Hose-Rubber-Coolant-Radiator-Pipe-/360608811461?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&var=&hash=item53f5f
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aluminium-Round-Tube-38mm-40mm-41mm-44mm-48mm-50mm-57mm-diameters-many-lengths-/161068974087?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling.. _Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&var=460191530739&hash=item2580758007
Carbon poles are tapered fit. You will regret buying ally. These people are the cheapest ( http://www.carbonfibretubes.co.uk/about.html#contact ) but you have to buy 6 or 8 of them to make it worth while. ( from memory the poles are 2.5 m not 2.0 m as most so price will reflect this)

[Matt Gibson]

Cheers Chris,

So just buy a short piece of ali tube and flatten/squash it to make the end fittings?

[Roland S]

Buy the carbon poles ...ally ones are too much of a work out.
Air flow (lpermin) and  inH2Ois what you need to check for the vac ...sucking power. Some big motors (watts) don't suck any better than a decent small one but you need a massive "Genny" to run them.
I prefer round body vacs .You can fit them with a gorilla bucket  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gorilla-Tubs-Gorilla-Tub-Extra-Large-75-Litre-Bucket-Muck-/310707479187?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item48579be293 Drill a few holes in the bottom and make a filter from geotextile membrane. The water goes through but the crap stays in the bucket...easy to empty.
We also have telescopic ally decorators poles http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-1x-Decorators-Extension-Pole-Quality-Professional-Standard-Tool-/350698956932?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item51a7496884 with various attachments gaffer taped to the end to break up the lumps.
We use a back pack blower to clean downspouts http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sthil-backpack-blower-BR380-/161130460361?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenPowerTools_CA&hash=item25841fb4c9 ...blow from the bottom up! Make a rubber "gasket " to fit the blower to the downspout to get maximum airflow . Draw rods if its compacted http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Greenbrook-10M-Fibreglass-Draw-Rod-Kit-Quality-flexible-rods-hook-eye-/330879218681?pt=UK_Baby_BabyFeedingUtensils_EH&hash=item4d09f033f9
We use a go pro http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GoPro-Hero-3-Black-Adventure-and-Battery-BacPac-Bundle-from-UK-Stock-Genuine-/261203202804?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_Camcorders&hash=item3cd0ec92f4   to inspect joints and make sure it's clean

the gorilla bucket seems like a good idea, i might try that.

regarding the gopro camera does that transmit to something or do you film it and then lower it down and watch it on the camera itself? i currently use a cheap wireless camera like this  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290690713604?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 but the quality is not the best and i would like something better quality for when commercial customers request a camera survey. also are they easy to fit to the pole?

[chris scott]

Yes just cut and squash the tube for different "nozzles"

The go pro is wireless so it transmits to your smart phone or cheap bluetooth tablet. Although there is a 2 second delay .You can monitor what you are doing,take pictures or video.The go pro is controlled from a free downloadable App on your phone   http://gopro.com/software-app/gopro-app.
Attach useing this http://gopro.com/camera-mounts/roll-bar-mount

[Matt Gibson]

Right,

I've made a few enquiries and i think i have a good idea of what im going for. Just waiting to hear back from the carbon fibre pole place about prices. Chris, do you know roughly how much a length of the tube from that site you posted costs?

Whats the best size tube to get? The vac im looking at comes with a 50mm port, so about 45mm pole? 50mm pole?

And what kind of end "nozzles" does everyone use? im sure you can get away with just a standar nozzle type on most houses, but what other nozzles does everyone have?

[chris scott]

50mm seems to "industry standard " but anything around that will do. I cannot remember the exact price from there but it was the same price as every other supplier minus there profit .The only down side was i think you had a min order of 6/8 lengths ...phone them up they are really helpful. Just cut a few 8" lengths of aluminum and keep them in van ...batter them into shape to suit the gutter.I mainly use one "nozzle" although having a narrower one for closer fitting tiles is handy.

[Roland S]

chris i'm just about to take the plunge and buy that gopro camera. as its quote a lot of money i just wanted to check does it take very clear video of gutters? is it auto focus?

[concept]

chris i'm just about to take the plunge and buy that gopro camera. as its quote a lot of money i just wanted to check does it take very clear video of gutters? is it auto focus?

We use gopro too, unbelievable quality. Get the best you can afford, we use a hero 3 black, which is great in low light conditions.

[Roland S]

thanks 

[chris scott]

The gopro can be seen firmly attached    .....1m.30s onwards one can observe the reproduction quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYMkn07wPso

[Roland S]

The gopro can be seen firmly attached    .....1m.30s onwards one can observe the reproduction quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYMkn07wPso

thanks, all ordered with memory card and roll bar bracket. do you keep the underwater housing on the camera when filming?

[Matt Gibson]

Any other cheaper options than the gopro? not sure the money would be worth it only using it now and then.

[Matt Gibson]

Ive had a look at the go pros, probably better buying one. the cheaper cams/screens arent much cheaper to be honest.

How do you mount your phone while your using the camera? do you mount it to the base of the tubes? if so, how?

[concept]

Normally gutters are a 2 man job, just a lot quicker, so one holds an iPad as the other operates.