Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here
Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

advanced

  • Posts: 326
bit miffed with facelift
« on: December 23, 2013, 04:05:00 pm »
bought  phoenix 25  9 months ago  and allready top section is spinning , it really hacks me off  when  you  pay
so  much  money  and it  fails in such a short period , i would not mind  if  i used  this  pole just for top windows  but  for doing  bottoms its very important that the top section  holds. i tried lacquering  it   , works for a few days   but then wears down again. 
i  may go back to gardeners poles as they have smart clamps  , any one recommend them .

thanks

Smurf

  • Posts: 8538
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2013, 04:18:59 pm »
Did you complain?

I'm sure they have improved the clamps recently so worth giving them a call and let us know what they say.

kempy

  • Posts: 1442
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2013, 04:38:25 pm »
The problem we have is the whole industry is still relatively new and majority of items are not totally for just window cleaning . A lot are air components , fishing poles etc , it's getting there

Tom White

Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2013, 04:42:12 pm »
If you look after a pole, the clamps wouldn't spin.

Case in point is that I bought two SLX's at the same time, one for Wor Lass and one for myself.

Wor Lass's pole top section spins, mine doesn't.  If at any stage any of my pole spins, I tighten the clamp so it doesn't.  Wor Lass didn't and by working with it when it was spinning ground down her first section.  If she took the few seconds to adjust the clamp, this wouldn't have happened.

Stephen Fox

  • Posts: 471
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2013, 07:26:33 pm »
Advance,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. It looks like a first run clamp from the tooling, this has since been revamped. I'm surprised you've had this long without issue, it usually happened quite quickly. It will simply be the clamps that need renewing and it will be like day one.

We can change over the clamps no problem, the pole sections will be fine. I can sort out replacement clamps being sent out or arrange a pick up and bring back to base with a couple of days turn around?

paul13

  • Posts: 491
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2013, 07:44:08 pm »
If you look after a pole, the clamps wouldn't spin.

Case in point is that I bought two SLX's at the same time, one for Wor Lass and one for myself.

Wor Lass's pole top section spins, mine doesn't.  If at any stage any of my pole spins, I tighten the clamp so it doesn't.  Wor Lass didn't and by working with it when it was spinning ground down her first section.  If she took the few seconds to adjust the clamp, this wouldn't have happened.

Great point Tosh, I'm sick of telling the boys the same thing.

kempy

  • Posts: 1442
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2013, 07:46:20 pm »
Use Joiners Mate glue , good for the dreaded clamp spin

advanced

  • Posts: 326
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2013, 08:27:33 pm »
hj stephen i bought my pole from the full clean centre in  sutton surrey  can i go though them  to get it revamped.

SherwoodCleaningSe

  • Posts: 2368
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2013, 11:42:43 pm »
Regarding Gardiners clamps, I think they are great.  Never had an issue with the original ones, in fact I've always been happy with there clamps as they are very small and make for a very efficient pole, (extended length compared to closed and overall weight).  The smart clamps though are great, no matter how much wear on a section they grip, I've got them installed on a couple of extreme poles that are over 2 1/2 years old and yet the poles feel like new even though they look far from new.

Simon.

koopmaster

  • Posts: 498
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #9 on: December 24, 2013, 03:14:50 am »
word of warning - the sutton guys told me to CUT the pole instead of actually cutting the clamp with a hacksaw very carefully.  I cut a few sections on my pole and its never been the same again.  I have had one section replaced but I basically need a whole new pole.  Dont CUT your pole,  worst advice I ever had....!!!

[GQC] Tim

  • Posts: 4536
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #10 on: December 24, 2013, 02:42:33 pm »
word of warning - the sutton guys told me to CUT the pole instead of actually cutting the clamp with a hacksaw very carefully.  I cut a few sections on my pole and its never been the same again.  I have had one section replaced but I basically need a whole new pole.  Dont CUT your pole,  worst advice I ever had....!!!

It's best to cut through the clamp, I was a bit hesitant to do this, in fear of going though the carbon, but gently does it, and check now and then whether you've gone trough, crack it open with a screwdriver and it comes off very easily. Alex G has got a great video on how to do this, I'd imagine it would apply roughly to a Phoenix as well, but best to check with Stephen F.

Arnold Palmer

  • Posts: 20800
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #11 on: December 24, 2013, 08:23:16 pm »
I have to say, I tested both and, I was impressed by the phoenix full carbon pole. I chose the SLX because a) it worked out cheaper and 2) the clamps on the SLX WILL make the pole last longer. Side on / traverse clamps will increase the life of a pole, it is obvious when you think about it.
#aliens

Spruce

  • Posts: 8465
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2013, 08:32:22 pm »
word of warning - the sutton guys told me to CUT the pole instead of actually cutting the clamp with a hacksaw very carefully.  I cut a few sections on my pole and its never been the same again.  I have had one section replaced but I basically need a whole new pole.  Dont CUT your pole,  worst advice I ever had....!!!

If you cut each section off by say 30mm the pole will close (nest) exactly the same as it did when it was new. The only difference is that it will be slightly shorter in both open and closed positions.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

advanced

  • Posts: 326
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #13 on: December 24, 2013, 09:20:20 pm »
thanks for comments guys  might try gardeners  pole as i do not need this hassle  if i can avoid it

koopmaster

  • Posts: 498
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #14 on: December 25, 2013, 01:20:44 am »
word of warning - the sutton guys told me to CUT the pole instead of actually cutting the clamp with a hacksaw very carefully.  I cut a few sections on my pole and its never been the same again.  I have had one section replaced but I basically need a whole new pole.  Dont CUT your pole,  worst advice I ever had....!!!

If you cut each section off by say 30mm the pole will close (nest) exactly the same as it did when it was new. The only difference is that it will be slightly shorter in both open and closed positions.
I did this and my pole is basically stuffed,  after a month or so the ends will start splitting.  I have 3 sections that are now splitting and I will have to replace the pole.  you have been warned. just cut the clamps not the pole...!!!

Stephen Fox

  • Posts: 471
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #15 on: December 25, 2013, 07:55:12 am »
hj stephen i bought my pole from the full clean centre in  sutton surrey  can i go though them  to get it revamped.

Yes, they can then contact us and we can take it from there.

Stephen Fox

  • Posts: 471
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #16 on: December 25, 2013, 08:01:10 am »
Here a link for reference on changing a clamp, pretty much applies to most poles on the market

http://youtu.be/9NWsxD0np7w

Stephen Fox

  • Posts: 471
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #17 on: December 25, 2013, 08:34:41 am »
I have to say, I tested both and, I was impressed by the phoenix full carbon pole. I chose the SLX because a) it worked out cheaper and 2) the clamps on the SLX WILL make the pole last longer. Side on / traverse clamps will increase the life of a pole, it is obvious when you think about it.

Stuart, actually the opposite of this is true, sideways/transverse clamps will wear a lot quicker as the clamp ears tend be fixed with little room to open. This causes the clamp to grind against the section when being used as has been noted (black hands with in a short of time of use)

Of course if dirt it left on the pole to build up and grind away this will reduce the life of the pole drastically.

Arnold Palmer

  • Posts: 20800
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #18 on: December 25, 2013, 08:48:43 am »
Sorry Stephen but we will have to agree to disagree on that.

The side on design allows more movement for the clamp. This means that even if the pole does wear the clamp is still effective.
#aliens

Jonny 87

  • Posts: 3488
Re: bit miffed with facelift
« Reply #19 on: December 25, 2013, 10:39:24 am »
I have to say, I tested both and, I was impressed by the phoenix full carbon pole. I chose the SLX because a) it worked out cheaper and 2) the clamps on the SLX WILL make the pole last longer. Side on / traverse clamps will increase the life of a pole, it is obvious when you think about it.

Stuart, actually the opposite of this is true, sideways/transverse clamps will wear a lot quicker as the clamp ears tend be fixed with little room to open. This causes the clamp to grind against the section when being used as has been noted (black hands with in a short of time of use)

Of course if dirt it left on the pole to build up and grind away this will reduce the life of the pole drastically.

In the real world that just isn't true either to be honest. Gardiners new smart clamps will prolong the life of a pole compared to vertical.

Don't really think there is any argument about that.
Vision Technician / Visual Engineer /  Vision Enhancement Operative /...........................................................OnlyUseMeWFP AkA Jonny the Windy Wesher