[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

Is there anyone on the group who `Dog Ear` their squeegee channels? I`ve tried it to what I would descibe to be at the best advantage but overall thought it to be an overated practise.

Unless that is,I`m doing something wrong! It seems to be quite popular in the U.S. as I understand it.Its only really practical I find on aluminium and brass channels (soft).Anyone who does and are going along to the Leicester week end

I wonder if they`d be kind enough to bring along an example?

[denzle]

Lewis,
I've heard the American lads talking about this as well, i have loads of old channels knocking around so i'll give it a try and let you know.
I believe its only a very slight bend required at the very tip, just enough to keep the edge tight against the glass.
Denzle

[denzle]

Lewis,
As promissed i tried it out today, it does make a big difference in my humble oppinion. Next to no detailing required and i'm a real picky person.
I did find that the ends of the rubber wear faster and found that hard rubber suited me better ( Normally i use soft ) Speed was improved to a point where i was really getting away from my top guy, he then dog eared his and he was fair flying also.
We did 30 big 4 & 5 bed houses in just  6 and a half hrs.
Give it a try you might just like it.
Denzle

[simonb]

By 'Dog Ear' do U mean cutting a small piece off at 45 degree angle?
Simon

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

Glad to be of some help Denzil.I have done and tried it in the past,but could`nt really
get comfortable with it.I find setting my rubber inside the channel 3/16ths of inch approx
to be more benefical.Ya don`t have to control the squeegee blade at all,the window frame
does it for you automaticlly.It is benefical you use Sorbo channels to help stop scratching the
u.p.v.c framework.We are talking about windows with rubber mouldings here I assume?


Lewis Doubtfire, Gleem Clean (Blade Runner)

[HCS]

Sounds like a winner guys.

Can you put a photo or two on the board for us all to see?

[tam]

I Dog Ear my squeegees but I also cut my blade at an angle away from the squeegee and you can garantee that you will leave the edges of your windows perfect. Also when you are polling any windows especialy above ground floor you will leave no lines. No charge!  

[Neil]

Tam
I know its very hard but is there any way you can make it a bit clearer, as I am keen to give your tip a go but am not quite sure what you mean.
Is it the leading edge which is left longest? and how much of an angle is required.
Oh and how do I dog ear a blade?

Neil

[denzle]

By Dogearing a channel, i can best discribe it as slightly bending the tips of the channel outward ( Towards the glass ) this has the effect of keeping the ends of your rubber tight against the glass / frame.
It leaves very little, if any residue that would normally be taken care of by detailing.
It worked for me today and upped my speed at the expense of one and a half rubbers, as we replace them daily anyway i figure it was a small price to pay.
Denzle

[Neil]

Thanks Denzle
I will give it go tommorow.
Neil

[Neil]

Maybe monday then.  

Its persisting down here.  

and the wifes left me a list of jobs as usual.  

   

[tam]

Wylie, just as that post said bend the squeegee edge slightly towards the window and angle the blade / about by that angle and you will see a differance.

[Neil]

Tam & Denzle,

Thank you both, the sun came out this afternoon and I was able to get out and try your tip and it definitely works for me.
At first I found one side to be giving a better result than the other but when I checked the "bend" was a different angle but when put the same as the good side the results were great.
I only had chance to try it on a few houses but I was definitely faster than usual!
I will stick with it next week so hopefully things will get better.
Once again
Thanks guys!
Neil

[fez]

Wow!!

I went out this morning on catch up, in between the showers. I decided to try dog-earing so I took an old Ettore squeegee out of my box as I didn't want to ruin a good one. I gently bent the corners down, but I couldn't be bothered to change the old, warn rubber.

First house I tried, I couldn't believe the results! I'm a GG3 user and I found it (slightly) harder to manouvre the squeegee on the glass, but the results were fantastic. Absolutely NO detailing whatsoever and this was with an old rubber! The first house was a large farmhouse that normally takes me 1 hour and 5 minutes.
I'd done it in 45 minutes today.

I flew around the following houses only to be stopped by the rain.

If you haven't tried it, give it a go.  

Steve.

[dave0123]

Hello i am new to window cleaning i have worked with a companny over the last 4 months and am now setting up my own round getting a few custmores. i am still abit slow at window cleaning but sure to get faster.

I was just wondering by dogg earing your squeegee do u mean the end of it two ends that stop drips etc in corners?. please help as it might make me faster


Thanks for your help dave.

[fez]

How I did it was by bending the tips of the squeegee channel with a pair of pliers towards the glass ever so slightly so that the rubber is pressed into the edge.

It's hard to describe, but it works.

[dave0123]

i think i no what u mean so the Rubber does not sort of bend as much as it would do? when squeegeeing a window

[Neil]

I also used a pair of pliers to slightly bend the leading corner "towards the glass" the results were great.
It may take a little perfecting but the difference is noticeable.

Neil

[seanc]

is there any way some kind chap could find a way of putting a photo of this dog earing on so the village diot (meaning me before any one thinks it is them there is only one and thats my job lol   :) can give it a go

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

I know I should send down a picture but I don`t have a digital camara,which is what you
need as I understand it.I forgot to mention in my other e,mail,but I`ve also rigged up an
Ettore `back-flip` with the same strange `feeling` or `touch` etc.as with `SqueegeeMates`.
Anyway I`m glad its helped a few people out,myself included I guess,which I must say,I`ve
surprised myself really.Don`t forget,there are different `settings`.i.e. u.pvp.c. windows with
different rubber mouldings and say wood frames (straight) With oldish say sash windows
and casements with old fashioned linseed oil putty surrounds the same thing applies as with
modern u.pv.c.with mouldings. Users up to press,are you finding  that your scratching the
frame a `tad` or are ya all oaky with it.? If so,try and `fashion` some kind of plastic end  of
channel protector working on the same principle as the Sorbo channel with plastic end plugs.
In time to come,I can possibly envisage the manufacturers making channels off the production
lines to equal and combat all what we are doing as a `half-assed` or `home spun effort.



Lewis Doubtfire      Gleem Clean ( Blade Runner)