[geefree]

Hi Alex,

the 21ft. slx.. pole i have , is starting to wear a bit,
,
when i clean upstairs , the pole extentions start slipping and the pole gets shorter while i clean,

and when i drop it down to 5ft to clean downstairs, the head swivels as the clamps no longer hold.

if i pull the middle section out 2 inch .. i can get by doing downstairs.

my question is , .... is there anything i can do to repair this problem, ?

i have the clamps nice and tight and the problem is still there.

is  it time for a new pole?...

Thanks

Gary.

[Alex Gardiner]

Hi Gaz,

I presume you mean the 21ft X-Tel, not the 25ft SL-X?  Having re-read your post I don't think you'd be so relaxed at asking whether it was time for a new pole!

Sometimes the easiest thing is to replace the pole.  However, there is a fairly simple repair that you can do that may be the answer.  Examine the pole and isolate the areas on the pole that are slipping.  Usually this is the top of the smallest section, as you've encountered.  Mix up some rapid two pack epoxy resin (Araldite Rapid or similar), carefully apply a small amount to the affected area of the pole.  Use the mixing spatula to scrape most of the glue back off the section, leaving just a thin smear on the worn area.  Leave to dry overnight.  Then with fine grade wet and dry sand paper, sand off any lumps or ridges that are left.  This will effectively repair the damaged section and keep the pole in use for a good while longer.

This applies to any composite pole that have worn in a specific area.

[geefree]

Thanks Alex,

I will doas you suggest this weekend, and i may buy another one as well, without having time at the moment to scan your website, could you tell me if the 25ft pole comes down to around 5ft, which only just fits in my van at an angle, ...(its an expert van with a bulkhead).

p.s yes it is the..X-TEL.

thanks Alex.

Gary.

[Alex Gardiner]

The 25ft SL-X closes to 5'7".

[chrismroberts]

Hi Gaz,

I presume you mean the 21ft X-Tel, not the 25ft SL-X?  Having re-read your post I don't think you'd be so relaxed at asking whether it was time for a new pole!

Sometimes the easiest thing is to replace the pole.  However, there is a fairly simple repair that you can do that may be the answer.  Examine the pole and isolate the areas on the pole that are slipping.  Usually this is the top of the smallest section, as you've encountered.  Mix up some rapid two pack epoxy resin (Araldite Rapid or similar), carefully apply a small amount to the affected area of the pole.  Use the mixing spatula to scrape most of the glue back off the section, leaving just a thin smear on the worn area.  Leave to dry overnight.  Then with fine grade wet and dry sand paper, sand off any lumps or ridges that are left.  This will effectively repair the damaged section and keep the pole in use for a good while longer.

This applies to any composite pole that have worn in a specific area.

Thats very useful information, thanks Been meaning to ask! Think you may have just saved me £400!

[Alex Gardiner]

 

[geefree]

Thanks Alex, will look tonight for price and repair mine also.

Cheers for the help on the repairs, im sure we can all benefit from it.

 

[Clive McDonald]

I see on the other thread there are a couple of mickey takes about me, however, although I can't pretend Alex's knowledge I have been taking an interest in this problem for some time.

Firstly follow the pole care advice on the gardiner site.Flushing the inside of poles with water is helpfull.

Wayne suggested Hammerite paint (we're talking about the last two inches remember) I tried this and it was okay but not great.

One dirty job with the pole hose trodden into building sand and then drawn into the pole when it is extended can put months of wear on a pole if it is not cleaned that day and then used the next.

If we could be bothered to wipe the sections with a cloth as we extend them, or if there was some kind of Alice band to do this maybe in front of the clamp?Or on the pole hose itself just before the end cap?A sort of protecta ball that can slide down the pole hose as it inserts and keep it clean.

Best of all would be if someone could find a way of keeping the pole hose off the floor altogether, then it wouldn't get dirty and shorten the life of the pole.This would also result in less tangles and a more productive working day.

My prediction is that we will work this way in the future. Hose off the floor at all times, hose auto cleaned as it inserts.