I got fed up one morning last week and came home early and decided it was about time I gave my (10 month old) SL-X a good clean etc.
Here's what I did:-
1. Strip pole - everything except clamps cos I am one of the few who have had no issues whatsoever with the clamps - removed what was left of the original markers.
2. good wash with hot soapy water
3. rinse well with pure. Dry.
4. use masking tape and that spray paint from B&Q to re-paint markers - 3 very very thin coats.
30 mins between coats, leave for 1 hour before removing tape and moving on.
5. when dry, apply a good quality car wax to all sections and buff up.
6. re-assemble with new pole hose
The car wax seems to stop any carbon dust and the sections slide up and down effortlessly, and the clamps grip much better. It really feels like a new pole and it seems to be lasting well, its a week since I did it and when I got home today, my hands were still clean!!! I think if I give it a quick waxing every 3-4 weeks it will make a hell of a difference.
After doing this, I can see no reason why it won't last at least another 18-24 months. Which makes the initial cost seem much more attractive.
Caution - make sure the paint is very thin, I got one section a bit thick and had to carefully rub it down to get it to fit right.
Even if you have a newish one, I would recommend trying the wax as a way of protecting the carbon, if you do it from new, it will probably last even longer.
I may well try something like this myself after my poles come back. I've decided to send both of my SLXs back to Gardiners for servicing and having new clamps fitted. I've been using the allen key clamps and I've used up so much on the smallest clamp that it's now hard to tighten. Indeed, I've pushed it so much, it may be prudent to have a couple of new no.1 sections.
Recently, I have been using the SLX with external pole hose to reduce grit inside the pole. It's been easier adapting than I expected. A bit of velcro a few inches down stops the pole hose ending up in the bristles and doesn't get in the way either so long as the no.1 section isn't fully collapsed.
The pole is a wonderful concept and has saved me from some physical strain as well as saving me a bit of ladder climbing. I feel it would do better in the hands of someone who is less of a slob than I but maybe your tips in your post will be a help for me.
I'm sitting here having a rare day off due to rain with a cardboard tube by my door waiting for the Fedex driver.