[JM123]

ok lads cool it...the metal poles I believe are pulex and they have certain advantages over fibreglass but are freezing in cold weather and don't have end stops so the poles can slide out of one another, maybe peters poles aren't pulex but they'll never be as good as fibreglass ( I have both and so I know) and they don't cost anything near as much as fibreglass with a Pulex costing about £30 from manufacturer and the vikan brushes cost about £20 then another 25 or so for tubing and spray jets etc, but saying that his systems seem alright and are bang on for the money.  Remember what some like others might not, the aul hand prefers the pulex for an unknown reason, I'd rather take the fibreglass.
I'm not slagging or bigging up Peters stuff I'm just saying he has a right to charge whatever he likes - its up to the customer to decide whether to take it or not.

[*strawman69]

i have an ionics system and im very happy with it cost me 4500 including 30ft brush 12 ft brush 50m hose  and 300 litre system fitted in the van ive had it 6 months and its paid for itself already. but the choice is yours i can only advise you on how good mt system is.

[Peter Fogwill]

ok lads cool it...the metal poles I believe are pulex and they have certain advantages over fibreglass but are freezing in cold weather and don't have end stops so the poles can slide out of one another, maybe peters poles aren't pulex but they'll never be as good as fibreglass ( I have both and so I know) and they don't cost anything near as much as fibreglass with a Pulex costing about £30 from manufacturer and the vikan brushes cost about £20 then another 25 or so for tubing and spray jets etc, but saying that his systems seem alright and are bang on for the money.  Remember what some like others might not, the aul hand prefers the pulex for an unknown reason, I'd rather take the fibreglass.
I'm not slagging or bigging up Peters stuff I'm just saying he has a right to charge whatever he likes - its up to the customer to decide whether to take it or not.

Nearly right JM,  I use the Unger Tele-Pole and supply 7 sections, one of which has to be adapted so as you can add the extra two sections to the normal 5 x 6 foot sections.  I won't go into prices but I can assure you that the 7 sections + the modification, cost me double what I can buy a 40 foot glass fibre pole from the manufacturers.  I have had many people visit to see my systems, and I give them a choice of poles once I have explained the advantages and disadvantages of each.  Most walk away with the alloy.

You are spot on about the what some like others might not, it would be a funny old world if we all liked the same things.  We once had a debate on a window cleaning email group, we were talking about new products, I think it was squeegee's.  One chap who manufactured roof rigging piped in and asked why anyone would want to use a different style of squeegee, after all the Ettore brass squeegee has served us well for all these years why change?  He felt a fool when I reminded him he wouldn't have a roof rigging business if we all adopted that attitude.


Peter Fogwill
www.window-tools.com

[matt]

personally i like the UNGER poles

they last for ages and dont wear and splinter

the cones are VERY CHEAP to replace

[Reuben_Reynolds]

Interesting this thread started 2 years ago

[a.j.menzies]

peter,
parts i had been waiting for are the parts you mentioned, no parts no invoice! i have replaced most the parts from your  trolly system as it only did four houses.
i have no objection to anyone making a profit but yours must be very high.

[Peter Fogwill]

Alister, I don't want to get into a slagging match but you ordered your system on 26/01/05.  You then ordered these extra items on 6/6/05  If in fact your system only did 4 houses your list would have been a lot longer than the items you ordered over 4 months later. 

You wouldn't have got the invoice because it would have been in the box with the items.

Peter Fogwill

[Ian_Giles]

I have used Peter on a few occasions, most recently on upgrading from trolley to van mount.
He is also the only person I have found that offers the fibreglass option for water proofing the floor of your van, more hard wearing than protectakote, by a long way too.
Another window cleaner local to me has protectakote, its pretty good, but where he has been loading his trolley sytem in and out he has worn through it quite quickly, not skuff resistant enough for my liking.
I know that Speedliner will be, it's expensive and does a damn good job.

I've also found that the things that Peter does sell are all very competetively priced, I wouldn't keep going back if it wasn't.

I personally use the Unger Poles that Peter supplies, I'll probably give the Gardiners poles people a try as I like the fact that they do 5ft section poles, sounds ideal for domestic work, and they use the fibreglass ones, so I would be interested to try one out.
I hate the 6ft sections of the Unger poles. Not that they are alone in producing 6ft sections, most seem to.
some even use 8ft sections!!!

Ian

[genesis_windows]

you dont have to buy a system from tucker, if you just want a pole they will sell you just a pole. I used to make the poles when i worked for ionics. the 65' carbon poles are very good but also cost alot. Tucker make fantastic poles but take a bit longer to use as you have to tighten up the clamps every time you change hight, not much of a problem when your doing large commercial jobs but i have found it takes longer when doing domestics. cleantech do a very good ally pole that reaches 18' and without a brush costs about £50.00. i dont know how much with a brush as i buy vikan brushes and fit cleantech spray jets myself. i buy the brushes for £12.00 and fit 2 jets that cost less than a quid each. all the parts for a system can be sourced for less than £1500 and with the help of everyone on this site you can have a cracking setup and change from 2k. i know what i would do.

[JM123]

Exactly, I build systems to order (mainly trailer systems) and some people think I'm going to build them a system for what it costs me!!
As regards poles, there is loads of choice and like Peter I can only advise on what I have used, but sorry Peter, can't understand how they cost you double the price of fibreglass, don't doubt you, just can't figure it out - what gets me is paying £1400 for a 18ft pulex 200gpd ro/di a tiny 18Ah battery and a silly little hozelock plastic reel - that was my first system (when I knew slightly more than nothing)

[genesis_windows]

matt, your spot on - build your own.
its not rocket science.

[DP]

I am, But I still dont know which poles to buy there has been too many very good opinions, perhaps someone could run a "pole" on poles.