Gutter vac poles

[Cleanz]

Been doing guttervac's for about a year now and have always used alloy poles. Bit of an arm ache at some angles but not massively - however where the clamps go are a bit worn now and I tend to find myself tightening up the bloody things more than actually doing the job!

I was just about to buy some carbon fibre poles (with clamps) but had read on a site that they were only slightly lighter? Didn't want to spend £500-£600 on poles if there isn't much difference in weight.

Also, anyone know where I can buy they clamps for the alloy poles from?

 

[WWC]

I have only used Ali poles myself, so can't comment on the CF ones. But the clamps... Why not contact the company that sold you the poles / vac in the first place? They can probably sell you extra clamps.

 

[Jimroot]

I've been using the CF poles, they are very light and easy to handle but I've done no extreme angles and I haven't used ALU so can't compare. I have unclamped.

I think even if they are a bit lighter on paper and vertical, the lever principle involved with a long angled tool means they are effectively much lighter the more angle applied.

 

[Cleanz]

I did email them but never got a response, I will phone them soon if needs be but I was kind of hoping somewhere like screwfix might do them but not sure of the exact name of the things. Actually if anyone can recommend better clamps, I think where the poles clamp might be worn a touch, which might have added to the problem, so maybe some better clamps?

 

[Cleanz]

Ah thanks Jim, any recommendations on where to get CF poles? They seem to vary wildly in price...

 

[Jimroot]

Grippamax were recommended to me, and they are the Gardiner pole, so big pedigree there. gardiner Super-Lite.

pricey, but if you're making money from the activity, I rationalised to get the best equipment is a good idea, especially if it cuts down on risk/stress.

On a side note, do you use your ladder much with the gutter clearances Cleanz?

 

[Cleanz]

That's one of the ones I was looking at actually... and I have Gardiner poles so know they are good quality. Makes sense then, I'll go for CF

Haha I knew this would pop up.

I'd say every other job I have to sling a ladder up normally where flashing hasn't been cut properly and some corners.

I've come to accept that as part of the job, annoying but it seems to be quicker for me to do that, than mess around.

I also always use a little ladder on "lower" gutters, detatch the poles and use the hose with a tool on the end.

What head do you normally use with your CF poles? The one I have with Alloy poles takes no time to come loose, isn't it like moulded plastic with CF?

 

[Jimroot]

Yeah moulded plastic tool ends. I'm going to experiment with making tools, going to try a flatter profile one and maybe a spike type to prong into material, to limit the ladder use. hard to say yet if that will limit ladeder use or not

 

[neil fearnley]

I'm having the same issue with the clamps pinching the poles

Tbh my alloy poles are pretty beat up now not sure how carbon would hold up over time,my 5ft pole sections weigh just over 300g each so not much difference in weight to carbon

Can't see it being worth 500 quid

Also I made my own tools hacking a pole down,I rollered a 12" piece pretty flat for tight gutters

Check out carbon fibre tubes Ltd for carbon poles,I got my swaged aluminium poles off eBay £30 all in

 

[neil fearnley]

T bolt clamps

I'm going to fit quick release bike skewers on mine to stop over tightening them

 

[Smurf]

The type of clamps I got with my omni ali pole set apparently the manufacture went bust when I asked a few years back if they sold spare clamps.

 

[Jimroot]

Well, that's one thing to be said for the CF ones then, no clamps to loose/break

 

[Rascal]

,my 5ft pole sections weigh just over 300g

Are you sure about this? That's the same weight as carbon poles. My omni alloy poles weigh 2 or 3 times the carbon

 

[neil fearnley]

Are you sure about this? That's the same weight as carbon poles. My omni alloy poles weigh 2 or 3 times the carbon

Weighed them on digital kitchen scales,not sure if there 100% but if memory serves they weighed about 312g each

 

[Rascal]

Weighed them on digital kitchen scales,not sure if there 100% but if memory serves they weighed about 312g each

Were you on the moon when you weighed them?!

Seriously I think your way off. 5' of alloy pole should weigh about 700 grams +. If alloy poles could be made that light carbon would be redundant.

http://www.guttervacuumsystems.co.uk/store/p5/Aquafed_20ft_6_meter_Gutter_vacuum_pole_set.html

These 4' sections weigh 620 grams.....

 

[Smurf]

This is a good vid to show the difference I think albeit they are not omni ali poles as would weigh slightly less than the ali pole being tested.

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[Smurf]

This guy cracks me up /emoticons/biggrin.png

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[Jimroot]

Didn't show the steel rod though the pole during the 'sitting test' ;-)

 

[Cleanz]

Well, that's one thing to be said for the CF ones then, no clamps to loose/break

Grippamax, seem to do the ones with clamps.. which is what I was gonna go for - they are cheaper than tapered ones for some reason..

 

[Rascal]

Clamped poles are heavier. 475g vs 305g. Still quite a bit lighter than alloy though.

 

[Jimroot]

The clamped ones are a bit heavier, bit narrower.

Did a job today with vac and abused poles a fair bit, even managed to crush one between a door and wall. No damage.

Hard dodging the sleet storms!

I can't understand how you guys cope using nearly all vac, the ones im coming up against I'm doing mostly ladder cause the vac isn't accessing well enough to get enough stuff out.