Using the Ankalad stabilizer correctly on window sills etc?

[Dave B]

There is a reason to..it's called trying to avoid that 1 slip which you may never have without using 1 but it is possible..that 1 slip could kill or seriously injure you so a 1 off payment to buy 1 and know you are a whole lot safer is worth it in my opinion

Just because you have been fine up to now doesn't mean it can't happen hence why it is called an accident

 

[Jake]

Yeah that's why if in doubt I use a ladderm8 Dave,

Although that seldom needs to be used anyway,

Accidents can happen no matter what you use,

I wouldn't have a reason for an ankalad, and neither do thousands of us, but it obviously suits some...

But the point was for window cleaning it's pretty much overkill, never needed... A ladderm8 is quicker and easier...

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[Jake]

If your a tree surgeon, then yeah, but personally, I can't think of one instance I've ever thought 'hmm I need an ankalad'

Personal preference...

 

[Dave B]

That's just a personal preference on safety equipment but you are using something

I wouldn't use either for normal window cleaning but gravel, decking and when i used to trad the loft conversion in a townhouse roof so in effect 3rd level above the bottoms i would have been mad not to

At that height i wouldn't want any chance of sideways slip and less bounce is good

I had my 8.5m triples fully extended and had my son help me lift em up to the top

Bloody scary..my 30ft pole don't reach properly to wfp it either As it is too wobbly being fibreglass

 

[Jake]

That ladderm8 is for decking, gravel, ice, snow, grass, anything basically,

And yeah it's been used about 3 times in years, so if that hardly gets used, then a ankalad would be never be used, I don't know anyone that uses an ankalad for window cleaning in my area, it seems it a very specific tool, but not really needed for the average window cleaner,

Sounds like you only 'need' it for that one job?

As boar said to Me 'there was a certain member on here that was obsessed with telling people they needed one, when in reality it's not practical for window cleaning at all'

We all know who he was...

But until he went Mad on them, no one really used them...

They have there place, but rarely if ever for everyday window cleaning...

 

[Dave B]

I always used mine for gutter clearing jobs as it is great for that or anything extra high

It depends what you do day to day but i would probably have used foot the ladder or something for normal day to day window work as it's quick to use and not permanently attached

Seeing as i was doing allsorts it suited me to have it

Sold my big ladders now and only clear the odd gutter which i borrow my father in laws big ladders and chuck my micro stand off on just to sit it on the roof tiles for a bit of support and use progutter on harris pole to avoid keep moving ladder

 

[Jake]

I've never used any device for gutter clearing, normal ladder and then the pro gutter tools..

 

[TolishAPurd]

@Jake Agreed on the window cleaning front, I wouldnt dream of using it on my round, not even once. Although would consider it on some of the riskier '1 off' 3 floor stuff, but I would rather just pass up on the job then load up the big ladder for a window day, or price itvery high. For gutter work though, I consider it essential.

 

[TolishAPurd]

I'm on lunch at the moment after a day of new customers, off out with the big ladder right now to do a gutter job.

 

[Dave B]

I'm off out to do my new cleans

My boy let me down..not his fault as he has tonsillitis and I'd rather he stayed in and got well

Won't take me more than hour and a half though

 

[Jake]

Yeah pass on work that's too high if you don't need it, not worth it even with an ankalad.

But yeah that's my point tolish, no need for an ankalad for window cleansing, massive overkill

 

[slippy]

I always used mine for gutter clearing jobs as it is great for that or anything extra highIt depends what you do day to day but i would probably have used foot the ladder or something for normal day to day window work as it's quick to use and not permanently attached

Seeing as i was doing allsorts it suited me to have it

Sold my big ladders now and only clear the odd gutter which i borrow my father in laws big ladders and chuck my micro stand off on just to sit it on the roof tiles for a bit of support and use progutter on harris pole to avoid keep moving ladder

Is this the standoff u recommend=

http://www.ladderstore.com/microlite-stand-off.html

 

[Dave B]

That is a very good one for doing just gutter work and fascias but the one i usebis this one

Made by the same company but only 6 inches deep so keeps you off frames and stabilises the ladder well

http://www.ladderstore.com/compact-ladder-stand-off.html

 

[Taxlossloz]

Never needed one in all my window cleaning life... Not even on decking, I just put a ladder mate down or we use cloths...
Yeah we're not into Health and saftey - but not getting into that again!

I learnt with guys that were simple in how they worked, we'd either foot the ladder for each other, or use cloths on wet decking - admittedly it's risky, but my work mate has been going 20 years and never had an issue, and he's never ever used a safety device, sometimes you just need common sense and to be sensible with ladder angles etc,

Ankalad looks good, but for everyday window cleaning would slow you down by hours...

I've been going up and down ladders 20 years too jake

And I've been lucky not to have any serious injury so far

The pic slippy shows is far safer than just a ladder without any safety device

As you have seen from my pics I use at serious height - the more people can be encouraged to use it the better - if you don't have one I wonder why your so quick to dismiss it as unnecessary

I've never used one shot remote that you have so I don't post on it as I don't know about it - No offence but I just am really impressed with the Ankalad and have done jobs with confidence I would never have attempted before

 

[Jake]

The very fact that I don't need it, proves its not needed...

Just like the one shot, toy don't need it, but it used a heck of a lot more than an ankalad mate, like 200 times a day,

An ankalad? Might use it once a year..

Totally different kettle of fish bud,

Like I said, I have a ladderm8, so I do own a ladder saftey device,

But the whole point of my comments a suggesting that they aren't necessary for window cleaning.... Yes it may be good for other things, but I hardly ever used my ladderm8, let alone an ankalad!

The one shot is used constantly, so that really doesn't compare...

The one shot is necessary to stop my water flow, an ankalad is necessary almost never when window cleaning...

You can use any water flow device. There all necessary, but you don't need a ladder saftey device, there not nearly as essential for window cleaning... If they were, then all windows cleaners would use them all the time, but they don't, and most don't even know what they are, let alone use them...

I think I've used my ladderm8 once in 8 years, and I've done all manner of jobs in those years, 3 story work, gutters, facias blah blah blah... Not needed....

 

[slippy]

That is a very good one for doing just gutter work and fascias but the one i usebis this oneMade by the same company but only 6 inches deep so keeps you off frames and stabilises the ladder well

http://www.ladderstore.com/compact-ladder-stand-off.html

So the one you recommend isn't for gutters? What's it used for? Do you use it for window cleaning? And you think it will stop the top of my ladder coming off wall with ankalad?

I have this standoff attached- is this also used for different jobs? You are held more than 6 inches away from wall though

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[Dave B]

I use mine to keep me off the sills thus avoiding the 2 marks left where you can't wipe

Plus it can sit above the gutter on the edge of top roof tiles at the very front so it stabilises the ladder

I used to use it with the ankalad all the time as it is easier to get that to touch the wall than the ladder stiles

I'll take a pic later with it on my ladder

 

[slippy]

I use mine to keep me off the sills thus avoiding the 2 marks left where you can't wipePlus it can sit above the gutter on the edge of top roof tiles at the very front so it stabilises the ladder

I used to use it with the ankalad all the time as it is easier to get that to touch the wall than the ladder stiles

I'll take a pic later with it on my ladder

Thanks

Also, do you think the stabilizer I have (one in picture) is as good or should I order the one you recommended, would it be better on walls/sills etc?

 

[slippy]

Mine holds you off wall further than 6 inches.