Recommended traditional starter kit

[Dave B]

Hey folks,
I wrote this list for another member but have since seen a couple of other people asking what they should get - so am copying and pasting into a new thread.

This is just my personal opinion, but it's also what I go out to work with when i'm doing trad stuff. It's all from the same shop too so you can get it all delivered in one go.

Here's a list of stuff I'd reccomend to start off with from wintecs. I like wintecs because they don't charge for p&p and their customer service is good.

This is all kit I own and would reccomend..

Unger bucket- £7.61 - http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=28

Unger Ergotec Handle - £5.78 (this will be your 'main' handle) http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=64

10 inch channel w/ soft rubber (this and the handle above I use on 99.99999% of trad jobs. Smaller channel = easier to work with = faster = better.)- £2.58 http://www.wintecs.c...roducts_id=1041

Unger S squeegee handle - £4.09 - (this is for the 6 inch channel below, I use this handle because its smaller and the 6 inch channell only gets used on openers and such where the 10 doesnt fit. They are the perfect combination.) http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=522

6 inch channel - £1.92 - see above - http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=54

Unger T bar for applicator, 14 inch - £2.75 - http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=96

Ettore porcupine applicator sleeve - £8.61(has bristles that take off dirt and **** really well - saves me using a scraper a lot. I am the envy of all my friends! Really worth getting.) http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=83

Pulex bucketonabelt - £10.64 (you can't really trad without a boab, well - you can, but it's a nightmare.) http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=112

Unger 15cm scraper - £7.85 - Have never needed or wanted a smaller scraper since I bought this and the porcupine glove. http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=923

Jumbo microfibre - cut in 2, so it's easily pocketable. £3.03 - http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=641

(Maybe get 2 or 3 if you think you will need to do a lot of detailing?)

Unger soft rubber - 42 inches - My personal favourite rubber. £2.29 - Nothing worse than starting trad work, finding there is a nick in the rubber, and not having any spare. Worth getting. http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=237

Only other thing I think you'll need is a 'sill cloth - I just use whatever, an old teatowel, £1 microfibres from the pound shop, my favourite is a carlsberg beer rug towel thing from the local pub - it's just for sills so it doesnt really matter much.

Now, other people will prolly prefer different brands and items - but this is pretty much the exact kit I use when I do trad work now, these are the 'essential items' that get taken out on the road while a lot of the other stuff - different size scrapers, channels, different handles, etc etc - all get left at home. This is good quality kit, will last, and will do a good job. It is, in my opinion, a worthy investment and well set you off well for learning and mastering trad cleaning!

Total for all above is £57.15, then you have to add on VAT which at 20% is £11.43 giving you a total price of £68.58.

That might seem a lot but consider it is good kit that will LAST and do a good job and it's really not so bad.

Mine is very similar but I have a ninja boab as the slots for squeegees are a bit wider in case you use a ninja squeegee as the channel is thicker

And I use a 3 section optiloc pole with a unger swiveloc 0° squeegee for those windows above connys etc

Means you can fan with a squeegee on a pole 13 feet away very effectively

 

[Dave B]

I use wcw

Order before 3pm and it's there tomorrow

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

I see mentions of 'Fold away steps and step ladders' DONT BOTHER!

It will be per rung the most expensive piece of kit a traditional window cleaner ever buys and you will never regret it.

Some call it an 'A Frame Ladder' some call it a 'Pointer' Mine is a 6ft aluminum one and cost me £95 back when but honestly it goes places and does things no ordinary step ladder ever could and because of the simple rule of 3 points of contact it is way more stable than any stepladder I have ever seen.

Personally I have fallen off of 2 step ladders (both times in the most Laurel and Hardy of fashions, never had an incident with an A Frame.

If you are on the wall about this one and you see a fellow windy with one ask to have a try, you will be instantly impressed.

 

[Dave B]

I don't use steps

Fundamentally unstable

I use my normal ladders placed on the wall above the out of reach window or use my pole

 

[blueant27]

Would you recommend this set for a newbie starting up ?

http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/unger-ergotec-50th-anniversary-kit.html

 

[Dave B]

It is ok but you need a 10" squeegee also

Easier to learn with a smaller blade too

 

[Austen]

Just in process of starting up (add on to my carpet cleaning business) brought all of the above recommended kit upgraded bucket to one with lid and went for more expensive Ninja bucket on a belt. Ordered my ladders from Ladders 999 with artic feet, ladder pads, ladder clamps for roof rack, just need to get roof bars which i'm getting tomorrow and i'm ready to go, just need customers :Image14:

hi there, which ladder did you go for, and would you recommend it now you've been using it a while. Also, anybody out there with a good suggestion on what ladder for a new starter to get, budget of up to £300 and I intend on only domestic ground floor and first floor windows on the ladder. Thanks.

 

[Smurf]

The post also needs updating now the new moerman liquidator channels are out now.

@Austen there are also plenty of posts on the types of ladder for trad work if you have a read through :thumbsup:

 

[Dave B]

You can get a decent lyte ladder for just over a hundred and use the extra to get a microlite and ankalad to be safe

 

[Austen]

You can get a decent lyte ladder for just over a hundred and use the extra to get a microlite and ankalad to be safe

thanks daveyboy1, two o three section and what height would you plump for, I'm keen to stay safe and not plummet to ground! so thanks for the tips on the add on bits.

 

[Dave B]

Best to ask boarcity what he uses

I know they are lyte ladders but 2 section

I have 3 section 12 rungs but i doubt you will want them nearly 27ft long

 

[Dave B]

3 section are heavier for the same size as a 2 section

 

[Austen]

thanks, i think 27ft will be more than i will need, prob go for a lighter 2 section around 20ft, cost around £100 like you say.

 

[Dave B]

27 ft is what i use as i dona lot of townhouses and gutter cleans etc on them

 

[kev]

Would you recommend this set for a newbie starting up ?
http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/unger-ergotec-50th-anniversary-kit.html

A 14 inch squeegee is the best all round size in my opinion. Wastes too much time doing bigger windows with a 10 inch

 

[kev]

I use a 2 section ladder for all my work. Tops and bottoms, sit it at an angle against the wall for the bottoms or catch on to the side of a window above or a drain pipe to the side. It's hassle free and saves time messing about with different ladders

 

[Dave B]

It depends how you work

I have 6 squeegees on my belt while working

I always use the right size for each window

Will be 7 soon when i get my new 22"

 

[kev]

6!! Lol how do you manage to fit them all on? Yeah i travel light mate. Applicator and 14 inch squeegee in a boab 2 pouches on a belt, a couple of scrims and sill cloth and a bucket and 2 section ladder and that's me all day it's all i need.

 

[Dave B]

View attachment 4418

With this setup is how i carry them

Sorbo double holster is on order

 

[kev]

Nice and compact, got everything you need there davey cant argue with that

 

[Dave B]

Don't know where the 22" will fit

The holster will just about squeeze on that belt