When comparing poles shouldnt weight and stiffness be the main focus?
It is likely the two most important factors when using a wfp.
Clamps being 3rd
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Yeah and I had one job where the pole had to be held above my head.
Not for me. I’d rather have a heavier pole with solid clamps. My factors would be length because I’m shopping with a specific job in mind, price, clamps, and weight being the last factor.
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It’s from their product specs. Personally I find it interesting that they brand it as a ‘35 footer’ when they are on the metric system over there.
Probably splitting hairs. I do wish they all marketed purely by length of pole, not working height. Would be simpler.
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There are so many to choose from the only thing I can tell you since I haven’t used them all is just a general outline as to my opinion on what the best tool FOR ME would look like.
Mind you, the majority of my work is mid rise commercial/industrial buidings between 4 and 6 stories.
Here is what my tool needs to do:
It needs to be as stiff as possible at its highest reach fully extended.
It needs to be able to collapse sections to get to lower windows with ease and with as little effort as possible
It needs to be as light as possible
It needs to last a long time
That being said, I won’t buy a fully modular pole
(issues with sections sticking together, I will never ever remember to always put PTFE spray after every use and neither will anyone else. When you drop a section, where do you put it? One the ground? In your truck? That takes too much time off the work. Plus, if it ain’t me, SOMEONE will lose or forget a section on a job site.)
I won’t buy a pole that has sections where the clamps are above my freaken head!
(This is a deal breaker for me. It is such a pain in the neck to work with poles like this it makes you want to break the pole and piss on it!)
Clamps need to be solid
No freaken cheap ass carbon fiber goosenecks!
(go with a well known brand with a solid reputation for this item)
(anything over 12" for a carbon fiber goosneck and that thing will snap like a twig every job! Now, I’ve only used ONE brand of gooseneck and it was the cheapest that another online store had (I’m not the one who bought it) and I won’t mention the brand name because its a copy of a well known brand-) so to be fair, when the gooseneck snapped I noticed the inside of the tube had naked fibers jutting out of the crack, I’m fairly certain that the resin wasn’t fully impregnated or else that never would’ve happened)
You will get what you pay for ultimately. The reason why is because the more material used in makeing the pole, the higher the cost. The more steps in the process, the higher the cost.
A 60 foot pole is going to be cheaper to make at 6 foot sections that one with 5’4", with that said a telescopic pole with modular extentions is what my next purchase is going to be again I won’t say what brand I’m going with but those that know me probably already have a good idea.
Make an informed choice and if at all possible, try to work with a pole before you buy.
I almost forked out 1400 bucks to someone trying to sell me on the worst pole I’ve ever used until I helped a friend who had the same pole on a building in downtown. 6 foot sections! Clamps kept coming loose and brush spinning on you! man i hate that pole.
anyhow hope that helps a little.
Call WCR and talk to one of the guys there. Alex is cool and will help you so is Josh (I’m pretty sure thats his name, he does a pretty cool video once in a while). Point is; even tho they sell poles they don’t try to con you. You can trust what they say, (I don’t know Josh personally, but Chris and Alex work with him and the way he expresses his views and experience makes me trust him) and they do have good quality poles to sell too-but they’re window cleaners and value their reputation-they don’t want to be on blast for giving poor advice. Call them and they’ll point you in the right direction even if that direction is to wait until you’re sure your ready to pull the trigger.
With Gardiner, the number on the description and written on each pole is also the length of the pole. i.e. SLX 18 is 18 feet SLX 22 is 22 feet long. The ‘working reach’ comment is only added for practical use. I own them so no worries there.
My measuring tape tells me the one I have here is 2 feet shorter than what it says on the pole.
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teflon tape or PTFE tape - don’t know how you label it there. A couple of turns around the thread will sort you out 
PTFE here in the state of Ingerlund. My pole sections do not rotate however as the clamps on my Gardiner and Unger poles are awesome. I just meant with an oval pole it couldn’t happen.
Spot the downtube
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That sounded a worry so I have just remeasured mine and fully extended the dimensions are spot on as per label. Both Unger and Gardiner.
As stated elsewhere - get advice from your suppliers. The service in your market is as important as the product itself. Check out the shop on this site. I am UK based so can’t recommend for your base. (Except for the excellent forum hosts you are at right now!! )
Yeah… I was replying to the fact that to get rid of the skewed problem/right angled problem - ptfe tape can be used to stop the rotation of tightening to the position you need.
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great tip. Hadn’t thought of that. Thanks!
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I have seen promo stuff for it and am very intrigued as oval seems to have some benefits like a more natural grip and there is no way the sections can spin. Haven’t seen any weight and pricing specs though.
Ah…missd that one. Good point. Thanks.
@karlosdaze
ptfe tape? I’ve been using teflon tape, the stuff you put on pvc pipe threads to keep it from leaking…is it the same stuff?
Teflon is a name brand for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Just like Kleenex is a brand name for tissue paper or Vaseline for petroleum jelly etc…
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So, yes then right?
None, they are all yet to make a pole that weighs less than 12lbs, up to 75ft working height that breaks down into sections less than 6.5 ft to fit in a standard bed pickup.
Viper and Simpole are the closest but Simpole has horrid clamps Viper can’t fit that short. All others too expensive. Simpole supposedly has better clamps now.
Tucker is good alternative but doesn’t quite meet those standards, and new clamps are $25 each yikes. I think the prefect pole would be 75’, 11lbs able to break down to >6.5’, and cost around $2k or less with excellent clamps and rigidity.
A pole under 45ft come a dime a dozen they all work fine. Fiberglass heavy and sloppy compared to carbon fiber but at 40ft not too bid of a deal, most of the time.
Dropping sections (modular?) to lighten load, great clamps, 65-75ft, >12 lbs, breakdown to >6.5’ even in two or three pieces, and $2k or less = perfect pole.
I will buy this if it exists!
Jaran, the Nlite himod is 10.8 pounds at 75’ and it colapses to 6.5’. The clamps are amazing too! The price of under $2k isn’t even close to possible with those specs, this one is $5,242.95
It’s kinda like saying you want a car that can do 0-60 in under 4 seconds, and has 700HP, and costs $25,000…It exist’s, but you have to pay for it.
https://shopwindowcleaningresource.com/unger-nlite-himod-carbon-fiber-water-fed-pole-kit-7572.html
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