I’ve been going back and forth between a wide body channel (legend) and an Ettore brass for my storefront work the last couple weeks. Sorry, I haven’t used Sörbo tools enough to offer any meaningful insights.
As I see it, 18" is about the tipping point where the advantage of a wide body channel actually starts to mean something. The wide body channel is more rigid, and “chokes up” on the rubber tongue more than a standard channel, so the rubber in turn becomes more rigid and predictable along the channel length and at the extremities. The advantage to this is apparent when cutting in at the frame or gasket. Where a floppy rubber end that is >9" away from your handle (the sole transfer point for pressure) might bounce or ride over the gasket lip, the wide body rubber has less freedom and offers a little more rigidity to keep your corners kissing the glass. The downside to the wide body is that it is far less tolerant of variance in the angle of presentation. Since the channel does push so far forward on the rubber tongue and is so thick on the underside, it will not permit you to “lay down” with a shallower angle as you reach farther away from your body (mostly applies when fanning).
Wide body advantage: rigid and consistent pressure across entire rubber length.
Wide body disadvantage: thick, clunky and less forgiving of angle variance.
Standard channel advantage: flexible and forgiving of angle, pressure and surface variables. Slender and fits easily behind door security bars.
Standard channel disadvantage: shallow topside lip allows rubber corners to lift and compress at the frame/ gasket.
I don’t think using only one or the other will destroy or revolutionize anybody’s business. There is a good bit of overlap, with the respective advantage of each becoming more pronounced as you move farther away from the center of the spectrum. Probably why nobody makes a 6" wide body or a 26" standard channel that I know of.
My personal preference
Under 18" - standard channel
18" - either/or
Over 18" - wide body
I mean you can’t get away with much compared to a standard channel. Standard you can almost lay it flat so the handle is touching the glass, and still be alright. Wide body if you reduce the angle too much when you reach far from your body, the underside of the channel will be scraping the pane.
That’s crazy! I heard Luke & Reanna complaining about the steel hitting the glass and their comments made no sense to me. Now I get it. I have some storefront ladder work where I reach out a tad to far. Perhaps I’d have the same problem they had.
I’ve been thinking about what you just said for weeks. I never put it into words but I knew it was true. Thanks!
i don’t think I will ever truly give the Sorbo wide body channel or the Wagtail style squeegee a go of it because what I’m doing now works for me. I’m in a zone when I’m cleaning windows, kinda like a well oiled machine … why change that?
When I include the Years I spent cleaning things that aren’t windows it’s around 35 but straight window cleaning just over twenty years.
In lu of the Sorbo-Ettore debate I guess I’m settling in on my mostly Ettore set up because that’s what I cut my teeth on in this industry back in the day. Lot of muscle memory working in my favor.
Great input. This forum is so great. So much to learn from so many people that take this profession seriously!
It does depend on the individual. I love trying out and using new tools and working out easier and more energy efficient ways of working. Ettore Brass, added Unger Zero for short and long pole work to speed up the process and leave the ladders on the vehicle. For the hell of it tried Wagtail, really liked it and 3 years of refining and modding followed. Tried the Sorbo/Cobra 18", didn’t particularly get on with it and for my predominantly residential business gave me no real advantage. Now using the Moerman gear, first the Liquidator and now coupled with Excelerator. Longest channels I have are the 18 and 22 Liquidators that I use in fixed handles. Don’t use them often but when I do they work fine. I enjoy playing and refining and mastering new tools, relieves the boredom. My younger brother on the other hand has ONE squeegee. Black Ettore Pro+ handle and a 14" channel…end of story… and he does windows on a regular basis. He’s played with all my tools, being an intuitive dude, uses them fine almost from first pull, but simply isn’t interested in anything else. What he’s got suits him and that’s OK. Hauled out my old Ettore Brass the other day. Works fine, but the brass handle I simply don’t like anymore. For interests sake I tried my 12,14 and 18" Ettore channels in the Contour Pro handle and felt much better. Results were good but not enough to tempt me to go back…even bought some new end caps for my Sorbo 18". New Rubber and got that working fine as well…still don’t like it. So I’ll stick to Moerman because that’s what I’ve pretty much mastered and enjoy using but will continue to play and asses new gear as it becomes available.
I have two setups: Sorbo (different sizes) and Liquidator (different sizes) - all depending on the window.
Me personally doesn’t agree that the wide body channels are best for only commercials and big windows. I use my Sorbo 14 and 12 on residential also and has no problem with it - I can always rely on those tools. Sorbo has become as and old friend to me - trust it in all weathers.
Exactly my feelings.
So I’ll stick to “modified Ettore brass channels” because that’s what I’ve pretty much mastered and enjoy using.
I have gone through a long progression of spending money and trying out new tools as well. Perhaps I only think I’m settling in on my tried and true favorite set up. I might get tempted to try out the next great development in tools but I don’t think so.
That’s funny because that’s exactly what I love most about the original brass squeegee. I used the big clunky plastic Ettore Super System handles for years. They’re kinda like a Sorbo swivel handle. About eight years ago I watched an instructional video by Jim Willingham. He changed my life as a window cleaner. All the pain in my hands went away when I started using his technique. He recommended using the smaller brass handles held in the fingers not in the fist, with a lighter touch.
Yep, taught to hold them that way almost 35 years ago. Still work that way today regardless of the handle. light touch fingers and thumb only, even with the pivoting tools…
For me that’s a deal breaker. I have to reach under awning cross bars on a lot of my storefronts and lay it flat. They get screwed directly to the frames leaving me only a few inches to reach under. I know that I can use the zero degree but I prefer not to spend the time swapping handles.
