Hi Everyone,
   I have a feeling that the soap debate in my ealier post has been flogged to death so we'll move on.
How about detailing with a pole?  Yes, it's mainly that troublesome top-edge I know.
Does anyone use the Unger Clamp? I was under the impression that you had to screw it onto the pole which takes too long. Can you just whack it on like you do with the Visa Versa or backflip?
Of course there is the old option of wrapping your scrim around pole each time.
Personally, I use an old Wagtail handle with blade removed of course, and a pre-wrapped micro-fibre or similar cloth on the end held on with elastic band.
It's simple it's fast and it lives, ready for action in a leather tool holder which I got at No Frills for a couple of quid. There's a whole range of them there for hammers etc but some of them suit our purposes too.
Chris

There is a painters tool that they use for painting corners with a pole, it looks kind of like a plasterers corner trowel
It just slips on to the top of the pole and drape yor scrim,chamois or microfibre over it

"Internal corner trowel".
I wouldn't go that route - if your scrim bares metal it will scratch the window. The Unger clamp will do everything these can do.

karl, the painters tool only looks like a trowel its made of plastic with a soft pad on each side

You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

I see what you mean, I have the metal one for when plastering corners. Not seen this one for painters! Can't see how it wouldn't smudge though, having full surface contact. I only use a forefinger, this can be mimicked in the Unger clamp.

hard graft innit!! certainly know you've done a days work at the end!

sounds like a good idea Mark. I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and the elastic in the corner sounds interesting.  I use a plastic handle with a pointed end which slaps directly onto my pole. The cloth is fixed with elastic bands. currently im working on a system which stays on the pole at the same time as my wagtail but it looks impossible.

 

I use the unger clamp and it is brilliant. I sometimes also use my 4" unger scraper with the safety cover on with a micro fibre cloth draped over the top, great to get right into corners.

like I said before, I use an old wagtail handle which is pointed at the end. It's pre-wrapped with cloth and securedwith elastic band. I pole window then bring it down, whip off wagtail and whack on detailing tool then replace in it's own holster. It saves time over the scrim over the cone and is more accurate. I have to agree with the earlier post on here that you can mess it up by detailing. Most of the time I just detail the top edge, thats generally the hardest to get right.

Yep, works a treat. Had a good couple of days window cleaning. After a few adjustments on my combined wagtail/detailing tool, it realy does work in most situations. Those it does't I just don't detail but these aren't that often. Saves so much time. I'm getting so good at using the pole with good results that I'm getting more confident. It's been a good couple of days to test this as the sun has been very low and shining constantly. Shows up everything.

Hi again Mark,
I'm getting realy frustrated with not being able to post pictures. Need a new digital camera for a start.
Anyway. When I started this thread, I got to thinking about how great it would be to be able to pole a window then detail it without bringing it down again.
To somhow fix the detailing tool to the Wagtail.
You see, its only possible to do this with a watail since the vice-versa etc has blade on one side and the mop on the other, so in a situation like you posted in shop very narrow etc, you have to 1 set angle to apply solutiion 2 lower pole, reset tool to get correct angle to blade off 3 lower pole remove tool place detailing device onto pole to detail.
It's a lot of faffing about. With the Wagtail all you do is flick the wet applicator pad into position, wash window, flick pad out of way and blade all the time using the same pole angle. It's realy fast but now I could do it even faster because of detailing mod. Though it won't work in some extreme situations, it does most of the time. some of the speeds Iv'e been able to achieve amazed even me.
If youv'e ever seen a watail (you can view it on thier website) the rear of the handle/grip is never in use so I figured that if I somhow bolted a sort of detailing tool to this redundant side of grip then I could detail without lowering pole until moving on or re-wrapping the cloth attached to it by elastic band. You can't use the tip too often because it gets wet of course,so you quickly re-wrap. Anyway, all I used to start with was a piece of metal about 4 of 5 inches long and about half an inch wide with a bend at one end. It's attached to grip with a jubilee clip. Iv'e been testing this out for over a week now and in the main it realy does work. There are some situations it won't, but for these I either don't detail on that particular window or use the old method but for 80% of the time, it works a treat.
Had a great day today. Got so good with pole that I have  hardly used my ladders at all for over a week.
CHRIS

Further mod to Watail.
Have sprung-loaded the blade so it don't slop about but will still swivel easy.
Used two automotive ties.
Drill two small holes at each end of blade.
Attach ties.
loop ties back to handle and secure with the jubilee clips.
Ties act as a spring and keep blade always level so it dont foul roof line or window recess as much.
Makes it eaier and faster to use too, especially when using fixed detailing tool.
I'm starting to get used to it now and it realy works in most situations. Only detail top edge normally though.
Will try to post pics soon.
Chris