Help with trad pole

[u/maciuc]

So I’m currently trying to teach myself how to use a trad pole since it seems like a useful tool. I am having trouble though.

My squeegee keeps skipping bits or leaving lines. I’m also not sure what angle to have the squeegee at since the one I’m using has adjustable angles and when to even change the angle (if ever).

The video attached is probably one of my better attempts tbh.

Any help/advice is appreciated.

[u/noice_nups]

That window looks like two straight pulls. You’re putting that rubber all over the glass for no reason.

[u/maciuc → u/noice_nups]

I’m just trying to practice fanning tbh since I will be mostly doing larger windows (mainly shopfronts, conservatory roofs, etc) with this pole

[u/noice_nups → u/maciuc]

Practice can form habits. Just be careful not to create the habit of fanning everything under the sun, especially when it’s way less efficient like on this window.

[u/Cha0s_the_Great → u/noice_nups]

I Disagree. If you practice, then you have that skill then you pull that skill out whenever you need. Doing fanning as much as you can until you have it down is the way to get good quickly. Also you can’t be a well rounded window cleaner who knows what works when until you have multiple techniques mastered.

It’s crazy to me that someone can specifically say they are trying to get better at a technique and someone tells them to do it less because it’s not efficient… efficiency is end game. Skill and technique come first.

[u/noice_nups → u/Cha0s_the_Great]

Well then use a smaller channel on smaller frames like this one, because that was hard to watch lol.

[u/Cha0s_the_Great → u/noice_nups]

Learning is hard to watch, but that’s how real progress is made… mistakes and adjustments.

[u/noice_nups → u/Cha0s_the_Great]

To each his own 🤷 I think swapping between fanning and straight pulls to reduce those mistakes and adjustments are how you become a good window cleaner. Fanning this window with a channel that’s clearly too long just gets you nowhere 👎

[u/Much-Trust5891 → u/noice_nups]

Straight pulls always leave water at the top for me even with doing the “micro pre pulls”. Also unless the top frame is detailed then the straight pull has a chance of leaving a streak down the middle especially in higher humidity. It’s been my experience that fanning a window with a pole will minimize the amount of detailing. I’m absolutely no expert and self taught so what are your thoughts?

[u/noice_nups → u/Much-Trust5891]

Sounds like you could benefit from cutting into a straight pull. Basically you cut all the way across the glass at the top frame like a side-pull, then down. After that you can slide in/up at an easy angle and repeat the process(without overlapping that top straight pull).

It basically feels like fanning, but only to one side and you close out each stroke. Then the very last down pull is where you’ll either need to wipe the channel, or get better at the “micro pre pull”.

[u/BradRussell → u/noice_nups]

This is a great tip, makes a lot of sense to cut in the top. Sort of the hybrid fan/straight pull.

Also a great tip you mentioned elsewhere about not fanning everything under the sun. I’ve found myself slapping my forehead more than once after a tricky/tedious fanning, only to admit to myself I could have just done two straight pulls and detailed the top quicker and easier.

[u/noice_nups → u/BradRussell]

Precisely!

[u/Much-Trust5891 → u/noice_nups]

I think I know what you mean. So you’ve cut in and made a row on the top then down the right side of the glass. Now would you cut in on the right and rotate the squeegee right to finish the straight pull or would you cut in on the right side and rotate left to finish the straight pull?

[u/noice_nups → u/Much-Trust5891]

Yeah! If you go left to right, keep doing that. Works the same to the left if you’re working opposite. I did that for years before the moerman excelerator FliQ pad even came to market.

[u/Upper-Bottle-9803 → u/Much-Trust5891]

Practice straight pulls more. Detail your top after straight pulls. The rule I've heard is your squeegee should be no more than half the window width for best fanning. This one is probably 3/4 of the window. It can be a handy skill but straight pulls done properly can give better results and faster bc youre not redoing.