Clean poles

[OUvaulterUSAF]

I’m sure this topic has been addressed but what do you use to clean old tape adhesive off your poles?

[lonestar]

Acetone - the stuff works wonders. I use it on a steel wool (SOS or Brillo) pad to scrub non-taped/bare fiberglass, and use it on a soft dish sponge or a rag over the colored pole tape. Be careful about not using too much on the tape though, or it can and will fade it or eat through it.

For the really heavy gunk or tape, I use a razor-blade paint scraper to scrape it off. Be careful not to angle it in too steep though, or you can dig the pole up. Very shallow angle and not too much pressure and it doesn't hurt the pole but takes the gunk off well.

I also use a highly concentrated degreaser like Simple Green on a dish sponge or rag on the entire pole when I'm finished with the acetone to take the residue off.

[Skyin' Brian]

i just vault on dirty poles, or tape over the residue(definately not tape over old tape though, but we all know that is a bad idea)

[souleman]

I'm sure things have changed quite a bit but I used to like my pole "sticky". By the end of the season I had huge calluses on my hands from all of the Firm Grip (do they even make that stuff any more?) and Tuff Skin (same question) that I'd spray on the pole and my hands to help me hold on. Actually, about mid season I'd just bring a can of lighter fluid and work it into the tape or goo on the pole and man would that make it sticky. As I said, things have probably changed alot but I wanted my hand grip area sticky on the pole. Later........Mike.