GreenGlides Glide Old Style Westpak 12 Inch 4 Jet (Private Labelled Sapphire) Slotted (PRE 2015)
This Glide fits all 12″ low profile 4 jet Westpak (and Sapphire private labelled versions) wands, both steel and titanium made before mid-2015. The difference is that the lips are much thicker on these older wands, see photos Measure the metal lips before ordering this Glide to determine if you need the older “external” fit or the newer “internal fit” option,
Important — pre mid-2015 wands only
This glide fits 12 inch low-profile 4-jet Westpak wands, and the Sapphire private-labelled versions of the same wand, made before mid-2015. Westpak changed the head dimensions at that point.
If your wand is later than mid-2015, or you are not certain of its age, measure the head and send us the figures. Steel and titanium versions of the same wand take the same glide; the year is what matters.
What a glide actually changes
A bare wand head drags. The operator pushes harder, the head lifts at the front, and the vacuum seal breaks intermittently across the stroke. A glide lifts the head onto a low-friction face so it slides instead of dragging, and holds a consistent gap so the airflow into the slot is even along its length.
Three things follow: the wand pushes far more easily, which matters over a full day; the carpet comes up drier, because the airflow is doing what it was designed to do; and the operator can work at a consistent speed rather than fighting the tool.
Slotted, holed or hybrid?
The face pattern is the real decision, and it is a trade between agitation and airflow.
- Slotted — maximum agitation and debris removal. The slots let the pile lift into the opening as the head passes, which is what pulls grit and fibre out of the base. Pushes easily and dries slightly faster than a bare wand.
- Holed — maximum drying and the easiest push of the three. Less agitation, because the pile is not being worked into an opening the same way.
- Hybrid — a compromise, for operators who want some of both.
If you clean heavily soiled residential and commercial carpet, slotted. If you are working on lightly soiled maintenance cleaning where drying time is the selling point, holed.
Getting the fit right
Glides are dimension-specific. The wand width, the jet count, the bend and — critically — whether the glide fits inside or outside the head all vary between manufacturers, and often between production runs of the same wand. Manufacturers change wand heads without changing the model name.
Measure the head before ordering, and if a listing mentions a date or a version, check yours against it.
Frequently asked questions
Will this glide fit my wand?
This suits pre mid-2015 Westpak 12 inch four jet heads and the Sapphire private label equivalents. Later heads changed, so check the age of your wand before ordering. Glide fitment is not standardised between manufacturers, so the nominal wand size on its own is never enough to go on.
Is a glide safe on wool and delicate carpet?
A glide is gentler than a bare head, because it slides rather than dragging the metal edge across the pile. On wool, loop pile and Berber the usual caution is speed and moisture rather than the glide itself. If you are working on a delicate or high value floor, slow the stroke down rather than leaning harder on the tool.
How long does a glide last?
It depends entirely on the floors you work. Grit is what wears the face, so commercial entrance carpet takes a glide down far faster than domestic lounge rooms. Check the face for grooving and check that it still sits flat — a glide that has worn unevenly loses the consistent gap that made it worth fitting.
Do I need to take it off for stairs or upholstery?
No — you would change tools rather than remove the glide. Glides are fitted to a floor wand and stay there. Stair and upholstery work is done with the appropriate hand tool.
Can I fit it myself?
Yes, in most cases it is a workshop job of a few minutes. Internal fit glides that require the OEM lips to be removed are the exception worth pausing over, because the modification cannot be undone. If you are unsure, send us a photograph of your head and we will talk you through it before you start tapping anything off.
Glide fitment depends on the exact wand, the year it was made and whether the head is an internal or external fit. Measure your wand head or send us a photograph with a tape across it and we will confirm the right glide before you order — a glide that nearly fits does not fit.
