[HaiNhi]

Just for general information I emailed "Plumbers Tools" and asked how to lubricate my new flex shaft since they ship it dry. They said they use Machine oil because it remains stable in high heat. He also stated some people use graphite grease. He also stated I could use compressor oil or paraffin oil.

For my homemade flex shaft I just used marine grade grease. I will probably use compressor oil since I have a couple of quarts already.

Hope this info is helpful.

While searching for flex shaft options I saw you mentioned your home made. How is it holding up? Can you pls share the details? Thanks

 

[TerryTotoSucks]

Sectional Drain Cleaning Cables Compatible with Ridgid® Cables

Catalog No.	Description
7.5R-7	5/8" x 7-1/2 ft. Close-Wound
7.5R-8	5/8" x 7-1/2 ft. Open-Wound
5R-10	7/8" x 5 ft. Open-Wound

This cable right here. Is it innercore ? The 5/8 close wound

 

[The cable guy]

This cable right here. Is it innercore ? The 5/8 close wound

It's a tighter wound hollow core cable. I think rothenberger has a 5/8 cable with a plastic core but it's probably pretty expensive. Maybe give Allen j Coleman a call

 

[TerryTotoSucks]

I might just go with the tighter wound. What you think ?

Significant roots are not a big problem under slabs here. Almost every stoppage is toilet paper from low flow toilets and or combined with cast iron. Single occupant usually, old lady or kids using tons of thick paper. A pipe full of dried paper can be a problem……

 

[The cable guy]

I might just go with the tighter wound. What you think ?

Significant roots are not a big problem under slabs here. Almost every stoppage is toilet paper from low flow toilets and or combined with cast iron. Single occupant usually, old lady or kids using tons of thick paper. A pipe full of dried paper can be a problem……

I've run into smaller roots with the sdt cable and was fine same with thick paper and waste under a home. The hollow core 5/8 does ok with those but against larger roots or phucked up fittings you'll need something beefier. The thing about tight wound cable is it doesn't feed well on a drill. On what to do or not to do with the 5/8 hollow core my best advice would be not to attempt anything with it you wouldn't attempt with a 3/8 inner core drum cable(besides toilets, you can run a 5/8 sectional through a toilet without breaking it. It's what I do on wall hung stools)

 

[rooterboy]

While searching for flex shaft options I saw you mentioned your home made. How is it holding up? Can you pls share the details? Thanks

I use general wire and spring 3/8" inner core cable, inside 1/2" pex b tubing it flexible enough and stiff enough for a sewer and just use the carbide or plane flex shaft cutters for 3/8" or the millimeter size 8mm I think. What I found that works really well is the hd 10" lengths of 5/8" ridgid sectional cable with t slot carbide cutters that are sized for the pipe. ridgid 51317 5/8" x 10 heavy wind sectionals.

 

[stevolandis]

Complete Kit For Cleaning Sewers and Drains

(https://plumber-tools.co.uk/products/Descale-&-Clean-Kit-Cast-Iron-Pipes-75mm-3-to-100mm-4-p407525501) * FEATURED PRODUCT:* *Descale & Clean Kit:* Cast Iron Pipes Descale pipes or remove stubborn blockages LIGHTWEIGHT | HEAT RESISTANT | CHEMICAL RESISTANT | VIEW DETAILS...

plumber-tools.com

Decided to get two flex shafts from Plumber-tools they are out of Finland (pocote resini?)
I got the 10 meter with 8mm flex shaft 1 1/2" to 2" PVC kit
20 meter with 10 mm flex shaft 3" to 4" PVC descaling kit

How are those flex shafts holding up from plumber-tools? What size lines and blockages are you going through?
I've been getting replacement parts from plumber-tools for our flex shaft machines but haven't done any stand alone cables with the drill yet.
I'm still reading other experiences with shaft only + drill before I bring up the idea at a shop meeting.

Come to think of it, I have a 5/16 x30' extension already, just need to adapt to a drill to try it out.

 

[rooterboy]

I got an adaptor for the ridgid K50 sectional cable and I have cleared a couple of kitchen drains with a battery drill and cable only. Only thig is it is better as a two man job the cable wants to kink outside of the drain so you need to not have too much slack one person runs the drill the other person feeds the cable in. I am using heavy duty 5/8" cable with no sleeve on these two jobs.
Only good thing was not stringing out a cable and hauling the K50 and guide hose up on the roof to go down the drain.

I have also used the same system with a t-slot carbide head to do some light descaling and grease removal form drains.

I used a 3/8" General cable 75' sleeved in 1/2" pex to try and clean a few main line stoppages. One was more than 75' so no luck that time.

 

[stevolandis]

I got an adaptor for the ridgid K50 sectional cable and I have cleared a couple of kitchen drains with a battery drill and cable only. Only thig is it is better as a two man job the cable wants to kink outside of the drain so you need to not have too much slack one person runs the drill the other person feeds the cable in. I am using heavy duty 5/8" cable with no sleeve on these two jobs.
Only good thing was not stringing out a cable and hauling the K50 and guide hose up on the roof to go down the drain.

I have also used the same system with a t-slot carbide head to do some light descaling and grease removal form drains.

I used a 3/8" General cable 75' sleeved in 1/2" pex to try and clean a few main line stoppages. One was more than 75' so no luck that time.

Did you end up getting flex shafts to use on a drill from plumber-tools?

Anybody ever connect two flex shafts together made from drum cable and pex?

These are two things I want to sort out in the future.
Got an old dewalt angle drill that spins 1500 rpm sitting on the shelf and plenty of drum cable to play with. I'm thinking for outside cleanouts and open pipe in the ditch. Just thinking through a setup that gets me over 100' like the Picote does.

And the other thing, once I test it out, we might put a smaller flexshaft bare cable/drill setup on the service trucks. Quick in and out kitchen and laundry lines.