Bought a cheap flexible liner brush and it snapped on the first job

Just had to eat the cost of a full chimney cleaning last week. A customer in Gresham called about a blocked flue, simple job. I grabbed a new flexible liner brush I got online for $40, seemed like a good deal. Third pass up the clay tile, the cable just gave way. Brush head is stuck about 15 feet up. Had to tell the homeowner the bad news, refund the whole $250 fee. Wasted half a day trying to fish it out with no luck. Now I need to call in a specialist with a camera rig, which will cost me. Anyone have a go-to brand for these that won't fail on you?

3 comments

3 Comments

skylercooper2mo ago

Cheap brushes are basically a tax on being in a hurry. I learned that lesson with a snapped handle mid-sweep. My rule now is to only buy from the supply house that services our gear.

johnthompson2mo ago

Remember that time I tried to save a few bucks on a cheap shovel? The blade bent on the first rock, and I had to go buy a real one anyway. Sometimes the quick fix just costs you more time.

christopher_flores461mo ago

Cheap brushes are basically a tax on being in a hurry" - yeah @skylercooper nailed it, I think that's my tax paid for the year right there. My go-to now is the brush kit from Black Diamond, it's pricey at around $150 but the cable has never let me down on even the nastiest clay liners. At least now I can tell myself that $40 brush saved me from buying a real one later, even if it cost me $250 in refunds and a headache.