Tried one of those new flexible carbon fiber rods yesterday

Figured it would be a game changer for tight bends, but the dang thing snapped on the third flue. Guess the old steel wire and rags method is still the way to go around here, anyone else had bad luck with those?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_cameron7d ago

Different experience here. That carbon rod held up through a whole season of heavy use on my end. Hit a few tight 90 degree turns and it flexed right through without kinking. Might be a bad batch you got or maybe the flue had some hidden gunk that grabbed it. Those things hate any kind of sharp edge or rough surface. I still keep a steel wire around for real nasty blockages, but the carbon stuff saves me time on the easier ones.

kelly3857d agoMost Upvoted

Respectfully disagree, mine snapped on the third use with no real obstruction.

avery_lopez7d ago

My buddy had the SAME luck with one of those carbon rods, first season it was AMAZING. Then second year it just started spiderwebbing on him out of nowhere, no sharp turns or anything. We figured it was maybe some moisture got trapped inside from sitting in a damp shed over the winter, made the material weak. He switched back to steel for the heavy stuff but keeps a fiberglass one for the quick pokes now. Funny how these tools either last forever or betray you on the third job, no in between.