PDA

View Full Version : Drain Cable Ratings


DUNBAR
06-28-2008, 11:02 AM
Not trying to hijack all-clear's thread but what I'm after is a thread that builds massive search engine data for the mfg, the quality, down to the end user that uses the product every day.


This way the product makers are held accountable for the product they put out there. Seems like there's a great deal of companies in the drain cable biz and they are putting out worthless product. Now, they have to answer to that sentiment by seeing what a pool of users of their product put to words.

I'm sure, like what is a given, a weak retort usually follows user complaints and the best thing this thread will accomplish is future decline of sales.

So, if you have a good product, it will show. If you have junk cables that constantly don't last, you'll be found quickly on this site and you'll have plenty to worry about as far as public relations goes.


As soon as I find as proof of receipt of the cables I recently bought, I'm posting the name and the piss-poor quality. I consider myself the guilty party of going after cheaper cables, but there's something to be said when you do pay good money and the product fails to live to expectation.


Consider the makers of cables as this is your learning tool to figure out what you need to do to provide your customers with a better product, resolve issues.


I'll start off with a comment involving spartan cables.


Years ago, when quality was at the top, I could buy a 1/4" open hook cable and the cable was so stiff that it was nearly impossible to load it in my 81.

Now, even the spartan cables are flimsy, don't have the same stiffness that I feel is important for torque delivering to the end of the cable.

What I saw at the pumper show.......I was not impressed as it looked like a galvanized coating, too pretty as I don't care about looks, care about longevity more than anything.

They made a bland statement to me that it's a good product, cheaper, but you have to constantly oil/treat them to keep them from rusting.


More than the current ones I own? That's ridiculous. Put a product out there like you had 15-20 years ago so we have a choice of having quality equipment.


I need to know who on this site is running these cables and if they are more problematic with the new concept. It just did NOT look like an image of quality.


Thought I'd fire a crack at the product I've come to know and love in regards to drain cleaning....and that they need to be accountable for their latest direction if it proves to diminish longevity of use.

I called spartan on this years ago when I got a new set of cables expressing dissatisfaction.

"You're not the only one complaining about it." is what I was told.

Service Guy
06-28-2008, 12:43 PM
FO r my small drum machines I use ridigid innercore cables. Not the best in the world, but not bad either. I would be open to try something else.
for my K-60 I also use Ridgid's hollow cables and I like them a lot. Especially the choice and quality of cutting heads are top-notch.
At my old shop we used ridgid innercore cables, but they snapped way too much, didn't like them. Some guys there said they preferred spartan cables for big drum machines, as they had way less breakage problems.
To be honest though, I think it was the machines we were using and user-error that was breaking the cables and not so much the cables themselves that were the problem. We were using the K-6200 which is gear-driven and this was before the torque-limiter was perfected. With a belt-driven mahcines you can feel the drum slow down and wind when the torque builds. With the gear-driven K-6200 the troque would build without hardly feeling it in the machine....so I can't really blame the cables breaking solely on the cables.

I heard Duracables are awesome, but haven't tried them.

JERRYMAC
06-28-2008, 02:43 PM
http://www.trojantoolmfg.com/

MAKES A VERY GOOD QUALITY CABLES CALLED BLUE MAX WITH ANY KIND OF FITTINGS ON ENDS THAT YOU NEED
THEIR STANDARD FITTINGS ARE TE SAME AS SPARTAN'S :D

AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE'S MAKING GOOD STAINLESS STEEL CABLES,

THAT LAST EVEN THOUGH DRAIN ACID/CHEMICALS :D

stxrus
06-28-2008, 05:22 PM
unless i'm missing something how about 'all of the above"

steve

Drain Medic
06-28-2008, 07:31 PM
I use Spartan cables, leaders, and blades on all machines. Tried Trojans leaders, and they broke at the welds. Im interested in the aircraft cable Rick is talking about.

plumberscrack
06-28-2008, 07:44 PM
I like the Spartan cable too. I prefer a stiff one but most of the guys I work with like a more flexible cable. I'd rather fight it to go around a 90 than have it twist around on my wrist. The seem to have gotten weaker the past few years and they look like hell if you don't use them at least once a week. If you overload the drum they are worthless after a few jobs.

Where do you all buy your cables?

NYSEWERMAN
06-30-2008, 11:13 PM
I only use spartan cables but have noticed they don't stay as strong for as long as they used to. My old man has been running spartan for just under 40 years and says he notices a big difference in how long they last and how stiff they are. they're still all we use though.

HouseOfAtlas
07-02-2008, 08:24 AM
Im interested in the aircraft cable Rick is talking about.

Same here! Even though I don't own a drum machine, I would buy one and use this cable solely on what Rick said about them.

Why doesn't Ridgid bring this cable back? I am guessing it would be one of the best cables out there and it would sell easily.

Jay Mpls
07-06-2008, 10:37 PM
I have been real happy with Mytana cables
http://www.mytana.com/

All Clear Sewer
07-07-2008, 12:16 PM
Same here! Even though I don't own a drum machine, I would buy one and use this cable solely on what Rick said about them.

Why doesn't Ridgid bring this cable back? I am guessing it would be one of the best cables out there and it would sell easily.
Dura Cable has the aircraft cable Rick is talking about. Try it out and let us know what you think ;)
Dont buy the I/C, it`s crap :D

DUNBAR
07-07-2008, 01:14 PM
I just used my 300 at a morgue, dead bodies everywhere.

Didn't phase me a bit, I could of ate lunch right in the same room with the sweet smell of formaldehyde sp?


Less than 12' to a holding tank, piping was super shallow in the ground.



Problem is....I haven't used my large machine in a couple months and the cable is in bad shape, rusted and the powerfeed was fighting to pull it out of the drum.

I'm curious to know....if those cables are going to spring back or not? It's the first time I've NOT used my machine for that period of time and I'm afraid I'll be in trouble with cables in that condition.


Never touched the cable once, just the powerfeed handle, that's it.

All Clear Sewer
07-07-2008, 03:31 PM
This is the slow time of the year for me and some weekends I don't get called out so Friday I Wd-40 the hell out of the cable. Some time`s forget and I just dump it in the drum and swish it around a little and seem`s to help.
Most of the time I never oil it as it`s never dry but during the slow times I try to keep it oiled up.

saysflushable
07-07-2008, 05:52 PM
I just used my 300 at a morgue, dead bodies everywhere.

Didn't phase me a bit, I could of ate lunch right in the same room with the sweet smell of formaldehyde sp?


Less than 12' to a holding tank, piping was super shallow in the ground.



Problem is....I haven't used my large machine in a couple months and the cable is in bad shape, rusted and the powerfeed was fighting to pull it out of the drum.

I'm curious to know....if those cables are going to spring back or not? It's the first time I've NOT used my machine for that period of time and I'm afraid I'll be in trouble with cables in that condition.


Never touched the cable once, just the powerfeed handle, that's it.
I run 2 drums 1 drum gets used all the time the other doesn't. I always think about oiling it but I don't. I never have a problem with it. MAN IF SNAP A CABLE after saying that I'm gonna be PI$$ED!!!

On a different note. I won't go so far as to recommend Mytana 11/16 hollow core but I have great luck with Mytana 3/8 for 1.5 and 2 lines. Seems to last a long time. I run 100' in a bigger drum then most guys use. Works good for me.

plumbers on demand
07-09-2008, 08:54 PM
Love the .55 mag cable that spartan has .they didn't say any thing about that at the show to me and i haven't used any thing on it except cableing out chinese resturant drain lines once a month.and the silver makes my machine look nice and clean.