drain machines

[green frog]

Thinking about expanding into drain cleaning, any suggestions on which machines and accessories would be the best to get started with ? And by the way, very little experience in the drain cleaning game.

Thanks

[imported_PLUMBER RICK]

FIRST QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE PLUMBING EXPERIENCE? IF SO IS IT IN NEW CONSTRUCTION. REASON I'M ASKING IS THAT DRAIN CLEANING IS MORE OF AN ART, THAN A SCIENCE. KIND OF LIKE FISHING.
IF YOU KNOW PLUMBING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE, THEN YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER INSIGHT TO WHERE THE STOPPAGE IS. HOW THE PIPES ARE RUN, AND WHAT LOCATION YOU WILL BE USING TO SNAKE OUT THE LINE.
AS FAR AS EQUIPTMENT GOES, HERE IS MY LIST OF MACHINES TO GET YOU BY MOST EVERYTHING.
HAND GUNS WITH BOTH 5/16'' AND 3/8'' CABLES.
SMALL MACHINE WITH 3/8'' X 75' AND 1/2'' X 100'
LARGE ROOTER MACHINE WITH 3/4'' X 100'. WITH ADDITIONAL CABLE TO PUSH OUT IF NEEDED. (25' AND 50' SECTION IS GOOD.) ALSO I PERFER A CLOSED DRUM. I CAN TAKE THEM INSIDE WITHOUT THE MESS.(A LITTLE MORE MAINTENECE TO KEEP WELL OILED AND CLEAN).
NOT A BIG FAN OR USER OF SECTIONAL MACHINES.
ONCE YOU DESTROY YOUR CABLES GETTING THE FEEL OF IT, YOU CAN THEN PURCHASE WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR APPLICATION. PERSONALLY I OWN MORE MACHINES AND CAMERAS THAN ANY PERSON COULD POSSIBLY USE. I KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR ME AND WHAT DOESN'T. JETTERS ARE ALSO VERY GOOD FOR GREASE AND MUD. SOMETIMES ROOTS TOO. JETTERS I HAVE 6 OF. MESSY WORK, BUT GOOD RESULTS. GOOD LUCK. LET ME KNOW IF I CAN BE OF SOME HELP TO YOU. RICK.

[plumber]

The poster here who will be able to help you with this question is PLUMBER RICK. He has nearly every piece of equipment RIGID makes for drain cleaning. I currntly avoid such work whenever possible anymore and all of the equipment I am familiar with is mostly obsolete now.

Are you currently in the plumbing field? And if so, will you be doing most of the work yourself or will you have help? There are many different styles of equipment and each have advantages and disadvantages. Weight, ease of use, truck storage vs shop storage, one man operation vs two man operation. Are you wanting to do residential or commercial work? a combination? municipal?

These are all questions that you need to address when deciding on this question.

green frog,
Do yourself and the trade a giant favor. Drain cleaning work is hard, nasty, and usually under appreciated by society. Please do not do this work cheap. It would not be fair to yourself, your employees, or the rest of your peers to to put a downward pressure on the compensation for this service.

[green frog]

Thank you, Plumber Rick, I have been in the new construction field for about twelve years. Any and all information is appreciated.

[imported_PLUMBER RICK]

GREEN FROG, THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S WHERE I GOT STARTED. IS IT NEW CONSTRUCTION PLUMBING? IF SO THEN YOU HAVE A GREAT BACKROUND FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE WORK. STILL NEED THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS. WATCH OUT FOR BACK TO BACK OLD DURHAM FITTINGS. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO GO FROM THE VENT TO CLEAR THIS. TYPICAL APPLICATION IS TUB, SHOWER BACK TO BACK. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO THINK BEFORE ACTING ON THIS ONE. MANY MORE TRICKS TO LEARN, BUT WITH YOUR BACKROUND, YOUR 90%AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE PACK. GOOD LUCK. RICK
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP IN THIS FORUM.

[ToUtahNow]

I'm not sure there is a single machine which will do it all. When I use a drum machine I use a Quadra-plex because it is light and easy to break down.

If I am doing any serious cable cleaning I use a sectional machine. My sectional machines include a K-50, K-60, K-1500 and a K-500. Each machine has it's own purpose.

Mark

[ 06-30-2005, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: ToUtahNow ]

[ToUtahNow]

I noticed this on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RIGID-KOLLMANN-500-DRAIN-CLEANER_W0QQitemZ7535797503QQcategoryZ53287QQssPag eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That is one well used K-500 and cable. It looks like he was using 7/8" cable instead of the 1 1/4". Those bits have been in some roots I'd say.

My K-500 is the most heavy-duty machine I own but I have never used anything smaller than 1 1/4"with it. As a matter of fact I rarely use 7/8" even in my K-1500.

Mark

[westcoastplumber]

FIRST QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE PLUMBING EXPERIENCE? IF SO IS IT IN NEW CONSTRUCTION. REASON I'M ASKING IS THAT DRAIN CLEANING IS MORE OF AN ART, THAN A SCIENCE. KIND OF LIKE FISHING.
IF YOU KNOW PLUMBING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE, THEN YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER INSIGHT TO WHERE THE STOPPAGE IS. HOW THE PIPES ARE RUN, AND WHAT LOCATION YOU WILL BE USING TO SNAKE OUT THE LINE.
AS FAR AS EQUIPTMENT GOES, HERE IS MY LIST OF MACHINES TO GET YOU BY MOST EVERYTHING.
HAND GUNS WITH BOTH 5/16'' AND 3/8'' CABLES.
SMALL MACHINE WITH 3/8'' X 75' AND 1/2'' X 100'
LARGE ROOTER MACHINE WITH 3/4'' X 100'. WITH ADDITIONAL CABLE TO PUSH OUT IF NEEDED. (25' AND 50' SECTION IS GOOD.) ALSO I PERFER A CLOSED DRUM. I CAN TAKE THEM INSIDE WITHOUT THE MESS.(A LITTLE MORE MAINTENECE TO KEEP WELL OILED AND CLEAN).
NOT A BIG FAN OR USER OF SECTIONAL MACHINES.
ONCE YOU DESTROY YOUR CABLES GETTING THE FEEL OF IT, YOU CAN THEN PURCHASE WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR APPLICATION. PERSONALLY I OWN MORE MACHINES AND CAMERAS THAN ANY PERSON COULD POSSIBLY USE. I KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR ME AND WHAT DOESN'T. JETTERS ARE ALSO VERY GOOD FOR GREASE AND MUD. SOMETIMES ROOTS TOO. JETTERS I HAVE 6 OF. MESSY WORK, BUT GOOD RESULTS. GOOD LUCK. LET ME KNOW IF I CAN BE OF SOME HELP TO YOU. RICK.


I thought you don't like secitonals Rick...

You are lucky you have Mark as a friend:)

[MrsSeatDown]

You are pulling up threads from 2 1/2 years ago too:confused:

Mark converted Rick about a 1 1/2 years ago to the sectional machines.

How come my hubby is the only one working today?

[drtyhands]

You are pulling up threads from 2 1/2 years ago too:confused:

Mark converted Rick about a 1 1/2 years ago to the sectional machines.

How come my hubby is the only one working today?

Got to keep the Queen in her comforts?:rolleyes:

[drtyhands]

I thought you don't like secitonals Rick...

You are lucky you have Mark as a friend:)
SO WHAT"S UP WIT-DA HOLE SHOT BEACH:cool:

[mrs. westcoast]

Got to keep the Queen in her comforts?:rolleyes:


Rick isn't working..he is licking his ice-cream with sprinklers on it:)

[MrsSeatDown]

Funny, but nope. He really is working. The phone stared ringing early this morning too. He is hot. . .and tired. . . and cranky.:(

Ice cream is tomorrow!

[westcoastplumber]

You are pulling up threads from 2 1/2 years ago too:confused:

Mark converted Rick about a 1 1/2 years ago to the sectional machines.

How come my hubby is the only one working today?


I worked this am, 2 service calls. Rick dosen't crawl under houses, correct? It's hard work for those of us that do.;):D

I just had my 3rd service call tonight, my wife stopped the sink up with peelings, I had to use my super vee top snake and run 15' to pop the stoppage;) She just dosen't listen when I tell her to use the trash can, luckily we have all ABS pipe in the house or this stoppage thing would be happening more offten.:mad:

[westcoastplumber]

SO WHAT"S UP WIT-DA HOLE SHOT BEACH:cool:


now adam, you didn't introduce rick to the sectionals, so, no hard feelings, rick is lucky to have all us as friends:D:D:D:D

[MrsSeatDown]

Zeljka, you don't know better than throwing stuff down the garbage disposal?

Put an open plastic bag in the sink before you peel stuff then it will automatically go in the bag. Just seal it up and throw it in the trash.

There Robert, I just turned girl talk into useful plumbing knowledge.

BTW, working at home doesn't count as a service call. . . that is just being a good husband.;)

[mrs. westcoast]

Zeljka, you don't know better than throwing stuff down the garbage disposal?

Put an open plastic bag in the sink before you peel stuff then it will automatically go in the bag. Just seal it up and throw it in the trash.

There Robert, I just turned girl talk into useful plumbing knowledge.

BTW, working at home doesn't count as a service call. . . that is just being a good husband.;)


he had 2 calls this morning, mine was the third:D if it goes into the trash it stinks:eek: he always tells me I'm gonna stop it up, and today I did, it is only our second kitchen sink stoppage since we have been married;):p

[MrsSeatDown]

Tell Robert he needs to take the trash out more often. . .it is easier than clearing stoppages!

I haven't had any stoppages since we have been married!

[mrs. westcoast]

Tell Robert he needs to take the trash out more often. . .it is easier than clearing stoppages!

I haven't had any stoppages since we have been married!

Well..hmm..i'm very stubborn..if rob says watch out..don't hit the tree..i will heat the tree..i just don't listen...

I do listen when i want though..like when he says i will get the puppy..i listen a lot:)

[ToUtahNow]

Zeljka,

I have always been pretty good at mediating disputes so maybe I can help you and Robert out. You want him to quit smoking which he is not ready to do yet and you want a puppy. Why don't you guys compromise and tell him you will drop the puppy request if he quits smoking? He then will have no complaints in 6-months when he comes home smelling like cigarettes and finds his new puppy in the house.

Mark

[gear junkie]

You are pulling up threads from 2 1/2 years ago too:confused:

Mark converted Rick about a 1 1/2 years ago to the sectional machines.

How come my hubby is the only one working today?

I was out working Joey. Weird day, did 2 of everything. 2 drain cleaning-both roots, replaced 2 toilets because both tanks were cracked, repaired 2 pipes because the husbands screwed into them while installing shelves.

[MrsSeatDown]

Ok, 2 root stoppages. But what are the chances of the rest? You should buy a lottery ticket!

Maybe today is your lucky day;)

I am sorry you had to work, but I am glad Rick wasn't the only one working on a hot Saturday:)

Joey

[ToUtahNow]

Ok, 2 root stoppages. But what are the chances of the rest? You should buy a lottery ticket!

Maybe today is your lucky day;)

I am sorry you had to work, but I am glad Rick wasn't the only one working on a hot Saturday:)

Joey

Better yet he should buy two Lottery Tickets.

Mark

[JERRYMAC]

:):)
Back to the point; i would go with the k-3800 & the k-7500 mach's
go to products at top of page you can click on drains and then click on k-3800 & k-7500 the k-3800 also comes with easy on and off rollers and handles assp. :)
with a verity of cables and drums on two basic mach's you can take care of any drain stoppages you might run across!!:)

JERRYMAC MASTERPLUMBER & MASTER DRAINMAN:)

[JERRYMAC]

:):)

Hey guys notice i did not use the T word,:D:D

JERRYMAC :):)