Drain Rods

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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Time to get some more Rods. my lovely set of 6ft ones has diminished after I lent them out :-(

Whats a good all round set? Set of big ones and a set of baileys? I normally use a plunger on a 1m to get in then follow up with the 6ft locking ones.

Got my jetter hose to go on the bowser pressure washer working now so I am keen to up my drain game.
 
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DaveDCB

Well-known member
I didn’t know folk purchased draining rods… i had my grandads draining rods and found aload stuck in a old drain 😂
I need another wheel attachment actually, handy things but they wear out fast!
 
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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
I didn’t know folk purchased draining rods… i had my grandads draining rods and found aload stuck in a old drain 😂
I need another wheel attachment actually, handy things but they wear out fast!
I’ve got a couple of my grandads bamboo ones ! And remains of my first set from 20 years ago, and half a set of really nice ones, but not enough.
 
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charlie2

Well-known member
i got gifted a set of 6ft fibreglass rods with brass threaded connectors with a locking spring loaded lever i have a feeling they were from bt best set i have ever used but a bit stiff lost count of the number of times cane rods have let me down. lots of people now just seem to use a flexy reel type thing or just call in a jetting firm.
 
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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
i got gifted a set of 6ft fibreglass rods with brass threaded connectors with a locking spring loaded lever i have a feeling they were from bt best set i have ever used but a bit stiff lost count of the number of times cane rods have let me down. lots of people now just seem to use a flexy reel type thing or just call in a jetting firm.
That sounds very much like my excellent set that someone has broken some of.


Some on ebay for £5 each. I might ask to see what all of them would be.
 
Lancs Lad

Lancs Lad

Well-known member
Got a Bailey screw together set in the van, quality doesn’t seem that great on the connectors but they’ve lasted 10years of occasional use.
I've got two sets of Bailey blues and recently bought a set of rothenburger reds but don't think any better quality.
Incidentally if you leave 2 sets screwed together under a hedge they are now a pita to separate 🤬
 
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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
i got gifted a set of 6ft fibreglass rods with brass threaded connectors with a locking spring loaded lever i have a feeling they were from bt best set i have ever used but a bit stiff lost count of the number of times cane rods have let me down. lots of people now just seem to use a flexy reel type thing or just call in a jetting firm.
1728318305307.png
 
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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
I prefer my cobra but it's only a 6mm.. the drain lad I use just seems to use a big cobra reel...
How do you (how does HE) use that for clearing a blocked drain? I tend to find a 4" rubber disc the best for getting things moving. Or are you meaning to trace drains and pull draw tapes? My interpretation of a cobra reel is something that I use to hook the genny up to for tracing purposes? I see they come with and without a core... so the thicker ones are just a one long flexible drain rod with a threaded end for attachments?
 
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Furniss

Furniss

Well-known member
I have the bailey blues bought from screwfix I think - find them a bit stiff and use them with a sonde to trace runs , a cobra might be better but I cant be arsed at this stage to buy one :)
 
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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
I have the bailey blues bought from screwfix I think - find them a bit stiff and use them with a sonde to trace runs , a cobra might be better but I cant be arsed at this stage to buy one :)
1728318954466.png

I have something like this for tracing. Only 6mm though and it was expensive so not a rodding tool
 
Lancs Lad

Lancs Lad

Well-known member
How do you (how does HE) use that for clearing a blocked drain? I tend to find a 4" rubber disc the best for getting things moving. Or are you meaning to trace drains and pull draw tapes? My interpretation of a cobra reel is something that I use to hook the genny up to for tracing purposes? I see they come with and without a core... so the thicker ones are just a one long flexible drain rod with a threaded end for attachments?
All depends on the blockage but a full fat cobra is pretty tough and with a decent end on it you can clear stuff...but yes for serious stuff it's out with the jetter.
He's got the full works with cutters etc awesome setup.
Hope he doesn't mind me posting a pic. Will delete later perhaps.
Edit. Pic removed

But tbf I've seen the farming lads using them as well...with the really narrow old tiles round here I think they struggle with normal rods.
But does mean jetter doesn't half move down . Tight fit like rat up the proverbial
 
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doobin

doobin

Well-known member
I have the bailey blues bought from screwfix I think - find them a bit stiff and use them with a sonde to trace runs , a cobra might be better but I cant be arsed at this stage to buy one :)
same here
 
Left hooker

Left hooker

Well-known member
Just go trago and get a cheep set from there that's what I did 🤣
Handy to loosen up the crud in pipes on new builds before connecting up from under the base
 
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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Just go trago and get a cheep set from there that's what I did 🤣
Handy to loosen up the crud in pipes on new builds before connecting up from under the base
Most just connect and leave! We had to go and clear out a lovely new build f**k up the other day where shite was coming up through the wetroom floor on a new holiday build. At some point someone had shoved a rubble sack down the 4", presumably to stop it stinking... which we never saw when installing the WC. Pretty mucky situation.
 
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Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
same here
bit of research later.... My rods are Bailey BT duct rods and are 2m x 25mm with ferrett couplings. About £18+vat each They fit straight onto all the standard black rods I have which have a smaller diameter. Bailey Blue rods come in 19mm and 25mm options in 1m lengths from screwfix. Guess if you find them stiff you may have the thicker ones?
I like the ferrett locking mechanism on the yellow BT rods, but assume it wouldn't be man enough to take a winder handle for rotating attachments and would need the lockfast blue bailey rods?
 
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