Clogged drains, prepare to meet your worst nightmare. Introducing RIDGID’s new FlexShaft machine range which delivers wall-to-wall cleaning anywhere between 32mm-100mm and makes cleaning soft blockages quick and thorough – a major advantage for plumbers and their customers.
SEE MORE: Tradie Tough Tests
FLEXSHAFT MACHINES use a high-speed spinning chain that works through soft blockages with ease. According to RIDGID Victorian State Manager Chris Skrinis, one of the main benefits of the FlexShaft machines was that an inspection camera could be used at the same time, allowing a visual of the cleaning in the pipe.
This is a major benefit which sets FlexShaft machines apart from more traditional drain-cleaning machines. Two of the FlexShaft machines tested, K9-102 & K9-204 are machines most suited to professional plumbers and the smaller K9-12 machine has been designed for a DIY, home handyperson or hotel / facility maintenance person.
“The uniqueness of all these products is that they basically spin the chains which expand to the diameter of the pipe,” he said.
“It cleans all the fat and grease off the pipe, where a traditional drain cleaner will punch through it.
“The FlexShaft machines are highly efficient for wall-to-wall cleaning in that regard.”
For this test we hit up Patrick Reid from VRA Plumbing who was working on a site in Cranbourne, Melbourne.
TEST #1: FLEXSHAFT FOR PROFESSIONALS
Patrick’s well experienced with RIDGID’s plumbing tech, and is a massive fan of the FlexShaft line. He used the K9-204 on a stormwater drain that had become significantly blocked. Patrick ran a camera in along with the cleaner which enabled him to see the kind of blockage he was dealing with.
“It is without a doubt the best product I’ve used for this particular task,” he said.
“We find it works really well within our business and offers a key advantage to what we do.”
More importantly, the chain knocker cleaning style makes for clean work, allowing tradies to get in and get out: no mess, no fuss. There are also plenty of chain accessories and chain-tip variations for tradies to use depending on the type of pipe or job.
This includes carbide-tipped chain knockers, perfect for cleaning hard walled cast iron or galvanized pipes, scale, grease and other soft blockages.
“I love the fact there is an accessory with a carbide tip,” Patrick said.
“The carbide tip is great for the really hard cast-iron drains to get through. We only needed the basic chain knocker to get through the four-inch pipe. “It worked brilliantly, it got the drain flowing and the customer’s happy.”
TEST #2: SMALL AND CONVENIENT
The K9-12 is the smallest of the FlexShaft machines and is perfect for those quick, smaller jobs, and simple enough for a DIY, home handyperson or maintenance staff at a hotel to use. A unique feature of the K9-12 is its built-in clutch which extends cable life and makes for maximum performance.
“If you do hit something you shouldn’t be hitting down the drain, it will clutch out on the unit before you do any damage,” Chris added.
The K9-12s are perfect for those quick, smaller jobs, and simple enough to use for those non-plumbers out there. “It’s obviously great for plumbers, but it’s also handy for maintenance personnel at somewhere like a hotel or an establishment for light blockages,” Chris said.
DOWN TO BUSINESS
The latest FlexShaft tools from RIDGID deliver many benefits like fast set-up, quick clean-up and cordless convenience for plumbers to be biting at the bit. The ability to drive a camera in along with the cleaning chain is an understated advantage that can make a tradie’s work way easier.
“They’re beautiful tools,” Patrick said.
“It’s a great product, I highly recommend them, a RIDGID FlexShaft machine will add great value to your business and save you a lot of time.”