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Heads up on those new flexible camera rods
I bought a set of the 20 foot flexible inspection rods last month for about $180. Figured they would be great for tight flues and seeing around bends. First real job with them, the camera head got stuck on a broken tile liner edge and the whole thing just twisted up inside. Couldn't get it out, had to cut the line and leave it. Cost me half a day and a new camera. Has anyone else had a bad experience with these, or found a brand that actually holds up?
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derek781mo ago
Yeah, that's the thing with all these new flexible tools. They sell you on the bendy part but never mention what happens when the bend goes wrong. Seen it with plumbing snakes too, just a twisted mess when they hit a real snag.
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kim.charlie1mo ago
Twisted mess is right, been there.
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Hang on, are we sure we're not blaming the tool for operator error here? I've been using a set of the Depot brand 20 footers for over a year now and have yanked them through some nasty spots without issue. The trick is you can't just shove them in like a regular snake, you gotta feel the resistance and work it back and forth gently. I hit a jagged clay liner once and felt it catch, so I reversed and rotated the head a hair and it slipped right past. Maybe your problem was forcing it when it already told you to stop. These rods aren't magic, they still need some finesse.
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