Can anyone recommend a good 10m auger/snake

[vapd]

Hello! I bought a 10m auger, it detached from inside the drum on the second use and there is no way I can reattach it. It was less than £16 inc delivery. AI has recommended ones that cost North of £140 but this is just for me and my problematic kitchen drain. Hopefully I will not need it very often.

The one that broke: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/407169280450

And I need something that will do the same job as that. For much less than £140! That won't break so quickly!

I live in a top floor flat. The joists under the floorboards are 200mm deep. I have a rodding eye underneath the sink.
The kitchen sink drain pipe goes towards the back of the building. 4m from the rodding eye it turns 90 degrees (top of the stairs in split level flat) and after another ~0.5m it turns another 90 degrees and then travels another 4m. At the end of the second 4m stretch it drops vertically in sealed boxing in the corner of a bathroom to under the bathroom floor. That total of about 8.5m only has a drop of 200mm. I have not pulled up the bathroom floorboards.

I won't go into any more detail. Suffice to say that I believe that to get round the two 90 degree bends I need an auger rather than a simple snake. I have already received advice on a long term solution. At the moment I just need something I can get to the top of the vertical drop from the rodding eye. I have seen augers/snakes that do not have a drum and are cranked in a different way. Are they effective? Anything that will last a few uses!

 

[Alec_t]

it detached from inside the drum on the second use and there is no way I can reattach it.

Just fit the broken end in the chuck of a drill or brace.

 

[vapd]

Just fit the broken end in the chuck of a drill or brace.

That is going to be really problematic getting it round those 90 degree bends I believe. As would using any type without a drum. From what I've read. I have a 5m snake with a basic handle on it, not a crank handle. Getting it round the first bend is really difficult and trying to crank it just twists/knots the cable in the pipe. So I think I need a drum type. I just don't want to pay ~£150 for one. And I don't want to pay £16 for one that will break almost as soon as it goes down the pipe.

 

[HERTS P&D]

I've got one of these and used it today to unblock a waste pipe that 2 other plumbers couldn't reach.

RIDGID K-45AF-5 Sink Machine with accessories (230V) | 63698

Lightweight and easy to use small line cleaning with accessories from RIDGID. Advanced two-way AUTOFEED - simple lever push to advance and retrieve the cable.

ridgidtoolshop.co.uk

Call around and get some quotes, sometimes you need a pro tool.

Andy

 

[vapd]

Thanks Andy. But that is more than I am going to spend.

Don't worry folks. I'll have to stick with the cheap Chinese crap and hope the next one lasts more than two uses.

 

[ree]

OP,
Are you saying that this is the waste pipe for the kit sink only - or does it tie in with the bathroom waste(s)?
Presumably you dont allow food or oils down the waste?
Do you have a sink Basket waste to collect solids.
What about garbage disposal?

You could always hire a Ridgid K45 (as mentioned above)? Ridgid drain cleaning tools are very reliable. They also have a Drain Cleaning Forum.

 

[vapd]

Obviously I am very careful what goes down the drain but it is impossible to prevent anything from going down the drain.

The drain that is the problem is a 32mm pipe, after the kitchen sink it is joined in a T by the washing machine waste pipe, also 32mm. After it gets to the end of the vertical drop, which is under the bathroom floor, I have no idea where it goes. The building is about 130 years old, tall building, I'm on the top floor. There are no drains visible on the outside of the building I can see all around my side of the building from above and below. I presume the kitchen drain joins the bathroom sink and bath under the floor in the bathroom but I can't be sure. There are large bellies in both 4m stretches. With the length of the pipes, the 200mm depth and all the joists it is a pain. Especially with only 32mm pipes. I will, of course, replace the pipework. For the minute I just want the sink to drain quicker. I've given up on using the washing machine without taping the hose into a box. If you are wondering the bathroom sink and basin drain pipes are never a problem, nor is the toilet.

 

[endecotp]

Have you tried using a wet-n-dry vacuum?

 

[vapd]

I don't have access to one without paying a plumber or hiring one, and I don't drive.

I can say with close to absolute certainty that the problem is in the belly in the second 4m stretch or in between the two 90 degree bends. So I have ordered another cheap auger (same model but under £15 this time as it's on sale! Lucky, lucky!) in the hope it will last more than two uses. The last time I had such an issue with the drain was about 14 months ago. Since then it has been okay. Although obviously it is never going to be great. I was just hoping that someone could recommend a decent auger that cost £50. I'm not paying ~£150+ for something I might use once a year. And I do plan to change the pipes to 40mm and try to reroute them so there are not two 90 degree bends and large bellies. And put a rodding pipe in half way. Or something like that.