Had to choose between a hand rod kit and a rotary whip last week

I was prepping for a big job on Tuesday and had to pick between spending $120 on a basic hand rod set or $400 for a rotary whip. I went cheap with the hand rods because I figured it's just a regular masonry flue. Got halfway through and hit a solid creosote plug that took me an extra hour to bust through. Should have just rented the whip for the day. Any of you guys keep a rotary kit on hand for jobs like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

david_adams20d ago

Yeah, "should have just rented the whip" is pretty much the story of my life honestly. It's like this thing where you try to save a few bucks upfront and end up paying double in time and frustration. Happens with everything too, not just tools. I bought a cheap blender last year to save forty bucks and now it sounds like a lawnmower full of rocks every time I make a smoothie. But that's the pattern, right? You convince yourself the simple option is fine until you're elbow deep in something and wishing you had the right gear.

raymartin19d ago

Ain't that the truth, cheap stuff always costs you more in the long run...