Bummer of the week.

[Stiletto]

It's starting to get cold where I live, so I decided to sweep the chimney of my wood burner before putting it into use for this season.
I have one of those flue brushes that goes onto the end of a series of flexible rods that clip together.
I carefully inspected each fitting as I fitted it to the following one, and proceeded. When I finished the cleaning process with the brush fully extended I started the extraction of the rods only to find that the bloody brush had been left behind at the top of the flue! The brush itself had been attached by a glued fitting which had come apart.
I'm in the process of trying to make a fitting to attach to the end of my rods to see if I can snare the brush and drag it down. 73 year old men and 45 degree roofs do not go together, so I'm not going to try to recover it from the top. Ten years ago I would have, but I have seen enough reports of old guys who have come to grief when they tried to do something they took for granted when they were younger.

I went online to see what people used to recover these brushes, and a sort of spiral hook that fits on the end of the rods seems to be the thing. None are readily available where I live, and in this town there is no resident chimney sweep to save me so I will head out to the workshop and see if I can cobble up something to do the job.
To be continued........

P.S. This is what I am thinking of:

[Paul Pless]

Re: Bummer of the week.

how many f bombs?

[Paul Pless]

Re: Bummer of the week.

I went online to see what people used to recover these brushes, and a sort of spiral hook that fits on the end of the rods seems to be the thing.

what about a big treble hook?

[Paul Pless]

Re: Bummer of the week.

or attach a disc of plywood to your rods and push the brush out the top

[Ron Williamson]

Re: Bummer of the week.

^^^^I would try this.
R

[Jim Mahan]

Re: Bummer of the week.

Spark arrestor screen, to prevent spreading a roof fire, might be installed, and might keep the brush being pushed out the top?

[John B]

Re: Bummer of the week.

I bought one of those last year, very poorly made. I can't think of anything other than what you suggest, I'd be eyeing up coathangers.

[Stiletto]

Re: Bummer of the week.

How many F bombs? I lost count.

I made an approximation of the hook from an old mini paint roller handle I had hanging on a nail in the shed.
I set up a small mirror and shone a torch up the flue to see how I was doing.

IMG20230512150856.jpg hook.jpg

About 20 minutes of prodding, twisting and pulling and Success!

IMG20230512151208.jpg brush.jpg

What a dork design. Until it comes apart it looks like a complete unit!

I wasn't able to push it out the top because I have a cowl arrangement on the top of the flue.

IMG20230512151643.jpg roof2.jpg

Well, that is a relief. I dont have to worry about it again until next year!

[Jim Mahan]

Re: Bummer of the week.

The hood does double duty for spark arresting and for baffling wind that might make the smoke back flow into the house instead of drawing properly. I think.

[JayInOz]

Re: Bummer of the week.

I bought the brush without a handle. Drilled a small hole about an inch down from the end of a long length of one inch poly pipe. Wire the brush on to do the job and then take it off again after. The poly- I have miles of the stuff- is stiff enough to be able to push or pull it through a long flu, but flexible enough to be able to drag it between obstacles or around corners without a problem. JayInOz

[Mrleft88]

Re: Bummer of the week.

Often flue brushes have not only a hook up for the pole but a ring eye on the other end that you attach a light rope to.pull the brush up. pull it back down, etc.
In the olden days the dried out christmas tree has a rope tied to the top, and as it was shoved up the flue it was lit a fire. Cleaned the creosote outta that flue like a charm. The guy at the top got extra beer.

[Robbie 2]

Re: Bummer of the week.

When we had a Chimney brush just like that to clean our wood stove flue, I tied a length of rope to the brush as long as the poly pipe handle.
This was to prevent what you have just discovered happening.

[Stiletto]

Re: Bummer of the week.

When we had a Chimney brush just like that to clean our wood stove flue, I tied a length of rope to the brush as long as the poly pipe handle.
This was to prevent what you have just discovered happening.

That's now definitely part of next year's plan. Thanks.
When I was younger and owned a place with a much shallower roof pitch I used to lower a rope with a piece of gorse bush up and down the chimney a couple of times. That worked well.

[skuthorp]

Re: Bummer of the week.

I use a length of chain and rattle it about till all the soot falls output our roof is a shallow slope so I can walk about on it. Lots of creosote in the wood that grows on the block. I do it twice a season.

[Peerie Maa]

Re: Bummer of the week.

Would this be any good?

https://www.bes.co.uk/drain-rod-universal-double-worm-screw-2-13034/