| Technical Information |
| Snake Wire: 1/4" through 1/2" diameter
snakes are made of Swedish Music Wire drawn especially
for Flexible to have maximum hardness, yet flexibility
and resistance to crystallization. Half inch snakes are
made of reinforced hard drawn oil tempered wire for
added strength. |
| Snake Normalization: This is an extra
step process developed by Flexible. After snakes are
coiled, the molecular structure of the wire is under
stress, due to the coiling process. So as to relax the
molecular structure (in other words to normalize
the steel) all snakes and coiled rods are drawn through
a special oven at about 600° Fahrenheit. This process
gives your Flexible snake added flexibility and
resistance to crystallization which prolongs its life
substantially. |
| Snake Reinforcing: Wherever a snake is to be
used under severe conditions, it will have much greater
resistance to kinking and give long life, if reinforced.
Experienced plumbers who do not force snakes and have a
"feel" for the torque that builds up under stress, can
successfully use non-reinforced snakes even in the
higher limits of the diameter range. Flexible does not
believe in using plastic or rope as reinforcing. Our
snakes are sufficiently flexible with our special long
lived reinforcing wire. |
| Snake Size: The pipe to be cleaned acts as a
guide for the snake, preventing kinking inside the pipe
(provided limits are not exceeded). If the pipe is no
more than 4 times the diameter of the snake, it is
almost impossible to kink. The upper range is 6 times
snake diameter, but experienced plumbers are able to
remove grease and other light stoppages, sometimes up to
8 times snake diameter. This should only be attempted
with great care and in full realization that the
possibility of kinking exists if the snake is
forced. |
| Left Hand Winding: This is one of the most
important features of your Flexible Drop Head or Cutter
Head Snake. When the heads of these snakes get caught,
the snake coils become tighter as tension increases,
providing more penetration power, until its force
becomes irresistible and the stoppage breaks. In the
case of right hand wound snakes, the coils loosen
and penetration power is lost. This is why Flexible
snakes will open stoppages where others won't. Basin
Plug Snakes with their wide spaced one piece head, must
be right hand wound so they can thread through the basin
strainer. If the stoppage is difficult, don't force your
Basin Plug Snake. Remove the trap under the sink and go
through the wall with a Drop Head or Cutter Head
Snake. |
| Snake Splicing: The 7/16" snake, which
experienced users generally consider our strongest and
best all around snake, can be spliced in the event it
kinks and 2 (two) 716X splicers are shipped with each
snake. Unquestionably the 7/16" reinforced snake is
stronger and more kink resistant, but the regular is
lighter in weight and if care is used and it is limited
to cleaning 1-3/4" to 2: pipes the results should be
highly satisfactory. |
