Had to choose between a poly brush and a chain whip for a heavy creosote job

I went with the chain whip on a 15-year buildup in an old masonry flue last Tuesday and it cut the time in half, but has anyone else had issues with it scratching up stainless liners?

2 comments

2 Comments

logan_dixon1829d ago

Man I feel that chain whip struggle on liners, last year I got a little too aggressive with one on a client's stainless setup and left these little swirl marks that looked like a cat went to town on it. Took me forever to buff them out with a scotch brite pad and I still flinch whenever I see a reflective surface now. Poly brush is definitely gentler but I swear it takes twice as long on the really baked on creosote, like trying to scrub a greasy pan with a wet napkin. I've found that if you keep the chain whip speed lower and let the weight do the work instead of pushing it hard, you avoid most of the scratching unless the liner is already compromised. But yeah, on a 15 year buildup I'd take the time savings any day and just be real careful on the corners, maybe run a poly brush behind it to smooth things out.

brian_kelly9129d ago

I'm the opposite on this one, I'd rather use the poly brush every time even if it takes longer. Those swirl marks are a nightmare to fix and I've had customers notice them years later when the light hits just right. Chain whip scratches aren't just cosmetic on stainless either, they create little grooves where stuff can grab and start rusting over time. I'd rather spend an extra 15 minutes scrubbing than explain to a homeowner why their brand new liner already looks beat up.