Very disappointed at Ridgid PowerSpin Plus drain cleaner

[qqzj]

This is the one I am talking about

RIDGID Power Spin+ 1/4 in. x 25 ft. Hybrid Drain Cleaning Snake Auger (Manual or Cordless Drill Operated, Tool Only) 57043 - The Home Depot

Select this light-duty Power Spin tool from RIDGID for cleaning drains effectively. Comes with a comfortable handgrip for your convenience.

www.homedepot.com

It is significantly more expensive than Husky or Kobalt etc. I bought it because I thought Ridgid is a better brand name and would be worth the extra expense. Nope. It turns out that it is a huge disappointment.

Issue 1. I have to keep pulling the red trigger for the cable to go in and out. That adds a lot of unnecessary stress to my hands. I saw some YouTube videos where the Husky or Kobalt has a switch to change the direction. After that the operator does not have to keeping pressing the switch etc for the cable to go. That is a much smarter design. Even the following Husky with a screw works easier than the Ridgid.



Issue 2. Inside the drum, the end of the cable is clamped down by a small screw that screws into a PLASTIC and NARROW cylindrical post to hold down the cable. That plastic post was very easily broken by the drill. And the drill I used is a 10-year old Ryobi. Not that powerful at all.

This is just another lesson I learned from using the tools. Brand name does not worth a lot. We need to understand how the tools work to pick the correct one. The Ridgid I bought is really a POS selling at higher prices than others. I got a warranty replacement from Ridgid. But what I really want is to get my money back and buy a Husky or Kobalt. Now I have to live with this POS and be very careful not to break such an inconvenient tool in the future. Learn from my experience and avoid this thing and save yourself some money!

 

[Copymutt]

Thx for the heads up. Been dealing w/ drain issues for some time. That style would be ok for a sink drain if it held up. I‘m hoping that after multiple rentals of main line cutters that using a rotating head on a 3000 psi pressure washer has done the job. Sure sounded like it meant business.

 

[FMB4]

Was a maint person for a 50 unit apartment complex in '02-'03. The live on site manager had a manual/drill powered self-advancing type auger that she complained about being difficult at times. Meanwhile, I had my own simple manual/drill powered auger that I bought at HD. She used my auger a number of times and went a bought the same unit at HD to keep on hand.

 

[rlitman]

I borrowed a Ridgid PowerSpin from a friend. Yes, the reviews of it being fragile are out there, but I didn't break it with an M18 drill, and in any case, it has a lifetime warranty.

My issues were the hand strain, as well as the drum leaking. There's a rubber gasket sealing the front to the back of the drum, but the returning wet snake still managed to pull water into the drum that was sprayed out by centrifugal force as it spun. Before returning it, I took it apart and sealed that gap with RTV.

I then went out and bought a Ridgid 55808 PowerClear. It has a clear non-rotating cover over the drum, and frees up your drill hand for the snake end to reduce hand strain.

 

[neophyte]

You can just push or pull the cable in or out till the cable gets to the obstruction.
Otherwise you really only need to spin the auger to get around tight bends, or at the actual clog.

As far as being unergonomic, a lot of professional hand held drain augers are unergonomic as hell, and some weigh far more.

The cable Ridged supplies with that unit has a plastic core, that should be safer to use, since the central plastic core should hold the cable together in case it breaks or snaps. Trying to get a broken drain snake cable out of a waste pipe would be potentially worse than clearing the original clog.