carr.elliot•17d agoProlific Poster

Remember when chimney brushes were just a hunk of wire and some stiff bristles?

I was dead set against those poly brush systems when they first showed up at the supply house maybe 8 years ago, figured they were a gimmick that'd break after 3 jobs. But after a buddy let me borrow his on a rough flue up in Portland last spring, I had to admit it saved me a good 20 minutes of fighting with stubborn soot. Any of you old-timers still stickin' with the traditional stuff, or have you made the switch too?

2 comments

2 Comments

alice_hart17d ago

That hunk of wire and stiff bristles" line really takes me back. I remember my grandpa had these old brushes that looked like they'd been through a war, all bent out of shape but still got the job done. Funny story, I actually tried one of those poly brush systems last winter when my regular brush finally gave out on a real tight flue. It was smoother than I expected, but I still keep my old wire brush in the truck for comfort, you know? There's something about the feel of a traditional brush that just makes sense, even if the new ones are probably better.

faith_carter17d ago

Tbh that line about keeping the old wire brush in the truck for comfort hits different. I still got my granddad's brush hanging on the wall in the shed, bristles all twisted up and half the wire gone. Every time I look at it I remember him cussing at the flue for a solid hour before giving up and calling the pro.