Review on Cobra Products 88250: Effective 1/4-Inch 🐍 Clearing Drum Auger for Power Drain Cleaning by Nick Mcvey

This little drum auger clears small clogs that are halfway down the drain. But here's the rub: it comes with a thumbscrew (which secures the snake as the drum spins) that screws into a cheap, very easy-to-break plastic nut. Click on the image and it will enlarge the image so you can see it better. The thumbscrew/nut is the Achilles heel of this thing. Be careful not to overtighten the thumbscrew or the nut will splinter. And if you're using an electric drill, don't let the thumbscrew cut into anything when the drum is spinning, as that will break the nut as well. If the mother is broken, she is almost useless. Then all you have to do is pull the snake out of the drum, shove it down the drain with your bare hands and hope you get lucky. I learned how to replace a thumbscrew with a half-inch, half-inch pan head machine screw and then tighten and loosen it with my fingers. Now the screw cannot be overtightened; and if it hits something while spinning, it's just a fleeting hit. Also, if you're using a drill, keep the drum fairly close to the drain, as exposing too much can cause the snake to become tangled. Manually advance the snake a few inches at a time until your drain may start flowing again. It's a wonderful feeling when the water swirls!