Spartan Equipment

Image Blade Type Purpose Serrated Blade Rip Through Obstructions Knife Edged Blade Cut through blockages Half Blade Look similar to double edged pear blades but have only one side, used as a preliminary drain opener Tri-Blade Designed to be used 1, 2, or 3 at a time; when a majority of roots have been removed, a second and third blade can be added to the blade holder P-Trap Blade C-shaped blade that closely resembles the shape of the pipe, to make it easier to pass through a trap or execute a bend Saw Blade Completely circular shaped blade, with serrated edges on both sides and designed to rip out roots Grease Blade 3” or 4" blade with “paddles” that act as a scoop and cause a churning action within the line for cleaning grease Spear Blade Used for penetrating stoppages in 3” to 6” sewer lines; this tool should be used first to open lines for water drainage before introducing a cutting blade Boring Tool Used to penetrate firm, hard stoppages in larger pipe to open lines for water drainage Retriever Resembles a large cone and is used to extract rags, towels, and broken cable from 3” to 10” lines Cable Uncoupling Stand A small stand that supports the cable in place while removing the expansion pin to uncouple cable "T" Wrench Ideal tool for fastening cutters to cables

Selecting the proper sewer snake size and type is very important -- a snake cable that is too small or too weak for the pipe or the obstruction will break or kink prematurely. A good drain cleaning snake must be used in the proper application, be flexible enough to execute bends in the pipe but be strong enough to develop sufficient torque to remove the drain clog. Major types of sewer snakes & drain snakes: Inner Core No Core Double Wound Inner core cable, is heavier than other sewer snakes without the added material and takes a bit longer for torque to develop. A double wound drain snake, such as Spartan’s Magnum cable, is the strongest and lightest type of sewer snake on the market today. It is intended for use in runs with fewer bends or turns. No core drain snakes are used primarily on small residential pipes which can be difficult to navigate with heavier inner core cable. The following chart is a guide to typical pipe sizes and the sizes of sewer drain snakes that are most appropriate for cleaning applications: DRAIN TYPE PIPE SIZE RECOMMENDED CABLE SIZE LAVATORY 1 -- 1-1/4" 1/4" BATHTUB 1-1/2 -- 2" 1/4" OR 5/16" SHOWERS 2" -- 3" 5/16", 3/8" OR 13/32" FLOOR DRAIN 3" OR MORE 3/8", 13/32", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" OR 0.55" FLOOR DRAIN 4" -- 5" 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 0.55" OR 0.66" FLOOR DRAIN 6" -- 8" 5/8" (NON ROOTS), 3/4" OR 0.66" FLOOR DRAIN 8" OR MORE 3/4" OR 0.66" Loading a Sewer Snake into Your Machine Safe operation of any cable machine begins with proper cable handling and loading. Spartan drain cleaning cables arrive at the customer’s location as a wound coil. Due to the amount of initial tension wound into your cable, care must be taken when uncoiling the bundle of cable. The cable will spring apart after the wire ties, which secure the cable, are cut. After uncoiling the cable and laying out flat, attach the male end of the cable to the female end of the 10’ anchor in the drum. With the machine plugged in, depress the foot actuator and check the rotation of the drum. The drum should rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as you face the front of the machine. If the drum rotates in the wrong direction, reverse the toggle switch located on the motor support and check rotation again. With the drum rotating in the proper direction, start feeding the cable into the drum. Caution: Always wear riveted cable gloves when handling a rotating cable. Feed the cable into the drum with the drum rotating. This insures proper distribution of cable inside the drum. Leave about 2-3 feet of cable out of the machine to allow for attaching the next section of cable. After loading your desired length of cable, attach either a two foot leader cable or a double male coupling. You are now ready to attach the cutter blade assembly. Lastly, there are numerous “ends” that are often attached to the end of the drain snake. These “ends” serve various purposes from holding a cutting blade to retriever hooks. The choice is up to the professional sewer and drain cleaning technician, depending upon the situation at hand. Click here to see our full list of sewer snake ends and their applications.

Spartan Tool offers sewer jetter parts, accessories and tools — everything you need to properly maintain your sewer and drain jetters. From gaskets to water tanks, browse our full selection of sewer jetter parts today. And be sure to view our entire line of Spartan sewer jetters for the durability and power you expect from Spartan Tool. Have a question or need more information? Contact us — we’re happy to help!

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The mechanical drain cleaning machine, sometimes referred to as a “cable machine” or “drain auger”, is the oldest type of drain and sewer cleaning technology. In the cable machine's earliest form, simple flat metal tape was used to clear out drain obstructions and clogs. Flexible coil springs were later added to make it easy to navigate pipe bends and turns. These early machines were manually powered, often with a hand crank used to rotate the drain cable. As time went on, motors were added to make the task less labor intensive. Although the basic approach to cable machines has not changed, the technology has been much improved and refined over the years. Machines are lighter and more powerful than their predecessors, cable and cutting blade attachments have become stronger and more rust resistant, and most importantly, cable machines are much safer to operate and cause fewer injuries than in the early days. There are two major types of drain cleaning machines used today in residential and light commercial applications: sectional cable machines and continuous cable machines. Sectional cable machines These machines use numerous open wound cables from 4 to 8 and sometimes up to 15 feet in length. Sectional cables are joined one at a time to a power auger and rotated in the pipe. The power auger unit is kept separate from the cables until the pipe is cleaned. Because the two components of sectional machines are separate, sectional machines are usually considered lighter to transport. The sectional cables are transported in a carrying case which looks like an open cage with a handle. Sectional cable machines are popular in the consumer rental market, because they can fit quite nicely into the trunk of an automobile and are easily carried by one person. However, sectional cable machines take longer to clean the pipe since you have to constantly couple and uncouple the small segments of cable. Also, they are difficult to use inside the house, because they splatter "sewer juice" as the cable rotates. Continuous cable machines These machines have a power auger unit with a drum containing a cable. The cable(s) is one continuous piece. The one continuous cable piece may consist of 25 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet or more, joined together by a coupling(s). The lengths of the cable may vary. During the operation of a continuous cable machine, it is not usually necessary to add cables. A continuous cable machine is sometimes perceived to be heavier than a sectional machine because all these components -- power auger unit, drum, and cable -- are one single unit. The upside is that continuous cables are much faster to use and never splatter "sewer juice" so long as the drum is fully enclosed and not just an open cage-type construction. Most professional sewer and drain cleaners use continuous cable machines, of which Spartan Tool is the industry leader. Continuous Cable Machine Brand Comparisons The following table lists several major brands of professional use drain cleaning machines (continuous cable machines). This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of available drain cleaning drum machines; rather, our purpose is to show a variety of cable machines available. The specifications listed are taken from the manufacturer's literature and website, and includes standard features for each machine. In most cases, additional features not included with the base machine can be purchased separately as an accessory. Brand and Machine Pipe Size Max Pipe Run Drum Max Capacity Cable Sizes Motor Motor RPM Weight Power Cable Feed Motor Brake Air-operated foot switch Power Cord w/ GFI Cable Safety Guide Spartan Tool Model 2001 3"-10" 300 ft 162 ft .66 Mag, 3/4" 4/10 HP 220 139 lbs. YES YES YES YES 25' YES RIGID K7500 3"-10" 250 ft 150 ft 3/4", 5/8" 4/10 HP 200 143 lbs. YES NO YES NO YES Gorlitz GO 68HD 3"-10" 500 ft 150 ft 11/16" 3/4 HP 175 255 lbs. NO NO NO YES NO General Speedrooter 92 2"-10" 200 ft 100 ft 3/4", 5/8",1/2" 3/4 HP 170 216 lbs. YES NO YES YES 20' YES Electric Eel Model D-5 3"-10" 100 ft 110 ft 3/4″ 1/2 HP 500 120 lbs. YES NO YES YES 20' NO

Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI) are standard on all Spartan cable machines. A GFI as an integral part of the machine is the preferred choice. Remember -- electrocution is possible if you plug your cable machine into an electrical outlet that is not grounded and you do not have a GFI on the machine! Spartan strongly recommends that you carry an electrical tester, to check the outlet to make sure it is properly grounded.All Spartan cable machines ship from our factory with a 25’ power cord and GFI, but when this length is not sufficient and an extension cord is needed, it should be rated heavy duty with tightly sealed connections to help keep water out.

The average cost charged for a job can vary widely based on the type of job and the region of the country. The same can be said about the average pay for a sewer and drain cleaner. We surveyed drain cleaners and plumbers from across the country about what they charge for various jobs and what the average pay is for drain cleaning. Cleaning residential lines with a cable machine is the most common job encountered by most drain cleaners. For these types of jobs, the charge is generally in the range of $75 to $130 per hour or a flat fee of $99 to $350. Jetting jobs require more powerful and expensive equipment, therefore the charge is higher. On average, a 1 to2 hour job with a portable jetter (residential or small commercial) is between $200 and $400 for the first hour, with additional hours costing less. A one to two hour job with a skid mount or trailer jet (larger commercial and municipalities) runs between $500 and $800 per hour.

Get vaccinated. Consult a physician for the best advice and treatment. You should get vaccines to prevent the most common forms of hepatitis, tetanus, and other common diseases you may be at risk for. Tetanus vaccines are good for ten years, so check that your shots are current. Annual flu vaccines are another excellent preventative measure. Wear safety goggles. If wastewater is thrown from a rotating cable into your eyes, you can be exposed to bacteria and viruses. Dirty hands touching the eyes, ears, or mouth can also spread disease. Safety goggles are also important for more reasons than preventing disease, like protecting the eyes from flying debris. Wear gloves. Waterproof gloves help provide a barrier between wastewater and any cuts or abrasions on the hands. If you use suede type gloves, make sure they are waterproof or wear lightweight latex type gloves beneath them. Wear coveralls. The more barriers between your body and the source of contamination, the better. Not only will this prevent infectious diseases, but skin is less likely to be cut when covered. Don't touch! Don’t give microorganisms the opportunity to enter your body! Once your hands come in contact with wastewater, be extremely careful. If you touch your eyes, ears, or mouth, you’re at greater risk for illness and disease. Cover wounds. A break in the skin is an entry point for microorganisms. Make sure all cuts and abrasions are properly medicated and covered. If you get an injury on the job, treat it immediately and consult a physician. Clean up. Use hot, soapy water and an antibacterial soap to thoroughly wash your hands and arms after every service call. This is key to preventing infectious diseases. Antibacterial soap or hand wash is a must-have on every sewer and drain cleaning van. The last stand against infection is good old hot water – the hotter the better, ideally in conjunction with antibacterial soap. Clean your hands after every job cleaning sewers and drains, or even after simply handling the equipment. Take care of your body. A body that’s healthy can fight illness and disease better. Exercise and a balanced diet are smart steps towards staying healthy. We get plenty of exercise on the job, but that doesn’t mean it’s strengthening all parts of our body. A sensible, balanced diet will keep your body working strong. Also, remember to get enough sleep and down time to let your body rest and recover.