Sooteater rods

Looking online at sooteaters. I had a chimney guy come out last year and showed him my brush, he said what I have is coated metal bristles and could eventually damage the chimney, so figured I'd get a sooteater.

Looking at the pics online, some show light colored rods, and some show dark brown/black rods. Does anyone know if there's a difference, or anything I need to take into account? In the sites I've looked at, I can't tell that there's any info differentiating the color of rods. I do see that there are ones for pellet stoves vs wood chimneys, so tracking that.

 

Following as I’d like to get one for my parents. And I don’t want a lesser quality knock off.

 

Your brush is plastic coated wire? Interesting. Mine are just a stiff plastic.

Although I've been interested in soot eaters so I'll tag along in watching this thread.

 

I don't think it says on the box. I think he saw one where the end had rubbed some and said it was wire. I probably need to cut one and confirm.... Right now I don't remember if I could see what he was talking about and agreed it was wire...

 

My original brush was metal. I bought a nylon/ plastic one about 10 years ago and I only use that but I am also interested in the sooteater. Maybe post the competing ads your looking at so we can take a gander. Maybe one of us will catch the difference

A read an online revue of the nylon brush and it had quite a few bad reviews. Seems like people didn't realize the cleaning a hot chimney with a nylon brush would make the brush melt and several complained that they should have posted that on their description.

 

My understanding is the white rods were supposed to be more flexible, but I've never personally verified that. The vast majority of people use the standard black rods. And on the sooteater... I've had one for years, they work well.
I'm told they are basically the consumer version of what many pro sweeps use

 

I bought a spare head that I left the bristles at full length. After using the regular head, I use this to whip out the cap when cleaning from the bottom up. Something else to consider.

 

I always leave them full length (clean 3-4 chimneys a year, so have worn out numerous brushes) I think they work just as well, if not better at full length, no matter the chimney size

 

Are the rods specific to the sooteater, or can you use 'regular' rods? I didn't know you could buy the head separately. Although not sure if the rods are different to be able to use with the drill....?

 

Yes

 

Are the bristles replaceable?

 

Same as always

 

Yeah that's a different tool there...dryer vent cleaner, pellet stove, something...

 

Have had one for years now since I bought my insert 7yrs ago already (wow time flies).

Black rods, with a red plastic bristles, no wire in them.

I've had to buy a replacement head (bought on Amazon) for it as the bristles wore down. I think I did that about 2yrs ago. I clean it out once a year.