Trouble getting 6" brush up chimney

Whoa! Two folks we haven't seen in a long time.

I will see if I can't find last years posts.

Here is what you ended up doing last year Jerry.

"Ok, here’s my wrap-up. I consider the chimney cleaned.

I took the heavy duty brush and cut off the bottom 6†or so of rows of bristles. I did this to the heavy duty as I considered it the most likely throwaway of the two brushes I have. This gave me about 3†vertical of bristles, but also a bit short of 6†diameter as I had cut the diameter down in an earlier try before I purchased the medium duty 6†brush. The Heavy duty brush was shorter to begin with, vertical length of bristles. This resized brush had the initial force fit to get the brush over the angle back to get behind the smoke shelf of the fireplace - then it went up with only minor drag - still black particles and a little bit of dust started falling into the fire box. I had a vacuum running so I don’t have a good measure of how much I got out of the chimney, but I’d guess no more than a couple of cups. At the sixth 4’ rod the vertical travel abruptly stopped. I went outside and did a careful estimate of the chimney by counting the rows of bricks. This gave me approximately 24’ for the height, a little more to the rain cap. So, I believe I got to the top and ran into the rain cap or into a cross member in the cap mounting. Using binoculars I could clearly see the screen on the rain cap is clean, no build up.

I estimate the stove saw 3+ cords (maybe 4 cords max) of hardwood with a small (perhaps 10%) of soft wood: white pine and eastern cedar…from my yard cleanups. All wood was well seasoned, at least a full year, more for the softwood. Looking up the chimney from the insert, suppose I could see up about 4-5 feet, I could clearly see the metallic finish (some copper look to it, but is stainless steel), no sign of black soot or creosote - I take it the chimney is clean enough for the coming season. Next cleaning I’ll try cutting the vertical length back on the medium duty brush, which has a full 6†diameter and see how that goes. I may also consider buying the rotary cleaner - sooteater noted by another poster."

Now dang it, order that Sooteater finally.

Start using a chimney sweep my friend. I installed my own two liners five years ago and still sweep my own chimneys but at 63 I can guarantee you I ain't gonna be on that roof or stuffing rods up a chimney at 72. But that sweep will damn sure have a camera in his hand to take a pic to tell me what I would see if I climbed up there.

I will loan him mine.