Drain cleaning machine with flexible shaft, 6mm x 17m

The flexible shaft drain cleaning machine for pipes from 40mm – driven by a cordless screwdriver, ready to use straight away.

This machine clears deposits, dirt and blockages in waste pipes. The flexible shaft reaches into narrow or sharply bent sections and cleans where conventional tools reach their limits. At 6mm it is flexible enough for 50mm pipes, the size commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms.

Driven by a cordless screwdriver

The machine is driven by a cordless screwdriver, mounted to the shaft with a hexagon fitting. The screwdriver is not included. Selecting the setting on the screwdriver adjusts the force to the blockage: soft soap and grease deposits need less torque than encrustations and hard build-up.

Use the machine only with cordless screwdrivers that have a slip clutch – not with corded drills or hammer drills. The slip clutch prevents the shaft from deforming or coiling up if the tool jams at the front of the pipe.

Recommended screwdriver settings

As a general rule, a maximum torque of 40 to 45 Nm should be used. Harder blockages may call for more torque.

Weight and transport

At 12.5 kg the machine is considerably lighter than a conventional cable machine. A ROWO R550 weighs 18 kg, plus a cable basket with five 16mm cables of 2m each at a further 6 kg – 24 kg in total. As the flexible shaft is already part of this machine, you carry around half that.

That suits it to mobile work, in the trades as well as in facility management: it can be carried up stairs into flats and used there in bathroom and kitchen. In use it lies flat on the floor and is operated from above with the screwdriver.

Shaft inside a protective sleeve

The flexible shaft runs inside a plastic sleeve. It keeps splash water inside the pipe, where open cables would otherwise spread it across the working area. That saves the subsequent cleaning of tiles and sanitary ware.

Water removal and oiling

The adapter hose supplied lets you maintain the shaft after use. Compressed air pushes moisture and dirt out of the gap between shaft and sleeve towards the front. You then introduce oil from a spray can through the same hose, and the compressed air distributes it between shaft and sleeve. This reduces friction and protects the shaft against corrosion.

Shaft and scope of delivery

The WFS-617 has a 6mm x 17m shaft – two metres more than many comparable systems, which helps with deeper or widely branched lines. Two chain knockers with plain chains for PVC pipes are included. For further work we carry a wide range of tools for 6mm shafts.

At a glance

• Flexible shaft 6mm x 17m, suitable for pipes from 40mm
• Driven by a cordless screwdriver with slip clutch, ideally 1500–1800 rpm (not included)
• Weight 12.5 kg, shaft already included
• Shaft inside a plastic sleeve – less splash water in the working area
• Adapter hose for water removal and oiling
• Two chain knockers with plain chains for PVC pipes included

Product safety information

• Slip clutch only: operate the machine solely with cordless screwdrivers that have a slip clutch. Do not use corded drills, hammer drills or impact drivers. The slip clutch prevents the shaft from deforming or coiling up if the tool jams inside the pipe.
• Eye protection: always wear safety goggles when working. The rotating tools throw loosened material and waste water out of the pipe.
• Hand protection: wear close-fitting protective gloves to protect yourself from waste water. Do not use wide or loose gloves – they can be caught by the rotating shaft.
• Clothing and hair: keep loose clothing, jewellery and long hair away from the rotating drive.
• Unwinding: do not run the shaft tightly coiled. In operation it must be fed out of the machine and unwound to a diameter of at least 1m, otherwise friction and heat build up between shaft and sleeve.
• Hygiene: waste water can contain pathogens. Clean your hands and tools after work and avoid contact with eyes and mouth.
• Instructions: read the enclosed operating instructions and the notes from the manufacturer of your cordless screwdriver before first use.
• Qualification: this machine is intended for use by trained professionals in drain and sewer cleaning.