Trap Snake Auger Drain Cleaning Kit

I bought this because I've had bad experiences with other augers. This does seem to be built pretty well overall, given that it's mostly just a plastic drum with a snake in it. But it has some flaws: 1. The handle is awkward and annoying to squeeze for long periods of time. It would've been better if it was a trigger instead 2. There's a small catch on the handle to prevent it from being accidentally squeezed. This catch is super annoying and most of the time when I'm using the auger I tape it down 3. The snake has come detached from within the auger multiple times. Thankfully it's designed well so that it can be reattached. I'm not sure if it's designed this way so the tool doesn't break, but it can be frustrating when it comes detached and you have to disassemble the drum to reattach the snake. 4. You can't use a regular drill with this auger out of the box. I use a simple hex Robertson drill bit backwards in my drill to run the auger. Milwaukee could've easily provided a bit to use a regular drill bit with this auger but they didn't. Those changes would make this a good tool instead of an average one. To make it a great tool: 1. It's hard to tell when using one of these with a drill if the snake is actually going in. I mark the snake every 30 cm (foot) or so with a paint pen. It would be amazing if the manufacturer would do this. 2. Maybe this isn't feasible or practical, but I wish they'd make these snakes with stainless steel. I clean it after use and try to oil it but no matter what I do they all seem to rust. In the end, I still haven't found a great handheld auger, but the professional tools all cost 10 times as much so I guess I just have to put up with it.

Extremely happy with this Milwaukee Trapsnake drain auger because of the design features contributing to its usability, build quality, as well as the customer service. After having used it on several drains, I highly recommend the TrapSnake over all of the competitors that I cross-shopped before buying this one. A drain auger is an indispensible tool for slow draining drains, especially in houses with older plumbing, such as galvanized steel, which will have lots of corrosion and debris on the inside. The clogs are usually not near the p-trap but often 5-20' down. Short or weak augers might not have a chance, not to mention that plungers and chemical drain cleaners are almost certain to be ineffective, and maybe even detrimental, in such cases. Having successfully gotten multiple bathroom sink drains and tub drains running very well (seeing a strong vortex after dumping a large basin of water is very satisfying!), this TrapSnake has paid for itself multiple times over. I was able to use it from the topside, by passing the cable through the drain strainer, which allowed the water to be running while augering. This is great because it avoids needing to disassemble pipes, keeps the cable much cleaner on the way back, and provides feedback to know when the drain has become unclogged. The ergonomics of the TrapSnake work well for holding it vertically, such as when going into a sink from above. The pistol grip style of other augers might be more egronomic when holding an auger horizontally. It's a tradeoff, but I'm happy with the choice Milwaukee made. The dual manual and power operation is invaluable, and because of the TrapSnake design, it is easy to switch between them. The female hex slot on the TrapSnake means it is easy to attach and also detach a cordless drill with a 1/4" hex bit (use any bit and install it backwards in the drill chuck) while augering. That's in contrast to the male hex or round shaft found on other augers, which would require tightening or loosening the drill's chuck every time, and needing three hands to do it while holding the auger. The folding handle is very practical and sturdy. Other units either have it fixed in place or require removing the handle entirely to use the power operation, neither of which is my preference. Milwaukee got it right. The automatic advance/retraction with the grip is great once one gets used to it. Those who complain that it does not work just need to grip it more tightly (practice in the air and you'll get it). There are 3 bearings at the tip, two of which are connected to the grip. When the grip is squeezed, the bearings force the cable to advance or retract instead of sliding past them. Yes, it will be a bit of a forearm workout, but it's not too bad. The cable securing nut is a bit difficult to reach, and is slow to tighten or loosen, but I like that it's there. Most times the auger can be used without locking the cable, and the grip is enough, but in some difficult situations the lock nut is a life saver, absolutely essential to have. I just wish it were easier to get fingers on it, but I also understand why it is in that recessed position: to avoid having it snag on things while the drum is spinning. Some tips on usage: it is possible to encounter situations, such as with older galvanized steel pipes that are rusting on the inside, where the auger advances, but it feels impossible to retract! In those cases it is imperative not to forcefully pull on the cable. When it feels like a stretching spring, stop! In those cases, rotating (preferably forward, though reverse could work too with great caution) and applying moderate pulling pressure will get the cable back bit by bit. A drill helps avoid fatigue, and the slightly faster than manual speed can also help, but one must be very very careful not to let the cable bind. Slower is better. Keep in mind that this is a light duty drain auger, suitable for bathroom drains, kitchen drains, tub/shower drains, but it is not meant for pipes over 2". Accordingly, the 25' cable length is more than enough. The danger of going into larger pipes is that the cable could loop back on itself or kink, and it might become impossible to retrieve! A nightmare to be avoided at all costs with any drain auger. Cleaning the cable is essential and a bit of a pain, as debris gets stuck right at the "crack" of each coil of the cable. It's virtually impossible to get it clean like new after sending it down corroded pipes, but the cleaner the better. I pull out the entire cable, wipe it with a damp rag, and roll it into a bucket by passing it through a hole cut in the center of the lid. After letting the cable dry, I spray it down with a light lubricant, and also apply some on a rag and wipe the cable down a second time as it is fed back into the drum. I found that a dry silicone-based lube (Jig-A-Loo) works great to prevent rust, allow the cable to slide smoothly, all while avoiding an oily mess that could also attract dirt. Note that the cleaning instructions in the manual say to open the drum (just 4 screws) to clean inside. It seems easy enough, but I found the inside was pretty clean considering where the cable had been, with just a bit of rust debris. However, the o-ring/seal between the two halves of the drum seemed too long to go back in the groove to be able to reassemble it! Unlike what the manual says about positioning the o-ring first, Milwaukee tech support advised to partially re-assemble the two halves of the drum first, and squeeze the o-ring into its groove one quadrant at a time and tighten the screw. According to the technician who spoke with me, the o-ring is intentionally oversized and it's a bit of a pain to get in place. I'm used to making sure o-rings are properly positioned before trying to tighten things down, so that was counterintuitive. Nevertheless, the advice worked for me eventually even though it was time consuming. Milwaukee was also kind enough to send a replacement o-ring (part # 3440-1010). That appears to be sized just right for the drum. Overall, I'm incredibly happy with the Milwaukee TrapSnake. A fantastic tool providing fantastic results.

Used once. Upon 2nd attempt, the cable sticks and is a jammed after 1 foot. I can't manually yank it out. I heard Milwaukee makes great tools and has a great reputation but for the price, this is unacceptable.

This product is one of the best .Easy to handle Auto feed which is located very handy.( Reverse Lock little loose but worked well if holding tight.Collapsible handle is very very convenient when working with power inside tight space.Only suggestion is 25 ft point mark or something to tell the end of full length although I was able to know as a cable stopped forwarding. But if forced to pull, it may break eventually.I used top-off driver bit for powered auger.

Dont waste money buying the 99 dollar trap snake driver. Milwaukee should be creating products to fit their consumers needs, not blocking the ease of use with proprietary bits that dont allow them to use their regular drill. buy a 1/4 milwaukee impact bit, flip it backwards and jb weld that sucker in there. costs 15 bucks max and allows you to use the product with a chuck drill.

This auger gets the job done. I don't have the M12 power driver accessory for it, so I did everything by hand (with gloves of course). The good news is that you can simply pull the cable directly out of the auger so you don't have to turn the tool with the handle clockwise the entire 25'. I inserted the cable into the drain to start, then I pulled the cable out by hand and fed it down the drain to the length needed. Then you can rotate the cable with the tool by rotating the crank arm. The cable lock simply holds the cable in its position so that rotating the crank arm just rotates the bulb at the end of the cable without moving the cable in or out. The bulb will also rotate as it moves in and out of the drain if you manually rotate the crank arm while the cable is unlocked (screw is loosened). Very versatile tool, you don't have to worry about clogged drains and can save yourself the $400 service call, even if your main drain gets clogged (as long as it's not more than 25' from your clean out). The tool is definitely made for sinks and shower drains, you can use the clean out access points too, but be careful if your drain pipes are larger than 2". The tool isn't meant for that size since the bulb or cable could get stuck or bend. I can't comment on rust, but obviously have running water going down the drain after clearing so that the cable gets cleaned up as you retract it. It's never fun clearing drains, but this tool at least makes it much easier and may save you when you need it the most. Milwaukee doesn't seem to require warranty registration for this tool on their website, all tools come with their warranty, this one comes with a 2 year warranty. Just keep your proof of purchase and that's all you need. Most other tool companies want you to register the tool in advance, I found this to be different with Milwaukee Tools.

I got this to replace my 1950's hand-feed model that was rusting out. This one is about 30% lighter than the old one. That's good news. But I have a few concerns about durability. On one hand, the plastic solves the problem of rusting out. But on the other hand, I have concerns of durability when you are really wrestling with a clog. When you tie up a clog of rags, you put a lot of stress on your cable auger! The device has three modes: 1) Traditional *hand feed* where you push and pull the cable in by hand, yanking it out of the drum or shoving it in, 2) *manual* where you use the hand crank on the back and feed in or out by grasping the autofeed grip, 3) *driver* where you use the (not supplied) battery driver I found that manual mode was sometimes awkward. You have to grasp the autofeed grip and make sure the autofeed lockout is disengaged. My hand got tired. The feed speed is very slow in this mode, but it does work. If you want to use the battery driver, I think it is wise to first use this manually to see what you think of the device. Made in China

Tired of plungers or crawling under a sink and removing the trap to clear a clog. The Milwaukee drain trap auger fits the bill. It is very adequate, compact, lightweight, and should clear most clogs you will experience. Note, if you have a drain(s) that always seem to be troubling, notice pic-3 on the counter, it is a pull-out drain assembly, research it, you will never go back to the old rod type, which only ever seems to aid in a clog anyway. Instead of using a drill driver, which is heavy, I used a 3.6-volt driver with a 1/4" hex drive socket with a max of 280 RPM. The Manual says not to use anything over 500 RPM. If you are going to use this daily I would suggest the M12 Trap Snake Driver attachment. My clog, this time, was only causing a slow running drain. The combination of running hot water and working the snake made quick work of this little problem, maybe 15 mins. This tool can easily pay for itself, and it is so easy to use. Called a plumber lately?

Since Milwaukee products are good quality we knew the Milwaukee Trap Snake Auger Drain Cleaning Kit would be a good choice for cleaning and unclogging our drains. The cable is 25 feet long and will clear from 1/2 inch to two inch drains in sinks, bathtubs and showers. It has a cable lock for maximum control and comes with a two year warranty. The manual auger is powerful and clears blockages quickly. We had a clogged drain in our bathroom and this cleared it without much effort or mess. It is compatible with an M12 Trapsnake driver for power and speed.

This is a professional quality drain auger. It has actual bearings at the feed and a decent 25’ long cable suitable for smaller pipes, making it ideal for residential jobs. The drum has a nice fold-out hand crank that can be used to spin the cable in and out and that action can be upgraded by adding the M12 trapsnake powered driver that is designed for the tool with some special electronics to control the rotation speed. I suspect one could (carefully) also use a drill with a hex drive at slower speeds to also drive it. Comes with a 25’ bulb head cable (¼”). Replacement cables are also available. Two year warranty. Made in China