What are pipe-cleaning brush handles made of?

Pipe-cleaning brush handles are usually made from one of these materials:

Wood

Wood, such as beech, can be carved to make handles which are comfortable to use.

Wood is a thermal insulator so it doesn’t get too hot even if you are working on a hot pipe.

Wood can sometimes be stronger than plastic but it will rot if not treated with oil or other wood preservative occasionally.

It is sometimes difficult to find out what type of wood a handle is made from but most wooden handles are made from a hardwood, such as beech.

Plastic

A number of different plastics can be used to make pipe-cleaning brush handles including high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

Plastics are cheaper to produce than other materials and can be moulded to produce comfortable, thermally-insulated handles. Bright colours are often used, which helps you to find them amongst other tools.

Plastics are less durable than steel and can break more easily. Some cannot withstand high temperatures.

Galvanised Steel

Steel handles are less comfortable to use than plastic or wooden handles but are much more durable.

They can cope with temperature extremes as well as water, acid and bleach.

The galvanised finish keeps the handles looking new and prevents the iron in the steel from rusting.

What pipe-cleaning brush accessories are available?

The accessories available for pipe-cleaning brushes increase the reach of the brush or ease of use. Not all brushes are designed to take accessories so, if you want a more versatile brush, consider one with a threaded or shank end and purchasing a variety of accessories.

Stem extensions

Stem extensions are available for pipe-cleaning brushes that have a threaded end on their stem instead of a handle.

Most extensions are 1 metre (3 feet and 3⅜ inches) long but you can join extensions together to form even longer stems in the same way chimney and flue brush rods can be joined together.

Handles

Handle attachments are available for pipe-cleaning brushes that have a threaded end on their stem.

A wire loop handle with a stiff steel shaft that screws onto the stem of a pipe-cleaning brush makes it easier to push and pull the brush, particularly inside a long pipe.

Adapters

If both the handle or rod and the pipe-cleaning brush have the same type of thread, you can use an adapter to join them together.  You can also use an adaptor if you need to change the size of the thread so your pipe-cleaning brush fits your extension.

If you want to adapt your pipe-cleaning brush to fit into a power tool, adaptors are available with a shank end.

Power Tools

Some pipe-cleaning brushes can attach to power tools for non-manual cleaning. Powered brushing takes less time than manual cleaning and can be more thorough, but it can damage more fragile parts.