I was cleaning a chimney in a 1920s house in Cincinnati and the damper handle broke off in my hand.

Dylan Murray · 2026-03-21T08:30:05.818005+00:00

I mean, I've been using the same old steel brush on every job for years, just assuming it was fine. The homeowner pointed out the flue tiles looked more scratched than clean, and that got me thinking. I borrowed a buddy's poly brush for the next job, and the difference in the soot removal was crazy, way less dust too. Has anyone else switched brush types and been surprised by the results?

william_martin956mo ago

That old steel brush probably polished the creosote glaze instead of removing it.

7

piper_williams6mo ago

Yeah, william_martin95 is right about that glaze.

3

grace5086mo ago

Oof, that's rough. Been there with the old gear letting you down. Makes you wonder what else we're doing the hard way, right?

2