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Met a chimney historian in St. Louis who made me rethink brushes
I was swapping stories with a guy at a job site in St. Louis last month, and he asked me what brush I use for clay flues. I told him a standard steel wire, and he just laughed and said 'you ever think about what that does to the tile over 40 years?' He pulled out an old soft poly brush, beat up but cleaned, and said his granddad used the same style back in the 50s. Hearing him explain how the abrasive wire can eat away glazing over time hit different. I've been at this for 9 years and never once thought about long term wear on the flue itself. Now I'm testing a softer set on two houses this month, and I'm curious: any of you guys switch away from wire after a bad experience with old chimneys?
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burns.brooke1mo ago
Man, that reminds me of an old timer I knew who collected antique chimney caps. He had one from a house that burned down in the 1920s, and he swore the cap saved the flue from cracking. Never forgot how much those guys thought about the long game instead of just the next job.
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