Review - SuperRod Flexidrill Bit Kit

[Mr.Si]

Hi all,

I, like many of you, have obviously faced the issue of routing cables through studs / noggins when the wall is already baorded - say for instance, adding a socket to a room or moving a light switch.

Now, some people use extension bars and make holes here and there and notch out and then make good.
Others use right angle chucks / drills

Some of you use other methods. Heck, maybe even remove the board, do the work and then re-board. Certainly more likely to neater.



I have battled this recently and had to resort to using a long auger and a right angled chuck, but I couldn't quite get to the bottom of the foot-plate of the stud, to get in tho the joists and had to cut a little channel below the socket cutout, thus making me have to make-good in the future once I had finished my first fix.

I don't like this, as it is extra work and looks ugly. Plus, time is money.


Now, I DID have, in the same kit as the right-angled chuck, a flexible drill extension thing. That had a large straight plastic handle to hold whilst drilling. This was awkward and only just fit through the socket cutout. But when I used it, it wound back on itself like a telephone cable that has been twisted like mad. It then snapped with the bit stuck in the base of the stud, so it took me 5 minutes to jiggle that out.


I was aware of the funky canadian tools flexible drill bit, but couldn't find anyoner in the UK that did something similar, until I happened across the fact that SuperRod made one. Another one is made by Greenlee.

I have just received my SuperRod one.

It's pretty cool and you can get extensions for it.


I haven't used it yet, but will be in the next few days. I will write a review of my experience.

First thoughts are that the drill bit is a little small, it seems to be about 12mm ish.


Watch this space for more of a review.

 

[Guest111]

IDEAL do them in a few different sizes

 

[Mr.Si]

That's true actually, but I couldn't find where to buy them from or enough info to even get the part number. I could only find information regarding TESTING tools.

I called CEF and Eyre & Elliston but I could only get the SuperRod one.

 

[Guest112]

look forward to the working review mate, nothing worse than getting down through studs anything to make that easier is worth it's weight in gold imo

ATB

 

[skyesparky]

Thanks for the info Mr.si , ive been trying to source a long flexi drill bit, specifically the greenlee ones but cant find a distributor in the UK and the cost of importing one from Canada/US wasnt worth it. Where did you get the super rod one from and how much?

Look forward to your review.

 

[amlu]

quite a lot of torque goes down when drilling 20mm in wood. wonder if the thing will snap after couple of uses or not...

 

[ste77]

Thanks for the info Mr.si , ive been trying to source a long flexi drill bit, specifically the greenlee ones but cant find a distributor in the UK and the cost of importing one from Canada/US wasnt worth it. Where did you get the super rod one from and how much?

Look forward to your review.

contact them direct 01495 792000 price is £39.95.

 

[ste77]

quite a lot of torque goes down when drilling 20mm in wood. wonder if the thing will snap after couple of uses or not...

They must have put it through its paces most super rod gear is the business. plus if it did id be returning it under warranty

 

[Mr.Si]

Ok then.
I've used it to do what I want to do in my latest project.

My first impressions were true - the actual bit is narrow - I wasn't able to get two 6242Y cables through the hole. Just 1.
I guess the work around is to make 2 holes in the base of the stud / nogin.


As you can see from the photos below, it does flex, but it doesn't flex TOO much, which I guess will keep it from snapping or whipping around in use. With an extension bar, I'd imagine there'd be a lot more flex to play with.


Once in place, I used it on a slow to medium speed and it drilled its hole very nicely, quickly and easily, so that was good.

Something else that is useful is that if you can't use the red "Ball" due to some blockage, you can move this out of the way or even take it off. Or hold it to keep it steady. The brass bushes allow for smooth running.


So at the moment, I'm impressed that it works, but it's not big enough!
I'm thinking I'd rather have gone for a Greenlee product instead. There seem to be more options with them.


Now, I've just been on the phone with SuperRod to see if they have any larger bits for it and it appears they are undergoing changes... The first question they asked me was that does mine appear to be "all as one unit" or "looks like the drill bit can be removed".

Mine is the latter, as it has a grub screw in it. They said that the stock version has a 10mm bit on it, but they have developed a 15mm bit for it too. (This would be about £25 trade price) but they won't be in the wholesalers for at least 1 month. I asked about a 20mm bit but was told that they are also making another product, the same idea, but with a slightly thicker shaft. The drill bit on the end will be 19mm.

So it looks like this is still in its infancy, but at least it's nice to have a product available in the UK made by a reputable manufacturer, that seems to have been around for years in the US / Canada.

Photos are here:

1. The whole unit:



2. The whole unit with ball removed:



3. Close-up of bit:



4. Shaft in place:



It's only a "first impressions" review, but it gives you an idea.