Which Croco Mole do we use for each pipe size?

Introduction

The most important thing when choosing a Croco mole is that it has to pass through a 90-degree junction. Additionally, you should take into consideration the size of the pipes that you are working in and the thickness of your flexible shaft.

Croco mole sizes

We have three available sizes of Croco moles: 30mm (1.2″), 40mm (1.6″), and 50mm (2″). All of them are suitable for 10mm (3/8″) and 12mm (1/2″) flexible shafts, and the 30mm (1.2″) and 40mm (1.6″) can also be used with an 8mm (5/16″) shaft.

The main difference between a 40mm (1.6″) and a 50mm (2″) mole is the weight of the tool. A heavier tool will provide more torque and offer great performance, whereas the 40mm (1.6″) mole would still provide the same action but would require less torque to turn the tool. For this reason, the type of power source that you have is also something to keep in mind when choosing the perfect tool.

The size of the pipes

One of the first things that you need to determine is the size of the pipes you are working in.

A 50mm (2″) Croco mole is suitable for pipes ranging from 75mm (3”) to 150mm (6”), and you can use it with either a 10mm (3/8″) or a 12mm (1/2″) shaft.

A 40mm (1.6″) mole is more suitable for 75mm (3”) to 100mm (4”) lines, as long as the thickness of the shaft is suitable to pass through the bends.

We recommend using a 30mm (1.2″) Croco mole with an 8mm (5/16″) shaft and to use it in conjunction with a chain that doesn’t have a drill head.

Be careful when choosing the 30mm (1.2″) Croco mole for narrow pipes. The mole will be able to pass through the bends, but the 12mm (1/2″) shaft will not.

We always recommend using a 6mm (1/4″) shaft in a 50mm (2”) pipe. Even though we do not have Croco moles available for such a thin shaft, it is possible to use a 30mm (1.2″) mole on a 50mm (2”) pipe because it will make it through the bends, but you would need to adjust the set screws correctly so the 6mm (1/4″) shaft is in the center.

If you’re uncertain about which shaft thickness is best suited for your task, please check out the video we made on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpy1dw9dkeQ&t

Another thing worth mentioning is that we have recently developed a new product called Mini mole, which is perfect for narrow pipes as it is smaller than a Croco mole and also available for 6mm (1/4″) shafts.

You can learn more about the Mini moles at this link:

https://plumber-tools.com/mini-mole

Pipe material

Croco moles have deep grooves designed to rasp away blockages. Since those grooves are located in the front of the mole, the tool can be used in PVC pipes, but take into consideration that you’ll need to slow down in the junction so it doesn’t eat into the junction wall.

Croco mole’s application

The Croco mole is great for grinding up failed liners or more solid obstructions, such as cement.

Unlike the chains that use centrifugal force to center themselves in the middle of the pipe, the Croco mole bounces around on the inside of the pipe.

It will need more torque than a regular chain because it is heavier, so please make sure that you have an appropriate power source.

We have found that using a circular chain in conjunction with a Croco mole would give you the benefit of the mole centering itself in the pipe with centrifugal force.

Conclusion

Croco mole is one of our tools designed specifically for obliterating hard blockages and it is available in three sizes.

There are a couple of factors that you should consider when choosing a Croco mole for the work that you plan to do: the size of the pipes that you will be working in, the thickness of your flexible shaft, and the power source that you have.

We recommend using the mole with a circular chain so it would center itself inside the pipe using centrifugal force.

Lastly, if you plan to work in very narrow pipes, consider getting a mini mole instead of a Croco mole since it is significantly smaller and available for a 6mm (1/4″) shaft.