Plugged Tub Drain

keep pouring the chemicals in the drain and you gonna eat the pipe up and really need a plumber...

Rent a small powered drain clean auger: hand-held, looks like a drill. (You can buy a snake-in-a-drum to fit on a drill but these are usually too small for this job.)

I'm not a fan of the pipe-eating chemicals; you probably have ancient galvanized iron drain pipe.

Jim

Maybe a longer snake? They also make expanding blubble gadgets to fit on the end of a garden hose. Turn the water on, and the bubble expands and keeps shooting water.

Longer snake sounds like a good idea.

Might also be able to get some drain cleaner into the pipe with a funnel and a long, thin hose?

I'd say that's part of your problem. Having a ceiling in the basement is pointless.

I recently used a mechanical drain cleaner (The Rigid tool one that Home Depot sells for ~20-something bucks; I think it's 25 feet long). I used it 5 times and got clumps of hair 3 times and nothing 2 times. So you might need to try it a few times or use a longer one as someone else already suggested.

Why is a basement ceiling "pointless"? If the area is finished as living space, it seems reasonable. Beside, what if his bath had been on the second floor. He'd have the same problem.

Call in a pro, they'll have it snaked out in a jiffy. Sure it'll run you some bucks, but it beats the hell out of loosing the use of your bathtub. Either that or rent a snake and try it yourself. Dave