Any hints for grooming a Maine Coon?

[Wicked Tinkerbell]

In early June 2008 I was adopted by a kitten. To make a long story short, he was a three month old cat who looked like he was 6 weeks old. He is still spooky at the weirdest times.

Jack is mostly Main Coon. Hygiene is not his top priority. (Ever had a cat use your finger to pick his nose?) My other cats are sticklers for cleanliness.

With great effort, I have finally reach the point where I can brush his back & sides. He will NOT let me brush his stomach or tail. Thus, he has developed clumps on his chest & butt.

I am not looking forward to trimming them off, as he will morph into Chuck Norris Cat.

I have contemplated using children's detangler on the dreads, but I don't want him to ingest it. I also have contemplated taking him to a groomer for a (humiliating) lion cut. I believe that the combat pay would be rather steep. These are desperate, late-night thoughts.

Are there some new grooming tools that might help with this? Any tactics that I may not have occurred to me?