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Subscribe Now!So I was wondering if putting heat on the joints will make it easier to take apart the fittings on old water pipe?
Sometimes the threads break off when you try to take them apart.
Any tips?
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
Fit finished parts into tricky spaces, with no gaps and no risk.
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Replies
Pipes in my fireplace after 15 years, 3/4 to 2" -- only way I figured was cuttingtorch, angle grinder, 3 wheel pipe cutter, hacksaw, or sawzall.
Heat, wd40, pen oil, 2 ea. 4 ft wrenches, no avail except to sometimes break and ovalate the pipe.
That sounds like what I am trying to avoid.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
tighten first....
that don't work....
follow the path of destruction....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I am usually on the path of destruction, trying to take a side road on this one. I need to take apart a union to get to an elbow above the water heater to put on a T to tap in a new run to the washing machine, which is now getting a dribble of hot water.
Would rather not have to re-pipe the whole place.
So, if at first it don't come loose, just forget it?
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
bust the nut....
cut the pipe...
tread it in place...
replace the nut....
plumb as required...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Don't have a cutter or a threader, can I rent them?
Edited to add I was going to take off from the T with pex.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
Edited 1/28/2009 8:24 pm by Heck
yessir....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Gotcha. Thanks.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
more on that union...
bust the nut with a cold chisel after you score it with a sawzall... careful you don't screw up the threads....
and save it for replacement sizing...
lube the threads and mating surfaces with a really thin film of joint compound....
w/teflon or PFTE is more gooder.....
and do want to know a bit about plan "B" if you can't get an exact replacement nut???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Is plan 'B'
call the plumber??
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
naw,,,,
it's how to slit the hubs....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I need to take apart a union to get to an elbow above the water heater to put on a T to tap in a new run to the washing machine, which is now getting a dribble of hot water.
See if the little screen on the inlet to the washing machine is full of crud first, lots easier to clean every few months (or add an in-line filter) than replacing those pipe you dont now have the tools to deal with.
OTOH, it IMO it is ALWAYS good to use any excuse to buy a new set of tools <G>
Check. Did that first. As for the tools, I'm hoping this is my last dance with iron pipe. (but it probably isn't)
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
it isn't....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
i just went through the same thing recently. I ended up cutting the hub of a union almost to the threads with a sawsall, hit both sides of the cut with a chisel, then applied heat to the union. voila!! it came right off.
Dang, this sounds hard for a non-plumberer.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
"Dang, this sounds hard for a non-plumberer."It can't be that hard, if a lawyer and hack carpenter can do it. my hope was by cutting the hub then hitting the side of the cuts with the chisel, i could spread the end of the coupling slightly. I then thought if I added heat to the coupling, and it would expand enough to loosen its grip on the pipe threads enough not to twist the end of the pipe off. it worked just fine.
I will be trying to fix the water line today, I will report in later how things went.
Thanks for the advice.
Now, hold my beer, I'm going in!
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
could ya at least get some beer that is worth holding???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I usually don't hand over the good stuff.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
quess the quality of the advice just tapered off a might....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
How about a triple expresso?
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
sure.....
how many....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
As many as it takes to get the gooder advice flowin again...
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
so have ya dug in yet????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Next time I get a chance, I'm takin in the sawzall, couldn't fit it in today after it wouldn't break free easy.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
right angle grinder and a cut off wheel....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I knew if I promised coffee I would get gooder advice.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
is it to be picked up or delivered???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
On me next time we get together.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
I'm all over a deal like that....
thanks....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Hold a heavy hammer tight to one side of the fitting and hit the opposite side with another hammer. Pipe threads are tapered and this will jar them enough so you can back the pipe out of the fitting. Three or four good whacks usually does it. Be sure to use two wrenches, one on the fitting and one on the pipe - it'll give you better leverage and keep the piping down the line from torquing.
so did ya get it????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Heck,
A SawzAll and HF pipe threader is cheaper than one visit/call from a plumber. Do the math.......
WSJ
Got the sawzall. Will probably rent anything else I need.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
Why would you even want to "disassemble" old glavanized piping? Depending on the hardness of the water it's carried, it's certainly corroded inside - and possibly completely plugged. If the threads are breaking off, it's gotta be pretty useless.
About the only uses I can think of for it is for pipe clamps (almost all of mine used to be water lines) or bracing for metal fence jobs. I certainly wouldn't try to reuse it as water piping.
When I'm removing old galvy pipe, I cut it at convenient locations with a sawzall, toss the pieces into a trailer, and haul it off to the scrap metal yard.
I am trying to tap into an existing system at the water heater without redoing the entire system.
I need to take a coupling and an elbow off to tap in. The line runs from there to everywhere else, the washer being the end of the line. Budget says not yet on re-piping.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
Heat the fitting not the pipe. Heat expands metal and you dont want the pipe expanding inside the the fitting. Do it as quickly as possible,heat will transfer from the fitting to the pipe. Wack it with a BFH before and after heating. As suggested by another tighten a bit then loosen. You might have to do this several times. cool the pipe with ice and go at it again. Use big pipes over the handle of your wrenches to increase mechanical leverage. Watch your knuckles and pinch points. Get out the sawsall... call a plumber. Have a fire extinguisher handy, at least a bucket of water.
I tried a variety of those methods today. Nothing worked, so the project has been tabled for now.
Next time I will start with the sawzall.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
Did you mean to say that you're concerned that you can't break loose the nut on the union? That should break loose fairly easily, since the threads have no contact with water. Liquid Wrench and a torch should do it if it won't budge otherwise.
After that, cut out a section equal to length of the tee fitting minus 1 inch. Thread both cut ends, put 'em all together and re-connect the union.
You can rent a pipe cutter and threader from any tool rental place. For that matter, you can easily cut the pipe with a hacksaw or Sawzall with metal blade.
Tried breaking it loose today, no go with liquid wrench and muscle. I'm going to change out a bigger portion of the piping when I can get back over there, so I will be cutting out the union.
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
cut the union out by splitting the hubs....
use a "repair" pipe (T) for the take off....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
sawsall
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
die-no-mite...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
A little science. No personal experience, but I'd think super heat the joint (female part) ... the whole will expand and theoretically put stress on the threads to the point that they break free. Do it quickly so that both pieces don't heat up together. MAPP gas instead of propane? WD-40 a few days in advance can't hurt, either ... but remember it may not agree w/ the heating phase ... I'm sure to get someone's attention here quickly ... accident number 653 waiting to happen. ;)
Where's the plumbers in the forum when you need them?! Come on guys ... help this guy out!
for Heck that would be 102,653 that we know about....
but... but.... WD is flammable.....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
anybody under 100k isn't tryin hard enough...
when you are up to yur knees in gators, make gatorade
A few years ago I did a lot of work on a house with 50 YO galvanized pipe. Most of it I sawzalled out. And was dreading it when I got to the risers which I needed to keep.Put a wrench on it and came right off.The only problem that I had when I went to put it back together with the copper and dielectric unions. One place where they orginal just had copper threaded in a GI fitting cracked when I tried to screw in the union. And the whole riser was rotten.Here is what I have used on some other things. Don't know how it would work on the union.Now I have done this at home, but may not be practical if you have a make a trip to do this.Heat it up with a torch. Then take a hammer and lightly tap all the way around it. Then spray it with some PB Blaster or Kroil or similar. Then tap around it some more. The heating and tapping help break up the rust and the PB Blaster work down.Then leave. Try unscrewing it a few hours later. If not repeat the process.If you do end up cutting it out there is a compression repair coupling that is used on steel pipe. On this job the supply end of the GI was not easily accessible. So I cut it off. And used the repair couple with the GI on one side and brass nipple on the other. Then brass to copper. It also acted as a dielectric coupling..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
got a ways to catch up then... huh....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
The Costco here was destroyed some years ago when a forklift dropped a pallet of WD 40 and some cans got punctured. The building survived but everything inside was toast.
Fish oil and petroleum distillates..I use a squirt to light the kindling in the wood stove, and as starter fluid on the lawn mower..handy stuff.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
WD 40 is also great for removing stickers. I love the smell so much I use it like perfume. Ok just kidding.........but not by much.
In the USN it was "WD-40, put it on everything except your salad"Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
One thing to keep in mind if you heat- using a torch on galvanized gives off some seriously toxic fumes- make sure you have good ventilation! If not, at best you'll get the headache of your life. Good luck!