Unsoldering - Part 2

amakarevic

are there special pliers whose one jaw fits inside a 1/2 or 3/4 pipe and the other on the outside so i don't have to grip on the outside and jeopardize bending the pipe out of shape ?

e.g. needle-nose pliers would do it if the handles were longer and the jaws were mildly curved so as to not flatten the portion of the pipe where the grip takes place.

zel

If that end of the pipe is in good shape, can you just add on to it with a male-to-male copper joint? (not sure of the proper name)

amakarevic

because it is a 3/4 tee and the one i want to unsolder has an adapter to 1/2 pretty much right after the tee and i want it to continue to be 3/4 for a few more feet because i am making some new outlets.

zel

I see. If you absolutely cant break the solder loose, just cut out a larger section and replace it with the correct size tee.

Jeekinz

Yes. You may need to just cut back on the other 3/4 lines and install a new tee with unions.

"The hard way is the easy way."

amakarevic

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cus...&n=228013&s=hi

KUIPORNG

taking copper pipe out from existing position without cutting sometimes is real challenge, been there before... sometimes even taking dry fitted copper pipe out is difficult, not to mentioned soldered... if it is too difficult... cutting pipes sometimes is a better option

Ron The Plumber

One thing about unsoldering is, free of water content, I believe there was water on the heated point causing the fitting to not get hot enough, the trick is heat and plenty of it, use mapp gas, burns hotter and can even heat fast enough to boil water out of the fitting if it's there. Once you see the solder spit from the fitting cup, keep the heat on it till you fully extract the pipe.

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jproffer

Also, to follow up from your "part one" thread: You just cut the pipe off with a hacksaw (or whatever you cut it with) and there's only a few inches left, correct? So why does it matter if it gets bent up?

That said, Ron's absolutely correct...it should just come right out...IF you have it hot enough.