6" Column pipe

johnyquest69 · May 12, 2017

Getting ready to try and redo the output of this well and need to remove aluminum itting rom 6" coupling. I don't suppose you can use a smoke wrench to heat aluminum? Any suggestions?

johnyquest69 · May 12, 2017

Missing the "f". Should be fitting and from. Bad key on keyboard.

WGM · May 12, 2017

Heat can be used lightly on aluminum. Done it many times.

jon f mn · May 12, 2017

Using a torch on that will require a VERY delicate hand! I wouldn't try it unless nothing else worked,
and I've been working aluminum for 3 decades. 2 large pipe wrenches will likely do the job for you.

teddy52food · May 12, 2017

Use 2 hammers on it. One to hammer & one to back up. Go all around if you can.

Roger in Iowa · May 12, 2017

Use a dremel or grinder with a cut-off wheel. Would save the threads on the two fittings being connected. Have to be
careful of going too "deep" at the threaded area.

johnyquest69 · May 12, 2017

No luck so far! Beat around threads and had 8' cheater bars on chain wrenches and didn't budge. Try again tomorrow with some heat probably!

kcm.MN · May 12, 2017

It looks like this circled area may be aluminum-welded to the piece to its left. ...What happens if you loosen the nuts on those bolts?

MarkB_MI · May 13, 2017

Is the coupling steel? You can put quite a bit of heat on the steel before the aluminum melts or gets too soft to wrench.

I recall a trick for pre-heating aluminum for welding where you first coat the work with a layer of acetylene soot; the soot will burn off when the aluminum gets above 300F.

jon f mn · May 13, 2017

You can't weld aluminum to steel, it must be screwed or clamped.

johnyquest69 · May 13, 2017

Couldn't break threads even after heating. Cut coupling with torch but saved aluminum piece...threads and all. The bolts you see are holding in line flow meter that goes in thru hole cut in top of pipe. Thanks for all the info!

MarkB_MI · May 14, 2017

> Cut coupling with torch but saved aluminum piece

Well done!

kcm.MN · May 14, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:30:33 05/13/17) Couldn't break threads even after heating. Cut coupling with torch but saved aluminum piece...threads and all. [b:15a238cfd6]The bolts you see are holding in line flow meter that goes in thru hole cut in top of pipe.[/b:15a238cfd6] Thanks for all the info!

Thanks for the info. I've never seen a setup like that before.

6" Column pipe

johnyquest69

Member

johnyquest69

Member

WGM

Well-known Member

jon f mn

Well-known Member

teddy52food

Well-known Member

Roger in Iowa

Well-known Member

johnyquest69

Member

kcm.MN

Well-known Member

MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

jon f mn

Well-known Member

johnyquest69

Member

MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

kcm.MN

Well-known Member

Similar threads