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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Removing black steel gas pipe.

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Stan in Oly, WA

01-29-2008 17:35:01




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I need to remove and cap off a short section of 1/2" black steel gas pipe from a difficult location. The pipe I want to get rid of is near the floor in a corner. It is only about 1" from the left wall as I face it, and barely more than that from the back wall. It extends vertically up from an elbow which is not totally out of the wall. At the top of this pipe is another elbow, a short nipple and a shut-off valve. None of these will be easy to remove because of the inadequate clearance.

My current plan is to (shut off the gas and) cut the vertical pipe. Then how do I turn it counter-clockwise when there isn't room for the head of a pipe wrench between the pipe and the left wall, and no clearance to the rear for the handle for the open jaws to face the wall? I'm thinking some other tool than a pipe wrench, but I don't know what.

The fittings all have hardened pipe dope on them, so I don't expect the pipe to turn easily, even if it were out in the open.

Once I start this little detail, I've got to finish it. With the gas turned off I've got no furnace, water heater, or cookstove.

Good advice would be a great relief here. I dread starting a difficult task like this one where I don't have a Plan B, and not even a lot of confidence in Plan A.

Thanks, Stan

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Slowpoke

02-02-2008 10:28:10




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
Try a small 6 or 8" pipe wrench with cheater handle if necessary. The pipe shouldn't be that hard to turn. If the wall is sheetrock, cut out a section behind the pipe so the wrench has room. Then repair the wall when the pipe is gone. Keep the opening by the floor, so the repair will not be noticed.



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Stan in Oly, WA

01-30-2008 13:13:45




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
My very sincere thanks to everybody. Such good advice and so many good ideas were offered that I feel totally confident that now I'll be able to deal with the situation easily. Of course, now that it's been downgraded from potential crisis to regular old PITA job, it's a virtual certainty that nothing will go wrong. That's a law of nature or something, isn't it?

Many thanks, Stan



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bobi

01-30-2008 11:30:33




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
If you need the furnace i would wait untill warm weather as if you break it and can,t get at it to repair it will not be a home pleaser.



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wyod

01-30-2008 07:48:40




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
Hey Stan,
How 'bout drilling thru the pipe with a 1/4" drill, then stick a phillips screwdriver thru the hole to turn it out? ...would probably have to drill it twice... drill the first time vertically, turn 1/4 turn, then drill vertically again.



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wyod

01-30-2008 07:50:52




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to wyod, 01-30-2008 07:48:40  
sorry... re-read your post and realized the pipe you're dealing with runs vertically... anyways, drill from one direction, close to the wall, turn out a quarter turn, then re-drill... D



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Dick Lemmon

01-30-2008 07:47:33




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
If you buy a pair of Channellocks like in the ad with the pipe jaw you can get a real grip on pipe. The flat jaw channellocks are a waste of money for pipe.
We change molds two or three times a day out in the molding room and a lot of them have pipes that have to be removed to get the mold out.



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Ebbsspeed

01-30-2008 07:07:50




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
Usually gas pipe unthreads a lot easier that water pipe, so I'm thinking even a small channellock would probably do the trick. Or a Vise Grip. Hardened pipe dope shouldn't give you much resistance, unless they used JB Weld for pipe dope.



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Bud in WV

01-30-2008 03:45:09




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
How about an internal pipe wrench? They work pretty good when you don't have enough pipe to grab. Here's a link that Lowe's has -

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=28191-943-05212



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NE IA

01-29-2008 20:07:59




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
I'm not real clear on all the situation, but a sharp chiesl and a hammer will turn alot of things including pipe threads.



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Andy C

01-29-2008 19:32:26




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
Not to be smart a.. but if you do it in the summer you can go out to eat while you figure plan b... c... etc.
Good Luck ,
Andy



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Charles (in GA)

01-29-2008 18:34:17




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
Is it accessible from underneath? Last one like that I helped someone with, I had to get the pipe wrench on it underneath the house where I had some room.

Charles



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David - OR

01-29-2008 17:52:53




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
It sounds like ordinary locking pliers would have enough clearance to allow you to clamp them on and turn 90 degrees at a time. Half inch pipe is usually pretty easy to turn with "Vise grips".

Another option is one of those chain wrenches, the kind with the "bicycle chain" that wraps around the object, latches in place on the jaw, and a serrated face that is wedged into the pipe by the chain.

Another option is a basin wrench. It may not be strong enough for this duty, though.

Another option: Grind a small flat on the pipe, center punch the flat, and drill a 3/8 inch hole all the way through the pipe. Push a bolt through the hole, then use another chunk of pipe over the bolt to act as a lever to turn the pipe. This is a variation on the method for removing "spin on" oil filters when they get stuck beyond the hope of any wrenches.

Brute force: weld a washer to the top of the pipe, then weld a large nut to the washer. Then use the wrench of your choice to spin the nut. This is a variation on the "broken bolt" technique. Kinda harsh for inside the house, though.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas...

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Greg_Ky

01-29-2008 17:40:53




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 Re: Removing black steel gas pipe. in reply to Stan in Oly, WA, 01-29-2008 17:35:01  
Stan,
See if your local hardware store has an internal pipe wrench, it will fit inside the pipe and you can turn it with an open end wrench.
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