Pipe Extractors

[mooman]

I'm planning on changing a leaking plastic drain valve on my water heater with a brass one.
I've heard that these usually break off inside the tank during removal. Sooooo, I'm looking for a decent 3/4" pipe extractor. Anybody have any good ones?

 

[Tool Pants]

My plumber friend loaned me a giant easy out. There is another style that expands inside the pipe.

He has helped me replace water heaters at 2 different houses over the years. He does not like the plastic drain valves. He removes them and puts in a threaded brass ******. Then screw on a ball valve. Then on the end of the ball valve a pipe thread to garden hose adapter is screwed in. You can then hook up a garden hose to the water heater.

He likes the ball valve because you can get full flow if you need to drain the tank, or to remove sediment at the bottom of the tank. If the valve gets clogged with sediment while you are draining it you can stick a screwdriver down the ball valve to clear it, which you can't do with a normal type of valve.

 

[mrshaun]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...d=1262&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

these work too in tight places

 

[Mickey O]

Internal pipe wrenches, you can get them at any plumbing supply house, maybe even Ace Hardware, Blowes or Home Depot.

 

[mrshaun]

and from snap on as well ...

 

[Mickey O]

and from snap on as well ...

I'll be damned, and a great price ($44.80) for the USA made 4 piece set (3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1"), you'd pay that and a whole lot more when you need them.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=15486&group_ID=2583

 

[mrshaun]

you never know what you will find on a snap on truck or in the catalog........
lifetime warranty as well

 

[Mike83]

Those internal pipe wrenches are on my Snap-on "Wish List".

 

[speed bump]

Those internal pipe wrenches are on my Snap-on "Wish List".

I'll bet all of those SO pipe extractors are made by General though. Heck you can pick them up online (or probably at the big box place) for $24.

 

[Thedroid]

I have a set of generals, I don't think they are USA though. Quality is ok. On plastic I think the big easy out would work better. The extractors are kind of picky about the id of the pipe. They are made to fit a certain size, and if its not a perfect match they tend to slip pretty easy.

 

[bgott]

These work well for plastic...http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/NE-050-p/ne-050.htm

 

[Trophyman]

Lowe's in the plumbing dept. Made by Superior Tool in Ohio. Awesome tool.

 

[basspro]

All you need is a square chunk of aluminum, a hammer, and a channellocks. I use em all the time. Slam the aluminum in the broken piece, them giver a turn.

 

[nick__m]

I've got a set Proto internal pipe wrenches that are a different style than most others but I haven't had a chance to use them a lot. They don't seem to be widely available, but they show up on ebay frequently.