Removing An Old Cast Iron Sink

[JDF-Texas]

My wife wants to replace our old kitchen sink. It's cast iron and probably at least 20 years old. The counter top is ceramic tile and still in great shape so I'd like to remove it without damaging the tile. My problem is once I remove the faucets, drains and Garbage Disposal how do I remove the sink? Looking from below it doesn't appear to have any retaining clips so I suspect it's just held in place with some sealant and the weight of the sink.
I've read where someone took a bottle jack and slowly applied pressure to the underside to begin to "lift" the sink and then use something to break the bond. Anybody tried this?
Any suggestions and techniques?
Thanks!!
John

 

[hdshinn]

I gather the sink is top mounted rather than being tiled in. That is with the tile overlapping the sink rim. That being the case I wouldn't try jacking the thing out, rather I'd take a thin putty knife and carefully work it under and around the sink rim 'til it comes loose. Before you take it out, tough, make sure you can find a replacement that fits properly and covers up where the old one was.

They're quite heavy.

 

[Todd.Brock]

It's probably going to be caulked around the rim to prevent water from going under it. Don't use a bottle jack unless you want to replace tile. Use a putty knife, utility knife or maybe even a linoleum knife to get under it and cut the caulk. I think when put my sink in a few years ago it was about 50 to 75lbs maybe ???

 

[tcianci]

Do not jack the sink, there's a good chance that the sink is more well bonded to the tile than the tile is to the countertop. Rather, use a thin putty knife 1" wide or less and heat it with a propane torch, work it under the sink all around the perimiter to loosen the bond. Make sure you have the supply and drain lines disconnected before you attempt to lift the sink and like others have said, make sure you find a replacement sink that fits.

 

[Cuda]

I have seen a jack used for this purpose. But as has been said, you may put your tiles at risk. Maybe just a bit of pressure with the jack while using a putty knife under the rim. Slow and easy would be the way to go I think.

 

[slip knot]

Get help. A cast sink is a heavy SOB. Lifting it out of the hole is not an easy task for one person, especially if you want to save the tile underneath.

 

[rsanter]

if its a top mount and its grouted in (have seen many that way) then you will need to chip at the grout to break the thing loose
if it is installed with sealant then I would use a knife to cut away as much sealand/caulking as you can then use a couple of puddy knives and work around the outer rim.
I would also get some shim stock (those tapered wood shims) and work them into the areas when you have gotten the puddy knife in.
do that intill its all loose and you can pick it up
get help to lift it so you dont drop in on your foot or worse yet the counter

bob

 

[kbs2244]

Use both.
The jack to just get the weight of the sink off the tile and then cut it out.
The hard part it the back edge.
It is where the tile is narrowest, and thus the weakest, and where you have a hard time getting to the seam.
You may just have to let the tile come up with the sidk and then re-set it.

The seam can be strong.
I just removed a pedistal sink from a bathroom in a house to be demolished.
The pedistal was about 4 inchs in dia at the floor.
The only thing holding it in place was a bead of silicone caulk.
The sink came out with the floor tile.
The caulk bond to the sink was stronger than the bond of the tile to the sub-floor.

 

[BBQ&Love]

Tip: Remove the basket strainers first. Handholds!

 

[59 wagon man]

remove the basket strainer or strainers take a 2x4 and cut a piece about 3' and a piece 6" drill a hole in the middle of the 6" board and a hole in the 3' board . take a piece of threaded rod and place it thru the 6" board thru the strainer hole and now thru the 3" piecew. nut and washers on both sides and now you have a 3' handle for you and a freind to lift the sink

 

[Frank The Plumber]

If this is the Hootie rim steel banded sink place some blocking under the sink to hold it up so it can not slip through the hole and smash the piping.

Next: on both the drop in and the hootie rim sink, use a pair of thicker putty knives to carefully work the sink up and loose, use a razor knife to cut any caulk as you work your way around the sink, as you go you can place a few wood shims into the places you have loosened. Once you make your way around carefully edge one side up, slip in a stud or a spacer, carefully edge up the other side, spot in a stud or spacer, place in a few safety spacers in case the sink slips you won't mass a finger, have a buddy lift with you.
Drop in a new sink and run a bead of caulk.
Sink weighs 220 on average.
I do these solo. Huff puff. Have fun.

 

[JDF-Texas]

Wow! Thanks for all the great ideas. I especially like the shims under the edge. Once I get everything disconnected, I'll start trying to remove any sealant with a thick putty knife and shim as I go. I'll keep you guys posted on my progress. Thanks again!!

 

[rburke65]

JDF-Texas....not to hi-jack this thread, but what kind of fans do you restore/collect? House fans and the like? Thanks.

 

[JDF-Texas]

rburke65..I collect and restore antique desk fans. Never got into ceiling fans. I have probably 200 fans of which ~50 are restored. I'm running out of room and need to thin the herd or so my wife says. Most are GE, Emerson fans from around the 1920's although I do have a few Emersons produced in the late 40's early 50's. We have 5 running in the house now, the newest one is about 50 years old. John