Removing cast iron in the floorboard....?

[rshimizu12]

I am trying to remove the cast iron under the bath tub. Some of the cast iron protrudes up through the floor. I am thinking of heating the joint and see if tt comes apart. The other option would be to cut from the inside of the pipe with a die grinder or sawzall.

 

[The Cobbler]

are you wanting to save the cast pipe?
the easiest way to demo it is good whacks with a heavy hammer

 

[rshimizu12]

I may trying using chisel. The problem is that goes above the floorboard. I wonder if a rotary hammer might work....?

 

[The Cobbler]

serious. a decently heavy hammer or sledge & you'll knock it to pcs in no time

 

[Death Row Dave]

Heating it? Could be dangerous if full of sewer gas .

 

[kbs2244]

access from below??
if so remove and replace

 

[nadogail]

When the cast iron tub was removed from my house it was done with a 5 pound hammer in small pieces.

 

[rustyzman]

If not saving the pipe and there is a bit of room to swing, I agree a sledge will do it quickly.

Removed all my all CI pipe from the very shallow crawlspace laying on my side with a 3lb straight pein. Few good whacks on the bell joint and it will crack right open. Wear a respirator, lots of dry rusty **** will come out.

Alternately, if trying to save some of it, sawzall from the outside or inside as you see fit. Respirator again, for dry rusty **** and lead. CI cuts easily with a good fine tooth blade. I would love to try one of those new carbide tipped ones on it, but alas it is pretty much all gone in my place now!

I am a great fan of PVC for sewer lines and replace old clay, iron or cast iron pipe whenever the need arises. It just isn't worth saving generally.

I suggest skipping the heat. Even a regular lead joint will take a ton of heat to get apart (fire hazard) and the Oakum will probably burn with a nasty stink. It is a different animal pouring molten lead into a joint than it is making molten lead inside an existing joint.

 

[rsanter]

Air hammer?
Hammer and cold chisel?

 

[fitter30]

Snap soil pipe cutter. Cut a section out drill the lead out of the joints pick out the oakum.

 

[Innovate1]

Snap soil pipe cutter. Cut a section out drill the lead out of the joints pick out the oakum.

Yep. If you want to take the joint apart take a drill to the lead in a number of spots and pry out whats left of the lead and oakum. If you want to cut below the joint I have used a carbide grit sawzall blade if I recall correctly. Haven't ever tried a snap cutter but apparently they work well. You can get rubber inserts that fit in the bell and convert to PVC. Do you have access below the floor?

 

[gahrajmahal]

A cast iron snap cutter works amazing! I rented one while remodeling my relatives kitchen. He is a philosophy professor and rarely laughs out loud, but he was giggling like a school girl when we were snapping that 4” cast iron pipe into sections for removal.