Xroad
New Member
- Messages
- 113
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
My mother's house have a section of 4" waste pipe, cast iron, badly rusted and leaking. If I am to cut the section out and replace the section with PVC pipe & rubber union boots at each end, it would be the ideal fix. Problem is the risk. If I use a chain type pipe cutter. It may not snap at the cut line due to few possible reasons. The pipes are old, easily 80 years old. Old time iron casting quality may not yield evenly casted wall thickness. Rust weakens the pipe walls unevenly. If it does not snap at the cut line, I would have to try another cut further back. This section is right under the toilet upstairs. So, there is no where to cut at a spot further back. I'm at the elbow. Going toward downstream, is another elbow. So, this section is about 2 feet between two elbows.
Reciprocating saw with a diamond blade will work but it takes a long time and messy. I have a 4" grinder but that is also a mess. Even If I want to put up with the noise and the splashing mess, both method will work only if the uneven snap cut leaves me extra pieces TO cut. If the chain cutter bit off a chunk larger than necessary, then I'll have to cut back more. Option is looking bad.
Maybe I'll start with the grinder first and forget the chain type cutter. 4" diamond disc cut around the circumference until cut through. Better control. Long and slow. Less risk of out of control break. Will it be very slow?
Few years back, my mother found some handy man. He strapped a piece of rubber "mat" over the top where the rust is and piled on tons of caulking. I guess it held for a few years.
Rather risking expanding this job to a much bigger out of control project, I am thinking of doing the same patch, but better. I will use a thick neoprene rubber sheet to wrap the pipe and use screw type hose clamps every 2 inch or so to strap on the rubber sheet. It will be the same concept of the pipe repair clamps kit sold in McMaster Carr catalog. They did not have the length I need. I found up to 15 inches in length. I need a longer section, more like 24 inches.
Any good ideas?
Reciprocating saw with a diamond blade will work but it takes a long time and messy. I have a 4" grinder but that is also a mess. Even If I want to put up with the noise and the splashing mess, both method will work only if the uneven snap cut leaves me extra pieces TO cut. If the chain cutter bit off a chunk larger than necessary, then I'll have to cut back more. Option is looking bad.
Maybe I'll start with the grinder first and forget the chain type cutter. 4" diamond disc cut around the circumference until cut through. Better control. Long and slow. Less risk of out of control break. Will it be very slow?
Few years back, my mother found some handy man. He strapped a piece of rubber "mat" over the top where the rust is and piled on tons of caulking. I guess it held for a few years.
Rather risking expanding this job to a much bigger out of control project, I am thinking of doing the same patch, but better. I will use a thick neoprene rubber sheet to wrap the pipe and use screw type hose clamps every 2 inch or so to strap on the rubber sheet. It will be the same concept of the pipe repair clamps kit sold in McMaster Carr catalog. They did not have the length I need. I found up to 15 inches in length. I need a longer section, more like 24 inches.
Any good ideas?
Last edited by a moderator: