Sink Drain - Can't Remove Connection from Stub Out

[water_tight]

So I'm replacing an old 1.5 sink drain pipe that's become brittle. My problem is that I can't unscrew the nut from the stub out in the wall. I only have about 2 inches to work with so it seems like cutting it off would just cause more problems. It is stuck real tight, I've tried penetrating oil and lime remover. Any suggestions?

 

[Reach4]

I would try my 10-inch curved-jaw locking pliers. Rotate toward the movable jaw.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[water_tight]

I would try my 10-inch curved-jaw locking pliers. Rotate toward the movable jaw.

I should add there's not much room to work with to get a long wrench in there. I can try the vice grips but I don't know how much a 10" is going to wrap around that nut

 

[Jadziedzic]

Try using a rotary tool (e.g., Dremel) with an abrasive cut-off wheel to score a line through the nut (parallel with the pipe) - don't cut into the threads of the stub out. You can then try prying in the scored line with a screw driver and that will likely crack the nut at the scored line, making it (hopefully) easier to spin off.

 

[water_tight]

Try using a rotary tool (e.g., Dremel) with an abrasive cut-off wheel to score a line through the nut (parallel with the pipe) - don't cut into the threads of the stub out. You can then try prying in the scored line with a screw driver and that will likely crack the nut at the scored line, making it (hopefully) easier to spin off.

That is a fantastic idea, will pull out the dremel tonight - you get a gold star.

 

[Reach4]

I took my 10 inch Milwaukee curved-jaw locking pliers and tried some similar diameters, and it would be close. Those worked well on 1.5 inch galvanized for me, and that may be a similar diameter to that nut. I am not sure.

Some 12 inch or bigger Tongue and Groove Pliers with a jaw as pictured may be better for the large diameter.

That dremel thing sounds cool.

I have no clue if this is good quality, but it could be useful. https://www.sciplus.com/extra-large-locking-pliers-63862-p I have not had good luck with pipe wrenches. I had thought mine were good, but probably they are not.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

second the cut off wheel in the dremel.. don't mess up the threads.. but if you do mess them up on the top.

 

[water_tight]

So just to follow up, mission accomplished. The Dremmel did the job, cut the nut and pried it off with a screw driver. One thing to note, not hitting the stub threads is easier said than done. You know you hit the stub when sparks start flying everywhere. Unfortunately I went through part of the threads so I couldn't use a regular replacement nut. I went with a waste connector (aka Marvel fitting) and some PTFE and was able to get a nice water tight seal.

Getting the old drain pipe out of the stub was also not easy, it was rusted into the stub and I basically had to slice it down the middle and pry it out piecemeal with pliers

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Thanks for the update! Good job! It takes a skilled and steady hand to keep that blade from digging in or flying off. Before rotary we used to do that with a hacksaw.. downhill both ways... in the snow!