Cleanout Stuck

[Diehard]

Yeah, I did a few as a kid, helping my father and then working weekends with my brother on all new homes. I mistakenly never took up plumbing as a profession but ended up with most of my fathers stuff. But the one thing my father never had, was cast iron soil pipe cutter. He had me cutting it with a chisel and hammer. Around and around until it broke off. But you had to be gentle otherwise you'd break the pipe where you didn't intend to cut it.

 

[Diehard]

Yeah, I did a few as a kid, helping my father and then working weekends with my brother on all new homes. I mistakenly never took up plumbing as a profession but ended up with most of my fathers stuff. But the one thing my father never had, was cast iron soil pipe cutter. He had me cutting it with a chisel and hammer. Around and around until it broke off. But you had to be gentle otherwise you'd break the pipe where you didn't intend to cut it.

Worked with my father in the city where we still came across houses with lead water services, fine threaded brass water pipes and of course, the old Pull Chain Toilets. We didn't say "flush the toilet" but rather used the term "pull the chain". I remember a fix for a leaking elevated toilet tank was to add some uncooked Oat Meal in to the open tank. Not sure how long that fix lasted.

 

[packardv8]

Yeah, I did a few as a kid, helping my father and then working weekends with my brother on all new homes. I mistakenly never took up plumbing as a profession but ended up with most of my fathers stuff. But the one thing my father never had, was cast iron soil pipe cutter. He had me cutting it with a chisel and hammer. Around and around until it broke off. But you had to be gentle otherwise you'd break the pipe where you didn't intend to cut it.

For true. A soil pipe cutter is one tool he never bought. I always scored cast iron with a hacksaw as a little extra insurance before getting serious with the hammer and chisel.

At least this plug is about a 60 degree angle. Pouring the horizontal runs was a tell of the plumber's experience and expertise.

Anyone remember Audel's Plumber and Steamfitter's Guide? I've also kept his four volume set.

jack vines

 

[Geofd]

set the lead 3-4 times on the inside of the joint and the same on the outside of the joint then jusy caulk away it shouldn't move after that....

 

[frodo]

For true; my father began work as a Steelworker's Union pipefitter in 1946 and stayed for more than forty years. I inherited all his tools, including a gas stove, lead ladle, asbestos collar, caulking chisels and even a few sticks of lead and some caulking rope. It's been a while since I helped him hang iron, but I think I can remember enough to muddle through. Might be worth the effort, just to say I did one for him.

jack vines

easier to cut cast iron pipe with a 8'' crescent wrench than a hammer chisel

now days, just go buy some lead wool roll it like a long hog dog, and pound it with your packing tool
the ladle and all that drama is not needed

lead wool , 5 pounds

 

[Diehard]

Lead wool has been around for a very long time. Is it code approved? I couldn't find any mention of it in the IPC or the UPC.