Faucet Install Stuck Nut

[diyron]

Can't loosen a stuck nut on a copper pipe to a shut-off valve under bathroom sink. I've attached some pics. Appears to be green mineral deposits and some grey material stuck around nut.

1. Is a nut for a shut-off valve ever soldered onto a copper pipe or is the hard green and grey material just some build up over time? I'm hoping its a compression type nut.

2. Can I use an oil penetrant on the nut (such as Blaster), and is that okay to use around pipes and water?

Always appreciate the help! Thanks

 

[havasu]

I'd use PBlaster, then let it sit overnight. I honestly can't fathom how they would even solder those two metals. Try it again tomorrow and I'm sure it will wrench off.

 

[frodo]

use 2 wrench's, hold it from the bottom, where it is marked with a wrench

put a 2nd wrench on the nut and turn it in the direction of the arrow.

be sure to turn off water first. and open a outside faucet

 

[diyron]

Thanks, havasu and frodo. Really appreciate the help from both of you. I'm going to see this installation through to the end. New to plumbing and have learned a lot from this forum.

 

[havasu]

We will be here for you. All we ask is that you give us a pic of the finished project for others to learn from.

 

[Matt30]

..and so we can critique your handy work

 

[diyron]

Have a quick follow-up question. I removed one of the frozen nuts (with a steel brush to grind away built-up mineral deposits, PBlaster and a lot of determination). The compression ring is stuck on the copper pipe and won't slide off. Is my choice basically a compression ring puller, or a dremel? Or is there another way?

Thanks again!

 

[Matt30]

I just use a fine hacksaw blade and cut/peel it off. The brass is very thin.

 

[diyron]

Thanks Matt30. The hacksaw blade worked and rings are off. I've learned it can be a lot harder to remove an old faucet than it is to install a new one. But that's all part of the learning process.

 

[diyron]

Faucet is installed! Will post pics and what I learned as a diy-er

One last question about the project. Is there a temporary cap that can be placed on the exposed copper water supply pipe from the wall? I ran out of time using a hack saw on the stuck compression ring and needed to turn the water back on. I reattached the old stop-valve and it leaked badly (nothing like turning the water back on downstairs and hearing the sound of a geyser upstairs).

I expect more stuck compression rings on a similar faucet and would like to temporarily cap off the pipe so I can turn the water back on between using a hack saw to remove the badly stuck compression rings.

This site is an amazing resource for people like me who need a little (or a lot) of direction when working on our own plumbing. And I would like to thank all the people who helped me along the way.