Perhaps you can help; we’re getting ready for a new baby (our first) and I want to put a hand held shower onto the 1/2′” fixed shower pipe so that we can clean and use the baby bath easily.
There’s the problem; someone must have used pipe goop to put the last shower head on and pliers and wrenches haven’t helped so far.
What are my choices in this situation? Or does one just apply brute force until something gives (such as the pipe inside the wall, the skin of your knuckles, etc etc etc)
Thanks!
Replies
Or does one just apply brute force ,,,, I'd put a pair of channel locks on the shower head arm/ supply and another on the shower head itself. You are not grunting loud enough is what I'am thinking. You will scar the shower head arm a little, with the above advice, and you will get the shower head off. good Luck
Yry to tighten it first. Not much just a hair. Helps break the seal.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
A dishrag or old sock around the chromed part before you apply the channel locks / pipe wrench will minimize (but not eliminate) damage.
They don't make 24" and 36" pipe wrenches for nothing. (and 48"!)
try a torch on it to heaten and break the seal
My life is my practice!
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You have to use two sets of pliers or you will unscrew the pipe in the wall. Or maybe even twist it off :)
Do it right, or do it twice.
"pipe goop" generally makes it easier to disassemble joints, not harder.
If it's a very old installation, the goop might be "plumber's putty", which is pretty much the same as "glazer's putty" etc.- it's limestone mixed to a paste with a drying oil like linseed oil. Unlike modern pipe thread sealants, this stuff DOES dry hard as a rock over time. That's what they used on the hot water system of my place, and man oh man it held solid and leak-free for over seventy years- and when we started our renovation and had to relocate a rad, no amount of pipe wrench would permit you to disassemble the 1" pipe if you tried it cold. So I got my wife to hold a propane torch on the joint downstairs while I put some force on it with the pipe wrench. It came apart no problem, with only modest heating (i.e. long before there was smoke or fire downstairs!
A good strap wrench, professional model with the rosin impregnated strap, as big a one as you can get but still small enough to grip the pipe. A genuine pipe wrench would be ideal but it would mar the finish something fierce so the strap wrenches will have to do. At least until you give up and go with the BFI (Brute Force and Ignorance) approach. Use them in pairs to prevent breaking the stub off in the wall
Not sure why an electrician should have a set of these but I got a nice pair. Maybe it was a garage sale. Haven't used them much but they are the bee's knees when really needed. I found the rosin in a plumbing supply house a little bit added makes a world of difference in gripping power.
Thank you to all; committed to trying everything here (except the torch; my wife seemed profoundly alarmed at the idea of me with a blowtorch inside the the house, even though I used a rented jackhammer outside last weekend))
NotAClue
We're not talking about a "blowtorch" here- just a little old propane torch that you might already be using to sweat solder copper joints for the rest of your plumbing. If you're afraid of the torch, use an electric heat gun- the kind used to strip paint, NOT a hairdryer! If it's old plumber's putty, you may well snap off the nipple before you get it to turn, unless you use heat!
Heat gun or high powered hair dryer instead of the torch.
After the heat .. Tighten 1st just a bit. Works to break the seal.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
Aha! the dragon is slain!
The showerhead has been removed and the new one applied successfully.
I used a combination of your suggested techniques (two sets of pliers, high powered hair dryer and tightening first) and it finally let go of its stubborn grip. Telfon pipe tape will keep this scenario from reenacting itself some years hence....
Our soon-to-be-born child thanks you all!
NotaClue....
Glad to hear of another success.
Congrats to you and soon to be.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....