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'wire saw' Dead copper drain line

16 years ago

This is to detach 1.5" dead copper drain line from 3"copper vent stack in order to pull stack out for replacement.Trying to do this without cutting into plastering. The 3"stack is up thru a 4" wall cavity. The dead line can be accessed from under bath room floor and is 18" above access. Need a way to cut off in this confined space. Would a "wire saw" work? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

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Comments (7)

coolvt
16 years ago
It sounds like you are replacing the stack and the 1 1/2" line not used either. So if none of the parts are going to be used you can hack away with whatever you can find. I have seen abrasive wire saws, but can't remember where. I have a wire saw that will do PVC, but not copper. There is one available somewhere and it's probably just what you need.
Can you get a sawsall or something of that sort into the space? A hacksaw? A hammer and cold chistle? Can you cut the vent pipe above and drop it down to get to the 1 1/2" pipe? Just brainstorming!
buygary
Original Author
16 years ago
I am limited by the space inside the wall which is really only about 3.75". Also the dead drain is 18" above the access opening.Sawsall won't fit,Hacksaw won't fit,hammer and cold chistle,have to think about that. Can't get to vent pipe to cut and drop. Thanks for the ideas.
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bus_driver
16 years ago
Why multiple posts on the same topic?
buygary
Original Author
16 years ago
Multiple posts: because from the advice I got on the original post I realized my problem was not well defined.
coolvt
16 years ago
Wow, if you only have 3.75" of space and the vent stack must use up most of that I don't see where you can get anything 18" up in there. I can't see how even a wire saw could work. Hopefully you can cut the drywall so only one small patch it needed.
buygary
Original Author
16 years ago
The dead drain line comes off the side of the vent and is centered in the 3.75" space. I was hoping to fish the wire saw around the dead pipe and cut it that way.I would have about 1"on either side of pipe to do this.I do not know if a wire saw exists that would cut thru a 1.5" copper pipe.
coolvt
16 years ago
As I said, there are wire saws with some kind of an abrasive built into them that will go through the copper with no problem....not sure where you'll find one. I think I saw one in a place like Harbor Freight. The one that I have is for plastic and is about 24 inches long. If the 1 1/2" pipe comes in at an angle a string saw might work. You might have to tie rope on each end of it to make it long enough.

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