Can't get old pipes apart

Shemp

My house has a 100 year old 1 pipe steam system. I have to move a radiator and the pipes are stuck so badly that I think they will break before the threads loosen.



Any tips or suggestions on how to get the pipes apart would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Tom Blackwell_2

Cast Iron Fittings

With a system this old, the fittings are probably cast iron. The fittings are easy to break by holding a heavy hammer on one side and whacking the other side with a large hammer. Using this method, little collateral damage will be done if there is room to work.

Shemp

pipes

Ok, But I can't get the pipes loosened from the rad itself.

Is there a way to get the pipe detached from the rad without damaging the rad?

The pipe is bending from the force and will not give from the rad.

Tom Blackwell_2

Pipes

If the pipe going into the radiator is stuck, you can cut it off fairly close to the radiator and use a hacksaw blade or sawzall on the interior of the pipe, being careful to stop when you are down to the threads. Then use a cold chisel to fold the pipe wall inward-at this point the piece will thread out. This method will usually work without damage to the radiator threads.