Loosen old fittings

Donald

I have a job that I will be replacing several hundred steam traps. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to loosen the fittings. (i.e what kind of spay on rust remover).
I remember someone telling me, that when you have the two pipe wrenches on, apply equal pressure, have a second person hit the knob end of the pipe wrench (right behind the jaws)with a hammer. This sends a vibration into the fittings. (Don't use an aluminum pipe wrench). He also used to put one hammer on the back side of a fitting at tap the fitting with another hammer. I know if there are any cast iron fittings I can break them. What about adding pipe extensions to the pope wrenches.

nick z.

Spray

there is a stuff called "Nut Buster". White can with red and yellwo lettering. Found it at Wal Mart, and auto supplies. This stuff really works.

kevin_5

Donald, I've never loosened a lot of steam traps, but have loosened a lot of rust in my time. "PB Blaster" is the best penetrating oil I have found. Some people swear by "Gibbs" which is much harder to find and more expensive, I haven't really tried it much.

Torque, Heat, Impact, and Chemicals are the 4 ways to break something loose, so yes I would try a little constructive hammering. I would get something heavy like a big sledge hammer head or big auto body dolly that you can put on one side of the union, and a lighter hammer that you can give some quick sharp raps with on the other side.

Since you are doing so many, it may be very beneficial to use a vibrating pneumatic muffler gun. You can buy a hammer insert for this tool, and it will do amazing things in the way of breaking rust loose. Just an idea. Kevin

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kevin_5

an idea Donald,

Donald, I've never loosened a lot of steam traps, but have loosened a lot of rust in my time. "PB Blaster" is the best penetrating oil I have found. Some people swear by "Gibbs" which is much harder to find and more expensive, I haven't really tried it much.

Torque, Heat, Impact, and Chemicals are the 4 ways to break something loose, so yes I would try a little constructive hammering. I would get something heavy like a big sledge hammer head or big auto body dolly that you can put on one side of the union, and a lighter hammer that you can give some quick sharp raps with on the other side.

Since you are doing so many, it may be very beneficial to use a vibrating pneumatic muffler gun. You can buy a hammer insert for this tool, and it will do amazing things in the way of breaking rust loose. Just an idea. Kevin

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

tim from Reed Wright

trap replacements

amazingly enough, we just get in with our wrenches and usually the come out. If we get a tough one we have to sometimes cut out spud from radiator. Generally though this is not the case

jeff_25

traps

are you rebuilding or replacing if rebuilding try to use a big socket or a 15 or 18 in. crestent wrench and try not to screw up the cap unless putting a new cap some times a lite rapping with a hamer helps if installing new traps on a rad. i have had goog luck using kipex pielers best when new you dont have to cut the nut off good luck jeff

Donald

Thank you for the help