Help removing broken brass vent nipple.

jzkpr

Hello all,

So after a day of successfully sawing off old brass vents and replacing them with mini Varivales (without having to remove the old wall embedded rads), I lost one.

I have a super soft brass nipple that is now embedded nicely into the release vent threading: deformed with a smooth tunnel.

What can I do to remove this brass from the threading so I can reinstall a new ven valve?

Any and all help is appreciated.

jzkpr

Firedragon_4

ez-out?

Unknown

This happened to me last year

after a tough steam boiler install and replacement of all the vents . When the vent end broke off in the radiator I really wanted to just crawl somewhere and off myself .

I came to my senses and sprayed the 1/8 hole with WD-40 and knocked a flat head screwdriver ever so slightly into the hole , wedging it right in the middle . I turned the screwdriver and the remaining threads of the vent came right out . Try it with a little prayer , I did .

bob young

easy out not

avoid using an easy out on a cast iron radiator unless you don't mind replacing it with a new radiator. chop it out with a thin screwdriver or an ice-pick or cape or diamond chisel. re-tap if necessary ,use lampwick if thread is damaged a little. good luck

Larry Weingarten

Another trick...

is to grind down the back of a hacksaw blade to fit, then cut a slot in the brass(this is the tricky part) just shy of the cast iron threads. Once the slot is cut, an edge of the brass can be gently tapped into the center with hammer and old flat screwdriver. Then needle nosed pliers will unscrew the brass with out trouble. I've used this method on everything from 1/4" to 4" with good results. Hope that helps.

Nron_9

Larrys right

but take your time , this requires some practice and pacents

tommyoil

I use

A Lennox sawzall blade (model 318 RC) which fits beautifully into the 1/8" tapping and back cut ever so gently ( and I mean gently) to the threads WITHOUT compromising the threads. Then use a fine tip chisel to tap it out. It works EVERY TIME. I use the same blade to remove stubborn 1/8" plugs from rads when converting them from steam to H.W and vice-versa. Center punch and drill out the plug, back-cut what remains and voila. the trick, she is done. I always have at least two packs of Lennox 318 RC blades on hand at all times. Makes short work of a potentilly nightmarish situation(and you come out smelling like a rose)The only way to screw this up is incompetence. Just be patient!

tommyoil

Larry

Your blade grinding days are over. Get Lennox sawzall blade model 318 RC and try it. You'll like it. It fits in the 1/8" tapping just beautifully.

Ron Schroeder_2

Sears makes a square cross section non-spiral eazy-out that I have found very usefull in taking things like that out. They don't try to expand the threads into the hole like other eazy-outs do.

Ron

jzkpr

Thanks for all the tips folks. I will try the hack saw blade tonight.

What makes this job even worse is that the rad. is built into the wall and I am hoping to not have to remove it (as it hasnt been moved in about 60 years).

Luckily, I can turn it just a bit to get in at it on an angle. Pray and wish me luck.

Firedragon_4

Thank you, that's what I meant!

STEVEN MARKS

broken air vent

I recently had the same problem. The easy out did not work. I drilled out the old brass with the proper size bit. I then used an 1/8" tap to clean the old brass out of the pipe threads. Take your time and this will work great.

jzkpr

Big thanks! It worked!!!

Big thanks to all suggestions. The hacksaw trick worked!

Took some time but once the nipple was split in half by the saw, it punched in center after about 15minutes of work!

I was depressed over this home job all day, but you guys havae helped to change that mood.

Best regards to all.

tommyoil

Great news

Much like quality work,patience pays, it doesn't cost.