Spud Removal Tips?

Here are the tools that I use when replacing a spud if it won't back out. Honestly most of the time I just skip right to cutting them out for customers. We did 20 of them the other week. I use a carbide sawzal blade that I modify to fit inside 3/4 pipe. Simply use a angle grinder to make a slimmer profile on the blade. I use a port band to cut the spud just behind the union. I just feel it's more gentle on old pipes rather than the sawzal vibrating the heck out of them.  Once the radiator is free and clear of the valve. Use the sawzal to slice the inside of the spud. Keep checking to make sure you don't go too deep into the brass, but just enough so that you don't go all the way to the radiator threads. I find that once I can cut the first piece of the pie out, I can use a cape chisel to slowly back out the brass spud. I use the angle needle nose to get in and remove small cut pieces so they don't fall into the radiator. If the radiator is on tile floor it comes completely out and removed to a safe area where you won't damage tile if you need to chisel a bit more. I just carry a scrap piece of plywood on my service van to protect the floors if I need to remove a radiator along with heavy drop cloths

first try cutting the nut off the spud. Then jamb something inside the spud so it won't collapse. Put a wrench on it and crank it out.

Most of the time it will come out without chiseling or slicing the spud

I always try the spud wrench first, once in a great while I am surprised by it unscrewing.

But most of the time it breaks off the internal nubs that will then let you drive a smaller pipe inside to prevent collapsing the spud as ED said above.

But first cut the end of the spud off to get the nut out of the way. Leave the spud as long as possible, just cut the union face off.

If you are going to use a spud wrench on the spuds, also use a 6" Ridgid pipe wrench with a cheater pipe, of course, on the nipple part. Turn both at the same time being careful with the spud wrench since the internal tits are fragile and may break off. If this does not work, cut off the union nut as others have said, stick something inside the protruding spud to keep it from crushing and use a pipe wrench to remove the spud. If the spud end breaks off as it sometimes does, then you will have to slit the nipple in 2 places and use chisels to remove the broken piece. Have a can of Expando handy in case you cut too far into the rad threads. I always used a manual saw like a drywall saw that can be purchased at almost any home builders store so I did not ruin a good radiator. Having a skilled person do this work may save lots of $$$. The guys on this site have done this many. many times, so don't be afraid to use one of them. Oh yes, always use a good pair of work gloves to save your knuckles and hands. My 2 cents.