On Jan 22, 7:27 pm, "DavidM" wrote:
"Robert Laws" wrote in I am fitting a new WC to a 1960s vintage soil pipe. The pipe is cast
iron and joined with lead which appears to have been cast in place
(not
foil wrap). I want to remove the last 'extension' piece (about 4"
long) which will leave the remaning 'female' pipe at pretty much the
exact correct height for my new WC.


I thought people might like to know how I got on. I hired the ratchet
pipe cutter that was suggested by Royben. it worked fine. I wrapped
the chain (which has cutting disks embedded in it (like those in a
glass cutter but bigger) round the pipe and tightened it up, pulled the
lever (no too much strength needed) and 'bang' the pipe fractured along
the line of cutters. there was a slight smell of burnt metal
afterwards.

But then I found that my plastic insert woulf not fit in the inside of
the cut pipe - the diameter was too small. I decided to risk something
more radical and cut the pipe further back, actually in the branch of
the cast "T" piece. This bit is not perfectly circular in section so i
thought I might shatter the whole thing. But it worked fine,
fracturing with another splendid 'bang'. The plastic insert fits
nicely.

I returned the cutting tool to the hire shop within 30 minutes.

So, many thanks for the discussion and for such an easy answer.

Robert