Need ideas for cutting clay sewer pipe
 

I am in the process of changing out the clay pipe in my backyard. It
has several locations where it has cracked and roots have grown into
it. As you can imagine, it has given us problems over the years. I
am going to replace the clay pipe with schedule 40 PVC pipe. As I am
doing this whole job (about 30 of pipe to change), I am trying to do
it without disrupting the functioning of our household completely.
Therefore, I am going to replace the clay pipe with the PVC in
sections. In order to do this I will be using a flexible collar to
attach the new pvc pipe section to the existing clay pipe. My
question is this..... I need some way to make a clean cut in the clay
pipe so that I can attach the collar and pipe. I would appreciate
some suggestions with respect to this.

I should mention that because of existing clay pipe is laying in its
original bed, it will not be exposed for easy cutting. This is one
of the challenges. I thought of using a "skil saw" with a rotary
ceramic cutting blade, but it will only be able to cut about 1/2 way
around the pipe surface.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Al Kondo

you can rent a pipe snapper from a tool rental house. I consists of a chain
with cutting wheels on it that when tightened will snap the clay or cast iron
pipe relatively square.

Al Kondo wrote:
I am in the process of changing out the clay pipe in my backyard. It
has several locations where it has cracked and roots have grown into
it. As you can imagine, it has given us problems over the years. I
am going to replace the clay pipe with schedule 40 PVC pipe. As I am
doing this whole job (about 30 of pipe to change), I am trying to do
it without disrupting the functioning of our household completely.
Therefore, I am going to replace the clay pipe with the PVC in
sections. In order to do this I will be using a flexible collar to
attach the new pvc pipe section to the existing clay pipe. My
question is this..... I need some way to make a clean cut in the clay
pipe so that I can attach the collar and pipe. I would appreciate
some suggestions with respect to this.

I should mention that because of existing clay pipe is laying in its
original bed, it will not be exposed for easy cutting. This is one
of the challenges. I thought of using a "skil saw" with a rotary
ceramic cutting blade, but it will only be able to cut about 1/2 way
around the pipe surface.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Al Kondo


There's a very expensive cutter made for this; it looks like a bolt
cutters with a roller chain on the end. See if you can rent one --
they're called "soil pipe cutters", or pay about $300 for one on eBay.

Bob

"Because PVC piping system components can be manufactured in a variety
of colors, identification of application is easy. A common color
scheme (although not universal) is:


White for DWV

White, blue, and dark gray for cold water piping

Green for sewer service

Dark gray for industrial pressure applications

This color scheme has an exception in that much of the white PVC pipe
is dual rated for DWV and pressure applications."



On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 10:18:03 -0500, John Hines
wrote:

(Al Kondo) wrote:

I am in the process of changing out the clay pipe in my backyard. It
has several locations where it has cracked and roots have grown into
it. As you can imagine, it has given us problems over the years. I
am going to replace the clay pipe with schedule 40 PVC pipe.

You should DWV PVC, which is green, and connects together with rubber
o-ring couplings, and not glue. This allows for expansion,
contractions, and flexing of the pipe.

In article ,
(Al Kondo) wrote:

I am in the process of changing out the clay pipe in my backyard. It
has several locations where it has cracked and roots have grown into
it. As you can imagine, it has given us problems over the years. I
am going to replace the clay pipe with schedule 40 PVC pipe. As I am
doing this whole job (about 30 of pipe to change), I am trying to do
it without disrupting the functioning of our household completely.
Therefore, I am going to replace the clay pipe with the PVC in
sections. In order to do this I will be using a flexible collar to
attach the new pvc pipe section to the existing clay pipe. My
question is this..... I need some way to make a clean cut in the clay
pipe so that I can attach the collar and pipe. I would appreciate
some suggestions with respect to this.

I would consider exposing the entire pipe, then replacing it all at
once. You only need to rent the cutter once and you can smash the clay
in the middle to make it easier to work with. Actually, I wouldn't cut
it at all, I'd remove it to the existing joint. It should not be that
big a deal to have 30' of pipe exposed while you are using it.

--
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