Angle grinder to cut old iron pipes
 

I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)

TIA

Mr F.

Mr Fizzion wrote:
I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)

TIA

Mr F.

If they really are iron it should go through fairly easily BUT what
about the sparks!! Beware the fire risk.

Dave

Mr Fizzion wrote:
I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)

An angle grinder would be fine, as would a jigsaw. With the angle
grinder, lots of sparks will be produced that may set fire to
inflammable junk such as sawdust, shavings, spider webs, old felt
lagging, that may be under the boards, so take care. Also angle
grinder sparks will ruin any glass or ceramic surface they hit,
so watch out for your mugs/windows/glasses. First support the
pipe, so it won't fall and bash the ceiling when you cut it. Get
the grinder going, then tough the wheel on the pipe. When a small
slot has been made, rub the wheel back and forth to assist fast
cutting. Do not let the wheel chatter in the slot, or wiggle it
sideways, or the wheel will wear rapidly. Should the wheel bind
(jam) when cutting the pipe, the grinder will give you a big jerk,
so be careful. Don't run the grinder where any of your flesh could
get in the way. Careful of electric/gas/other water pipes.

"Mr Fizzion" wrote in message
...
I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)

TIA

Mr F.

angle grinder and safety gear (goggles and gloves) will be fine, hold the
pipe with mole wrenches so that the cut off part will hang down, rather than
pinch the cutting disk, I would put a wet towel below and around you to
catch the sparks, beware that the sparks do not get to any glass, as they
will melt in (been there, done that)

mrcheerful

I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

Perhaps you should follow the example of the previous plumber?

I would only remove them if there was a good reason to. Cutting them would
otherwise be an unnecessary fire risk and waste of time.

Christian.

On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 17:13:27 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
wrote:

I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

Perhaps you should follow the example of the previous plumber?

I would only remove them if there was a good reason to. Cutting them would
otherwise be an unnecessary fire risk and waste of time.

Christian.

I guess I'll never make a real plumber then! :-)

Somehow detritus left under my floorboards annoys me. I have found the
odd cigarette butt there too.

Mr F.

Mr Fizzion wrote:
On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 17:13:27 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
wrote:


I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

Perhaps you should follow the example of the previous plumber?

I would only remove them if there was a good reason to. Cutting them would
otherwise be an unnecessary fire risk and waste of time.

Christian.


I guess I'll never make a real plumber then! :-)

Somehow detritus left under my floorboards annoys me. I have found the
odd cigarette butt there too.

Mr F.


They are mandatory - I found one under the bath when I took the panel
off to replace the taps

In article ,
ne says...
I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

If they're really hard they might break if you whack them with a lump
hammer (or a cold chisel if there isn't hammer access).

I guess I'll never make a real plumber then! :-)

Somehow detritus left under my floorboards annoys me. I have found the
odd cigarette butt there too.

There's good reason to vacuum up any debris, as it is a fire risk. Just
leave the pipes, though. Better a few hidden pipes than a burnt down house.
The plumber was right to leave them there, IMO.

Christian.

"Mr Fizzion" wrote in message
...
I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

Thats probably why they are still there!


I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)


You will set fire to your house don't do it. You could try a screwdown wheel
cutter but if they aren't doing any harm why not leave them alone?

John wrote:
"Mr Fizzion" wrote...

I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards. [ snip ]
Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)


You will set fire to your house don't do it. You could try a screwdown wheel
cutter but if they aren't doing any harm why not leave them alone?

Where's your sense of adventure? Old Fizzy will also get a
number of 6' lengths of clogged-up galvanised iron water
pipe to put in the shed, which will be useful for... erm...

In article ,
Mr Fizzion wrote:
I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

It will cut easily enough with a hacksaw and a decent high speed blade.
But needs to be properly supported to get the right pressure on it. Could
you clamp it up to the floorboards either side of your opening, etc? It
won't actually be hard but just plain mild steel.

Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)

I'd be worried about sparks etc. And it would still need supporting.

--
*Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Thu, 08 Sep 2005 17:00:22 +0100, Mr Fizzion
wrote:



Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)

As well as the fire risk you would be well advised to practice before
trying cutting in a confined space. Also the iron filings produced
go everywhere and if they fall on carpets may produce rust marks
months later.

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

done it often - no prob except the sparks.

"Mr Fizzion" wrote in message
...
I found some old iron pipes that had been left rolling on my dining
room ceiling by a previous plumber. They are far too long to get out
without cutting them or taking up all the floorboards.

I have tried a metal cutting blade on my jigsaw but progress is
*extremely* slow - the pipes are thick walled and very hard.

Will an angle grinder with appropriate cutting disk do the job...I
don't actually have an angle grinder otherwise I'd try it. (I've never
used one before)

TIA

Mr F.


==================
A reciprocating saw will do the job safely (and quicker than a jig saw) and
you may be able to hire one if you don't anticipate any further use for one.

Cic.

In article ,
Owain wrote:
Push them along parallel to the joists until you get to an outside wall,
then drill a hole through the wall. Push pipes out through hole.

Seem to remember IMM recommending this approach for something. Sorry.

--
*A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Owain wrote:
Push them along parallel to the joists until you get to an outside wall,
then drill a hole through the wall. Push pipes out through hole.

Seem to remember IMM recommending this approach for something. Sorry.

Never have I seen such a deadly insult on ukdiy


NT