cod 120 #1 Posted August 13, 2023 Two questions: 1. Looking to tie into an existing sewer pipe for a shower. Found the sewer pipe about 9 inches below the concrete but it's iron and it's been there since the early 70's. I'm rather leery of taking a chain breaker to it as I think it will fracture, rather than snap. The chain breaker would be easiest but perhaps a diamond cutting wheel and a right angle grinder would be a better option. 2. What's a good way to clean the exterior of the pipe for a rubber seal? It appears to have added small stones and crusty stuff to the outer surface and I'm not sure that tapping gently on a chisel is the way to go. Suggestions or thoughts welcome. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,627 #2 Posted August 13, 2023 @cod https://www.google.com/search?q=cutting+into+old+iron+pipe+for+plumbing&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS866US866&oq=cutting+into+old+iron+pipe+for+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJ irAjIHCAgQIRirAtIBCTI2OTM1ajFqNKgCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 might find something here , pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,874 #3 Posted August 13, 2023 I used both an angle grinder with a cut off wheel and a reciprocation saw with a 18 tooth good quality metal blade. Used a fern-co ribber connector. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,882 #4 Posted August 13, 2023 Four words. Carbide blade. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 8,707 #5 Posted August 13, 2023 59 minutes ago, Pullstart said: Four words. Carbide blade. I think “carbide blade” is two words?!! 😂 Anyway what about going past the cast iron and tying into the waste line which is probably orangeburg pipe or ceramic? Then using a Y and couple of Fernco couplings ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CCW 1,295 #6 Posted August 14, 2023 18 hours ago, cod said: Suggestions or thoughts welcome. Thanks! I cut a cast iron drain pipe with a sawzall and a carbide blade. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenneth R Cluley 515 #7 Posted August 14, 2023 Definitely not the chain cutter. Sawzall and or angle grinder would both work. Might try slag breaker brush on crust then fernco. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cod 120 #8 Posted August 15, 2023 Thanks Guys. Plenty of ideas to consider. To answer Don's suggestion, I haven't seen any orangeburg or ceramic pipe on the property. It appears that when the house was built, they ran the main septic line about 3' in from the basement wall, 10 inches below the concrete floor for about 25' along the wall. Then there's a 90 turn toward the septic tank for another 25'. As near as I can tell, it's all iron under ground and all copper everywhere else. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites