As a rule, a cast-iron bathtub is the most durable piece of every apartment. But sometimes in the process of repair it is required to replace it. Some try to endure it entirely, although this is a very difficult task, due to its enormous weight. Very often in our apartments there are such narrow passages that it is simply impossible to take out a bath because of its bulkiness. And after a little thought, you decide to break the tub and take it out piece by piece. Here the question arises: how to break cast iron bath? This article will give you the answer.

Dismantling cast iron bath start by removing the fasteners.

List of materials and tools:

• Bulgarian;
• sledgehammer;
• bags for construction debris;
• an old blanket or other soft cloth (put under the bathroom);
• burlap or other durable fabric (cover the bath to reduce the impact force of flying fragments);
• tight clothing, closed shoes, headgear, construction gloves, protective mask (to protect the body from flying fragments);
• soundproof headphones (optional).

Technological process

The scheme of the structure of the bathroom on legs and brick

First you need to disconnect the old bathtub from the fastening elements with which the bathtub was attached, and dismantle the drain. If it is not possible to disconnect the drain, it is cut off with a grinder. You should also remove all objects that may interfere with the dismantling of the bath (both under and above the bath), and remove the mixer. To dismantle the bath, the edge of which is embedded in the wall, you need to dismantle the legs of the bath (starting from the far ones) and, after that, pressing on it from above, “drop” it on the floor. Before dismantling the old cast-iron bath in this way, it is required to put some kind of soft material to soften the impact of the bath on the floor.

Breaking a cast iron bath will not be easy. This job requires strong man and a sledgehammer. Before proceeding with the demolition, it is necessary to clear the space around the bath, lay it on the floor soft tissue(to protect the floor), put the bath itself on its side so that it has Free access at both sides. Scrapping a cast-iron bathtub is enough dangerous job: high risk of injury from flying fragments of the bath. To protect yourself from these fragments, you should wear thick clothing, shoes, a hat, construction gloves and a protective mask. To protect your ears from loud enough noise, you can wear soundproof headphones.

To minimize the risk of injury from bath shards, remove household members from the premises

How to break a cast-iron bathtub without applying extra effort? The weakest point of the bath is near the drain hole. To break through it, a series of blows should be applied from the inside to the bottom near the drain hole.

Cast iron bath, according to masters involved in repair work professionally, is the most durable accessory. However, there comes a time when it needs to be replaced. Many owners of old baths try to delay this moment as long as possible, covering the product with new layers of enamel for this. Some people approach this issue radically. This category prefers to completely remove the old bath from the house, and not install a new one in its place. It can be dismantled with or without preservation. Having tried to make this accessory whole, beginners face difficulties and wonder if it is possible to break a cast-iron bath. Or do you have to take it out whole? In this case, you have to hire a brigade or call someone to help.

How to break cast iron This question becomes very relevant for those who decide not to use the old accessory anywhere else. This task will be easy to deal with. For information on how to quickly break a cast-iron bath, you will find in this article.

About dismantling methods

There are two ways to replace an old bath:

• With preservation. The bathtub is carefully disconnected from the rest of the communication in the house and taken out. It can be used later. Judging by the reviews, this method is complex and laborious.
• Without saving. In this case, you can both break the cast-iron bath and cut it with an angle grinder. Pieces of the tub are then taken out. Due to the fact that the product now weighs much less, one person can cope with this work. According to experienced craftsmen, if necessary, they mainly resort to this method. The disadvantage of this method is that the procedure is accompanied by a very large roar.

What is the peculiarity of the method?

According to reviews, it can be concluded that the procedure for breaking a bathtub with a sledgehammer is the most proven method of dismantling in practice. However, it requires a lot of physical effort. To destroy the bath into several parts is not available to everyone. The work must be done by a physically fit person. In addition, the procedure itself should be done during the day. Otherwise, a scandal with neighbors is inevitable.

Training

Before proceeding with the dismantling, you need to prepare the room in which the work will be carried out. It is desirable that there is nothing superfluous in the bathroom, namely various cabinets and bedside tables. In order not to damage the toilet, if the bathroom is combined, it is better to remove it from the room as well. The floor must be covered with a rubber mat. Otherwise, the cast-iron product laid on the tiled surface will slip.

Instruments

Since the bath will first of all need to be disconnected from the pipes, the master needs to acquire the following:

• Adjustable and regular wrenches.
• Screwdrivers.
• Pliers.
• Hacksaw for metal and grinder.
• Crowbar.
• Sledgehammer.

In view of the fact that rough physical work will be carried out, the master should take care of the means of protection. It is necessary to prepare special gloves and goggles.

Where to start?

Before you break the cast-iron bath, it must first be disconnected from all communications. The first step is to disconnect the overflow. According to experts, cast-iron pipes were installed in many old houses. Therefore, after many years, they rust heavily, become covered with scale, and the master may have difficulty dismantling cast-iron plumbing. The situation is better if communications are represented by metal-plastic components. In this case, they simply unscrew. It is enough for the master to prepare only pliers. It is not uncommon for the overflow grate to stick strongly.

Before you break a cast-iron bath, you need an element. Many craftsmen clamp it with pliers and scroll counterclockwise. If it is not possible to dismantle the overflow in this way, it is cut off by a grinder. Judging by the reviews, fasteners often have heavily rusted threads, which can be dealt with only after they are cut. First, several cuts are made on the grate, and then the overflow is knocked down with a chisel. Then a cross is knocked out under the grate. As a result, the siphon should hang freely, connected to the rest of the sewer communication. To remove it, the master needs to get rid of the coupling. Some beginners are wondering if it is possible to break a cast-iron bath with a sledgehammer. According to experts, it is quite possible to do this. It is only necessary to adhere to a clear sequence of actions.

About the weak point of the bath

For those who have never done anything like this before and do not know how to break a cast-iron bath with a sledgehammer, experts recommend finding its most vulnerable spot in this plumbing product. Judging by the numerous reviews, it is located at the bottom, namely near the drain hole. That is where you should hit with a sledgehammer.

Working process

After the product has found its most vulnerable point, the following steps must be performed:

• First of all, the bath should be slightly moved away from the wall. To complete this task, you will need a chisel and a hammer, with which the plumbing product is relieved of cement mortar along the perimeter. The optimal distance of the bath to the wall will be from 100 to 150 mm.
• With the help of an angle grinder equipped with cutting wheels, several cuts should be made on the bath. The task of the master is to deprive the product of strength. The places of cutting on the bath should be its curved edges on both sides. They are used as If the work is done correctly, then from strong blows to the bottom of the cast-iron product, it will develop.
• Break the drain hole. On the this stage You don't need to turn the bathtub. The master only applies very strong blows with a sledgehammer to the drain from the inside of the bath. Judging by the reviews, after these actions, the bath is divided into two separate halves. If this did not happen, then it will happen to deal with its sides.
• Turn the tub on its side and cover with old rags. Burlap is also fine. Blows are applied to the outer part of the cast iron product. As a result, the previously broken drain hole in the bathroom should turn out to be even more expanded. After several blows in the tub, a long strip forms along its entire bottom.

Completion

At the very end, the cast-iron bath must be completely turned over. The bottom of the sanitary ware should be directed upwards. At this stage, the sides are processed with a sledgehammer. As a result, the bath is broken into several pieces, which will then be convenient to take out. In addition, the bath can be divided into smaller pieces. To do this, you have to work as a grinder. The gas cutting method is considered quite effective.

For those who do not know how to break a cast-iron bath, professionals recommend adhering to safety precautions. Mostly this work is done by two people. Since the procedure involves a grinder and a sledgehammer, you can protect yourself from injury if all actions are coordinated.

Due to the fact that particles of broken cast iron can get into the face from strong blows of a sledgehammer, the plumbing product should first be covered with burlap. This will also protect the bathroom itself. The speed of dismantling and safety directly depend on the correct organization of work.

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How to break and take out an old cast-iron bath?

As a rule, a cast-iron bathtub is the most durable piece of every apartment. But sometimes in the process of repair it is required to replace it. Some try to endure it entirely, although this is a very difficult task, due to its enormous weight. Very often in our apartments there are such narrow passages that it is simply impossible to take out a bath because of its bulkiness. And after a little thought, you decide to break the tub and take it out piece by piece. Here the question arises: how to break a cast-iron bath? This article will give you the answer.

Start dismantling the cast-iron bathtub by removing the fasteners.

List of materials and tools:

• Bulgarian;
• sledgehammer;
• bags for construction debris;
• an old blanket or other soft cloth (put under the bathroom);
• burlap or other durable fabric (cover the bath to reduce the impact force of flying fragments);
• tight clothing, closed shoes, headgear, construction gloves, protective mask (to protect the body from flying fragments);
• soundproof headphones (optional).

Technological process

First you need to disconnect the old bathtub from the fastening elements with which the bathtub was attached, and dismantle the drain. If it is not possible to disconnect the drain, it is cut off with a grinder. You should also remove all objects that may interfere with the dismantling of the bath (both under and above the bath), and remove the mixer. To dismantle the bath, the edge of which is embedded in the wall, you need to dismantle the legs of the bath (starting from the far ones) and, after that, pressing on it from above, “drop” it on the floor. Before dismantling the old cast-iron bath in this way, it is required to put some kind of soft material under it in a thick layer to soften the impact of the bath on the floor.

Breaking a cast iron bath will not be easy. This job requires a strong man and a sledgehammer. Before proceeding with the demolition, it is necessary to clear the space around the bath, lay a soft cloth on the floor (to protect the floor), put the bath itself on its side so that it has free access from both sides. Scrapping a cast-iron bathtub is a rather dangerous job: there is a big risk of injury from flying fragments of the bathtub. To protect yourself from these fragments, you should wear thick clothing, shoes, a hat, construction gloves and a protective mask. To protect your ears from loud enough noise, you can wear soundproof headphones.

To minimize the risk of injury from bath shards, remove household members from the premises

How to break a cast-iron bathtub without applying extra effort? The weakest point of the bath is near the drain hole. To break through it, a series of blows should be applied from the inside to the bottom near the drain hole.

Lay the tub on its side so it's easier to break.

After it turned out to break the bottom, the bath should be covered with burlap and struck with a sledgehammer, expanding the gap along the entire bottom. Do not forget that the bath should lie on its side during the entire process of breaking through the bottom, because. the vibrations of a bathroom that is upside down when the bottom is broken can cause plaster to fall in the apartment below you. All strikes must be applied from the side.

After you manage to break through the bottom, turn the bath upside down and continue to apply side blows to the walls, trying to break it into pieces. If necessary, large pieces can be broken into smaller pieces: the smaller the fragments, the easier it is to take them out of the apartment. At the end of the work, collect the fragments in bags: they can be handed over to the scrap metal collection point.

During renovations in the bathroom, the question often arises of updating old plumbing.

The first candidate for a replacement is always a bathtub, especially if it is a cast-iron model that has been standing there since Soviet times.

After all, the industry offers the consumer a wide choice of other, more modern materials: acrylic, wood and even . Products made from them are often more practical than Soviet cast iron. But, of course, and.

But the question arises: how to dismantle and remove such a colossus? As they say - "break, do not build." Let us consider in detail all the nuances of this laborious process.

In total, there are 2 main ways of doing work:

1. dismantling while maintaining integrity:
   • only the case itself (when it is not important to keep the coating)
   • font enamels (when the bath is planned to be used further for its intended purpose, for example, after restoration)
2. destruction.

The first option is simpler in terms of carrying out the dismantling itself, but delivers big problems when taking out the product. After all, such a font weighs an average of about 100 kg.

This method should be used if you still decide to restore the coating or do something with your own hands from the case itself.

Breathe new life into an old cast iron bath. Craftsmen came up with many options for its alternative use: flower beds, ponds, garden furniture and much more.

Instruments

For quality work, you will need the following tools:

• perforator;
• chisel;
• chisel;
• a hammer;
• gas key;
• Bulgarian;
• sledgehammer;
• respirator;
• protective glasses.

The work ahead is very dusty and dirty, so you need to take care of protective equipment.

It is worth at least taking a respirator and goggles.

How to dismantle correctly with your own hands?

Below, we have detailed instructions carrying out work with all the nuances.

Remove old siphon

The first step is to disconnect the siphon. As a rule, in old houses these siphons are cast iron, and under the influence of moisture and time, all joints are sintered and corroded, so it is unlikely that it will be possible to do without special compounds that corrode rust. You can use, for example, WD-40 - in the common people "Vedashka". It is necessary to sprinkle the connections and leave them in this state for 1 hour.

Then, using wrench it is necessary to unscrew the nut, thereby disconnecting the siphon.

The diameter of the nut is often very large, so you will need a gas wrench for this job.

If the nut does not lend itself in any way and no means corrode the “secular layer” of rust, it remains to cut off part of the pipe with a grinder. Or not? There is one interesting life hack:

• insert the chisel into the punch chuck (this is such a special nozzle in the form of a spatula);
• switch it to the "impact without drilling" mode;
• rest the chisel against the end of the nut and press the start button.

Most likely the nut will give way. Do this procedure several times until you can unscrew it with a key or hand.

Release the sides

Often in the USSR, tiles were laid from the side of the bathroom, or even a corner was made of it around the entire perimeter of the fit to the wall. In this case, it’s easy to pull out the bath - it won’t work, first you need to beat off the tiles from the sides. For this, the already familiar puncher with a chisel is suitable, in impact mode without drilling.

Just consistently walk them around the edges. If there is no perforator, it does not matter. A hammer with a chisel can also cope with this, but the work will take much longer.

If embedded in the wall of the room?

It also happens that the font is embedded in the wall, for example, as in the photo. In this case, you will need to remove the legs from the side of this wall. If you can’t unscrew them with a key, or they are tightly embedded in the floor, you can cut them off with a grinder.

Then under the freed space put wooden planks or a sheet of plywood so as not to split the floor. It remains only to press hard on the side of the bath, you may need the help of a second person, and it will fall down, falling on the boards. If you can’t push it through, you can try to knock out with the help of a perforator that part of the wall on which the font rests.

Should I cut off the legs?

Sometimes the legs are muffled and deeply embedded in the floor. In such cases, it remains cut them with a grinder. Take a disc for metal and carefully file the back legs first, and then the front ones. This is important, because if the order is different, there is a chance that the font will fall on you.

It is better to file the legs at the base (floor). In this case, you will have additional handles that are convenient for transportation. Of course, you should first check whether they are firmly attached to the font.

How to take out of the apartment?

After you have released the bowl, put it in an upright position - firmly grasp the upper legs. Then tilt it slightly to make it easier for your partner to grab the bottom ones.

The doorway in the bathroom is usually quite narrow. So it just won't work. You must first get the front legs behind the doorway. Then move the font diagonally and only then start the rear legs.

How do they endure if the legs are completely cut off? In this case, it will be easier to put the bowl on the long side on its side and gradually move it along the floor, directing it diagonally into the doorway. After you took it out of the bathroom - you can grab one person at the front end, the second at the back (as if you were carrying a stretcher), so it will be easier to pull it out. Then take out a matter of technology. What to do if there is no partner?

Is it possible to split or break with a sledgehammer at home?

If you work alone and there is no one to help clean the whole building, the rational solution would be to carry out the removal in parts. To do this, you need to break the font. How best to do this?

The fastest, but noisy and dirty solution is to work with a sledgehammer:

• cover the font with a damp sheet or other large piece of cloth. This will help to avoid dust and scatter of fragments.
• Then apply swipe sledgehammer to the side of the tub.
• If the cast iron does not crack, you can use some kind of wedge, for example, a crowbar. And hit on him. The dome will definitely break.
• You can cut cast iron into pieces of almost any size.

The main disadvantage of this method is that it will take a long time to clean up the space from small fragments and dust. And the noise, of course, will be very strong, because the shape of the bath remotely resembles a bell.

Really break without noise?

Many often ask this question, because not all neighbors treat repairs with understanding. Of course, you won’t be able to get rid of the sound, but you can make the work a little less loud:

• make a few cuts on the body with a grinder;
• insert a piece of ground scrap into them;
• hit the crowbar with a sledgehammer.

The tub should crack.

Is it better to cut it with a grinder and break it?

There is another way to divide the font. It sawed it with a grinder. Here, of course, you will have to suffer longer than with a sledgehammer. But on the other hand, dust and fragments will be many times less:

During operation, pieces of enamel and scale will scatter around, be sure to wear safety glasses and a respirator.

• install a metal disc on the angle grinder (grinder) (it is better to use 230 mm models, with them the process will go much faster);
• start cutting in the middle, sequentially moving from the sides of the bath to the bottom;
• when it comes to an end, you are already going to go to the bottom and close 2 cut lines from the front and rear sides - MANDATORY, put under the van wooden bars , otherwise the halves will come together and bite the disc.
• When the cut is closed, the work can be considered completed. If the halves do not open, slightly press down on the bottom and it will break right away.

In the course of work, the disk must be allowed to cool down, so pause every 1-2 minutes.

The procedure can be carried out until the size of the parts satisfies you. What else can be cut and how to cut? It’s difficult to find an alternative to a grinder, of course you can make cuts along the sides and with a hacksaw, but you won’t be able to cut further.

Where to put with benefit?

You will be surprised, but even from an old, rusty bathtub you can benefit, on how to do this below.

Scrap metal removal

You can sell it for scrap metal and earn good money. Some companies even offer free dismantling and removal services, this will save you a lot of time and effort. More about .

Second Life

With a little imagination and "straight hands", you can make really amazing things out of cast-iron fonts. Furniture, ponds and even barbecues. More useful inventions from a cast-iron bath in our article.

Useful video

We have prepared for you interesting video about dismantling:

Conclusion

As you understand from the article, dismantling a cast-iron bowl is a difficult and troublesome procedure. But we put everything on the shelves, so you can easily cope with this difficult task. Be sure to pay attention to the fact that by handing over the font for scrap, you can not only get rid of unnecessary problems with the removal, but also get extra money.

The need to cut the cast-iron structure arises when dismantling communications. You will learn about how to cut cast iron and structures from it from the material.

Most often, the need to cut the cast-iron structure arises when dismantling outdated communications. Hope for a speedy completion of the work collapses immediately - in the Soviet Union, pipes were connected with cement, sulfur and aluminum, so it is incredibly difficult to cut them. But a couple of working methods are known. You will learn about how to cut cast iron and structures from it from the material below.

As with any metal, cast iron cutting methods are divided into thermal and mechanical. The choice of a particular tool depends on the design features. The following is the equipment that saws (or cuts) cast iron:

• pipe cutter;
• angle grinder;
• chisel;
• hacksaw for metal;
• jigsaw
• plasma installation;
• gas cutters.

Now it is worth evaluating cutting with the help of these tools with cast iron objects.

pipe cutter

This is a special device for cutting pipes from different materials. There are manual (mechanical) and electric tools. Both types are suitable for diameters 15-360 mm.

First, a carbide disc is mounted on the apparatus. The removable element has a number of advantages over classic abrasive ones. For example, 4 times faster cutting speed, no sparks and no need to add any substances to the cutting zone. A diamond coating is applied over the cutting edge, which prolongs the service life of the products. Examples of pipe cutters for cast iron pipes are portable Exact Pipecut products for diameters less than 360 mm.

Alas, rarely a home pipeline can be easily cut with a pipe cutter. It may be difficult to access the tool or the cutting point is bent so that the device cannot be captured. Therefore, it is worth considering other options.

Angle grinder

Working with a grinder is quick and convenient, but not without drawbacks. For example, it cuts only in a straight line. An attempt to make a figured cut will lead to “biting” of the disk, its breakage, and possible injury to the user. Therefore, the machine is used for cutting in a straight line. Another disadvantage is the fire hazard of the method (abrasive disc + metal = sparking). Before work, you will have to wear goggles, face protection and hands.

Cutting around is more efficient than with a jigsaw, so more often users choose a noisy grinder. When buying a cutting wheel, prefer products on a bakelite bond, because they are an order of magnitude stronger than their ceramic counterparts.

Hacksaw for metal

A device similar to a grinder by the principle of operation. You will have to mess with it for more than one hour, especially if you cut a large-diameter cast-iron pipe. The disadvantages of the method are time costs, physical effort, the inability to work in a limited area. But the method is safe.

Working with a chisel and hammer

This pair of products will help separate cast iron in a hard-to-reach place. Dismantling work begins with pipes remote from the riser in places where a grinder or a hacksaw cannot be inserted. Since cast iron is a brittle material, it is easily destroyed after point dynamic loads.

A good percussion instrument has a rubber or polymer tip to soften the impact slightly. This is necessary so that the pieces of cast iron do not scatter around, do not fall into the riser and do not create a blockage.

A chisel and hammer work great with Soviet-era cast iron, that is, combined with sulfur, aluminum and cement. As you move towards the riser, there is usually more free space to work, so further cast iron can be cut off with a more efficient device. As with a grinder, when working with a chisel, it is recommended to cover areas of the body into which a cast-iron fragment can fly off.

The productivity of work is extremely small, but sometimes you can’t do without them.

Electric hacksaw

It is much more convenient for the user to work with an electric saw than with a grinder, although the principle of operation is not much different. A lightweight device with smaller dimensions than an angle grinder, the web is consumed more slowly than the disk, if it is correctly selected (marking HSS or BIM, and the length is also taken into account).

Less injury risk, the speed of the process is something between a grinder and a manual hacksaw, the cheapness of consumables and their availability are the advantages of cutting cast iron with an electric hacksaw.

Plasma cutting

The method relates more to industrial than to household, so it will not be considered in detail. If the goal is the minimum consumption of material, speed of work, noiselessness, there is no better equipment for cutting cast iron. The plasma will make cuts in workpieces with a thickness of more than 200 mm, and the sawn material will almost never have to be processed at the end of the work.

The method is used by large enterprises of metallurgy, industry, where there is a need for cutting and transporting scrap iron. Plasma installations are indispensable for volumetric work.

gas cutting

There are two methods of gas cutting of cast iron:

• gas-oxygen;
• oxygen spear.

In the first case, the workpiece is affected by the thinnest jet of flame supplied under high pressure. The combustion product is usually a mixture of oxygen with kerosene or diesel fuel. By the way, effective method during the elimination of man-made accidents.

The second method resembles oxy-fuel, only a thin tube of hardened steel acts as a cutting element. Its tip is heated to almost 1500 degrees (welding / soldering iron / lamp), then oxygen is supplied through it, ignited at the outlet and heated to 2000 degrees. The resulting burning mixture easily copes with thick cast iron.

Both methods are good, but there are disadvantages - it is important to have experience with gas equipment. Responsible and precise cutting should only be done by a professional. The second disadvantage is the release of gas that is harmful to health during the operation of the torch.

The method is suitable for fresh air or in the garage. For example, the need to eliminate a cast-iron castle with swing gate. The cutter works quietly, you will not disturb anyone.

Conclusion

Based on the opinion of experienced builders and repairers, in the best possible way cast iron cutting stand out:

• for home - grinder, hacksaw;
• in the garage - gas cutter;
• in production - plasma installations.

Experienced people advise taking several tools into service when working at home, starting with a chisel and ending with a jigsaw.

Do you know how to quickly saw off a cast-iron lock or pipe? Share your experience with readers in the comments.