Is it possible to break a cast-iron bath at home. Dismantling a cast-iron bathtub: two ways to remove an old cast-iron bathtub from an apartment. Get rid of unwanted baths

22.04.2020

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Most often, the need to cut the cast-iron structure arises when dismantling outdated communications.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 hardly 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 product of combustion 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 drawback 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.

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 old bath from home, not her place to install a new one. It can be dismantled with or without preservation. Having tried to take out this accessory whole, beginners face difficulties and wonder if it is possible to break 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 job is done correctly, then from strong blows on 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.

Albert Yasaulov
How to split a cast-iron bath into pieces? Why break? Make cuts with a grinder - and with a sledgehammer. Autogenous. Cutting is not destiny? With a sledgehammer - punch a hole in one place and it will go to crumble like there is nothing to do, just hit with sharp blows, and take a sledgehammer with a short handle - God forbid you disperse and smash everything in the apartment. A friend of mine did just that, beat and beat with a sledgehammer and smashed it, then took it piece by piece to the trash heap. True, he lives on the first floor, and if you are taller, then I don’t think that the lower neighbors will be very happy.

Lyubov Opalikhina
Is it possible to cut an old bathtub with a grinder? it's just not realistic to take it out. Make cuts and break it with a sledgehammer. It should turn out better than mine - I just smashed it with a sledgehammer, but it’s hard and very noisy. Is it worth it to fool around - two hits with a sledgehammer (but in certain places) and it fell apart into three pieces. It will break only on the way. If you find a problem, call a couple of homeless people - they will endure it. And they will drag it to the metal collection point. I had this from the garbage dump, the bath was immediately dragged away

Viktor Samokhvalov
How to break a cast-iron bath They are taken whole. They will come straight home and pick you up. At least that's how it works in our city. Even ads are up. Cast iron is not hard to break. Take it to the street and beat. Cast iron is prickly. Bulgarian cut. Sledgehammer.

Valentina Lisina
How to get a cast-iron bathroom out of the apartment (5th floor, no elevator)? Two bums and a bottle of vodka You can smash a sledgehammer into a window or from a balcony We carried it out together. Also cast-iron (more than 100 kg)

Vitaly Negushin
What's better? Buy a new bath or cover the old one with a special coating? There is money - buy a bath! We made an acrylic insert - for more than 5 years the bath looks like new, the pleasure cost 5500 rubles. , the master spent 2 hours. if the old bathtub is not split into pieces, I see no reason to spend money on a new one. It seems to me that it is better to put a new cast-iron shower stall. Steel and acrylic for nothing.

Vadim Okunev
How to take out a cast-iron bath? Can it be broken? If it’s cast iron, then you can break it into pieces with a hammer and hand it over to metaplom, it’s expensive now! Throw out the window. I called the Tajiks who work as janitors, they dragged away like ants, you won’t find it. It won’t break. And not alone. You can call industrial climbers, and through the window. It is unlikely to split, to cut. It’s easier to throw it out the window, it will split itself)

Denis Veshnyakov
How to break a cast iron bath? Kettlebell 32 kg. Another CAST IRON BATH! aaaaaaa NIGHTMARE

Albert Gladkikh
Which bath do you recommend? personal experience(cast iron, steel, acrylic What material is more convenient to use? Thank you! There are no comrades for taste and color, but in any case, not steel about acrylic - they say, it is not durable, it scratches, some special detergents, etc. - complete nonsense. acrylic bath 3 years. Excellent thing. Easy installation, because it is easy .... The most excellent is steel, because cast iron is brittle like acrylic, and steel was straightened with a hammer, painted and everything is ok.

Alexander Dryablov
plastic sewage pipe was connected with some kind of cast-iron solution - how to fix the leak there? It happens often. Don't be self-employed. Call a locksmith from the Housing Office, pay him the money, he will do everything. It will become cheaper. Dig out this solution and buy a special rubber cuff. Insert a 70-40 mm rubber cuff into the cast-iron socket. In this cuff 50 mm plastic pipe with difficulty, but enters. This is the most reliable. If it does not work out, put a cuff of 70-50 mm.

Valeria Kondratieva
Hello) Faience sink in the kitchen, how is it? it seems to have done something stupid = (? / + No, before there were cast-iron sinks with a coating like those of bathtubs and steel enameled ones. Cast-iron ones washed well and served for 20 years), steel-enamel was chipped off just like from enamel. pots and teapots And faience is the same type as the sink in the bathroom ... Refuse of course. Previously, when there were no stainless steel sinks, we had such first 5 years to clean well, but then.

Lilia Glebovskaya

What happens if the hair dryer falls into the water? Let's calculate) the hair dryer is an electrical appliance 220-240V 1200-1800 W (heater) The motor itself is 150 W. Further, if you fall in the bathroom, you can break your head and even die if a strong blow is not indicated how they will slip ... If the bath is cast iron and grounded, then an electric shock is not excluded, because there will be a phase on the hair dryer. And so, a short circuit will be through the wire located before the heater, since the electrical conductivity of water is very high.

Olesya Ozerkova
Mystery! My bathtub is 70 cm wide, and the passage of the bathtub is 55 cm. Question: How did it get there and how to remove it from there? 60 cm high bath can not be. She has a standard height on legs of only 56-58 cm. They brought her in sideways. I have a passage of 60. and a corner bath 105 by 150. I calmly entered. The depth of most baths is standard about 45 cm without legs. except for the iron ones, of course. When dragging a cast-iron instead of a song, indecent sounds ...

Viktor Lebedev
Of course, I’m not a plumber, but it’s a pity for money for an uncle from the side: HOW TO REPLACE A SEWER PIPE IN THE BATH WITHOUT PROBLEMS? Ho-ho! And do not think without problems! I am a plumber and I can say one thing: not moving the bath away is sooooo dreary and difficult. With all the tools and experience, I did this work alone for two days. But if you decide, remember: the most ... Throw out all the difficulty old pipe so as not to break the common riser. If you succeed, then collect the plastic. A pipe is simpler than a steamed turnip P.s. If you do it yourself, do not forget about the slope of a few degrees from ...

A cast-iron bathtub, according to professional repairmen, 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 a cast-iron bathtub in the bathroom? 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 it is necessary to dismantle the bath, 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?

Training

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, you need to dismantle this 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

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 removed from the cement mortar around 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 stiffeners. 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. At this stage, the bath does not need to be turned over. 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

A cast-iron bath, along with its strength and reliability, has one significant drawback - a lot of weight. And when it comes to dismantling a cast-iron bath, the owners have to face a number of difficulties - pulling the product out of the apartment onto the street is not so easy, and in some cases, due to tight passages, it is completely impossible to do. There is only one way out - to break the bath.

Ways to break a cast iron bath

In order to break a cast-iron bath you will need:

sledgehammer,
Bulgarian,
gloves,
reinforced bags for construction debris,
soundproof headphones (optional)
old blanket or other soft material(optional).

It is customary to break a cast-iron bath with a sledgehammer. Of course, it is worth entrusting the matter to a man. Even a person with an average level of physical fitness, such a task is within the power. Keep in mind that you will not be able to quietly break the bath, so this work must be carried out during the daytime. If possible, warn the neighbors so as not to scare anyone or cause discomfort to anyone. Now, with a clear conscience, you can get down to business.

Before starting work, prepare a tool (sledgehammer), free up space around the bath, so that in the future it will be easier to collect fragments. If you're afraid to hurt flooring, lay an old blanket on the place of work or soft tissue. Be sure to wear gloves to avoid accidentally cutting your hands. As we said, smashing a cast-iron bathtub is accompanied by a lot of noise, reminiscent of bells, so it is advisable to have soundproof headphones.

To make the cast-iron bath easier to prick under the impact of a sledgehammer, cut its sides with a grinder in several places. If desired, you can divide the bath into several parts only with the help of a grinder. But this procedure is laborious, lengthy and is accompanied by a large amount of debris, or rather construction dust. Therefore, it is easier and more convenient to break a cast-iron bath with a sledgehammer.

5-6 persistent blows should be enough for the bath to break into at least two parts. If necessary, break large pieces again, then it will be easier and more convenient to take parts of the bath out of the apartment.

Carefully collect small fragments together with the remnants of tiles or other trim, if any, and pack in special reinforced bags designed for construction debris. So you can easily get rid of the old cast-iron bath.