Mastodawn

myrmepropagandist Sep 14, 2023

Advice wanted from the handy person types:

I’m pretty good at things like doing electrical boxes, hanging drywall etc. The drain pipe and trap on our kitchen sink is shot. It’s been patched so many times. It’s basically made of glue and JB Weild. I don’t want to hire a plumber because I think I can do it myself. However the threads on the sink that connect to the drain are gummed up. Wall connection is probably fine. Sink is 70 years old and horrible.

Am I nuts?

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Linebyline→mastoart.social Sep 15, 2023

@futurebird Even *considering* this makes you braver than I am. Ergo, I have no advice worth giving (other than, I guess, keep a first aid kit handy in case something goes screwy, and a fire extinguisher in case it goes *really* screwy) but I wish you the best of luck.

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myrmepropagandist Sep 15, 2023

@linebyline

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Ok I tried not to but I can't stand it I have to ask. How do you imagine I might end up needing a fire extinguisher when I'm fixing a sodden drain pipe???

I mean... do I need to use a torch and do heatshrink tubing over the whole assembly or something?

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Cartonaut

@futurebird @linebyline
When you sweat copper fittings together in a tight space, a small torch with Mapp gas is used to dismantle copper piping or to solder it together. A flame guard heat shield behind the flame work is needed. Having an extinguisher handy is protocol. That's for water under pressure. Most drains are cold wrenching work in uncomfortable contortioned positions on iron and steel with a little ABS.