Removing cast iron drainage pipe

[RichD1]

I want to re-position the toilet in the bathroom which will require the outlet to the cast iron soil pipe to be moved.

Outside the pipe angles down to a joint in the rising pipe. How do you take the cast iron joints apart?

BTW, I want to retain the original cast iron pipes and will buy new cast iron sections if required.

Richard

 

[catlad]

The way I did mine was to drill round the pipe with a long but small diameter masonry bit 5mm which if they are filled with lead and heissian can be drilled
out until the joint becomes loose.

 

[catlad]

Bye the way I was working off my tower scaffold.

 

[RichD1]

So they are filled with lead and hessian, or were other materials used?

Could the lead be melted with a torch?

Richard

 

[catlad]

If you drill into the joint you should be able to tell if its lead or not
by the swarf that comes out. Whether you could put enough heat in
it to loosen it I don't know, maybe you could let us know if you
give it a go.

 

[RichD1]

Do you think that its mainly hessian with lead sealing around the top only? So once you drill through the lead you're able to twist the pipe free?

Richard

 

[catlad]

Correct it was for me anyway