Cast Iron bath removal

Disk · 13 Feb 2007

Any tips for breaking the bath up in to easily removable pieces.
It is in a second floor flat. Only access via 4 'short' flights of stairs, not a lot of room.
Is a hefty lump hammer the best tool or is there something else?
I tried to break one up many years ago but I recall it wasn't as easy as it sounded.

JohnD · 13 Feb 2007

Goggles, gloves, overalls, boots - the flying shards of iron are glass-sharp and will easily stick in your skin or eye.

Warp the bath in a tarp or thick cloth to catch most of the flying shards.

Put on your ear defenders (the bath will ring like a large bell)

Hit it along the bottom and near the plug hole and break it into manageable pieces. The rim is the strongest part.

Wrap the bits in newspaper or something to carry out to the skip, they are still razor sharp and will easily gash your leg or arm deeply, even through clothes.

Disk · 13 Feb 2007

Thank you JohnD

Softus · 13 Feb 2007

JohnD has it about covered, but one more tip - I'm often working in a team of two when removing a cast iron bath and prepping a room for a refurb, and we always carry out even the large sharp broken bits individually, i.e. one piece per person.

The risk is particularly high when going downstairs - the scope for tripping and ending up underneath a knife-sharp section of steel is too great if two people are carrying.

Also, those rubbery "grippa gloves" are useful when carrying the bits.

howiel · 14 Feb 2007

ALSO...ear defenders !!!

howiel · 14 Feb 2007

oops , you already mentioned them

Nige F · 14 Feb 2007

Sledge hammer not club

noseall · 14 Feb 2007

has anyone on this site tried the hammer stale and turtle method

JohnD · 14 Feb 2007

I reckon Kev and Nige will have done.

Slugbabydotcom · 15 Feb 2007

Too much like hard work 4 me. I usually get em down in one.

ChrisR · 15 Feb 2007

hammer stale

Carrying them is a risk to walls etc if you have to turn on stairs.
I 've broken the last few. A normal 20 ox hamme will do if you switng it. Hit the same spot even on the rim several times and a crack will start and off you go.
As above, goggles etc vital

Nige F · 15 Feb 2007

Turtle

.......got a few upstairs when new like that

...then the others go off to Tea....apprentice initiation

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Cast Iron bath removal

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