Thanks, I just sat through a bunch of 15 minute videos which didnt actually do what the title claimed (they all cut the pipe first!). In less than two minutes you showed exactly what I needed to learn. Short, to the poin videos rock. Thanks again
Hope it helped. My videos are never "about me" (like so many others are), they are about helping other folks or showing folks how I solve problems. Time to get back to work. Peace.
@@HNXMedia This worked great. I happened to have some plain finger nail polish (without the fancy conditioners or additives) and also "hardware store" grade acetone - both really worked.
@@DixieChkk77 AWESOME! Glad I could help. "Tough guys" have no idea how many things you can "fix" or clean with nail polish remover. I use the "Walmart brand" all the time to clean machine parts and even install/remove computer components. It really is the best. Peace.
This is grest!! This way looks the best and easiest way I've ever seen so far. And the money saving tip for buying acetone too! So glad i found this video👍👍
Awesome. I had a 1.5" coupler to remove, in the back of a sink cabinet. I sliced the coupler into fourths down to the pipe underneath, which was the hardest part. And then I used a squirt bottle for the acetone and BAM! within 5 minutes it came off. Great tip. And SOSOSO much better than using a blowtorch or heat gun. Thank you for this tip. Otherwise I would have been cutting into the back of the cabinet and into drywall.
One more comment: I also love this trick because there is NO flame or heating (safer indoors) and NO releasing noxious off gases from the PVC pipe itself. I kept a vent fan on for the acetone smell but really, this "felt" like a healthier method. (just a feeling- no science to back this up).
I have done a lot of PVC repairs including removing glued fittings using heat gun or applying thickened PVC cement and lighting it to soften the pipe. What you are showing is by far the easiest and best method I have seen. THANK YOU..
mate, nail polish remover/acetone = awesome suggestion. pulled apart 80mm/3" rainwater downpipe after persistence & using brain muscle - arm muscles couldn't twist off when acetone left to work on its own. I found best technique is once 1st 1-2 mm softened & worked at with thin edged flathead screwdriver, was able to work into little gaps between the pipe fittings, whilst repeatedly dripping acetone into gap & work away with screwdriver, glue would soften much faster when worked at whilst wet. thanks man!!
So I need your current address so I can send you a GIANT candy bar! I have a 2" threaded fitting that goes into the top of my pool pump. I have been trying unsuccessfully to get it off for the last three days! Heat and channel locks have done nothing! Just about ready to give up and order a whole new pump housing for almost $300. Accidentally stumbled upon your video, and reasoned what can it hurt now? I put a ring of "goof off" (acetone) around the top of the fitting, let it sit for 5 mins then...POOF! I had the fitting unscrewed and intact in about 45 secs. Thank you! You and RU-vid are my new heroes.
Glad the video was helpful and saved you some cash. BTW, my favorite is the Zero Bar, but I'm not sure they even make them anymore. They were big in the 80s.
This only works if the pipe is in the vertical position, so that the acetone is constantly absorbed into the joint, right? I have not tried this, but if it does work, I would imagine that is the one caveat. I've no reason to doubt you, but if this does work, great hack and thank you for sharing! 💪
Any idea how I could get a pipe unglued that's sticking out of a wall horizontally? In your examples, the acetone can use gravity to penetrate but in my situation that's not possible. Thoughts?
I would use a dropper or syringe to apply the acetone to the top of the pipe (along the joint) "hoping" that it would kind of glide/flow along the joint and penetrate enough. Might have to do a couple applications in quick succession while trying to work the pipe loose. That is what I would do/try. Hope it helps. Peace.
I know I'm two years late to the comment, but I would try to maybe soak a paper towel/rag in the acetone and wrap it around the fitting, giving it a squeeze to push some extra acetone around the joint. That would be my suggestion for a horizontal joint. How did you end up making out with it?
The idea is to use as little as possible just to separate the joint and dissolve the glue. Do not "soak" the area. It should not damage the PVC pipe. PVC should not be under any type of pressure anyway, so it should not cause any structural issues.
Hello! I am not sure you will comment as soon as I need feedback...but here goes! PVC behind the washer is clogged. It, also, is glued. Have acetone. NOW, if I succeed, do I need to glue it again before using the washing machine? Thank you SOOOO much!
Yes, re-glue after the clog is removed. Even though the pipe is not "under pressure" you do not really want to risk it leaking. Hopefully this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
@@HNXMedia thanks for the reply. Yeah. Kinda sucks. I was hoping to reuse 4 different fitting...at $4 a pop....who wouldn't.....but your idea did work well though. I could tell things were softening up when I applied the acetone. So thanks for that. 👍
I couldn’t break the seal before the acetone started to eat away at the fitting. The fitting was furniture grade PVC. I tried at least a dozen times to break the seal and just couldn’t get the glue to soften up enough or the seal to break. Now it’s fused more than it was before! 🥵Should I just use a heat gun to try and salvage the fitting at this point or give up?
Using acetone, it is better to use as little as possible. Personally, I have never had any luck with a heat gun which is why I use this technique. You can certainly try it (if you have nothing else to lose) just be careful of weakening the joint. Best of luck and sorry this did not work better for you.
This particular joint was from a PVC "build project," not a drain or anything that would have had water it it. I do not primer "build projects," only drains. Thanks for stopping by and asking a great question. Peace.
Here in the States, it can be bought at any supermarket (Walmart, etc). "Remover" is a brand name for nail polish remover, so if you have a store near you that sells nail polish remover, it is the same thing (chemical called acetone). Stay well. Peace.
Sure you can, as long as the pipe is not under pressure (PVC should typically never be under pressure). Now, you might get wet, but that is understood while working with plumbing.
Not sure what went wrong, but I poured the acetone on, waited several minutes, no luck. Poured more on and waited and again, no luck. Poured more on and waited and still no give. Poured the fourth dose on and waited and this time the schedule 40 broke off at the fitting. Musn't have been holding my mouth right. This particular fitting had been glued together outside in the weather for about three years.
@@HNXMedia My friend, I do not understand what you say I am talking to you through a translator and I cannot copy all what I have written. Write to me only the name of the subject used and thank you
@@MrWoodrow110 It should, as long as you can keep the acetone on the joint long enough for it to come loose. Maybe put some gloves on and then put some on a rag to keep it against the joint and then squeeze it out of the rag (if that makes sense).
@@MrWoodrow110 I put a repair coupler too far into the wall along a horizontal pipe. I cut my coupler into fourths with a hacksaw blade (while still glued) and then used a squirt bottle to apply the acetone and adjustable pliers to peel the sections off. Bottom part came off the quickest because that is where acetone pooled. I used the squirted the acetone several times along my horizontal cuts and the sections came off quickly.
Acetone has to be used very sparingly on both PVC and ABS. Just use enough to separate the glue joint, no more. Long term exposure to both types of plastic will cause the plastic to break down and possibly dissolve. In other words, you can try this with abs, but try it on something you do not care about first. Peace.
ABS dissolves with acetone, in motorcycle/scooter scene people use selfmade qlue from only acetone en dissolve small particles ABS to repair cracks in the outerbody
Good idea, as long as enough soaks between the joint and you do not over-saturate the rest of the pipe. It will soften the pipe if you use too much and do not work quickly.
If the pipe you are working with is a "vent" or "return" pipe, I would just cut it out, use a few short pieces of PVC and some couplers to put it back together. Working in a wall, it would be less work in the long run.
@@HNXMedia but the problem is I just tiled it up with 2 by 2 ft wall tiles. However, with heating the inside of the pipe with a heated rod I am gradually able to pry the rest of the pipe from the elbow it is in. I hope I am illustrating it correctly. I appreciate your reply, didn't expect one.
@@nogoogle8498 That was a great solution. I attempt to reply to every comment I get as long as I see it in my comment feed. Hope you are back in business. Cheers.
Yeah, well I'm not going to flatter you. I had a hard time believing this acetone was going to work its way into that joint and my hunch was correct. This didn't work at all. Tried it three times and got no where. And I even have a monster pipe wrench for leverage. No dice. As for a tip on acetone, its much cheaper by the gallon at home depot. I'm guessing your video was working with a fresh joint or something. Bogus
