Stubborn Shower Pipe! Tips?
 

I'm trying to replace my shower head, but to do so I have to remove the stubby pipe that comes out of the wall that you mount your shower head on. You know the one I'm talking about?

Well I can't get that darn thing off for the life of me. I've tried vise grips and channel locks but that sucker is really on there.

How can I get better grip on that slippery little pipe (it's chrome and perfectly round)??

What's the tool I'm looking for?

pipe wrench.

Gee, thanks. Don't you think I've already been to Home Depot, twice?

Firstly, why are you removing the shower arm to be able to remove the shower head? The head is certainly removable from the arm. Most of them are plastic and don't really grip the shower arm very tightly. A pipe wrench will certainly loosen it.

On the older heads, which may be all brass, you might need two wrenches.......one on the shower head and one on the arm.

Well the shower head I'm replacing uses this little chrome ball that threads onto the shower arm/pipe. That little ball thing is about a 100 times harder to get a grip on, so I figured replace the entire arm instead. Didn't think it was going to be such a PITA.

I guess I'll try a pipe wrench, don't have one of those. I figured the vise grips or channel locks could grip better than anything.

Something isn't right. Those chrome balls allow the head to swivel. They live inside the threaded portion. You remove the threaded portion on the head and the ball will come with the head. The ball is not installed as a separate device.

Nothing beats the grip of a pipe wrench on a pipe without flats. You might want to put a piece of material under the jaws.........they can do some real damage to the chrome...........unfortunately.

See for yourself and decide. You can see I've already scratched through the chrome. Let's see how long it can go without "the comment" :P

i hate to say what that chrome penis looks like.... a chrome penis.

yeah, try a pipe wrench. they are the most powerful up to the point they start crushing the pipe.

you may need heat.

tom w

Yep, that's the old style arm and the ball is not removable from the arm.......it's all one piece. The ball is now damaged, so, you've got to remove and replace the arm........and it's probably been in there for 40 years. Not a terrific task.

You probably have iron pipes coming up the wall to the shower head. If so, they can take the torque that you're going to have to use to get that arm loose. You'll definitely need pipe wrench, and, hopefully, you won't break the fitting in the wall. But, at that age, nothing is certain. Can you remove the one tile around the arm and get to the fitting? A good bit of heat from a propane torch will make short work of getting it out without damage.

.......made it for three minutes........not too bad........heh?:D

Have you looked behind the escutcheon to see what the fitting in the wall looks like? You could always spray a penetrating oil into those threads.

Ok, great. Yes it's almost a 60 year old home. My wife and I just bought it two weeks ago and we've got one of those detachable shower head things and I need to get it hooked up. All the plumbing in the house has been updated to copper, but I think they might have bypassed the shower head based on what you're telling me.

The ball may look damaged but the shower head that is there works fine for the most part. It's funny, nobody at Home Depot knew there was such a thing as a shower arm with the ball fixed to the arm.

I have a torch too and I was thinking about using it today, but then I got worried that the wall behind the tile would catch on fire. I'll try to pop that center tile out and get a better look.

im dyin' over here :wacko:

In the old days of plaster, the hole might be large enough behind the chrome plate to get a torch in there. If not, you can open it up a bit........or you can remove the tile and open it up more. But, be careful that you don't destroy the tile.

Yes, you can catch the inside of the wall on fire. The old houses have wood lathe behind the wall. So, be ready with a fire extinguisher that has a hose.......or be ready with a garden hose.......just in case.

If you do get the torch in there, heat the outside of the fitting........do not heat the chrome pipe at any time.

You're damn lucky that your two friends are asleep.........;)

If you decide to aim a torch into that wall, be careful. I wouldn't. Wet everything down with water ahead of time and consider getting a piece of fireproof material that plumbers put behind pipes to avoid catching anything on fire.
However, you shouldn't need anything more than a decent pipe wrench. 18' should suffice but I've had to use bigger in some circumstance. When disassembling the hot water radiators in my house I had a 36" pipe wrench with a 2' cheater pipe on it and I was jumping on to the end of it off a step ladder. Your pipe should be easier.

I'd be concerned about the strength of the brass. At that age, it should take the torque.............but...........

Try it without any heat first. Put the pipe wrench as close to the face of the wall as you can possibly get. You'll probably need an 18" arm as a minumum. Use a pipe extension if you have a 12" pipe wrench.

Thanks Brian :)

Anytime.......just don't burn the house down........:eek:

yeah, i wouldn't direct flame into the wall under any circumstances. heating the pipe outside the wall will be fine. the metal pipe will transmit the heat really well.

you are wanting to soften up some old plumbers dope that is all.

(now you guys will be LOL again)

tom w

Got the pipe off and replaced with new shower arm and detachable shower head.

I ended up getting a 14" pipe wrench and then a 12" cheater bar. Didn't need the cheater bar at all.

Thanks for the tips, OD is actually good for something.

oh yeah.

tom w

Good job.

Glad we could help you.

Anytime you need help screwing or unscrewing your chrome penis, we are here for you.

Dude I threw my chrome penis in the trash, that thing was like 60 years old.

Was the chrome peeling? Owch...

I believe it was 3 minutes between the posting of the picture and the first comment posted on what it looked like.

I think you need a blow torch and don't you know each Home Improvement undertaking requires a minimum of three trips to Home Depot? ask me how I know....

I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole or an 11 foot hungarian...

Yeah, also, remember to put a rubber on it before using the wrench so it doesn't get hurt. Than warm it up with some KY Warming Lubricant.

Isn't that where Steely Dan got their name?