Cutting my soil pipe. Can anybody help?

[slowmotion]

You don't get a second chance with the eyes though. Plus you've what's inside the pipe to consider.

I have a Racal full face polycarbonate safety visor with positive pressure filtered air supply. I don't wear it for the simple reason that I can't see what I'm doing if I have to do stuff that requires a level of precision. If I'm feeling good, I'll wear a pair of plastic reading glasses.

 

[Cubist]

Can't help with any tips on cutting, but am reminded of the time we went on a drugs raid on a three storey terraced house in Halifax many years ago. The house had a flat roof at the back,single storey shed, and the soil pipe from the upper floor bathroom ran down the wall and into the shed. The lad planning the r aid had done his homework, and had recce'd the house before applying g for the warrant. The suspects had previously flushed the drugs as soon as they heard the door going in, so this time a cop was to climb onto the roof of the shed extension armed with a sledgehammer to take out the soil pipe as soon as he heard any flushing.

Sure enough, as soon as the door ram hit the front door, the toilet was flushed. Norman swung the sledgehammer and took out the lower section of soil pipe. Unfortunately for Norman the soil pipe was blocked and backed up two storeys. He couldn't jump out of the way due to the confined space on the roof, so couldn't escape the torrent of turd, paper, sanpro, and fortunately all round, several wraps of brown. Poor Norman.

 

[vernon]

Can't help with any tips on cutting, but am reminded of the time we went on a drugs raid on a three storey terraced house in Halifax many years ago. The house had a flat roof at the back,single storey shed, and the soil pipe from the upper floor bathroom ran down the wall and into the shed. The lad planning the r aid had done his homework, and had recce'd the house before applying g for the warrant. The suspects had previously flushed the drugs as soon as they heard the door going in, so this time a cop was to climb onto the roof of the shed extension armed with a sledgehammer to take out the soil pipe as soon as he heard any flushing.

Sure enough, as soon as the door ram hit the front door, the toilet was flushed. Norman swung the sledgehammer and took out the lower section of soil pipe. Unfortunately for Norman the soil pipe was blocked and backed up two storeys. He couldn't jump out of the way due to the confined space on the roof, so couldn't escape the torrent of turd, paper, sanpro, and fortunately all round, several wraps of brown. Poor Norman.

 

[Profpointy]

Can't help with any tips on cutting, but am reminded of the time we went on a drugs raid on a three storey terraced house in Halifax many years ago. The house had a flat roof at the back,single storey shed, and the soil pipe from the upper floor bathroom ran down the wall and into the shed. The lad planning the r aid had done his homework, and had recce'd the house before applying g for the warrant. The suspects had previously flushed the drugs as soon as they heard the door going in, so this time a cop was to climb onto the roof of the shed extension armed with a sledgehammer to take out the soil pipe as soon as he heard any flushing.

Sure enough, as soon as the door ram hit the front door, the toilet was flushed. Norman swung the sledgehammer and took out the lower section of soil pipe. Unfortunately for Norman the soil pipe was blocked and backed up two storeys. He couldn't jump out of the way due to the confined space on the roof, so couldn't escape the torrent of turd, paper, sanpro, and fortunately all round, several wraps of brown. Poor Norman.

I've done similar - but thankfully only with a rainwater pipe. Pipe seemed to be leaking higher up so I jiggled the bottom bit which duly came loose - had something like 1 atmosphere (ie 10 m head) of pressure backed up and got totally soaked as it exploded out in all directions. Handfull of leaves removed and job's a good un.

Your story is better though !

 

[Mireystock]

I've had to cut soil pipes in similar positions many times in the line of my job. Best bet is an ordinary panel saw (as you'd cut wood with.) Yes, it's an arse ache of a job, but just stick at it and you'll get it done. I realise you've got very little 'back and forth' cutting space, but just push on with it. Use a brand new, very sharp saw. Just a cheapish one will be OK, rather than blunting up a quality one.Once you've cut the lower bit of the pipe you may well find that the top section of pipe will pull out a bbit further from the wall, giving you slightly more room to cut the top 'cut'.

I would be worried that a reciprocating saw may crack or splinter the plastic pipe down beneath the joist, and that would really balls things up !

 

[sight-pin]

What @Mireystock suggest is best, but If your cutting a section out you could use an angle grinder by just cutting in as far as the shield will let you then cut two vertical lines at the sides and across taking out a piece of the throw away part which will allow you then to use the grinder further in to complete the cut.

 

[sheddy]

Why does it have to be cut ? If you just need to remove the strap-on boss, cut that off, clean up the area and wrap it with Gaffer Tape.
(it'll be fine...)

A proper option might be to solvent weld a 180 degree section of new pipe over the little hole.

 

[Levo-Lon]

As @screenman says ..reciprocating saw..

or a common hand saw ,its slow but easy enough..

 

[Globalti]

Yes, best suggestion above. A sharp new hand saw will deal with that plastic pipe in a couple of minutes even if it's only the tip of the blade.

 

[subaqua]

I very strongly reccommend against the guard-less angle grinder. If the disc explodes - which isn't unlikely given the awkward nature of the job could easily put a twist on the disc - the you could be very seriously injured given the speed of the things.

Angle grinders are great tools, but, though I've not had it happen to me, exploding discs aren't uncommon I gather

the guard is only to protect against the sparks etc. it will not protect you from the effect of a burst disc.

that is a truly horrible thng and having seen it once and still having the occasional nightmare about it i really don't want anybody to go through what i did.

the guy survived but his face looked like a pile of bacon.

 

[Globalti]

Yes I saw a disc self-destruct once, it was a cheapo no-name disc I had bought from a market stall. It was garbage and so bad as to be un-usable because it went tatty at the edges and the resulting stress risers allowed it to disintegrate. My angle grinder goes at something like 15,000 rpm so the pieces flew outwards with amazing violence.

 

[screenman]

There is only one way,

 

[Aperitif]

Hi Martin,
A nice 'jack cut'saw from Screwfix will do your pipe - I got a 'petite' version to carry around with me for odd little things like this! 'A toolbox saw'! Stick a screwdriver blade in the slot once the blade has penetrated the outer surface of your boggle pipe.(It should be clean inside anyway - after all that rubbish lager drain cleaner you have employed these past decades!)
Something like a multi-tool would make your life simple - no spinning, just a reciprocal jaunt through plastic, metal, what have you...

Which brings me on to my thought; why are you replacing the pipe? If it is to get rid of the waste boss only, I would hacksaw off the fastener 'nib' (the whole boss section is likely to be solvent welded to the pipe anyway...) cut the protruding pipe back as tight as it will go and cobble up a bung - either using a rubber one or, probably easier, a solvent weld one and just liberally dob the adhesive round and fill that hole! Maybe I would think of cutting all the old plastic 'flush' preparing the surface with sandpaper and then solvent welding a nice 'patch' of clean uPVC pipe around the wound. Slow day at work...

 

[Tin Pot]

I tried to stay away from this thread but gave in.

I am dismayed at the number and quality of poo jokes. Tsk. Tsk.

 

[Aperitif]

I tried to stay away from this thread but gave in.

I am dismayed at the number and quality of poo jokes. Tsk. Tsk.