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.
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!!
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).
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👍👍
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.
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 RUclips 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.
But what about pipes that aren't vertical to pour the liquid down and around?? How do you concentrate enough liquid on the joint when it is horizontal???
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! 💪
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.
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?
@@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. 👍
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.
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.
@@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
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.
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.
@@SpeechTherapyAnswers 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.
@@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.
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
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.
😂true. I didnt want to damage any of the pipes and all of the ones i watch destroyed at least one of the pipes
Well done mate. Saved me a lot of rework time and materials. Much appreciated
Hopefully the video was helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Stay well.
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..
Thanks, the kind words are much appreciated. I kind of stumbled on this solution years ago and just thought I would share. Glad it helped. Peace.
My favorite part of the tip was getting the acetone cheap at the nail care section of the store. Thanks a lot😃😃
Yeah, it is about 1/2 to 1/4 the price if you get it in the beauty aisle instead of at the hardware store.
@@HNXMediathank you! I'm a girl who always has this on hand but not as many other tools haha, and a clogged ac drain in the florida summer lol
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!!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave an awesome comment. Great suggestion about using a thin flathead screwdriver!
Amazing tip. Works especially well for recently glued fittings. Thanks for the great video and tip!
Glad the video was helpful.
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.
Glad it helped. Thank you for taking the time to leave an awesome comment! These are the type of things I love to hear. Peace.
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).
Thanks, you just made my repair job 1000% easier!!
Glad I could help. Stay well. Thanks for watching!
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👍👍
Glad it helped!
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.
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 RUclips 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.
that's trick right there! A good way to correct a mistake too! have to get some acetone...Thanks!
Check the wife and daughters' cosmetics area.. nail polish remover
Great trick. One I needed recently. I had to use heat gun. Your trick is much better. Thank you and keep the good video coming 🙏🏼
Very much appreciated. Hope it comes in useful next time you need a fix. Peace.
I watch a couple of your older videos and now RUclips keeps recommending them lol
Hey, maybe they are getting something right 😉
You are a lifesaver. This is brilliant. Thank you.
Glad it helped!
But what about pipes that aren't vertical to pour the liquid down and around?? How do you concentrate enough liquid on the joint when it is horizontal???
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! 💪
It works in any configuration. The acetone should "wick" into the joint if done correctly.
would the acetone effect other joints down the line?
and also what if i cant rotate it more than 10degrees?
Thanks a bunch for this great tip. I will be using this one in the future
Will this work on a pipe that’s has a been capped off with the purple primer and blue glue on it? I capped it and now need to remove it
Will this work for Abs?
Thanks! This did work for me! Great Idea!
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.
You kind of need to work quickly while the acetone is wet and not wait. Sorry about the delayed response.
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?
What a great idea. Can't wait for your next video.
This looks great. I want to try it because I too need to salvage a t-joint..... But will it work if I used primer before the PVC cement? 😊 ... Thanks.
I hope it does! Report back and let us know. Peace.
@@HNXMedia Nope. Didn't work. Damn!
@@charlesmayer7097 Damn. Sorry to hear that. The primer must not react with the acetone.
@@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. 👍
Question:
Is it glued or fused?
Glued
Will the acetone damage the PVC pipe? or does it just react with the glue/joint?
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.
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.
Probably doesn't work with schedule 40 does is?
I am late to this 1, but why is there no primer on them fittings?
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.
@@HNXMedia clear glue?
@@Splattertube The glue in this video (on the pipe) is clear PVC cement.
Where shall we get this remover and what is it's cost
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.
What is the name of this article please ؟
If you are referring to the chemical, it is called acetone. It is sold as nail polish remover in most stores.
@@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
@@ehabehab7035 Acetone
@@HNXMedia Thank you, I wish you happy times
@@HNXMedia 🌹🌹🌹
Genius, thanks for sharing!
so you can't use this on, say, a pipe actually being used?
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.
AWESOME!!!!
That's a great trick!
Awesome!! Thanks for the tip!
Hope it helped. Peace.
didnt work for me. Guues I glued it too well
What is the chemical ;you have used?
The chemical is called Acetone. It is in most "nail polish removers." Hope this helps. Thanks for watching. Peace.
Great job thank you sir
Hope the video helped. Peace.
Does it work for ABS
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.
Thx
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
We have 55 gallon drums of acetone at work 😁
Oh, the fun you could have!
Nice to know..thks...jc
Hope the video was helpful. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Stay well.
I would use a brush to apply the acetone
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.
Buen video!!! Saludos!!!
Gracias por verlo. Espero que el video haya sido útil.
Wow!!!, thanks for sharing.
Hope it helped. Peace.
My problem is that it's broken inside the wall
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.
@@SpeechTherapyAnswers 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.
@@HNXMedia thank you. Doesn't feel like I was working alone now
will this work on a horizonal pipe ?
and to remove a broken fitting
@@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).
@@HNXMedia Thanks HNX
@@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.
@@DixieChkk77 Thank You ,Better than a heat gun
What's the name of that chemical.It should be mention ur description box.
Acetone
👍😊
Thanks! Peace!
What is the name of solution
jerald ds It is called acetone. Can be found in hardware store or in nail polish remover.
@@HNXMedia O.k.thanks
Yes I check
Ok
Ok.
No primer
Nope, doesn't matter. This will still work.
That t joint don't have glue
Yes, all the joints had glue/cement.
this is real trick how to unglued pvc
Pipe.! Burning pipe is how to destroy a pvc pipe!
Thank you!
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