How to get a ball-tip off a shower arm? (is it welded on?)?
Question:i just moved into an old Victorian house, and the shower head was nasty and corroded, so i took it off. Underneath, there is a ball joint on the tip of the shower arm, that i thought would be easy to remove -- not so much.
i've been to three hardware stores, and have tried:
-- using channel locks, wrenches (with duct tape wrapped around the tips, and without)
-- soaking the whole thing in high performance penetrant oil/solution stuff which claims it'll loosen and free rusted joints. it didn't. i soaked it for 10 minutes the first time, then 20 minutes the second time. didn't loosen anything.
they keep telling me that it'll come off. it is NOT coming off. and the wrench/channel lock have keyed up the metal so now the metal is just peeling/chipping everytime i grip and push.
is the thing welded in?
can i just get some sort of adapter i can put over the ball joint to turn it into a more updated one?
i CAN'T take the whole pipe out, it's also too corroded. won't budge.
Answers:
My guess is that it is molded into the pipe, not a fitting. If you used WD-40 or some other lubricant and it still won't move, then it must be welded. You can TRY cutting it off with a hacksaw and then using a pipe threader to make new threads on the nipple, but--and you'll probably hate this but--just call a plumber, once and for all, and get the answer. Try to assign a dollar amount to your frustration, purchases, and time; now balance that against a plumber coming out and figuring it out--around $100.
Hi, I'm sorry for all your trouble,but I hope the trouble I had during the same ordeal will help you out sooner,than the time it took me to figure it out. Have you got a Torch? That's the trick to getting stuck joints off. If you don't have a hand held torch, you can buy one at the hardware store. Buy a Torch Head with an automatic igniter. Than get a bottle of propane.Or get the set that has both. Be sure it has the igniter , the one without is a pain in the butt. Hold the torch over the Ball Joint for about a minute,than try your Channel locks. If it doesn't come off, Try again a litter longer on the flame,but be care full not to burn yourself and don't spray that lubricant before you use the torch. It will loosen the Ball, Just might take a little patients. I've taken off Sprinkler Nipples from Couplings, that where so rusted together! I only weigh 110 Lbs, and believe me, I'm not very strong! I never could have done it with out my Torch! Or I would have had to ask a neighbour for help,and that's a Big No,No to me! I feel so proud, I should write a song about ,Me and my Torch! LOL, Good Luck, and don't spend anymore than $28 for the Torch Set! Bye
Did you try CLR?
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