lead pipes -aaaargh

[e/bourneplumber]

what is the easiest way to shave a lead pipe? today i had to renew a basin with lead hot and cold, and a lead waste. after draining a 40 gallon tank which only fed this whb, everything else on the main (basin in a bedroom). found that 6lb lead lock too big, 5lb lead lock too small, so spent over an hour shaving down the lead h+c tails with a stanley knife only to find that the waste needed shaving down as well. is there a tool or trick to that trims back the lead quickly and leaves the sides nice and smooth?

 

[ecowarm]

Shave hook, any good plumber should have one

 

[Guest123]

Agree with Ecowarm, a shavehook. A combination type is best as it has different edges. Any good decorating store will have one. A rasp is another good tool, especially for quickly getting paint off and a wire brush for general cleaning.

 

[stevetheplumber]

what is the easiest way to shave a lead pipe? today i had to renew a basin with lead hot and cold, and a lead waste. after draining a 40 gallon tank which only fed this whb, everything else on the main (basin in a bedroom). found that 6lb lead lock too big, 5lb lead lock too small, so spent over an hour shaving down the lead h+c tails with a stanley knife only to find that the waste needed shaving down as well. is there a tool or trick to that trims back the lead quickly and leaves the sides nice and smooth?

if it took you an hour to shave to bits of lead service id get a new blade un that stanley

 

[e/bourneplumber]

ive been thinking of investing in a new blade lol. the pipes were swept up from under the floor and tight to the wall, i didnt want to bend them out too much, and yer stanley was a bit on the blunt side

 

[glenno1]

I agree with a decorators shave hook they are ideal

 

[Bernie2]

Just a tip from an old lead pipe worker. Go careful how you move the pipes they have a habit of bursting further along the line if they are old. You might think because the lead is a bit flexible its okay often they aren't. Also they can go rigid and crack. So move them the least you can.

 

[WaterTight]

Or stay well away - my preferred option. Best left to those experienced with working with it.

 

[quality]

Talking of lead pipes I cut into a live one this morning. All three taps of at the front of the property no cold out of any tap. Obviously I got wet. I quickly nipped the end and froze it to get the job done. It turned that this 1800 property used to be one big place that had been split up over the years and had originally been feed from the rear which is the one I gut into.
At least there was plenty of tea to be drunk whilst I dried out

 

[e/bourneplumber]

i do try and stay away, in the 25 years ive been doing this, ive always tried to stay away! some times you just got to roll up your sleeves and un sheath the old blunt stanley! im looking forward to my next one tho - shiny new shave hook in the back of the van!