Working on a natural gas stove install. When I had gas run into the house twenty years ago, the plumber put all of the fittings together using black Permatex and it is now rock hard.

I had the plumber put a "T" in the main line for this stove install, so I have an easy connection to the main line IF I can break loose either the cap on the end of the 4" nipple or the nipple from the "T".

The main gas line, "T" and nipple are 1 1/4" black iron pipe. I needed the pipe oversized as my house is 600+ feet from the gas line on the street and needed more "volume" of gas according to the gas company.

Anyway, I'm expecting it to be an absolute pain when I try to take off the cap or the entire cap/nipple from the "T".

Does anybody have any suggestions to soften up hardened black Permatex? I have a heat gun, but definitely don't want to use any open flame on a gas line to soften up the Permatex.

I plan to scrape any built up Permatex from around the exposed threads and fitting, but looking for some "miracle" solvent that might work into the hidden threads.

I have a 24" pipe wrench that I plan to use with a "cheater" pipe, but trying to get this apart as easy as possible.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

Nope.... no miracle thinner. Just use a good pipe wrench. It will come loose.

 

Thanks Pete--I'll start bulking up with protein shakes as I hope to tackle this on Sunday.

Any thoughts on using a heat gun around the cap to try and soften the Permatex?

 

I've never used heat. I'm sure it can't hurt. I have a 3' and 4' Rigid pipe wrenches from my grandfather. I actually stand on them to loosen the fittings on old cast iron radiators.

If you do use heat.... shut the gas off and just open a stove burner for a few seconds. The gas pressure will dissipate very fast. I wouldn't worry about a heat gun causing any type of gas fire.

 

Yes, I planned on opening the kitchen stove burners to evacuate gas in the lines. Hopefully the heat gun will soften it up some. I only have a 24" pipe wrench but trying to get a 36" off of Craigslist to give me some extra umph!! My son is helping, so I'll get a cheater pipe of the 24" and hold the nipple while he takes the 36" on the cap.

Thanks for the replies.

 

For hard to take a[art pipe fittings, as in your case, try tightening the fittings first (just a slight turn will do the trick). It is always easier to tighten the fitting than to loosen since the strain on the threads is in the direction of the tightening action. Then you should be able to take the piping apart with less strain.

 

Ive never had a problem removing fittings with permatex.. No need to hold back nipple. If it all comes out just get a new nipple.. Easiest is to put nipple, and bell reducer to the size your running, then install valve there.

Then plan your piping another day.

Just my opinion...

 

...using black Permatex and it is now rock hard.

I have never seen BLACK Permatex. Permatex number 1 is a reddish brown color and sets up rock hard, but CAN be taken apart with a little extra effort. Permatex number 2 is a dark brown color that never sets up hard. Permatex number 3 is a thick liquid that gets harder than number 2 but not as hard as number 1.

I HAVE seen black pipe joint compound, it is called Copaltite and it gets harder than the hubs of h$%l. It is mostly used in industrial situations and not residential piping.

 

Finished the hookup of the heating stove today and everything worked out fine. I turned of the gas at the main and bled the gas out of the system by opening up the kitchen stove burners.

Took a heat gun and heated up the 1 1/4" cap for about 5 minutes. You could see the permatex around the threads start to get soft. Threw two 36" wrenches on the cap and nipple and with just a little bit of umph, the cap came off.

Did the tie in and ran the rest of the piping to the heating stove and checked for leaks, which there were none.

Too bad it's warm today and didn't need the stove on, but during the test burn, it made the family room and kitchen toasty real quick.

Thanks again to all who replied. Always a pleasure dealing with the members and Moderators on these boards.