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croden4 · Jan 5, 2009, 07:57 PM

While trying to unscrew the shower flange (the pipe that comes out of the wall that you attach the shower head to) from the pipe in the wall, the flange broke at the threading that goes into the pipe in the wall, so the threading from the flange is inside the pipe in the wall. We were told to use an Easy Out tool, but the pipe in the wall only goes in straight for about 2" and then curves down, so the tool is too long to fit into the pipe. Is there any way to remove the pipe threading?

MarkwithaK · Jan 5, 2009, 07:59 PM

Have you tied an internal pipe wrench.

croden4 · Jan 5, 2009, 08:10 PM

I haven't heard of this and no one at the hardware store mentioned it.

MarkwithaK · Jan 5, 2009, 08:21 PM

Really? It's fairly common.

croden4 · Jan 5, 2009, 08:32 PM

I'll check into it tomorrow. Anything is worth a try if it prevents cutting a hole in the wall! Thanks.

KISS · Jan 5, 2009, 08:53 PM

Find Wrenches and other Plumbing Tools at Aubuchon Hardware

Milo Dolezal · Jan 5, 2009, 09:10 PM

It is called "Nipple Extractor". You can get it in Home Depot for $8.00.
Or, take skinny flat screwdriver and hammer, insert it below the broken off threads and gently tap it around until it breaks loose.

afaroo · Jan 6, 2009, 12:41 AM

See the image below for the nipple extrator you can buy it at any hardware store, or try the way Milo is saying it has worked for me a lot, Thanks.

John

speedball1 · Jan 6, 2009, 06:10 AM

As Milo suggested take a small sharp chisel and tap it under the broken threads in the drop eared ell.(see image)in he wall. Once you get under the threads pry up and began to peel those pesky threads right out of there. Good luck and thank you for rating my answer. Tom

HGR Firearms · Jun 7, 2012, 10:50 AM

I just did that same thing putting new shower head in. yesterday 2 new toilets and sink faucet + Sprayer... the builder has epoxyed ALL pipes, and it's taking blow torch and chisle, hacksaw etc to do any plumbing. On My way to the hardware store... got to love the internet.. thanks to everyone

mlavelle · Aug 6, 2013, 07:38 PM

I had a 1/2" shower pipe break off in the wall. I bought a 1/2" internal pipe wrench but it did not make good enough contact to extract the pipe. Then I tried a 1/2" nipple extractor and it did not even touch the inside pipe. I then measured the piece of the pipe that had broken off and it had a 5/8" diameter which is why those two tools did not work. I tried other methods including a hammer and chisel none of which worked. Then I found a tool called a 1/2" internal nipple wrench. I had to widen the hole in the wall just a fraction to accommodate the tool, which inserts three prongs into the pipe and then, turning a reverse-thread bolt presses the prongs against the internal pipe. When it is very tight, the pipe turns when you turn the bolt. The instructions say to use two wrenches on the tool (one to keep it motionless and one to turn the bolt) but I only needed one, and when it was tight enough, the pipe was extracted. That was a good thing because there was not enough room in the wall to attach a second wrench. This is a fantastic tool and I don't think I could have done it without it.

kwhit190211 · Aug 14, 2013, 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

As Milo suggested take a small sharp chisel and tap it under the broken threads in the drop eared ell.(see image)in he wall. Once you get under the threads pry up and began to peel those pesky threads right out of there. Good luck and thank you for rating my answer. Tom

Tom;

When I was still working, ( now retired) if the easy out didn't work we always used a gouge. It's made for this type of extracting. I don't know if you know what I mean or not, it is like a chisel but the business end is triangle in shape, one side is flat & the other side is rounded. The rounded side is ground up at a angle, into a flat chisel point. Then the rounded side is placed against the inside side of the fitting & the sharp end against & under the broken nipple. You hit it with a hammer & the result is that the gouge drives under the broken nipple pushing it into the hole or center of the open pipe. I use my gouges a lot over my 38 years as a Pipefitter. You always have to watch using a easy out as they are to easy for me to snap. And, internal wrenches, their useless!