I am replacing a free standing Spartan shower with an inexpensive Swanstone free standing shower. The Swanstone comes with an Oatey ABS drain. My question is: can this plastic drain be used with my copper drain pipe? The pipe is extending up over the cement floor by an inch. I believe that I must break out concrete around pipe and cut copper pipe off at the floor/shower base level.

Hi PaulTru

Yeah, no way that plastic oatey no-calk shower strainer will work in this case... not unless you change over to ABS (or PVC).

In the case of 2" copper pipe you have a few alternatives:

You can chip the floor up a bit and install a 2" copper to 2" ABS (or PVC) mission style shielded clamp (see image) and stub up 2" ABS (or pVC) and then use the oatey no-calk drain, as mentioned above.

You can also chip the floor up a bit more and purchase a 2" copper sweat shower strainer and solder the strainer to the copper pipe at the correct height. Note here, however, that soldering 2" copper to brass strainer takes some pretty good heat and will just barely work using MAPP gas. It also takes skill in setting the height exact as there is no changing it once you have soldered it.

Another alternative would be to purchase a 2" brass no-calk shower drain but have a plumber oakum/lead it into place for you... not a do it yourself project here... ;)

Finally, you can always call OATEY and see if they have a special transition gasket that I don't know about. You can contact them here @ Home :: Oatey.com (http://www.oatey.com/Channel/Home.html)

That's the alternatives that I know of.

If you have questions just let me know,OK?

Mark

Mark
Thanks so much for your prompt response. Since your answer I have been "internet studying" your suggestions as I am a complete plumbing novice. The shielded clamp and oakun/lead options sound reasonable. Oatey does have a Caulking Gasket for 2" copper DWV used with the 2" brass no-caulk shower drain that sounds workable. However, I have not been able to locate this gasket and have been waiting for an email response back from Oatey since last Friday 11/12 with info about this option. Thanks again and I will keep you updated.
PS, I am also from the Boston area. Paul

Hi Neighbor

The oatey 2" to 2" gasket sounds like the best bet as long as the copper pipe is long enough to reach the top of the new rubber... ;)

If you don't get an answer from oatey via e-mail try calling them directly... number is at their website.

Keep me posetd!

Hello again, Mark.
I have finally acquired and installed the Oatey 2" rubber gasket (along with an Oatey Brass drain). After 3 successful leak free showers, I can now report the issue resolved. Thanks again.

Hi Paul.

Good news! Thanks for the update!