Hi,

I have a project I am working on in the basement and I need to tie 3" plastic into 3" cast iron. I will be renting a ratchet type cast cutter. The cast comes out of the basement floor and goes straight up to serve the first floor bathroom. What I would like to do is cut a section out of the cast and put in a 3 " plastic tee, with fernco couplers. The problem I am wondering about is, when I cut the cast how will I be able to slip the cut section of cast out of the vertical section stack? Also will I need to support the cast above the cut section until I get the plastic installed? Anyone have any ideas that would help me would be very much apprecitated.

Thanks, woody1

hi,

I have a project I am working on in the basement and I need to tie 3" plastic into 3" cast iron. I will be renting a ratchet type cast cutter. The cast comes out of the basement floor and goes straight up to serve the first floor bathroom. What I would like to do is cut a section out of the cast and put in a 3 " plastic tee, with fernco couplers. The problem I am wondering about is, when I cut the cast how will I be able to slip the cut section of cast out of the vertical section stack? Also will I need to support the cast above the cut section untill i get the plastic installed? Anyone have any ideas that would help me would be very much apprecitated.

Thanks, woody1

Good morning Woody,

Unless you want that vertical stack to end up in your lap you better run a permanent support on the upper section, especially if you plan on using neoprene couplings. How I would go about this would be to go to a plumbing supply house and pick up a 3" clamp on pipe support. We use these clamps at the floor level to support stacks in a multi storied building. They consist of a metal clamp with ears that extend out 3 or 4 inches. These ears extend past the hole in the floor and support the pipe above. If you can clamp off the pipe at a overhead level where it comes through the floor then that would be best. If you can't then you'll have to cut two 2X4's that will extend above your cut and support the pipe that way. More questions? I'm as close as a click. Tom

Thanks Speedball1

The cast iron goes into the floor above the basement and connects directly to the toilet, and under the floor joist it branches out to a couple of sinks and bath tub. I had thought about tempary 2x4 braces to hold it up while putting in the plastic tee, with small lengths of 3 inch plastic pipeing glued into the tee, cut to size to fit into the place I take the cast section out, then sliding down the fernco couplers to seal it. Would this plastic then hold everything up? Also I would like to know if the small section of cast iron I will be taking out, get wedged in and I will have a hard time getting it out? If so what would be the best way to get this piece out?

Thanks again
woody1

Thanks Speedball1

The cast iron goes into the floor above the basement and connects directly to the toilet, and under the floor joist it branches out to a couple of sinks and bath tub. I had thought about tempary 2x4 braces to hold it up while putting in the plastic tee, with small lengths of 3 inch plastic pipeing glued into the tee, cut to size to fit into the place i take the cast section out, then sliding down the fernco couplers to seal it. Would this plastic then hold everything up? Also I would like to know if the small section of cast iron I will be taking out, get wedged in and I will have a hard time getting it out? If so what would be the best way to get this peice out?

Thanks again
woody1

You support the pipe with a stack clamp before you make your cut. Install the clamp about 4 inches higher then the cut so that when you make your cut the upper pipe will be supported. If the cut piece binds a little you can always lever the clamp up enough to remove it. I don't think that gluing in PVC "ears" on the would be strong enough to hold up a length of cast iron that runs up to the next floor. Better to clamp it off and be safe. You could also make a temporary clamp by using a rope with a half hitch to support the pipe and then slip in the tee for support, but then your cut would have to be bang on. The cast iron pipe that discharges the first floor may not sag when you make the cut but why take that chance. Regards, Tom

Thanks again Tom,

I have it in my head how to support the pipe now. I am still a little worried about getting the cut piece of cast out though. I will try to lever the cast up enough to get it out, and hope there is enough slack to make it work. If that doesn't work I could break the cast, but I am affriad of losing pieces down the stack and causing problems.

Also, from the 3 inch pvc tee I will be installing, it is a branch that will run 25 feet to serve a washer ( is in basement) and kitchen sink ( is in next floor up). I was thinking of using 1 1/2 inch pvc for this. Do you think I should go to 2 inch instead, and branch from that to 1 1/2 inch? The air vent in this branch is 1 1/2 inch.

Thanks, woody

Thanks again Tom,

I have it in my head how to support the pipe now. I am still a little worried about getting the cut piece of cast out though. I will try to lever the cast up enough to get it out, and hope there is enough slack to make it work. If that doesn't work I could break the cast, but I am affriad of losing peices down the stack and causing problems.

Also, from the 3 inch pvc tee I will be installing, it is a branch that will run 25 feet to serve a washer ( is in basement) and kitchen sink ( is in next floor up). I was thinking of using 1 1/2 inch pvc for this. Do you think I should go to 2 inch instead, and branch from that to 1 1/2 inch? The air vent in this branch is 1 1/2 inch.

Thanks, woody

Good morning Woody,

By all means increase to 2" for the washer/kitchen branch. In my area we branch off 3" to pick up a washer/kitchen combination drain. Going 1 1/2" is asking for clogs in the line. Fiber from the washer, grease, (and especially if you have a disposal unit), food particals from the kitchen sink bond together in the drain line to form clogs. The larger the pipe size the less chance of a clog. The 1 1/2" vent's fine. Good luck, Tom

Tom,

Thanks for all the advice you gave me with my project in the basement. Everything worked out very well. I used the 2 inch pvc, but I did have to make my own support clamp for the 3 inch cast iron, because the plumbers supply warehouse wouldn't sell me anything without an account... my cash was no use to them I guess! But making the clamp myself, I was able to make it very secure, with 2x6 legs screwed to the clamp, and left in place perminately.

I hope you're still here the next time I have a plumbing problem!

Thanks again, woody

Tom,

Thanks for all the advice you gave me with my project in the basement. Everything worked out very well. I used the 2 inch pvc, but I did have to make my own support clamp for the 3 inch cast iron, because the plumbers supply warehouse wouldn't sell me anything without an account....my cash was no use to them I guess! But making the clamp myself, I was able to make it very secure, with 2x6 legs screwed to the clamp, and left in place perminately.

I hope you're still here the next time I have a plumbing problem!

Thanks again, woody

The next time you need help with a plumbing problem we'll still be here. Good luck, Tom