Replies

1. 
   Jer | Aug 24, 2009 02:01pm | #1

   It may be worth your while to get a Fein Multimaster to cut it. This sounds like the very kind of job this tool was created for. There are a few other brands and like Bosch, Dremmel, & Craftsman, but the best is still the original. It would give a more controlled cut in that confined space.

   As far as using solderless, perhaps somebody else will come along and advise. I've never used it.

   You can't solder, even in that small an opening?

2. 
   JTC1 | Aug 24, 2009 02:30pm | #2

   The way I understand your situation is as follows:

   There is the end of a broken chromed brass pipe stuck in a threaded fitting inside of the wall (the fitting would be an elbow with mounting ears most likely).  Not a soldered joint involving rigid copper tubing.

   If this is your case, then "inside pipe wrenches" are readily available for the various pipe sizes - you most likely neeed a 1/2" size.  They will insert inside of the broken pipe and allow you to remove the broken-off stub of brass pipe from the fitting.  The wrench would insert from the bathroom side of the wall without enlarging the hole.

   They work sort of like an EZ out for broken bolts, but without any drilling since the broken pipe already has a hole down the center.

   Plumbing supply house or even a big box will have the wrenches.

   I would chase the threads of the fitting with an appropriate pipe tap before installing a new chrome brass pipe nipple.

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
3. 
   GRCourter | Aug 24, 2009 03:27pm | #3

   Sharkbite fittings

4. 
   rnsykes | Aug 24, 2009 04:43pm | #4

   Yeah, sharkbite makes lug el's. You really need to attach them to solid blocking before putting in your new chrome nipple though. You'll have to slip a something behind the fitting to attach the elbow to and make sure it's attached to the stud. I don't know if you have enough room. I suppose you could put the nipple in to the elbow first and then push it onto the pipe.

5. 
   Eldan | Aug 24, 2009 06:02pm | #5

   Don't cut anything yet. I think your best bet would be an internal pipe wrench, or a nipple extractor, which looks like a tap with reversed cutting threads. You will probably be able to extract the broken nipple and and just screw in a new one.

   If you really do have to cut the copper there are mini tubing cutters that only need about 1" of clearance to swing. If you're right up against an obstacle, I would just use a sawzall and deburr the edge with a small file. A sharkbite fitting might work if you don't want to solder.

    

1. 
   BURT | Aug 25, 2009 02:31am | #7

   If your problem is a broken threaded nipple fragment remaining in the female threads of the ell or tee, one of the internal pipe wrench devices should solve your problem.  I have and have used all three of the types shown in the product post.  They all will usually require some "fumbling with" to get them to bite on the nipple fragment.  The straight type with the sharp corners usually needs to be tapped in to get it to bite.  That might not be good for your aging pipes.  The left hand spiral version will sometimes bite just by turning it into the fragment.  Sometimes a little tapping is needed.  The type with the eccentric cam element usually requires the least heavy handedness to make it work.  A new cam type wrench may work better than an older one because the cam element will move freely to grab the fragment.

   When they work, they are like magic and save a lot of extra work.  Good luck.

6. 
   migraine | Aug 24, 2009 08:04pm | #6

   look here for various removal tools.

   http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Cat/Pipe-Nipple-Extractors/655/List