Cast iron bath removal

tacpot12

I agree it looks more like steel - it's too modern a design to be cast iron. If it steel, it will be much lighter and easier to get out. If you can move it a bit, it's steel; if it's too heavy to move, it's cast iron. 

danrv

Apodemus said:

From style and colour, I would have thought it is much more likely to be a steel bath rather than cast iron.

Thanks. The gauge of the metal is around 9mm so quite thick. 

Swasterix

The bath I removed from my house last year looked roughly the same and was indeed cast iron. Took me half an hour to smash it to bits with a sledge hammer and cart the bits downstairs. Was rather therapeutic!

Left it on the driveway and had been taken by the end of the day. Presumably scrap men like it as it’s so heavy, helps when they’re weighing in..!

Jeepers_Creepers

9mm = cast iron, as you suspect, Dan.

That's a good point, Swaster - check your local Facebook area 'buy and sell' page for scrap collection. That would be a nice easy way to get rid. 

danrv

Have started getting the bath out but the hot feed compression nut is hard to access.
I’ve used an adjustable spanner on the cold and that’s fine so maybe originally a smaller compression nut spanner was used.
Also the loose cold pipe gets in the way.
Any help appreciated.

KeithP

Cut the pipes.
It is almost certain that whatever you replace it with will need different pipework.

danrv

KeithP said:

Cut the pipes.
It is almost certain that whatever you replace it with will need different pipework.

Ok. Was thinking that the 15mm and 22mm pipes would connect back up to the new taps.

Jeepers_Creepers

The tap connectors are hard to access? Have you bought a tap spanner?

If it's really awkward, then do as suggested above - shut the water off, cut the pipes, cap them temporarily, and redo to suit the new.

If the new bath is going in exactly the same place and has the exact same tap dimensions and the bath is the exact same height and the tap tails are the exact same length, then perhaps you'll get away with using the existing pipework.

What are the chances, eh?!

donemedosh

I had to do the same about 5 years ago. I wanted to keep the bath as it was large & cast iron (just needed reenameling) but when i tried I found that the end wall was put in after the bath was fitted as about 2inches of plaster had encased the bath. Smashed it with a sledge hammer. Please wear ear defenders if you do break it up as its like working in a bell tower. Then if you are unable to fit new one get the plumber to fit it.

danrv

Jeepers_Creepers said:

The tap connectors are hard to access? Have you bought a tap spanner?

If it's really awkward, then do as suggested above - shut the water off, cut the pipes, cap them temporarily, and redo to suit the new.

If the new bath is going in exactly the same place and has the exact same tap dimensions and the bath is the exact same height and the tap tails are the exact same length, then perhaps you'll get away with using the existing pipework.

What are the chances, eh?!

I might even have a suitable spanner.
What might be needed is a 12 point type as there’s very little room. 
I know that the tap holes on the new bath are the same distance apart as these ones so I’ll try again. 
Someone got it on there so there’s hope.

I did consider having the bath the other way round 
as the electric shower is on the opposite wall.
As I’m also fitting a whole new subfloor, it’ll be easier working around the pipes as they are.
For now I’ve reconnected the cold and waste pipes so I can turn water back on.