Removing lead and oakum

[Marcus]

Put this in the remodel forum, but I'm not sure where it should go -- sorry for the repetition!

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Greetings!

I'm in the middle of a bathroom remodel and am replacing some DWV lines with PVC, to be joined with a cast-iron stack. My current bath/shower drain is 1.5" galvanized and I'm replacing it with a 2" line for a corner shower. I'm trying to figure out the best way to maintain 2" to the stack and was wondering how difficult it is to remove the lead/oakum in a 3" sanitary wye (what the existing 1.5" drain ties into).

I've done a couple of searches and it seems like this shouldn't be too difficult, but I'd love to get some backup on that. I need to get the wye clean enough to accept a no-hub or a donut for new 2" drain.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Marcus

[TonyBagadonutz]

The easiest thing may be to cut the cast at a point a few inches above or below the hub...then just attach a sheilded hub.

I'm sure a "real" plumber could suggest a way to re-use the old hub...if at all even possible.

[Terry]

With poured joints, the lead can be removed by drilling holes around the circle, and then prying out with a screwdriver.

Sometimes a fernco insert will work. The rubber goes in the hub, and then the pipe slides in. A bevel on the end of the pipe and some liquid soap will help.

[Marcus]

Thanks Tony and Terry. I'm pretty sure these are poured joints I'll explore the drilling and prying, see what I come up with.

Thanks again!
Marcus