[Shop-talk] can I safely heat up a black iron clean out?

[Eric J Russell]

The cast iron can 'take the heat' but I'd be wary if there are any joints 
nearby. In the olden days the joints were often packed with a fibre material 
and then lead was poured into the space above the fibre stuff.

I would assume the nub on the top of the cleanout is for a pipe wrench. A 
pipe wrench has teeth to bite and hold onto the item being wrenched upon. 
Some penetrating oil applied an hour or a day before attempting to remove 
might help. I like PB Blaster. Kroil is another well regarded product. A big 
pipe wrench has the advantage of more leverage.

Eric Russell
Mebane, NC
http://home.mebtel.net/~ejrussell
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Andy"

> I have a clean out that I want to remove, but its been in place for 60
> years or so: