Chat with a retired welder at the hardware store changed how I handle old pipe

He mentioned he always used a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water to soak seized fittings overnight instead of just hitting them with heat. Tried it on a stubborn 2-inch union last week and it came apart with almost no effort. Anyone have other tricks for breaking down corrosion without damaging the base metal?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennyh552mo ago

What about galvanized pipe, does that vinegar trick work on it too?

rosed322mo ago

Yeah, it works but you gotta rinse it like crazy, the_pat is right about the film.

the_pat2mo ago

So that vinegar mix... does it leave any kind of residue or film you need to clean off after? Worried it might mess with the threads if you don't get it all.