How to get rid of old bath

MarcusMaximus

Doing a bathroom renovation so have to shift our old cast iron bath, which must weigh close to half a ton. There isn't the space in our small bathroom to swing a sledgehammer and I'm not very big anyway(!). I imagine an angle grinder or reciprocal saw would take absolutely ages to cut through the thick iron. Getting someone to move it would be problematic due to not having much/enough room to manoevre. So I'm wondering if anyone could advise the best way to do this?

Here are some photos to give an idea of what we're dealing with. Thanks!

geographica

what’s below the window outside?

MarcusMaximus

There’s a boiler house roof under the window, about 5ft down. However the window only opens on the top and it has specially fitted double-glazed panels which I’d rather not lose. Would you suggest taking the glass out? Not sure how the bath could be taken out that way though.

It would fit through the door on its side so if there was some way to get it onto a heavy-duty dolly we might be able to move it out. However we’d still face the problem of orientating it to get it downstairs, presumably upside down..

CelticRambler

Remove all the sticky-out bits, tip it up on its end to get it through the door as you suggest. Then instead of trying to get it onto a trolley, find some tough glossy cardboard, or a couple of squares of hardboard, and put the glossy sides together. Wiggle the bath onto the double layer and it'll slide and twist quite easily from there on.

If the stairs is wide enough and you don't have a turn to negotiate, you should be able to slide it all the way down, upside down, but be very careful : when it goes, it'll go fast!

baxterooneydoody

That bath is far from half a ton, they're about 120 to 150 kilos at most, I know because I've fitted and taken out more of them than I care to remember. A long handled club hammer with a little bit of bad mind or a sledge hammer is the easiest way out of it. Or 2 capable men to manhandle it out and down the stairs, remember it was 2 men that got it up the stairs the first day so it's possible

magicbastarder

if it's cast iron, and there's not much to damage in the bathroom that you want to keep, and it's too awkward to move - much as i hate destroying things; it's probably brittle enough to have at with a lump hammer.

and don't forget, it'll be cheaper to dispose of as scrap metal than as rubbish. from a quick google, cast iron is 10c per kilo, so that'd be worth ten or twenty quid if you can get it to a scrapyard, which is a lot better than paying someone to take it away.

LukFwd

Had the same problem a few months ago and went crazy at it with a lump hammer. Did the trick. I’m not exactly Rambo so it took a while but got there in the end.

MarcusMaximus

Thanks guys for all the great tips. Re. the weight, I'm just going by Google and looking at how thick the metal is but it may well be lighter. I could get a couple of guys to move it but there would be a turn to negotiate as I think the only way to get it out the door would be straight out to the landing and then around the bannisters to go down the stairs. Yeah a friend did it with 4 lads and they lost control on the way down so it put a big gouge in the hall floor when it landed!

I think the bath was put in while the house was being built so they wouldn't have had bannisters or probably even the door/wall to negotiate. Straight up stairs and in.

Anyways, I'm thinking a lump or sledge hammer plus maybe a grinder to score and weaken it might be the best at this stage? Thanks for letting me know it's doable without being Rambo, though I do some weight training so I'm not too puny! ;) I am just 67 however..

NIMAN

A local farmer will gladly come and collect this from you if you manage to get it outside in one piece.

MarcusMaximus

Ok thanks. It's getting it downstairs and out that's the main problem but that's good to know. Otherwise I'd have to pay some removal company.

MarcusMaximus

So I bought a sledge hammer, a 4 lb one because I can swing it better in the small space and it's more manageable for a guy my size. I gave it a good few whacks for 5-10 mins and although the enamel came away from inside at the spot I was hitting, the hammer just kept bouncing off without making the slightest impression on the iron. I did however get a very nice Big Ben sound every time I hit it!

I decided there was no point in continuing like that, unless I want to enter the local bell-ringing contest, so the next thing I'm going to try is to hire an angle grinder tomorrow and score it to weaken it and then see if the hammer will do any damage around that area. I'm hoping the combination of the two might bring some success. Some people online have mentioned that approach.

It could be argued that I should have got the bigger size hammer but tbh I don't think it would have made much difference, unless Thor himself was wielding it! This is one thick, strong mother of a tub - under the enamel it looks like hardened steel. Also a couple of posts say that you don't need a particularly big one and that a 4 or even 3 lb one should do the job.

So any other thoughts welcome and if someone would like to drop round tomorrow and show me how easily it would break up in the right hands, I'm all ears (or eyes) ;)

spuddy4711

Get a good supply of diamond blades for the angle grinder and try cutting the bath in half, as opposed to smashing it to bits.

baxterooneydoody

You need manpower, any builders working locally that you could give a labourer a 50 to lace it with a sledge. The sparks and fumes from a grinder would be awful and cast iron is tough stuff to cut.

baxterooneydoody

A big jackhammer would also do the job but if a 4 pound hammer is the limits of your capability it may be impractical. I presume a plumber will be carrying out work in the bathroom in the near future, have you asked him if he van take it out for you

MarcusMaximus

Hmm.. ok so. I'll give the grinder + hammer approach a try first with as many blades as the guys in Hills Hire think necessary - I find they're pretty knowledgeable and have been using them for years. I doubt I could even manage to move it in halves though. I was thinking of quarters if I can cut it at all. I don't mind smashed bits as at least they'd be manageable.

I was in contact with a company who were happy to move it until I sent them a video and the dimensions etc. Then they said it wasn't something they could take on, also that the carpet would probably get damaged in the process. I think the walls would be likely casualties as well! I can't see a way to attach the video here, which is a pity as it might be helpful for you guys to see.

Yes if I can't find a way to do it myself I'll have to get someone more powerful to sledge it or whatever. There often are builders doing jobs around here. I'm sure I could actually manage a 7lb hammer though, if that would make a real difference? I could possibly exchange the one I bought if they'll take it back. I'll also look into the jackhammer, Hills probably do them. Thanks for all the suggestions.

I will be doing all the work myself including the plumbing which is already in place as we're not changing the arrangement at all. So it's just a matter of adjusting what's there. I'm fairly handy and put in our kitchen some years back and we've never had a single issue with it. I've also built a large deck, done a camper van conversion, put up a shed and so on. So hopefully I'll manage this job and if I run into any problems, I can always come here for help 😉. No, if I really can't do something I'll call in a pro, though this is a DIY forum isn't it? 😊

Edit: Actually I just uploaded the video to YouTube - duh! I tried to upload it earlier to my Wordpress site but I don't have the right plan for that. I say in the video that the bath would fit through the door (upright) but I measured it again and it's wider than the doorway. So it would need to be on its side.

https://youtu.be/th5ksum2CwQ

Field east

had one of those and gave it to a farmer who is using it as a drinking trough. It would be a pity to destroy something that is very reusable and made of very robust material. I’d say that if you left it intact outside in the front lawn that it would be gone in no time - at least in cities/ city suburbs at least.
With the help of a friend that is ‘used to roughing it’ along with a rope and. A few sheets of cardboard then it should be easy to land it on the front lawn that. I suggest the following :-

(1) put bath on its side and with cardboard underneath At all times to protect flooring and decrease friction

(2)slide out the bathroom door. I think - from the video - that the bathroom door can sli

JVince

Easy... 😁

If you have an estate car or SUV, pop to the local supermarket and ask if you could borrow a goods cage.

They come in 2 sizes, it's the smaller narrow one you want.

Put bath standing up in the cage, use ratchet straps to keep it in place.

Wheel to top of the stairs. Open end facing the stairs

One person gently pull the bottom of the cage over the steps whilst another is controlling the top.

Allow the back of the cage gradually fall onto the steps. Slide it down, push upright and wheel out.

Field east

(2) slides bath out the bathroom door and straight down the stairs. From the video I see that the stairs is slightly offset from the bathroom door but it is not acute enough to cause a problem

(3) As soon as bath is on the landing tie a rope to it - either around the taps or the holes that the taps were secured to and put rope around the top pole supporting the balusters or something similar. The tap end of the bath should be at the high end of the bath as it goes down the stairs . The rope is ‘better able to control the bath’ as it is manoeuvred down the stairs

(4) so as the downstairs journey begins, the ‘ more robust of the two- or maybe you have two such did friends- can ‘ wriggle’ the bath down the stairs and the rope ‘expert’ can slacken the rope as required

(5) Put cardboard between bath and wall/ doors if needed to avoid scratching.
(6) once landed in the hallway all that is needed is a bit of ‘ pushing/ shoving/ pulling /wriggling’ to get it out the door When I am moving such an item , a heavy stone or whatever , rather than moving it in a straight line I move one end , then the other end, then back to the first end and so forth

MarcusMaximus

Thanks for those ideas. I do agree that it's a shame to destroy it and I believe in recycling. However it is so heavy I can't see how, even with another pair of hands, it could be manoevred to upright. And would it not be likely to crush the cage and/or it's wheels? On its side would probably be easier as it would 'just' be a matter of taking away the supports on one side and rolling it the rest of the way. Again the sheer weight of it in terms of being able to manoeuvre it at all is what I'm balking at. A rope or the bannisters could break under the strain and I can't imagine what would happen if we lost control of anything on wheels going downstairs..

I'll certainly consider both options though and may take a trip to Dunnes to have a look at a goods cage. The biggest car we have is a Juke which may not fit one but I'll see. Thanks again guys. :)

Doolittle51

Some of these suggestions are ridiculous. A supermarket cage? wtf….

OP, fuel up on whatever gives you plenty of energy and have another go with the lump hammer. It might sound obvious, but start at the edge rather than the middle of the bath. X marks the spot.

MarcusMaximus

Yep that's probably my next step realistically, along with an angle grinder to hopefully weaken it. Too many risks of damage to walls, carpets and so on in moving it though I could be wrong.

Thanks for marking the spot, though that's actually where the metal is thickest.

I'm going to try and exchange the hammer I have for the bigger long-handled one. A good idea or am I better to stick with the smaller one which allows more room to adjust my swing and so on? Here it is, handle 35 cm long:

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123586353#Comment_123586353

Trying to load a cast iron bath into a supermarket cage - if anyone tries this, please film it and share it here, unless it gets too gory.

CelticRambler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123586327#Comment_123586327

Again the sheer weight of it in terms of being able to manoeuvre it at all is what I'm balking at.

Physics is your friend ! If you've ever been to a mediaeval construction site, you wouldn't be worried about shifting a diddly little bathtub :-)

Seriously, though, if I was in your neighbourhood, I'd be 'round there tomorrow to take that away intact, and if I had to, I'd do it myself. I know I can, because I've had to do it before (although it's considerably easier with a helper). Then it could join the other three that I have in the garden, one of which had to be lifted up onto some old concrete rabbit hutches, a metre off the ground.

As @Field east says, the key is to move it bit by bit, corner by corner. A decent crowbar and a few blocks of wood is probably all the equipment you need (but the rope would be a very useful addition too).

I think the supermarket cage is the wrong approach - you're only adding more metal, more wheels, more opportunity for things to get caught/stuck/out-of-hand.

charlesanto

Just try to move it, stop thinking about it.
Disconect it, flip it on its side, wood blocks underneeth, remove legs then wiggle wiggle, grunt move.

SuperBowserWorld

Yep, keep it as simple as possible and take your time, otherwise it ends up feeling like this ...

MarcusMaximus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123586619#Comment_123586619

Dude, I’m not just thinking about it - I only got to the stage of doing the bath a couple of days ago. 🤨 I shifted cupboards, shower, mirror etc. before that as well as repairing the tiling in the downstairs bathroom so that we can use it while renovating this one. Also this particular job requires careful planning in my opinion in order to avoid damage or injury. Especially getting it down those stairs without wrecking the place.

Might try the approach advocated by @CelticRambler and @Field east and others before deciding to break it up. (Pity you’re not close to my neighbourhood CR, ah well). I have a good crowbar though I don’t see how the blocks of wood would help. Mind explaining?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123586644#Comment_123586644

For sure!! Though I may well use some C-4 n the end if I get fed up of all this!

Another video to follow showing the plan and a crucial question..

FintanMcluskey

This is a great thread. I hope OP does go with some of the Frank Spencer suggestions and let's us know how he gets on

SuperBowserWorld

You might be able to get professional movers to just move this outside for you. They'll be expert at maneuvering sofas, pianos, wardrobes ... out of tight spots without damaging walls etc. Plus it won't be so expensive since it's one item to move outside.

MarcusMaximus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123586739#Comment_123586739

Yes that will be my last resort. Gonna try myself first though.

Video here. What about that bannister post?

https://youtu.be/Pt-Sv5A7wVI?si=RiG9Kd7ZNn-3Zmiz

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123586353#Comment_123586353

Yes, a supermarket cage can be exceptionally good for manoeuvring heavy objects.

Maybe try it first before dismissing it out of hand.

They are very easy to move and can take a fair whack of weight (well over 250kg). We moved a very heavy safe down a regular stairs with a cage in the exact manner described.

Too heavy to lift for two strong men, but easy with the cage.

Wrapping carpet under it and dragging the carpet is probably the first option I'd try.

MarcusMaximus

Ok I see where you’re coming from but how on earth am I supposed to get the bath upright, let alone ‘swivel’ it into the cage? With help no doubt but even then. And down the stairs with all that weight likely to topple over at any minute? It’s much longer and therefore higher than a safe would be. Sounds pretty dangerous to me and I really don’t mean to be negative - all help and suggestions, including Aliens, are welcome and worth considering. 😋