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Retrieving screwdriver from toilet drain pipe?

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Retrieving screwdriver from toilet drain pipe? Winston 01-05-2007
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Posted by Bob F on January 5, 2007, 5:06 pm

> Yes, I'm a dumbass. This has become quite apparent, so there's no need
> to remind me.
>
> Long story short, I dropped a 10" screwdriver tip-first down an open
> 2nd floor toilet drain pipe, and it is now stuck at the base of a
> 45-degree bend just under the basement ceiling. I know it couldn't have
> gotten any further than this point, due to 2 sharp 90-degree bends that
> follow the 45-degree bend. Unfortunately, I can't see it from the drain
> opening because I can't look down the pipe due to a slight offset just
> past the toilet flange. Do you know of any specialized plumber's snakes
> or other tools that could be lowered into the pipe to grab the
> screwdriver somehow?
>

The hard drive magnet will work if it's plastic pipe and the screwdriver
isn't wedged in too well. Since you dropped it tip first, a big tripple fish
hook might grab it if you are lucky or patient.

Bob



Posted by on January 5, 2007, 6:48 pm

>Yes, I'm a dumbass. This has become quite apparent, so there's no need
>to remind me.
>
>Long story short, I dropped a 10" screwdriver tip-first down an open
>2nd floor toilet drain pipe, and it is now stuck at the base of a
>45-degree bend just under the basement ceiling. I know it couldn't have
>gotten any further than this point, due to 2 sharp 90-degree bends that
>follow the 45-degree bend. Unfortunately, I can't see it from the drain
>opening because I can't look down the pipe due to a slight offset just
>past the toilet flange. Do you know of any specialized plumber's snakes
>or other tools that could be lowered into the pipe to grab the
>screwdriver somehow?

I assume it's a cast iron pipe so a magnet is out of the question.
Fabricate a three prong fish hook retrieving device. Take a similar
screwdriver as a guide and apply the correct dimensions to the hooks
in order to facilitate successful hooking. Measure the exact length of
line you need to position the hook appropriately. Pretend you're
fishing and eventually you'll hook the tool.

Then don't be a dumb ass again.

Posted by Winston on January 5, 2007, 8:36 pm

tnom@mucks.net wrote:
>
> I assume it's a cast iron pipe so a magnet is out of the question.
> Fabricate a three prong fish hook retrieving device. Take a similar
> screwdriver as a guide and apply the correct dimensions to the hooks
> in order to facilitate successful hooking. Measure the exact length of
> line you need to position the hook appropriately. Pretend you're
> fishing and eventually you'll hook the tool.
>
> Then don't be a dumb ass again.

LOL!

It's a copper pipe, so I'm going to give the magnet a try first, then
the hook.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone!


Posted by CJT on January 5, 2007, 9:02 pm
Winston wrote:
> tnom@mucks.net wrote:
>
>>I assume it's a cast iron pipe so a magnet is out of the question.
>>Fabricate a three prong fish hook retrieving device. Take a similar
>>screwdriver as a guide and apply the correct dimensions to the hooks
>>in order to facilitate successful hooking. Measure the exact length of
>>line you need to position the hook appropriately. Pretend you're
>>fishing and eventually you'll hook the tool.
>>
>>Then don't be a dumb ass again.
>
>
> LOL!
>
> It's a copper pipe, so I'm going to give the magnet a try first, then
> the hook.
>

Copper drains? Somebody has money to waste.

> Thanks for all the replies, everyone!
>


--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.

Posted by on January 5, 2007, 11:07 pm

> Winston wrote:
>> tnom@mucks.net wrote:
>>
>>>I assume it's a cast iron pipe so a magnet is out of the question.
>>>Fabricate a three prong fish hook retrieving device. Take a similar
>>>screwdriver as a guide and apply the correct dimensions to the hooks
>>>in order to facilitate successful hooking. Measure the exact length of
>>>line you need to position the hook appropriately. Pretend you're
>>>fishing and eventually you'll hook the tool.
>>>
>>>Then don't be a dumb ass again.
>>
>>
>> LOL!
>>
>> It's a copper pipe, so I'm going to give the magnet a try first, then
>> the hook.
>>
>
> Copper drains? Somebody has money to waste.
>
From early fifties to early seventies, 4" copper was standard issue in much
of the country. Worked better than iron or galvanized, nobody used lead any
more, and PVC or other plastics were just starting to be used, and not
code-approved in many areas. For several years after PVC was allowed for
drains, many areas still required copper feed lines. Properly installed, and
in the absence of bad water or other chemical or galvanic weirdness, copper
will basically last forever.

aem sends...



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