Premium Pipe Reamer
This tool reams 1-1/2-in. fittings in schedule 40 PVC, CPVC, and ABS.
In the midst of some recent plumbing changes, I stubbed out drain lines for a full bath in my basement. When the time finally came to finish the job, I was prepping the area and broke a 1-1/2-in. PVC drain line just above the fitting encased in the concrete floor. For the most part, PVC pipe and fittings are easy to work with and relatively inexpensive. Cutting and modifying isn’t a big deal—until those parts are installed in an existing wall or encased in concrete.
Before I resorted to busting up concrete to replace a section of PVC pipe, I called a plumber friend. He advised me that I could reuse the fitting without removing it from the slab using a relatively inexpensive reaming tool.
The Reed Tool Clean Ream Plus (CRP150) reams 1-1/2-in. fittings in schedule 40 PVC, CPVC, and ABS. It has a heat-treated cutting disk that can be sharpened or replaced, with a 3/8-in. hex shaft that fits in most cordless drills. (You’ll want to use a low-speed, high-torque setting.) There are cheaper reaming tools out there, but Reed’s came highly recommended, and I didn’t mind paying a premium, especially with only one shot to get it right. First, I cut the existing pipe flush with the fitting; then with the tool in hand, it took only a minute to ream the old pipe, clear the debris, and install the new pipe.
The CRP150 is made for other common PVC sizes, too, from 1-1/4 in. up to 4 in. (and is available as a kit). It can be found at plumbing supply houses and other online distributors for about $50. Though I hope I never need to use it again, I know I have more remodeling ahead of me, and I’m glad it’s in my plumbing tool kit.
Andrew Zoellner, editorial director
Photos: courtesy of Reed Tool
From Fine Homebuilding #314
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