Dried Plumbers Paste - How to best remove?

[kipmando]

Hi All,

I'm prepping a used 130g tank for a 2026 install, more on that below.

Timelines so far out because I have to renovate the basement before I'm allowed to move the tank from the garage to inside the house. To renovate the basement I have to finish the ensuite bathroom that I gutted 2 yrs ago. To finish the ensuite that I have to finish the mud room cabinetry work I decided I'd build myself to house the 50g AIO.

I'll have a build thread once I have more of my ideas down, but I have some tank stuff I need to take care of, including the following:

How do I remove this dried plumbers putty so I can redo the overflow piping?

Should I just hand saw this bulk head fitting to remove it? The one on the other side was already removed when I bought the tank.

The tank 72" x 20" wide x 22" high, glass overflow, eurobrace, armour seals, 1/2" starfire three sides.

I will eventually skirt the entire tank base and canopy so its looks custom built into the basement cabinetry. Plan is to run a closed loop system with 2x gently used seaswirls on far end + gyre attached to the eurobrace (also on the far end), and 2x mp40 (or knock offs) on the black glass along with the returns. This will be a mixed reef. Currently running a 10g nano LPS/softies and a 50g AIO mixed.

 

[Joe31415]

If it's dry and brittle I'd go after it, very carefully, with a putty knife and hammer and try gently chipping away at it.

Actually, before that, try grabbing the nuts with a big channel lock wrench. If you can turn the nut without the entire bulkhead spinning, it may just break the putty away on it's own.

I'm not sure what I'm looking at in that third picture, but if you can get into that cut slot with a screwdriver use a hammer to tap it so it spins, it might come apart.

Edit, looking quickly online, I do see some household solvents that people say can remove old dried up plumber's putty, but before going that route either make sure they're not going to remove or weaken the caulk or (and?) do a good job masking the caulk.

 

[kipmando]

Appreciate the helpful tips and feedback Joe.

I also googled a few options including using vinegar, I'll try it out shortly.

I'll report back with an update this weekend.

 

[FUNGI]

I wouldn't re-apply plumbers putty as its not safe in the long run for plastic/ABS

EDIT: If its the petroleum based putty

 

[kipmando]

I wouldn't re-apply plumbers putty as its not safe in the long run for plastic/ABS

EDIT: If its the petroleum based putty

Good to know, the plan is to redo the plumbing and avoid having to use plumbers putty at all. I will not be saving the plumbing on the outside of the overflow.

 

[FUNGI]

Goof-Off will remove it all in a jiffy.....