Email your Tool Tip, business name and mailing address to Steve Smith, editor of PHC News at steve@phcppros.com for the chance to win a Kinetic Water Ram from General Pipe Cleaners.

When removing black iron gas piping, or really any threaded pipe, if you’re having a tough time repairing a line, before you literally fight yourself and strip anything out, try tightening it less than a 1/4 turn. It works every single time. Most people use pipe dope and tape on every connection and after so many years it hardens. And a trick I was taught was to tighten it just slightly then try and back it out. It will reduce wear on your tools, and make you more efficient. This is a very “tribal” tip, but also a very important one that an apprentice may never realize. 

Also, keep your work vehicle clean and organized. There's nothing worse than needing a ½-inch copper coupling and looking for 10 or 15 minutes all over your distraught and messy vehicle – especially in the winter. (It also doesn’t look good in front of your customer does it, pal?)  

Not only will it make you more efficient throughout the day, it will also save you money. How upsetting is it having to purchase more material because you misplaced some of it? You’re thinking, well I’ll eventually find it, right? Well sure, after it’s bounced, rolled around and scraped all over the truck! Bet you won’t use it on that $1,800 water heater install, would ya … or the guilt will set in before you even make it back inside with the invoice. Your work vehicle is one of, if not the most important tool you have. Don’t forget about it. 

Jeremy Baker 

Vassar, Michigan 

Share a Tool Tip and Win a Kinetic Water Ram from General Pipe Cleaners

General Pipe Cleaners and PHC News have teamed up on a monthly Tool Tip contest. PHC News will pick one prizewinner in each issue. And each winner will receive a Kinetic Water Ram, including 4-inch rubber cone, five rubber plugs and a carrying case all with a retail value of $325.

The Kinetic Water Ram uses a burst of compressed air that drives a shock wave through water instantly pulverizing stoppages – rust, grease, sediment and scale – in 1-1/4- to 4-inch lines. It won’t harm piping since the Kinetic Water Ram directs 98 percent of the force down the line – and only 2 percent against the pipe wall.

Email your Tool Tip, business name and mailing address to Steve Smith, editor of PHC News at steve@phcppros.com for the chance to win a Kinetic Water Ram from General Pipe Cleaners. For more information on other products from General Pipe Cleaners, contact the Drain Brains at General at (800) 245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com.