Need some help . . .

[Thomas]

I have a four port gas manifold I bought a few year ago, and one end is sealed with a brass plug and some sort of plumbers putty (or possibly caulking). I would like to remove the plug and attach an additional three port manifold I recently purchased, but I cannot remove the damn plug! I have tried everything to remove the plug including carving out the putty with a knife, soakkng in 98% ethanol (stolden from the lab), WD-40, Goo-B-gone, boiling for half an hour to loosen the metal and using three foot clamps for extra torque. I cannot eve budge the thing! If anyone has any sudgesstions, or possibly tools that I could borrow it would be greatly appreciated!

[chrismccull]

You probably need to put in into a vise to be able to remove it.  Bring it to my place after supper if you can't get it today.

[fakr]

have fun with that....I think those plugs are meant to be permanent...I tried taking one out and mangled the manifold in the process....they are probably in there with permanent lock tite

[brew]

If its the same one I'm thinking of then yes I think it is sealed with lock tite. I put mine in my vise and got it out. I then found out it was a different size so couldnt use the 1/4" npt fittings in it so ended up putting it back in...

[chrismccull]

Perhaps it was fine thread?

[brew]

Yes I believe it was...

[HappyHax0r]

Guys, i'm not positive but I believe that locktite can be cut with acetone (I know for a fact cyanoacrylates can... and I'm pretty sure that CA is a major part of locktite...)... apply acetone a few times first and let it settle in, then see if it's easier to pull the plug.

[chrismccull]

I have tons of acetone if you want some Thomas, let me know if you want me to bring it to the meet?

[Thomas]

Thanks Chris, I might take you up on the offer of a vice. Are you free sometime this weekend?

[chrismccull]

I am off Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week.  We can dip it in acetone and then put it in a vice afterward.  Do you have a fine thread male-to-male adapter?