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Short Summary
Main recommendation: To remove an old steel bathtub with drywall on the adjacent wall, remove the walls first, disconnect the plumbing by cutting the copper supply lines, then tilt and wiggle the tub out through the wall opening. The video shows this for a tub wedged in a corner with old-style faucets, where rolling it out directly would cause major damage.
Key Points
- Traditional steel tubs are set by gravity and held by a small metal clip attached to the frame, so they come out easily once plumbing is disconnected and walls are removed.
- Where there is no drywall, a tub can slide straight out; here the drywall and corner position require a different approach.
- The old faucet configuration blocked a clean roll-out, so the supply lines had to be cut to clear the tub.
- Modern tubs differ from old steel ones: they need to be fully supported on feet to spread their weight, so they are installed differently.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions:
- Remove the walls first so the tub has room to move.
- Roll the front of the tub up, then use the space between the 2x4s to jiggle and wiggle it loose, pulling by hand rather than with fingers.
- Cut the copper water supply lines with a small pipe cutter: tighten it onto the pipe, spin it in circles, then tighten the wheel after each couple of turns until it cuts through.
- Before cutting, check that the cut point has no solder bump; a bump causes angled cuts that score and mess up the pipe.
- Lift the tub straight up, keeping it level because the fit is tight, then roll it forward so its back rests on the former brace 2x4.
- With a 16-inch tub and a large open cavity, the tub can be wiggled out through the hole.
- Old steel tubs were supported only at the 2x4 and skirt on the ground, while modern tubs need full feet support.
- The presenter used a hammer as a tool during the process to keep hands free, and suggested asking a helper for heavy lifting.
Bottom Line
Removing an old steel tub in a tight corner is less about force and more about sequence: clear the walls, cut the supply lines cleanly, then lift level and wiggle it out.
