Help with an old cast iron furnace

Did a load of searching on the forum for this, couldn't find an answer, so here goes.

So my grandpa, who is 70 something, had to get a new heating system put in his house. He knows I scrap to make some extra money, so he told the guys they could leave the scrap in the basement no problem, and I'd pick it up. Thing is, they took all the good stuff, and left all the crap that is worthless. It's been sitting down there for a few months before he even said anything to me. I just found out about it over the weekend, and figured it's probably too late to call these guys up to get them to haul it out. I just wanna get it done for him now. It can't come out in one piece. Stairs are busted and made of plywood, and the stairway is now too small to take it out in one piece as well. So i've been going at it all day taking it apart. Got most of the stuff off, now I'm just trying to separate the cast iron chunks but.... it's not coming along smoothly. any tips? I'm thinking I may just need to go out and buy one of those huge iron chisels to help break it down. Was using a small old beat up chisel I had laying around, and it's dull, and split in half on me.


So here is where I started on the right trying to knock the first section out. at the bottom is where I took out my grinder seeing if I could get it to separate easier, but I was kicking up so much dust, and I left my respirator at home (not thinking....)


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...922/7RU46n.jpg


view from the top. It's starting to separate on the left, but I don't know if something is still holding it together, or if I'm overthinking it, and need to muscle it.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...924/5JiCyX.jpg


Only thing I can think of: is this pipe on the right holding this thing together still, as in, is it going all the way through? I don't know why it would be, but I tried getting it out, but it's also not budging, and I don't know a good way to get it off. Tried multiple wrenches and lubricants. It's stuck in there pretty good.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/102...923/vPZ6Lb.jpg

There are threaded rods that hold the 4 sections together. Have you removed these. If not, look for the nuts on the outside sections. An impact wrench works best. Once these are off, get a big crow bar and sledge hammer to seperate the sections.

yea there were a set of 4. two at the top, and two at the bottom. I didnt have a wrench that could get them, so I hit the mid section with my angle grinder. Once they were split, I pulled them through.


Just grabbed my sledge, my respirator, and my pry bar. I'll keep everyone updated. Hopefully this thing will split apart now. Headed back over to hopefully finish this.

Well. I feel like an idiot for running here for help now. After buy a cold chisel and using an old claw hammer I had laying around, I had the sections split in about 10 minutes. Didn't even need my sledge! haha

For anyone searching and reading this thread: go out and get a good chisel, it'll fall apart easily. At least mine did. A sledge probably wouldn't hurt if it's still not budging.

Live and learn!

Now take a close look at the sections. There may be one that has hot water coils in it. You would see 2 copper pipes going in. Usually there are quite a few bolts holding this in. If yours has this, you'll probably find 3 to 5 pounds of #2 copper.