Removing metal ring wedged on metal pipe

September 5, 2015 10:02 AM

Years ago, my boyfriend customized a monitor stand by putting the metal support ring of the stand on a metal pipe (so that the pipe could be the main vertical stand). Now we want to take it apart and are having trouble unwedging the ring from the pipe. Please help us figure out how to take it apart without destroying the ring!

To make matters slightly more complicated, the pipe wasn't exactly the right size, so he lined it with tape. So there's a thin layer of packing tape between the metal ring and the pipe. The ring doesn't open or loosen up or screw on. It's just wedged on. Now we can't make it budge.

We've cut off as much of the tape as possible. We've tried greasing the joint, using rubbing alcohol to maybe dissolve a little of the adhesive. Hammering at it damages the ring's surface (although it might work it we keep pounding at it). We're willing to get a specialty product to fix the problem but the ideal solution would use household items we already have such as cleaning products and handheld tools.

posted by alligatorpear to Home & Garden (14 answers total)

It's impossible to know without seeing it, but this sounds like a job for a bearing puller, which will evenly apply force rather than skewing the ring. Most chain auto parts stores will rent or loan tools, so you should be able to try this out without much cost.
posted by Dip Flash at 10:19 AM on September 5, 2015

It would be very helpful if you can post one or more photos of the arrangement (imgur is a good host if you need a place to upload). Do you know or can you measure sizes?
posted by bookdragoness at 10:54 AM on September 5, 2015

Best answer: A photo would be very helpful. But one thing to try would be to invert the pipe in the stand, re-attach the monitor arm (without the monitor attached!) and add some weight to the monitor arm, so that the ring is being loaded from what used to be its underside, which should un-wrack the ring on the pipe and free it up.
posted by misterbrandt at 10:54 AM on September 5, 2015

I'm not really able to picture how ungainly this contraption is, but if you can superchill the pipe and ring, and then heat up just the ring, you could get 'er done. Hopefully you don't have to work on this while it's still attached to a desk or monitor.

If the whole thing won't go in the freezer, than make a couple bags of ice, bags that can take shape around the whole contraption. Then add a handful of salt to the ice bags, stir quickly, and then keep your hands out of the ice-- it will can freeze your flesh if given enough exposure or time-- glove up! After that, use a lighter to evenly warm just the ring. The ring will expand and make room between itself and the pipe.
posted by Sunburnt at 10:56 AM on September 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

Maybe you could use cans of compressed air to freeze or chill the joint, which might help the ring and pipe contract enough to separate. Liquid nitrogen would also work, probably, though it is a little more difficult to get a hold of.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 2:51 PM on September 5, 2015

Best answer: Adhesive + time = drying out, hardening. So make sure you use a solvent effective on adhesive. Rubbing alcohol works on some, but not all. There is a product called "Goof-Off" and a companion product called "Goo-Gone" available at most hardware and home improvement stores which I've used successfully on old adhesive.

The good news is that you know the ring is larger than the pipe. You should be able to dissolve away the sticky part of the tape and work the ring free.
posted by tronec at 3:17 PM on September 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

How wide is the part of the ring which you can strike with a hammer? If you can, place a small wooden block between the hammer and the ring so that the wood absorbs any damage but transfers force to the ring.
posted by tronec at 3:22 PM on September 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

I just almost posted the exact same thing as tronec about the goo-gone and the wood block. Good luck!
posted by irisclara at 3:42 PM on September 5, 2015

Best answer: If you care about the finish: Heat gun. If you don't care about the finish: Fire. Just burn/melt that tape out of there, you'll be done in ten minutes, tops. Do it outside.
posted by Krawczak at 1:59 AM on September 6, 2015

Response by poster: Thanks everyone! We will try some of these out and report back (I personally want to try out the heat/fire suggestions because I love my blow torch, plus Science Experiment!).

Just in case it helps with suggestions, the pipe is about an inch and a quarter in diameter and is three feet long. Pictures here.
posted by alligatorpear at 6:53 AM on September 6, 2015

Acetone will likely dissolve the tape, but might damage any plastic components. Caution: Acetone and fire do not mix well!
posted by JMOZ at 7:03 AM on September 6, 2015

You might also be able to push a thin steel wire through the tape, allowing removal?
posted by JMOZ at 7:04 AM on September 6, 2015

Best answer: You might want to take the set screw right out just to make sure it isn't grabbing.
posted by Mitheral at 10:26 AM on September 6, 2015

Response by poster: Thanks again everyone! Cooler heads prevailed (i.e., not mine) so we tried the "upside down and using the mounted monitor arm for extra leverage" approach first before trying more extreme measures. It worked!
posted by alligatorpear at 12:02 PM on September 6, 2015