patricia_rodriguez•14d agoProlific Poster

I finally stopped fighting with old coax splitters in tight crawl spaces

For years I'd just muscle them off with pliers, which took forever and sometimes broke the line. Last month in a 1970s house in Tacoma, a homeowner showed me his trick: a drop of penetrating oil on the threads and a 7/16 wrench. Came off in seconds. Now I keep a small bottle in my kit. What's your go-to method for stuck fittings?

2 comments

2 Comments

henry_hernandez14d ago

John648, those scarred knuckles are a badge of honor, man. I've got a few myself from trying to be a hero with just the pliers. The homeowner showing you the trick is the best part, like getting schooled on your own job. That little bottle of oil is worth its weight in gold when you're crammed in a crawl space and the clock is ticking.

john64814d agoTop Commenter

Man, I felt that in my soul. I've wasted so much time wrestling with those old crusty fittings, my knuckles are permanently scarred. The penetrating oil trick is a game changer, I started using it after a similar nightmare job. I keep a little can of PB Blaster in the truck now, right next my wrench set. It saves so much frustration on those old houses where everything is seized up.