Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Broken three way adapter

Keith Fletcher - 10-12-2014 at 08:59

When I was attempting to remove the three way adapter from my boiling flask it snapped and left the joint stuck inside the flask. Dose anyone have a good way to remove it without damaging the flask?

subsecret - 10-12-2014 at 09:23

Try to apply gentle heat to the outside of the joint, tap the sides with a wooden stick or something. Is the joint greased? If not, I've actually had luck with adding a little bit of water to the joint.

Bert - 10-12-2014 at 09:37



First thing to try, use the search engine! You are not the first-


Second thing, I personally would soak the joint in carbonated water for about 5-10 minutes.

Third thing, CAREFULLY and UNIFORMLY heat the OUTSIDE OF THE JOINT using a blow dryer, warm water or possibly a heat gun- NOT a torch.

Dr.Bob - 10-12-2014 at 10:20

If you can find a dent puller (puller removal hammer, etc) type device, you want to hook it onto the broken off piece and then use the slide hammer to pull on it hard. That way the broken off piece will be pulled loose, rather than getting pushed in harder. But having had many problems like that, only about 1 in 2 were fixed in a happy way, the other half of the time, the rest, I simple broke the flask neck as well. But I get about half to come apart with heat, water, or a sharp blow from the back of the broken piece (dent puller)

Aga has a nice link below to the two types of devices that I have seen used before. The bottom thing they made is like a slide hammer, but the slide hammer is all in one piece. But be careful when doing any of this type work, as glass breaks often when trying to un-stick things, and I have seen a few people cut themselves when trying to pull items apart. Wear leather gloves or other protective attire and safety glasses.

[Edited on 11-12-2014 by Dr.Bob]

aga - 10-12-2014 at 11:12

This has never happened to me yet, however i think it's time for a bit of equipment designed to pull ground glass stuff apart without breaking.

Edit:

Already been done :

http://www.ilpi.com/glassblowing/frozenglass.html

[Edited on 10-12-2014 by aga]

forgottenpassword - 12-12-2014 at 09:05

Glycerol is excellent for this purpose. If left in contact with the frozen joint (for a week, or more) the glycerol will slowly seep in between the frozen joints and provide sufficient lubrication to simply pull the piece out. One can see it starting to penetrate by the first day, but it is a slow process and patience/forgetfulness is required, but it works extremely well.

chemrox - 12-12-2014 at 18:14

I try sonication with a mild soap solution first but you need a device like aga's if you broke it off flush or can't get a purchase on it from above. Good luck! When ST joints aren't perfectly matched this kind of thing happens more often. Carbonated water works like sonication but seems to take more time.

dermolotov - 13-12-2014 at 13:06

A little heat, small amount of parafin oil, and an ol' fashion fishing hook........ :cool:

Update success

Keith Fletcher - 13-12-2014 at 21:41

I tryed soking it in oil and then soap water, but it still wouldent come out so i carfully smashed it out with a hamer and screwdriver with no damage to the flask.

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Texium - 13-12-2014 at 23:06

Well there ya go, I guess the good ol' smash it up with a hammer method will work too.