How to mint cast iron pipes. Do-it-yourself chasing of cast-iron pipes

In most buildings built during the Soviet era, the sewer system is made of cast iron pipes. This is due to the fact that such products have not only a long period of operation, but also are not amenable to various influences. However, cast iron pipes require proper installation and proper use.

Compared to other types of communications, residential plumbing needs to be replaced very often (every few years). In addition, the installation of plumbing fixtures and repairs in the house may require changes in the design of the system. To perform caulking of cast-iron pipes in an apartment with your own hands, it is not necessary to undergo special training. This can be done with only the skills to work with a standard tool. How to properly dismantle the old pipe and install a new one, you can find out in this article.

Work algorithm

Chasing a cast iron pipe

Depressurization of cast iron elements is one of the most difficult tasks for self-repairing sewers. To do the work as quickly and efficiently as possible, it is recommended to prepare all the necessary tools in advance.

For work you need:

grinder (with its help you can cut off part of the pipe);
grinding discs;
goggles, gloves and mask;
soldering iron (useful for heating joints);
a hammer;
screwdrivers of different sizes and configurations;
pipe wrench;
chisel.

Note! To prevent the spread of unpleasant odors throughout the room and the ingress of various debris into the pipeline, close the drain hole with a piece of cloth.

The sequence of work performed:

The first step before caulking a cast iron sewer pipe is to tap the joint with a hammer. However, this should be done carefully. Otherwise, you can damage the structure, which will lead to a complete replacement of the riser. It is also possible to carry out such manipulations, often using a tool made of wood.
As soon as you finish tapping, you should pay attention to the condition of the fasteners. If the pipe runs from side to side, and it is possible to disconnect it, the following must be done. It is necessary to swing the product by prying it with a screwdriver. The rope should be hooked with pliers and carefully pulled out.

Advice! During the procedure, you should pump the pipe more and more.

If even after frequent and prolonged knocks with a hammer, the pipe did not change its position, we can conclude that the fastening was carried out using sulfuric solution. To remove fasteners, you must first burn the dried mixture. This can be achieved in several stages. The first step is to heat up the joint with a soldering iron. You need to do this in a circle. Next, you need to continue to knock with a hammer, trying not to violate the integrity of the product. If the structure of the elements began to stagger, you can try to dismantle the element with a key.

Heating up the joint with a soldering iron

Having successfully dismantled the product, you should thoroughly clean the joints with a chisel. The emphasis should be on cleaning the edges, as a rubber seal will be installed in this place.
Before installation, the sealing material must be lubricated with a special agent.
The last step is the installation of a new product in the prepared area.

Cleaning up the junction

When burning sulfur, it is imperative to wear a protective mask and goggles. They will not allow harmful vapors to enter the body.

Avoiding problems

With a strong impact on the pipe, cast iron can deform

It must be remembered that the technical characteristics of cast iron are not ideal. Products made from such material are quite fragile. Low-quality cast iron is subject to deformation when exposed to liquid, as well as the processes that take place in it. Changing temperature regimes can also negatively affect the resistance of such pipes, which reduces their ability to carry strong pressures.

The process of chasing cast iron sewer pipes, as can be seen from the article, is quite simple. As for the installation, here you will need to work a little.

When installing elements, you need to use heated resin

The element to be installed must be qualitatively strengthened at the junction by applying a layer of resin. A tighter fixation can be achieved with the help of special tools. They are sold in hardware stores.

Advice! Before caulking a cast iron sewer pipe, the first thing to do is to calculate the space for installing a new pipe and, if necessary, household appliances.

If your plumbing system needs partial replacement, then this process should not be postponed. This is due to the fact that even the smallest crack can grow in a fairly short time, which will entail high costs.

Sewer pipe connection

During the installation of pipes in the sewer pipeline, empty spaces may appear at the joints. Often this affects the correct operation of the system. For a high-quality connection with the removal of all holes and voids, it is necessary to use special materials. The most popular options are the use of cement and asbestos cement.

The use of cement mortars

Cement mortar for sealing joints

The sealing material must be installed first. To do this, you need to use a rope that is pre-impregnated with resin. Then the prepared seal must be wrapped around the edge of the pipe from the outside. This will prevent the rope from getting into the depth of the pipe.

Important! The use of special tools will increase the speed of work by a third.

Prepare the solution as follows. The ratio of water and cement should be 9:1. In cold weather, a well-heated liquid should be used. After allowing the mixture to cool, apply it to the attachment areas. You can tamp the solution inside the seams with a hammer. To ensure better adhesion of cement to the surface and other materials, it is necessary to cover the finished area with a wet cloth.

Compound with cement and asbestos

A mixture of cement and asbestos for sealing pipes

The method of using an asbestos-based solution is similar to the previous method. It is perfect for mounting pipes made of cast iron and other materials.

Action algorithm:

Mix dry asbestos with cement in a bowl in a ratio of 1:2;
Next, add a small amount of water and let the mixture stand for a while. Then mix the composition until smooth.

It is impossible to say which is the best way to fix pipes. With the correct application of any of the fastening methods, good results can be achieved.

In order to qualitatively carry out work on the dismantling and strengthening of the elements, you should know all the subtleties and rules of the procedure. Only then can you be sure that your system will last for many years and will not make itself felt. The process consists of many complex steps. Therefore, in order to qualitatively fix the connections of cast-iron sewer pipes with your own hands, you must follow the tips and recommendations.

When it is necessary to repair any part of the sewer pipeline in an apartment, it is often necessary to disconnect the pipes. In a situation where a section needs to be replaced, it is important to first inspect it to determine the type of connection. Difficulty arises with pipes located underground, because they are processed by special. anti-separation compound. In this case, a gas cutter is used to speed up the separation process. It is known that caulking of cast iron pipes represents a very important stage of repair work and has its own technology for the correct execution. Rules should not be ignored when necessary change cast iron pipe.

How to chisel cast iron pipe?

1. Initially, it is required to gently tap the surface of the bell with a hammer, trying not to damage it. Otherwise, you will need to completely change the riser.
2. When the movement of the bell becomes free, you can carry out dismantling of cast iron pipes. It is produced like this:
- the bell should be slightly swung to the sides;
- using a screwdriver, pry a little and pull the rope;
- fix the rope using pliers;
- slowly pull the rope without stopping swing the pipe;
- the cable should be pulled out, having previously hooked it.
3. If the bell remains motionless as a result of the tapping procedure, the caulking was carried out by filling with sulfur. In this case, it should be burned out in the following way:
- using a soldering iron or an ordinary burner, it is necessary to heat the pipe around the circumference;
- during heating, continue tapping the pipe;
- when the bell starts to move, it must be swung using an adjustable wrench.
Work must be done with a respirator.
4. The released socket should be cleaned using a chisel or chisel. It is important to clean the bell seat very carefully, as this is where the sealing rubber will need to be placed.
5. Lubricate the rubber sealing ring with lubricant and place it in the socket.
6. Insert a new part into the seal.

quality replacement of cast iron pipes carried out through the involvement of a competent specialist. He will be able to quickly replace the cast-iron pipe without risking damage to the entire pipeline. The master will also help remove cast iron pipe, replace it with a product made of another material.

Not all users know how to mint a cast-iron sewer pipe. Moreover, not everyone understands what is at stake. However, during the assembly or reconstruction of the sewer system, the ability to correctly caulk pipe joints is very useful.

In many houses, old cast-iron pipelines are still preserved, which it is not advisable to completely change to modern plastic. The pipes are still strong, able to work for decades. As a rule, they are left intact, replacing only apartment horizontal wiring sections. Consider how the connection of cast-iron pipes is made during the installation of drainage systems.

Features of cast iron pipes

Cast iron pipes were used everywhere in Soviet times. Alternative materials for manufacturing were used on a limited scale, for the assembly of special . The properties of cast iron pipelines allow the old system to still work. The advantages of these pipelines:

strength;
long service life;
resistance to temperature changes;
ability to work with aggressive liquids.

The disadvantages are:

tendency to corrosion;
big weight;
fragility, inability to withstand sharp blows;
assembly complexity.

The most significant drawback is the complicated connection procedure, or chasing of cast-iron sewer pipes. In combination with the heavy weight of the parts that create a significant load on the supporting structures, such drainage lines were difficult to install and maintain. However, the durability and reliability of cast iron systems is appreciated by experts. All networks, the condition of which does not inspire concern, are still effectively used for wastewater disposal.

Connection methods

The assembly of cast iron pipelines is a complex and responsible task. There are several types of connections:

into the socket This is the most popular type, which is called "chasing sewer pipes." The process requires accuracy and experience, exact observance of technology requirements. Proper caulking withstands several decades of exploitation of leak postures;
coupling connection. This option is used for socketless pipes. Special couplings are used that tightly wrap around the edges of the connected elements. The build quality is high, no special experience and skills are required to perform the work. However, there are not always necessary conditions for installing a coupling.

There are couplings that are not equipped with threaded clamps. They are two sockets into which the ends of the connected elements are inserted. The assembly of such lines also requires embossing of sewer pipes, performed according to standard technology.

The procedure consists in filling the socket gap with a sealant, and sealing with hardening compounds. As a sealant, a tarred hemp strand is most often used, which is stuffed into 2/3 of the socket and carefully compacted. Then the remaining third is filled with a durable protective compound. To do this, use cement, plumbing sulfur. In pressure lines, lead chasing is sometimes used, the procedure is complex, but very effective.

How to chisel a bell

During repair work, reconstruction or expansion of the drainage system, it often becomes necessary to connect different lines. Before you mint a sewer pipe, you often have to disassemble the old, defective connection. It is extremely difficult to strike a bell, which over the years has been overgrown with monolithic layers. The main problem is the danger of destroying the socket of an entire pipe or tee. If this happens, you will have to disassemble and change the entire riser or horizontal pipeline.

Before you chisel out the old cast-iron sewer, it is necessary to clean the connecting element, remove all foreign objects and layers. As a rule, various temporary patches of paint, additional layers of mortar, and other materials are applied over the standard connection. All such areas are subject to complete removal.

After that, it is necessary to determine what material the insulating seal is made of, since cement is much easier to mint a cast-iron sewer than sulfur. If a cement mortar is used, the process of disassembling the connection will be easier. However, if plumbing sulfur was used, the procedure will be complicated. The material will have to be heated with a gas burner or a blowtorch, since it will not be possible to simply break and remove particles from the gap - sulfur has high strength and viscosity. You will have to work in a gas mask, because when heated, toxic gases will be released.

Procedure

In order to chisel, you must first remove the cement or sulfur filling (1/3 of the socket depth), and then remove the hemp strand (2/3 of the depth). The first stage requires caution and accuracy. There is a high risk of breaking the socket of a tee or other receiving element. First, they act with a chisel, then with a screwdriver with a long thin sting. With gentle hammer blows, the screwdriver is immersed in the gap, breaking off small pieces of the seal.

Many sources recommend first tapping the socket around the circumference with a hammer, and then checking to see if the pipeline has any mobility. This is useless advice, since it is impossible to mint a cast-iron sewer in this way. Until the top layer of cement or sulfur is removed, it will not be possible to swing the pipe. In addition, hammer blows can break the socket, which will significantly increase the amount of work.

When the hard plug is removed, the connection will gain mobility. It is shifted a little to the side, the rope is picked up and pulled out, swinging the pipe to the sides to facilitate the process. After that, the socket will be completely released, the connecting element can be easily removed.

How to mint

Caulking is a procedure for sealing, sealing a connecting element. It is necessary to prepare materials, tools:

oiled rope (hemp strand);
cement (or asbestos-cement) mortar;
a wooden spatula freely entering the gap of the socket;
long screwdriver;
a hammer.

The caulking of sockets of sewer pipes takes place in 2 stages:

stuffing the gap with tow or rope (bondage). Using a cord is considered a more efficient option. The sealant is inserted into the gap, they begin to wind it around the pipe, constantly ramming it with a spatula. The material must be compacted and immersed in the gap until it stops. The process is stopped when the gap is filled to 2/3 of the depth;
cement mortar is poured over the sealant into the gap. It is pushed with a wooden spatula or a screwdriver, evenly distributing the material throughout the entire volume of the cavity. The quantity should be such that the entire gap is completely filled to the very top of the socket.

Chasing a bell with gray at home is not practiced. It is necessary to melt lump sulfur with 10-15% kaolin, which requires special equipment and enhanced ventilation. This method is possible only in the factory.

Video review:

Everything useful about sewerage -

Cast iron pipes tend to be strongly associated with sewerage. Few people know that for more than two centuries they have been massively used for laying water supply lines. In this material, we will study the features of cast-iron water pipes, the GOST requirements for them, the methods of installation and repair used.

Cast iron or steel

Those who were in the cellars of Peterhof must have paid attention to the massive pipes that supply water to its famous fountains. This is one of the oldest cast-iron water pipes functioning to our time. It was built to last; at the same time, the builders of the royal residence, frankly, did not particularly consider the costs.

In the second half of the last century, economic expediency came to the fore. Indeed, why build a water supply system with a century and a half resource, if in 40 years the city area will be expanded and rebuilt with the laying of new highways?

It was then that steel main water pipes became widespread - relatively cheap and, most importantly, much more technologically advanced in terms of installation.

Tip: electric welding and external waterproofing with bitumen are performed much faster than manual chasing with pouring a socket.

The consequences of savings are quite predictable and are still being felt:

The resource of a pipe laid in the ground, despite waterproofing measures, rarely exceeds 30-40 years. After this time, numerous fistulas in it make the amount of drinking water loss unacceptable.

It is curious: according to local authorities, in Sevastopol, the city where the author of the article lives, 40% of water is lost due to the deterioration of the water supply network.

Not only that: the steel pipe is actively overgrown with lime deposits and rust from the inside. For a couple of decades, the clearance can decrease by 3-4 times with a corresponding drop in pressure and permeability.

And how does cast iron look against this dull background?

With the proper quality of external waterproofing, the actual service life of a pipe laid in the ground is at least a century.
The pipeline practically does not overgrow from the inside.

The only problem with a cast-iron water pipe is its high sensitivity to ground movements: where the steel pipe is slightly deformed, the cast-iron pipe will burst.

Standard

The current iron standard was introduced in 1977; the last changes were made to the text quite recently, in 2011. So, what should be the cast-iron pipes for water supply in accordance with GOST 9583-95?

Dimensions

The standard provides for cast-iron water pipes of three classes according to wall thickness - LA, A and B.

Conditional passage, mm	Wall thickness, mm
Conditional passage, mm	LA	BUT	B
65	6,7	7,4	8,0
80	7,2	7,9	8,6
100	7,5	8,3	9,0
125	7,9	8,7	9,5
150	8,3	9,2	10,0
200	9,2	10,1	11,0
250	10,0	11,0	12,0
300	10,8	11,9	13,0
350	11,7	12,8	14,0
400	12,5	13,8	15,0
500	14,2	15,6	17,0
600	15,8	17,4	19,0
700	17,5	19,3	21,0
800	19,2	21,1	23,0
900	20,6	22,3	25,0
1000	22,5	24,8	27,0

The mass of a linear meter of the pipe varies from 11.3 kg (65 mm, class LA) to 627 kg (1000 mm, class B). The standard provides for the production of socket pipes of measured length (2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9 and 10 meters) and random lengths from 2 to 10.5 m.

Requirements

The transition of the cylinder into the socket can be made with a slope or in the form of a ledge.

The dimensions of cast iron pipes for water supply may differ from the nominal within the following limits:

Measuring tube length – +-20 .
Wall thickness - -1 + 0.5.
Outer diameter (up to 300 mm) - + - (4.5 + 0.0015D).
Outer diameter (over 300 mm) - + (4.0 + 0.0015D) - (5.0 + -0.0015D).
Inner diameter in the socket - + (2.5 + 0.002 D) - (1.5 + 0.002D).

Please note: D is taken as the nominal diameter when calculating tolerances.

The ovality cannot lead the pipe beyond the normalized deviations from the nominal size. The deviation of the actual mass of the pipe from the calculated one cannot exceed five percent. Pipes undergo hydraulic pressure tests, which are determined by their class and nominal size.

Note: the working pressure in the water supply lines usually does not exceed 3-4 atmospheres.
Up to 8-10 kgf / cm2, it can rise only after pumping, within the engineering system of a house or a small microdistrict.

The end of the pipe, opposite the socket, must be cut perpendicular to its axis with a deviation of not more than 0.5 degrees.

Inside and outside of the product are covered with a protective non-toxic material. In this case, the coating should not interfere with the sealing of the butt joint, peel off and soften at temperatures up to +60 C.

Important: at the request of the customer, pipeline elements can be supplied uncoated.

Installation and repair

How to caulk a cast-iron water pipe during installation? Can cracks and chipped sockets be repaired?

The main stage is its compaction with a cable, oiled organic fiber. The bundle fits into the centered socket connection as tightly as possible, after which it is additionally compacted manually using a chasing and a hammer.

It is not enough to seal the joint: the cable must be protected from biological decomposition, mechanical damage and other adversities.

How it's done?

Ordinary cement brand 400. The water-cement mixture, prepared in a ratio of 1: 9, is hammered into the socket as tightly as possible and compacted by chasing until it starts to bounce off the cement plug. Then the socket is wrapped with wet rags for up to a day.

Asbestos-cement mixture, prepared in a ratio of 1: 2, followed by the addition of 10 - 12 volume percent of water. It compacts like cement; asbestos fibers prevent cracking.

Important: with the same success, you can use fiber - chopped fiberglass.

Expanding cement. Unlike conventional, it does not require sealing.
Sulfur melt with the addition of 10 - 15% ground kaolin. For obvious reasons, only a vertical or inclined socket can be poured; as a rule, gray assemblies are factory sealed.
Lead melt.
Finally, lead can be used for embossing on top of the caboose.. A thin bar of soft metal tightly fills the groove, reliably protecting the organic fiber.

Important: Lead and its compounds are toxic.
Asbestos fiber and fiber are also not so good for the respiratory system.
Hence the obvious instruction: when doing the corresponding work with your own hands, do not forget about personal protective equipment.

Repair of cast-iron water pipes is possible only with minor transverse or longitudinal cracks at a distance from the socket: in this case, a prefabricated cast-iron or steel clamp with a rubber gasket is applied to the pipeline section. In other cases (chipped sockets, longitudinal cracks of considerable length), the pipeline section is replaced.

Alternatives

VChSHG

First meeting

Under this abbreviation lies the so-called ductile cast iron with nodular graphite.

To explain the meaning of the term, you need to briefly delve into the jungle of physics.

All the main differences between cast iron and steel - brittleness, low ductility and high resistance to corrosion - are determined by the presence in it of one of the forms of carbon - graphite.
Ordinary graphite has the appearance of miniature flat flakes. However, during recrystallization, which occurs when certain additives (in particular, magnesium and its compounds) are introduced into the gray cast iron melt, it changes its shape to spherical.
At the same time, the physical properties of the metal change significantly: it acquires toughness, ductility and resistance to shock loads, while maintaining corrosion resistance.

What is especially pleasant is that the price of a ton of material changes slightly during transformation. The total proportion of additives that cause carbon recrystallization does not exceed 0.08% by weight of cast iron.

Socketed water pipes made of ductile iron today are the main alternative to gray cast iron.

They surpass cast iron pipes in compressive and bending strength, not to mention all types of polymer pipes. Accordingly, water supply lines can be laid with ductile iron pipes under busy highways and on unstable soils. They have all the qualities of steel, except for their Achilles' heel - low resistance to corrosion.
The problem of time-consuming and low-tech chasing of bells has been completely solved. Instead of embossing, bells with annular rubber seals are used. Of course, with significant pipe sizes, the assembly of sockets involves the use of heavy equipment; however, the mass of these pipes will in any case prevent manual installation of the pipeline.

Note!
The use of rubber seals makes it possible to slightly deform the socket connection (change in the relative position of the pipes) without impairing the tightness.

Normative documents

The production of elements of pressure pipelines from ductile iron is regulated by a separate standard - GOST R ISO 2531-2008.

Let's highlight its key points.

According to the document, pipes and fittings can have nominal sizes from 40 to 2600 millimeters, which makes it possible to use ductile iron to create highways that feed entire cities.
The composition of the metal, according to GOST, should not have a harmful effect on the composition of water.
The length of the pipes is regulated by the standard depending on their nominal diameter:

The maximum allowable curvature is no more than 0.125% of the pipe length.

As an external coating of the pipeline, depending on the operating conditions, the following can be used:

Metal zinc.
Zinc paint (zinc powder in a polymer binder).
Polyethylene.
Polyurethane.
Fiber cement.
Adhesive polymer tape.
Epoxy resin.
Bituminous mastic or paint.

For internal protection of pipes and fittings, the use of:

Cement mortars (Portland cement, Portland slag cement and aluminous cement).
Polyethylene.
polyurethane.
Epoxy resin.
Bituminous paint (mastics).

The marking of pipeline elements should indicate:

Manufacturer (name or trademark).
Year of manufacture.
Indication of the material (VChShG).
nominal size.
The standard to which the product is manufactured.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene pressure pipes are the main alternative to cast iron plumbing today.

A detailed acquaintance with them is clearly beyond the scope of our material, so we will pay attention only to their key properties.

The service life of polyethylene is estimated by manufacturers to be a vague “50+” years. In practice, this material can be considered almost eternal.
Deposits on the walls, which reduce the lumen of the pipe, cannot be in principle. The smooth surface of the polymer with extremely low adhesive qualities simply does not allow blockages to form.
All connections are made by butt welding. The strength of the joint is at least 80% of the strength of the whole pipe.

The only claim to polyethylene, which allows cast-iron pipes to remain on the market to this day, is high ductility and, as a result, very moderate ring stiffness. A polyethylene main pipeline can be laid in deformable soil only with protection by a reinforced concrete gutter.

Conclusion

This article will discuss the caulking of cast-iron pipes - what this procedure is, how to prepare for it and prevent the need to perform it, as well as an example of caulking using the example of a cast-iron pipe.

Cast iron is a material with very high strength as well as high weight. The density of the structure allows the manufacture of massive and strong products from it that can withstand significant loads, due to which cast iron pipes are used as elements of water supply and sewerage systems.

Even with the development of chemical production and the active use of pipes from various plastic options, when laying an external water supply, cast iron is most often used as a more serious material. are usually used in the construction of sewerage systems with very heavy loads, significantly exceeding household ones.

Buildings of catering establishments, factories processing meat and other animal products, etc. they constantly create a stream of waste, quite often leading to ruptures of cast iron pipes, which should be immediately repaired.

And taking into account the fact that the caulking and caulking of cast iron pipes is quite difficult, experts recommend conducting annual scheduled inspections to avoid time-consuming repairs.

Start and sequence of repairs

It is necessary to think about how to emboss a cast-iron pipe if it is necessary to replace the element and it is impossible to correct the damage directly at the site of the accident.

First of all, they carry out preparatory work, that is, they carefully inspect the pipes and figure out exactly how they are welded to each other.

Quite often you have to deal with pipes filled with a special solution used to glue their parts.

In this case, while underground, the elements can grow together so firmly that they cannot be detached without effort. At the same time, experts recommend using a gas cutter, which allows you to quickly remove the fastening compound and separate the pipes.

Speaking of chasing a cast-iron pipe, it should be borne in mind that the work ahead is not easy and requires turning off the water in the whole house or even the area if an important area is being repaired.

Pipe preparation for repair is carried out using special tools:

Cut off the damaged or burst area with a grinder;
Install a new part of the pipe in place of the damage;
The seam is closed with a construction bandage with cement.

Preventing the Problem from Occurring

It should be borne in mind that with all the excellent physical qualities, cast iron is a rather fragile material. It deforms under the action of water and the chemical reactions that occur in it, so all changes affect the pipes, including temperature changes, which makes them fragile and unable to withstand high pressure.

Chasing cast-iron pipes is a rather complex process, the high-quality implementation of which includes leaving a certain margin for its expansion.

The new part of the pipe is inserted into the socket, after which the seam must be securely fixed with a resin strand. To tightly lay and secure the threads, a tool such as caulking is used.

Practical experience shows that the formation of cracks is only part of the problem, which grows if drastic measures are not taken. Patching holes with the help of special compounds temporarily helps, but sooner or later a replacement will still be required, so it’s easier to deal with the breakdown right away.

Chasing a cast iron pipe

When replacing a sewer riser, a lounger from a common riser, a toilet bowl, etc. many faced the problem of caulking a cast-iron pipe. It turned out that the procedure is not as simple as it seems.

Let us consider in more detail the process of caulking a cast-iron pipe:

At the same time, they begin to loosen the socket in different directions;
Pry off the rope with a screwdriver;
Grab the rope with pliers;
Slowly pull the rope, loosening the bell.

If the socket sits firmly, this indicates that it is most likely filled with sulfur and knocking on it is useless. In this case, using a burner or a blowtorch, they start in a circle. In this case, you should also be careful not to damage the socket.