How do I Get This Sink Out?

[paulrockliffe]

I've got a sink that I've taken out of an old kitchen. It's silicone sealed into the worktop and I need to get it out somehow. There isn't enough worktop to get any leverage on the worktop and the worktop is resin over chipboard so can't easily be ground out or cut out I don't think.

The sink is ceramic and overlaps the worktop surface, so I can't easily get at the sealant. I've already knocked one corner off the sink and don't want to wreck it completely.

Is there any clever tricks or chemicals I can use to get the sink out, to save me chucking it in a skip?

[Griff Boy]

You can get silicon disolvers which work quite well, that coupled with a flat blade, like a filling knife might work. Be aware that almost all sinks have fixing brackets underneath the worktop, you must release those first (if you can get to them!) or the sink will never come out whole!

[paulrockliffe]

I'll give that ago, my only concern is that there's not much access to the silicone for the chemicals to get in.

There's no brackets underneath though, just silicone and gravity.

[CoolHands]

a metal scraper ie wallpaper scraper - use sawing motion and cut through the silicon.

[Neil - YVM]

Griff Boy said:

You can get silicon disolvers which work quite well, that coupled with a flat blade, like a filling knife might work. Be aware that almost all sinks have fixing brackets underneath the worktop, you must release those first (if you can get to them!) or the sink will never come out whole!

Most ceramic sinks just rely on being heavy and sealant to hold them in place.

[Neil - YVM]

A

paulrockliffe said:

I'll give that ago, my only concern is that there's not much access to the silicone for the chemicals to get in.

There's no brackets underneath though, just silicone and gravity.

Should have read all posts before replying .

As others have said, use a thin scrapper to cut the silicone.

[miniman]

[Gingerbread Man]

Like s butlers sink?

[roofer]

Stanley blade on max extended.

[paulrockliffe]

It's a ceramic inset sink.

I've tried Stanley knives, but there isn't enough of a gap to slide it in. I can't get the blade in to cut all the silicone, the overlap must be 15mm or more. There's also silicone holding it in on the inner edge of the cut-out, which needs a different approach.

Seems a shame to bin it, but I'm not going to spend hours on it.

[Gingerbread Man]

Either senior hacksaw blade without the hacksaw or a Stanley knife blade without the holder.

[GingerWizard]

Come on guys, we get the stanley blade or filling knife, but how does he get it out?

Answer:

Put a car jack under it with some wood on the jack face to spead the weight and apply upwards pressure; whilst cutting with an appropriate edge.

[Simpo Two]

paulrockliffe said:

I've tried Stanley knives, but there isn't enough of a gap to slide it in. I can't get the blade in to cut all the silicone, the overlap must be 15mm or more.

Try a modelling knife, the sort with snap-off blades that extend out to about 7cm and are very thin.



I suppose if all else fails and you want to keep the worktop more than the sink, smash it to bits

[paulrockliffe]

GingerWizard said:

Come on guys, we get the stanley blade or filling knife, but how does he get it out?

Answer:

Put a car jack under it with some wood on the jack face to spead the weight and apply upwards pressure; whilst cutting with an appropriate edge.

I like this, this could be made to work. Or punch holes through the sink, but it's worth a try.

The worktop is already broken and has warped since it was removed, so that's scrap already.

[dingg]

hit it with a hammer

this usually works for almost everything

[Pagey]

If the worktop is out? put it in the garden and soak the back of the chipboard with a hosepipe, carefully drill lots and lots of holes into the underside of the worktop and keep soaking it with the hose.

It might take a few days but I think the chipboard should start to break down

[DrDeAtH]

Petrol powered grinder to cut the sink out?

[Djtemeka]

Paint scraper. This works best. I've done loads. It will be more difficult if the sealant has spread over into the cutout area of the work top and bonded to the side of the basin as well. No biggie really, just 2 scrapers then to lever the sink up

[Simpo Two]

paulrockliffe said:

The worktop is already broken and has warped since it was removed, so that's scrap already.

Well if the worktop and sink are both broken your problem has gone. Throw them away and buy new ones.

[moustachebandit]

Try using one of these - you can get smaller thinner ones (from screwfix)

http://www.carrycasesplus.com/case-accessories/kni...

IF you can get the blade underneath then just keep working it backwards and forwards. The blades will work better than a stanley as they flex and bend so you should be able to insert it in flat against the worktop.

If you can work a small area and get some sort of small wedge in there - it should help you start cutting away a larger section. Resist the urge to try and prize it apart as you will fail.