Here's a compilation of cool DIY tricks I've learned throughout the years on the job as a plumber apprentice.

Step 1: SHARKBITE FITTING REMOVAL

Have you ever used a shark bite fitting before, needed to remove it but couldn’t find the tool to do it? Here’s a trick that’ll get you back on the road. grab an adjustable wrench, adjust it to pipe size and wack it till it comes off, easy right?

Step 2: OFFSET BEND IN THREADED ROD

Got some threaded rod that needs an offset, no problem. Get your adjustable wrench and use the tail end to create a bend, there you got it, an offset rod.

Step 3: THREADS ARE NO GOOD

If you trying to run a nut down some rod and it ain’t working it’s most probably cuz it wasn’t cut right. Grab your trusty adjustable pliers and remove the lip that was created during the cut, voila, your back on the road.

Step 4: INNER PIPE CUTTER

If you do a lot of underground plumbing, this trick is for you. Get some ½” threaded rod, sandwich a washer in between two nuts and grind some teeth on the perimeter of the washer. You got yourself a makeshift inner pipe cutter, go ahead and cut any pipe no other tool could fit in!

Step 5: HOLD a PIPE IN PLACE

Can’t install a support but you need your piece to hold to get it soldered, I got ya. Grab some pliers and crimp your fitting to make into an oval shape, you’ll be surprised how long of a piece your crimped fitting will hold.

Step 6: NO MORE SHARPIE!

Have you been marking your measurements with a sharpie? Here’s a way to save time and money. If your cutting with a manual pipe cutter, flip your cutter and scribe the pipe with the reamer, once you get the hang of it, you won't need your sharpie no more.

Step 7: FISHING ON THE JOB

DropPing tools or whatnot is inevitable. If your fortunate enough to have a magnetic tip on your measuring tape, use it to pick up fallen items, I use this trick all the time and I find it very practical.