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I am having trouble removing a tub. Specifically, I cannot seem to loosen the drain. I've tried a proper tub drain wrench, but it still won't budge. Any ideas how I can get this thing to loosen?

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I presume these are normal threads and you are trying to turn the wrench counter-clockwise to loosen, right? :-)

It sounds like there may be corrosion involved, which will make it difficult to loosen. It could also be good old-fashioned pipe-dope that is thoroughly set and hardened.

A longer handle on that wrench might help (Archimedes, levers, etc.).

Also, impact can help a lot. Tapping it with a hammer while trying to turn it might do the trick. Or pounding the handle with a hammer in a counter-clockwise direction might do it.

Once you get it to start turning, the rest should be easier.

Of course, depending on your tolerance for replacing part of your plumbing if it breaks, enough raw physical force can solve a surprising number of problems...

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    You could try heating it up a bit, sometimes that will soften old plumber's putty and pipe dope. And like @Craig mentioned, try harder! I sometimes use the handles of my Channellock pliers to grab the "cross" strainer, and turn it with another large wrench.
    – Jimmy Fix-it
    Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 17:24
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    FWIW, "raw physical force" was the solution. Took a big pipe wrench to turn the drain wrench, but it eventually loosened up. Thanks!
    – Matt Fordham
    Commented Jul 14, 2015 at 21:30

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