Need Plumbing Advice

[LitFuse]

The hacksaw is your friend Marty. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/poke2.gif


Peter

 

[Marty Weiner]

Peter

I haven't ruled that out yet.

Marty

 

[StuU]

Marty-
You might consider a heavier hammer or object to beat the screwdriver with. A hammer with heavier head will only need a few inches of swing. I use a short handle hammer with a 3 pound head...a brick might do. Also, a shorter handle screwdriver will give you a few more inches of swing.

Another idea is to use a small vicegrip to grab one of the nut wings. You can then use a hammer on the vice grip if the vice grip doesn't turn by hand.

A dremel tool with cutting disc to cut a groove. Then you can force a screwdriver into the cut and twist it to split the nut.

Also, melting a groove into the nut with a soldering iron and then forcing the screwdriver in & twisting to split.

Hate to see anybody call a plumber unnecessarily.

 

[Marty Weiner]

No one wants to call a plumber but, except, for the Visegrip, I would have to buy the Dremel or a soldering iron.

Come to think of it, I don't have a large enough Visegrip so I'd have to buy that also.

I figure that 1 hour of plumber's time will be about $75 and he'll do all of the work. When he's finished, I can concentrate on installing the new faucet.

 

[Marty Weiner]

I just realized that I have a large jaw Visegrip in the garage. I tried it on "my problem" but can't get the correct angle on the plastic nut to make it budge.

 

[BIGIRON]

1. Get a larger basin wrench. They're made in several different sizes. You can rent them. If the nuts are nylon/plastic, they will come off. If copper, they may be corroded on too badly.

2. Cut or disconnect the supply lines and remove the basin. You'll get them off then.

When you reassemble, a very thin coat of petroleum jelly will ease things in the future. Also, tighten just enough (hand tight, not wrench tight, is probably ok) to avoid leaks. Very easy to overtighten -- which is usually the cause of your current problem.

This is why plumbers make big bucks.

 

[glockboy]

you can get a short 2x4 and a hammer,hammer the 2x4 upward to the faucet so the plastic nut will come loose,try it.

 

[Marty Weiner]

BIGIRON

I went to Lowe's and Home Depot but they only had the "common" size basin wrench. I'll have to call around for the larger rental.

Supply lines have been disconnected but the sink is sitting under the counter top. That is the last resort for me. I'll try every other recommendation before I tackle that.

Trust me, the new installation will be "hand tight" only.

 

[tiktok 22]

Hi Marty. Sounds like you definately need a basin wrench that's the right size. If thats not possible, try just a hacksaw blade with some duct tape around one end. You can get into tighter spaces.

Oh...and the first rule of plumbing.....never do it on a Sunday /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon6.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Marty Weiner]

glockboy - That's got to be the least expensive solution of all. I'll try that (since I have all of the material).

tiktok 22 - You are right on. A larger basin wrench would have done the job for me since the head swivels and they have a "handle" to apply some force. I need to find one of them somewhere. I'm glad that tomorrow is a weekday so I can concentrate on this task.

 

[StuU]

Tiktok has a good idea. A short hacksaw blade will cut a groove in the nut into which a screwdriver blade can be inserted & twisted. Or a multi-tool saw.

If you have to call a plumber, he would probably charge you the same for just loosening the nuts as doing the whole faucet replacement.

The 2x4 might work also.

 

[BIGIRON]

Marty

Little confused. "sink sitting under counter top"? If it's a standard "ringed" type (i.e. a metal ring around the sink that covers both the edges of the sink and counter) it will have several bolts/screws around the edge underneath that will hold the sink in place. Loosening these will let the sink lift right out. If in fact the countertop is installed over the sink -- I'm glad it's your kitchen and not mine. Good luck. (I have some skills in this area, PM me if you wish).

 

[BB]

Marty,

Just purchase a 3/16" or so by 12"-18" long twist drill bit (for steel/metal) at your local hardware store. Chuck it up and drill through the nut from under the sink. I have had to do this on several faucets with brass nuts and it works just fine.

-Bill

 

[Marty Weiner]

BIGIRON

Yes, the countertop is installed over the sink, Bummer!

BB

Also a great idea. I'm going to watch the Soprano's in about a minute. Perhaps Tony S. will give me some inspiration /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Marty

 

[BIGIRON]

I guess the primary lesson in this issue of the Sopranos is that a properly applied 2x4 will solve many problems.

 

[Marty Weiner]

LOL!!!!

 

[Klaus]

Good luck Marty - I hope all will work out well

Klaus

 

[Marty Weiner]

It all worked out! Another plumbing happy ending.

I went to Lowe's early this morning to buy the 12" drill bit to blast those nasty plastic nuts off. Since the bit alone was about $8 with tax and I'd never use it again, I decided against it.

When I got home, I called the only plumber that I knew of and they said that they'd be out in about 3 hours and BTW "our minimum is $78". I said OK.

They called me back in 5 minutes and told me that they wouldn't be coming because none of the crews were going to be close to my house and they didn't want to take them off a "profitable job" for a "smaller one". They gave me the name of a local plumber, who I called and he told me he'd be out in a couple of hours.

He showed up early with all of his tools and in 3 minutes (I actually timed hime) her had that faucet off with a plain old basin wrench.

He said, "give me the new faucet and I'll install it for you since I'm going to charge you for an hour's work anyhow".

Long story short, he wasn't in my house more than 45 minutes and charged me $62 - a bargain in my book. Best of all, I didn't have to buy any new tools or spend the day on my back under the sink. I must be getting lazy in my old age /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. Except for the 1 suggestion of removing the sink, all were spot on.

Marty