Thailand The Hub Of The Loose Basin Tap

[jocko]

I allways know i am back in Thailand because wherever you go you will soon find a loose basin tap i have bought a basin tap spanner from the Uk and i still cant fix the problem the spanner is to big so back to the drawing board but i will win in the end and will go around and fix loose taps

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[BEVUP]

Yep there every where

Builder puts em in then u no doubt have to fix later ( or yu could not worry like all the gas stations / ect )

Yep very hard to get a spanner into most of them so i came up with this

Most usually have a rubber gasket so i cvered all & every side of the surfaces with a small bead of silicon & tighten the nut as best i could

Outside basin still holding as lon as the kid dont swing of it ( But then anything would go to pieces )

[crazygreg44]

Oh please let me know when your nerves start to run afoul. I will back you with a monkey wrench and a few hard ranting curses!

[Crossy]

You need a box-spanner, something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monument-Back-Spanner-27mm-32mm/dp/B0001P0FS6 check size before ordering.

[lopburi3]

But then you have the issue of getting the water inlet more than finger tight. Unfortunately there is often not enough room to do much of anything in local basins/toilets and no room for basin wrench type below. I have used the attach water hose with loose tap (turn tap into a held hose) and then hand tight nut on tap with tap 90 degrees short and then move tap. Expect most do that way and why so many are loose as you may have to do a few times to get the right angle/travel needed. Normally I pay someone these days as it is a real pain.

[Kwasaki]

You need a box-spanner, something like this

http://www.amazon.co...m/dp/B0001P0FS6 check size before ordering.

I find the best way is the box spanner and superglue.

[extexthai]

I don't have that problem with any of my facets at my house...but then again I brought a basin wrench with me, like the one Lopburi3 is showing when I moved here. I am so glad I sprang for the extra money to have a 20' container shipped here when I moved. I had no problems at all getting up and around the back of the basins I bought for our house...guess I got lucky on the ones I bought. Happy tightening. ett

[rattler]

Problem is the components, metal thread on tap and cheap ( it will break if you look at it) plastic nut, "if" you can find metal ones they arent much better as the metal is so thin it snaps.

I use the basin wrench as shown to do all of mine, no problem except the above.

Just poor quality parts...............normal!!

[Artisi]

A bead of silicone between tap and basin seems the be the only answer with out having a dedicated wrench to correctly tighten the nut from underneath.

Edited January 10, 2013 by Artisi

[jaiyenyen]

If you have friends back home in UK, USA, or wherever, ask them to send you some Fix-a-Tap washer kits. I used them all the time in the UK and never had a problem with loose taps.

[jocko]

Update.

Thanks for all advice and of course box spanner would do the job well I was going to look for one but decided to put a new tap on as the old tap was passed its best and dripping, so get adjustable spanner on the flexible pipe connection but I can't move it whilst trying flexible pipe shears of leaving some male thread within the nut so no big problem I need to buy a new one so now I have easy access to the plastic tap nut I can't move that either tap shears of I assumed the tap was real metal not diecast lookalike I am now sweating like a pig but I now have a tap less basin let myself chill for a while then fit new metal tap and new flexible pipe.

Advice to all before you start on Thai pipes and fitting make sure you have all new stuff ready

BTW I am a boilermaker welder to trade

On my next trip back to Thailand from the UK I will have a suitcase full of tools which I already have

[bankruatsteve]

Not trying to rock anybody's boat - but, in my experience with good quality faucets, most, if not all, fittings are hand tighten and don't need special tools. Whatever.

[jaiyenyen]

Whatever the quality of the tap, the backnut that holds it in place usually needs to be tightened by a spanner of somekind.

If I have to fit a new tap, and have no spanner available, I position the tap, then hand tighten the backnut. Then, turn both tap and backnut anti-clockwise 180 degrees. Hold the backnut and then turn the tap (Holding the spout) back to the desired position.

That's usually enough to hold it in place.

[lopburi3]

As said turning the tap to make tight will normally work - but may take several tries to get right position/tightness. As for the normal drips caused by scratch of the ceramic disc most taps used here have the same internals so you may save some efforts by just changing the damaged part (remove screw cover plastic with small knife or screwdriver and then screw and retaining nut on inside to get the shaft out and replace). I have just bought new taps and removed from them put some stores should sell the parts if you want to search a hardware store and save some baht.

[jocko]

As said turning the tap to make tight will normally work - but may take several tries to get right position/tightness. As for the normal drips caused by scratch of the ceramic disc most taps used here have the same internals so you may save some efforts by just changing the damaged part (remove screw cover plastic with small knife or screwdriver and then screw and retaining nut on inside to get the shaft out and replace). I have just bought new taps and removed from them put some stores should sell the parts if you want to search a hardware store and save some baht.

I agree that replacing the guts of the tap will stop the drips but my tap was pitted and not looking good so a new one was. needed and is on there tight using the method you suggested I have a gut feeling over time I will be replacing all the fittings in the house as the quality is not good

[wayned]

Made my own spanner using 1" PVC Basin Spanner.tif

The cuts in the pvc union fit over the "ears" on the basin nut. the handle is not glued and is removable for ease of use. Works great!

[Phronesis]

Basins are so 1990's

[jocko]

Basins are so 1990's

I'm still in the 60s

[jocko]

Made my own spanner using 1" PVC Basin Spanner.tif

The cuts in the pvc union fit over the "ears" on the basin nut. the handle is not glued and is removable for ease of use. Works great!

Good idea i will be making one you could even glue a nut or inverted socket in the plain end and use a driver.

[wayned]

Made my own spanner using 1" PVC Basin Spanner.tif

The cuts in the pvc union fit over the "ears" on the basin nut. the handle is not glued and is removable for ease of use. Works great!

Good idea i will be making one you could even glue a nut or inverted socket in the plain end and use a driver.

The reason I used 1" pvc is that you can start the basin attaching nut and then screw on the water tubing . The faucet can remain loose so that you can get a wrench up to tighten the water fitting and then fish the water line down through the 1" pvc and tighten to faucet fitting.

[jocko]

Made my own spanner using 1" PVC Basin Spanner.tif

The cuts in the pvc union fit over the "ears" on the basin nut. the handle is not glued and is removable for ease of use. Works great!

Good idea i will be making one you could even glue a nut or inverted socket in the plain end and use a driver.

The reason I used 1" pvc is that you can start the basin attaching nut and then screw on the water tubing . The faucet can remain loose so that you can get a wrench up to tighten the water fitting and then fish the water line down through the 1" pvc and tighten to faucet fitting.

Ye I can see that's the way to go thanks for the drawing maybe you should start a business making them.

[cooked]

Everything I touched in order to repair, clean or replace it in my first month here broke off, including taps and shower heads. I bought some electrical stuff and installed it, worked ok. I decided to change something and found myself incapable of re-screwing it to the wall. Much swearing ensued as I tried to do it right, called an electrician who just laughed and went to buy a new one. I don't get excited / feel inadequate about this any more, I just plan in a trip to the local HomePro or whatever when I start doing stuff.

I do get sick of watching plugs just drop out of their sockets before my eyes though, I may go and buy a bunch of stuff in Europe some time.

[jocko]

Funny you should mention stuff falling of walls last night in Patong I was walking past a fairly new restaurant and there was terrible clatter and when i looked in the open door one of the wall fans had launched itself of the wall right on top of a empty table lucky nobody was sitting there.

I will have to dig out my hardhat just in case.

I agree with you that DIY can be frustrating here I live in patong and find it very difficult to find the most simple things but I like a challenge and don't forget the Thai wife who thinks the Thai way is the only way I have to sneak out and get stuff myself I gave up trying to explain.