Anyone good with plumbing tools?

[sparc]

Another week, another job that's got some of that coppery stuff that carries water ... Pipe I think it's called ! :freak:

This one's an electric shower change out, only the compression joint for the water feed is tight against wall and part of the (old) shower.

Tried all my various wrenches, adjustable spaners, basin wrench - you name it - can't get enough clearance to get jaws to grip.

It's a standard 15mm into 1/2 inch compression joint - which I think is 1 inch across the flats.

Anyone got or know of a tool that does this - really slim jaws that can get into tight spaces? My only other option is to trash the plastic case of the old shower - but would rather not, if possible.

 

[Paul.M]

Here you go mate http://www.****************/shop/Hand+Tools/Plumbers+Tools/d10/sd210

 

[Paul.M]

Adjustable wrench kit.

 

[sparc]

Thanks for that paul - good idea, mate, but unfortunately I can't get it to work. I have three basin/tap wrenches like that. The smallest should do the job, but I can only get access to three flats.

I need the spanner equivalent of long nose pliers! ... if such a thing exists ... failing that I'll start to hack the old shower apart to create enough space to get a standard adjustable wrench on it.

 

[Geoffsd]

What about a punch and hammer? Lots of little taps (with hammer) better than big thumps.

 

[sparc]

I rember that trick, Geoff ... used it once to get a broken stud out of the cylinder head of my old Honda CB250 - in the days when you could take an engine apart without a masters degree in mechanical engineering...

Thanks - will try it tomorrow... the pipe will flex a bit, but I can wedge something under it to hold it - may just work .....

 

[Knobhead]

I have a set of chisels from Kennedy. Ranging from ¼ to ¾ “ worth their weight in gold. Cheap as chips as I remember.

 

[jeremy]

Would a box spanner work? basically a tube with a hexagonal form at either end and a hole in the tube for a bar for leverage.

 

[sparc]

Got a nice set of box spanners, but unfortunately won't work here - as the pipe is still connected both ends. I've come around to idea of cutting the plastic pipe side of the compression joint. I can then remove the whole shower unit, which will give me full access to the compression joint. I was hoping to be able to get it all off intact - as I have a new home for the old shower - which still works fine.

Thanks all the same Jeremy. Guess I'll have to invent the 'long nose' adjustable spanner myself!

 

[Spudnik]

Why dont you just disconnect it from the joint closest to the wall?

 

[alli]

If you look at screfix for a Monument Tools Compression Fitting Spanner These are a very small spanners which I have filed the ends and sides down before now to get into tight spaces, at £2.50 I am quite happy to ruin/alter it for that price.

 

[Mfctitch]

I'm going with Jason's answer why can't you disconnect the shower from the other end of the compression elbow?

 

[ruston]

Long nose "Vise grips" may be the answer. A million and one uses , asset to any tool box. Similar to mole and top quality.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Long nose "Vise grips" may be the answer. A million and one uses , asset to any tool box. Similar to mole and top quality.

Actually better, as they are guaranteed for life, through any SnapOn van.

 

[doubletime]

hi this is doublletime new to this forum, try the rothenberger 175mm wrench great tool for tight spaces with very good grip part no 7.0521 this might do the job , good luck, sold in most decent plumbing shops.

 

[sparc]

The other end of the joint is even worse - only two faces exposed. The bathroom is done in really thick wall tiles - almost like floor tiles. The elbow joint comes out through a tiles with only a couple mm either side. I reckon whoever put this in put the elbow on a section of pipe, then threaded that down into the cavity, joining it under the floor boards. It's the only way - been puzzling about it for ages. Judging the way the nut is all chewed up must have used Geoffsd's tap, tap, tap method to make the final connection to inlet. I'm going to try ruston and alli's tool suggestions - compression spanners and vise gripes (havent got either of those in my plumbing box yet) - then cut the damn thing off if that doesn't work ... thanks everyone, and goodevening all...

 

[ruston]

Actually better, as they are guaranteed for life, through any SnapOn van.

Yes I agree with that had mine 27 years and still going strong. I love good gear .

 

[Jwriter]

Great website for Portland plumbers for anybody in the Portland area. Had a lot of trouble finding anybody good until I cam across that site. Best of luck.