Putty question

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chrisp

Hi - first post ever on this forum. Never been too handy but I managed to get back on the lower rungs of the property ladder last year and am keen to try to sort simple/basic problems out myself so that I only need to call the pros in for the big jobs (not too proud to call for help but money is tight!!!).

Tried to replace the head gear on a stuck tap but was completely unable to remove it. Then Looked at replacing the tap itself, it seemed to have a creamy-white putty substance around the top of the thread which as far as I can tell was helping to keep it fixed in position in the hole in the basin.

The online tutorials I've seen don't seem to mention using any type of putty when replacing a tap - I suppose it could be some kind of odd sediment but I would expect it to be hard like limescale if it was - this was definitely sticky and gooey...

Does anyone know what this is, and if it is some kind of putty do you reccomend using it if I do decide to replace the tap or would it be better to just get some kind of tap fixing kit with additional rubber washers etc?
 
hi welcome to the forum it sounds like plumber's mate around your tap

steve
 
replace the taps and be SURE to use "fix a taps" fittings. Plumbers mate is whats on it now and it's rubbish. It does it's job dont get me wrong, but it makes one hell of a mess in the process! Steer clear of it - espeially when your fitting a tap!
 
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Thanks for the swift responses!

If this stuff is 'plumber's mate' as suggested should I buy some and try to use it or should I just try to get by with the standard fixtures and fittings? I will probably do a lot of similar jobs like this over the years but nothing too exotic and not too often so am wondering if its necessary....should I be able to re-fit the tap without re-applying this stuff?

MarkAqua said:
replace the taps and be SURE to use "fix a taps" fittings. Plumbers mate is whats on it now and it's rubbish. It does it's job dont get me wrong, but it makes one hell of a mess in the process! Steer clear of it - espeially when your fitting a tap!
Click to expand...

ah! question answered - thanks!

Plumbstar Tom said:
Seconded!

Now you have the tap out can you carwefully pop it in a vice and crack the valve out?

If not id prefer to just swap the taps over with some new ones
Click to expand...

Don't have a vice or anything like it so it may be new tap time, but I might as well have a crack as best I can before I give up....
 
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~I use plumbers mate and have no probs with it

You need something there to create a seal between the basin and tap

The washers supplied with the taps are often too thick and leave a noticeable, albeit small, gap

But then every plumber is dfferent and have their own preferences, it can be a pain to get off
 
Plumbers Mait is really a none setting mastic. In practise it seems more suitable to cold applications than hot. Using it on taps isn't really the traditional way of doing things, it tends to go semi liquid around the hot tap.

There are various ways to set taps in basins. The modern fixing anti turn kits is good. In the old days it was putty and paint or plaster of Paris or even board finish. You could also use silicon mastic.

The two objects being: To stop the tap from turning: To stop water leaking through the tap hole under the tap skirt.

So whatever your imagination comes up with to do that, do it, bareing in mind the hot tap will make whatever you use hot.
 
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