Plumber's Mait

[ChrisinShropshire]

We have just had a tap changed and the plumber bedded the tap down withy plumber's mait in an attempt to provide a seal between the tap and the porcelain.

Will the plumber's mait harden (when?)? Or will we be left with a sticky mess around the base of the tap for ever? (not happy wife!!)

 

[TeaTime]

Sticky mess, get rid of it and replace it with the rubber washer provided with the tap.

 

[footprints]

It is designed to remain flexible, you can clean off surplus with white spirit.

 

[footprints]

It can oose for a week or two after cleaning up but then it tends to become stable .

 

[ChrisinShropshire]

Sticky mess, get rid of it and replace it with the rubber washer provided with the tap.

The reason that it was used was, as I understand, that the standard 42mm dia washer that came with the tap did not seal. The tap manufacturer also sells a 45mm washer/seal. Perhaps that is what is required.

 

[footprints]

Plumbers mait is a good reliable way to fix taps been around for more years than me and that's saying something!

Often porcelain is badly formed in the kiln and the modern washers that come with the taps are usually poor quality and not flexible enough. I would leave it alone myself, but if you must change it use a Fix-A-Tap washer thy are colour coded for size and type of material you are fitting to (steel, plastic, enamel etc) most merchants sell them or do a search on Amazon for
"essex fix-a-tap" that should give all the options.

 

[easyflow]

Yep rather use plumbers M than the seals provided, great seal.

 

[Nige F]

Plumbers mait is a good reliable way to fix taps been around for more years than me and that's saying something!

Of

I can remember it being stocked as a wonder compound because we were using putty before and I never stopped - you can't glaze a window with plumber's mait M8 - it is to plumbing what Betamax is to audio/visual and the C5 to transport.

 

[footprints]

Plumbers mait is a good reliable way to fix taps been around for more years than me and that's saying something!

Of

I can remember it being stocked as a wonder compound because we were using putty before and I never stopped - you can't glaze a window with plumber's mait M8 - it is to plumbing what Betamax is to audio/visual and the C5 to transport.

Ah! those heady days of Tallow, Hemp, Diaphragm oil, Wiping cloths, Mouth blowlamps, plumbers black, Red lead or Stone paint for jointing, tins of Kos / Temcem that had razor sharp edges inside the lid, Fibre rawplugs, Slotted screws, Soft soap and eating your sandwiches with black hands from working lead

 

[oldbuffer]

Footprints - and don't forget the rawl drill and hammer - none of your namby pamby SDS

 

[dreadnoughtheating]

and what about the Asbestos fibre filled 'raw plug filler"(grab a dusty handful, pour some water on it, mix to a mashed potato consistency. push it in the hole with the screw, and thirty minutes later, ahngthe basin on it)

And Asbestos Heat mats.

And reindeer tallow for joint wiping, delightful 'aroma' when heated....

The 'gut-buster' drill

Lace-up hessian sack toolbags....

Hand written payslips.

Ah, yes. Fings ain't what they used to be.

DH