Sometimes there just isn’t enough room in a base cabinet, or some other confined workspace, to get the leverage required to install compression-fitting angle stops. In this situation, I turn the angle stop instead of the nut that secures it to the supply line. As shown in the drawing, I enclose the angle stop’s nut with a pipe wrench braced against the cabinet floor. The basin wrench grabs the body of the angle stop, which is then threaded into the nut held by the pipe wrench. If I need a little extra torque, I add a crescent wrench to the team.
—Henry Wong, Thousand Oaks, CA
Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #194
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been there. done that. the pinkie on the wrench is a nice touch.
..and this is Fine Homebuilding? Just pass the problem on to the next person... I dare say one would barely have room to turn the handle on that valve.. ..and who uses those crummy valves that seize-up and leak. Little shut-off ball valves are so inexpensive anymore. ...and toothed pipe and basin wrenches on soft brass? No wonder so many people think poorly of contractors. Pull the cabinet, add a short stub of tubing and do it right.--That's Fine Homebuilding.
Ball valves may have compression fittings also, so the technique would also apply there. This technique can be used if one is removing instead of installing.
Good tip.