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plumbing kit

craigf | Posted in Tools for Home Building on April 9, 2006 06:56am

It never fails. Whenever I remodel a bathroom, I always end up eating time running after some sort of unanticipated plumbing fitting etc.

Yesterday, I installed some replacement handles. The screws were too short. An hours time to get a 10 cent screw.

Any serious plumbing, I leave to the plumber with the trailer full of stuff, but I need some sort of kit with whatever plumbing might come up for a remodeler.

Any ideas?

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Replies

  1. JulianTracy | Apr 09, 2006 07:21pm | #1

    New Flange, flange repair, new flusher handle, set of tank gaskets/screws, reducers for p trap, metal ptrap nuts, silicone grease, thread goo, plier pad ( for removing aereators), cabinet handle screws, toilet flange screws, caps for said screws, plastic shims for toilet setting, basic copper fittings - T's, 90s & 45's - both reg and street, plumbers's putty...

    Off the top of my head - those are a few of the things I can think of.

    JT

    1. craigf | Apr 10, 2006 04:21am | #3

      I hope I am not asking a silly question. What's a plier pad?

      1. User avater
        Ted W. | Apr 10, 2006 05:42am | #5

        Any sort of pad (cardboard, cloth...) you can use to pad the plyers (channel-locks) from scratching aerators and shower heads and such. I have a toofless chanel-locks for this purpose. --------------------------------------------------------

        For a good time, visit MyToolbox.net See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

        1. JulianTracy | Apr 10, 2006 07:28am | #6

          Couple layers of duck tape will do in a pinch.JT

          1. craigf | Apr 10, 2006 08:26pm | #9

            Good tip. It'll keep me from tearing up my t-shirt tail. Also, thanks for the list.

        2. craigf | Apr 10, 2006 08:24pm | #8

          Thanks. I thought maybe there was some sort of manufactured product. I didn't know they made toothless channelocks. I'll have to look into some.

          1. User avater
            Ted W. | Apr 12, 2006 05:35am | #12

            I don't know what they're called, smooth faced or smooth jawed, flat jawed, something like that. Most well stocked hardware stores should have them. On the other hand, since they're designed to grab the flat part of the showerhead nut or aerator or compression nut, it's actually nothing a good quality Crescent wrench couldn't do. One thing they are good for though, is a larger model (14"?) is good for tightening crome plated slipjoint nuts, like on the 1-1/2" or 1-1/4" drains under the sink. But a small one isn't even good for that. So basically, get a large pair for that one purpose or save your money.  I think I charged a client for mine.

            Edit: Oh wait, I found them on Amazon...

            http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063Z8A8/qid=1144808751/sr=1-133/ref=sr_1_133/104-8417572-3195957?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=hi&v=glance&n=228013

            BTW, Channel-Lock also makes a toofless pliers with a nylon surfaced jaw, though I haven't seen them in years, and only then on the store shelf. Tres expenseev and completely unnecessary. Hmmm, wonder if they ever sold any.

             

            --------------------------------------------------------

            For a good time, visit MyToolbox.net See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

            Edited 4/11/2006 10:44 pm by Ted W.

          2. User avater
            BillHartmann | Apr 12, 2006 07:42am | #14

            Soft Touch, no mar pliers.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000WSUR8/103-9744984-1823040?v=glance&n=228013http://www.axminster.co.uk/sessionID/FIC/product-Monument-Soft-Touch-Pliers-19474.htm

          3. craigf | Apr 12, 2006 04:08pm | #15

            Thanks to everyone on the toothless plier tips. Its worth the $. Many times I wrap with a rag and still bite through.

          4. plumbbill | Apr 12, 2006 05:43am | #13

            http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/415_-_10_inch_Smooth_Jaw_Tongu_P93C3.cfm?UserID=72160&jsessionid=82304d89328f50f231a5Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW

  2. plumbbill | Apr 09, 2006 11:50pm | #2

    I could fill a van with just sink parts.

    Gaurentee whatever you stock you will run into something you don't have the part for.

    Just figure that's your lunch hour will be a drive through & a trip to the supply house.

    Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW

    1. craigf | Apr 10, 2006 04:36am | #4

      I know, whatever I have on hand, there is probably something else.
      Sometimes I am 35 miles from town and need to have some things on hand.Seems I have a talent for needing the oddball thing nobody makes anymore:)

  3. cargin | Apr 10, 2006 03:22pm | #7

    I bought Plano tackle boxes from Bass Pro Shop for my plumbing box. I have a box in the van for plumbing, electrical, 1/2" Pex, 3/4 Pex (stays in the shop until I need it) and first aid.

    In the plumbing box I keep my soldering equipment, and an assortment of mostly 1/2 copper fittings. I also have misc. cap pieces for flared, iron pipe, copper 1/2" and 3/8" and some quest stuff. I make sure I have the stuff to cap lines but most everything else is leftovers from jobs.

    My electrical box contains wire nuts, staples, misc screws, telephone wire splices, a couple outlets, switches, plates tape and strippers.

    I try to have on hand the things that I will need in a pinch, or to get through the tear out phase and then I put together a list for the hardware store if I am going to be doing the plumbing.

    I also have a PVC drain box (big tool box) that I usually leave in the shop until needed. The regular plumbing box has 1 1/2" PVC nuts and washers for sink drain repairs. The PVC box hasn't been as helpful as I thought it would be.

    The first aid box has everything I need for minor to major problems in the field. I go to Walmart and start buying band aids, Triple anti-botic, wound cleaner, poison ivy treatment, Tylenol, tweezers, clippers, lighters, wraps, eye wash ect. I don't like the pre packaged kits because they have small quanaties and wimpy stuff.

    1. craigf | Apr 10, 2006 08:39pm | #10

      You must have seen me try to plumb since you mentioned the first aid kit. :) Good idea on having everything to plug in the demo phase. I have plugs floating around the van, but nothing organized. Also I never though about switch plates etc. If I crack one, I am in the same boat.

    2. User avater
      RRooster | Apr 12, 2006 04:26am | #11

      My first aid kit includes tetnus shots, arm/leg splint kits, brain contusion buffer pads, amputation cotterizers,,,,,,,,hey, I could be 50 miles from town and I'm not coming back to finish the job!!

      lol 

      Grunge on.

  4. Mooney | Apr 12, 2006 04:44pm | #16

    Yea , we been talking about this problem over here ;

    Hey Guys, Rate This Truck  View Image

     

  5. rfreiberg | Apr 12, 2006 06:38pm | #17

    Can't live without a basin wrench to deinstall/install faucet sets. I've also used them to get onto nuts in awkward places (don't go there).

    P.S. Get one with 3 different sized interchangeable heads (jaws). Many of the cheap ones are knuckle-busters.



    Edited 4/12/2006 11:43 am ET by rfreiberg

    1. craigf | Apr 12, 2006 08:04pm | #18

      I've thought about one of those. I don't fit well in most sink cabinets and the time I spend fumbling around would pay for the wrench.

    2. User avater
      Ted W. | Apr 16, 2006 05:37pm | #19

      I got my basin wrench (Rigid, of course) many years ago when I asked the plumbing supplier how to reach those nuts. I originally kept it with plumbing tools, but it's soooo useful for a gazillion purposes, now I just keep in in my general hand tools box.--------------------------------------------------------

      For a good time, visit MyToolbox.net See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

      1. rfreiberg | Apr 17, 2006 11:58pm | #20

        It's hard to believe that such an ugly tool can be so useful. I would hate to lose mine. It seems the only ones I see around these days are the short ones without interchangeable jaws.

        1. User avater
          Ted W. | Apr 23, 2006 03:57am | #21

          Mine is the extending type, with the lock-button that almose breaks my thumb trying to push it in. But it's nice to extend it (up to 20" ?) when needed, and shorten it to about 12" for tighter spaces.  The jaws are not interchangeable though.

          I also have a mini pipe wrench, which is in the picture, and a pair of channel-locks with the handles cut short, which I can't seem to find at the moment. Both have come in real handy a couple of times.

          (pardon the krappy photo, I'm in a hurry and shouldn't even be messing with BT right now. )--------------------------------------------------------

          For a good time, visit MyToolbox.net See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

          1. rfreiberg | Apr 25, 2006 03:14am | #24

            Mine is Made by Andree Wrench (?) It is 14" long and has a small, medium and large jaw set. I never looked at the name before. I assumed it was a Ridgid because of the color and heft of it. I "brought it home" from the service about 35 years ago. If I lose it I will cry and curse.

             

          2. User avater
            Ted W. | May 10, 2006 08:52am | #25

            If you cry and curse I think you've completely lost it. Oh, and the wrench too, LOL.--------------------------------------------------------

            For a good time, visit MyToolbox.net See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

  6. RevTed | Apr 23, 2006 09:44am | #22

    Maybe this will help--

    http://www.bestplumbingonline.com/cussast.html 

    T

    1. craigf | Apr 23, 2006 04:06pm | #23

      Cool! Thanks for the link. Last weekend I visited a relative who lives near a Menards. I stuffed the top part of the shopping cart full of fittings, supply lines etc.,using a list from this thread and a plumber buddy.I now have enough stuff to deal with demo and problems installing fixtures. I also bought a basin wrench and toothless pump pliers.That and the deluxe $9.99 toolbox for just shy of $160. With gas at $3.00 and rising, it'll eventually pay.I won't have everything, but I can avoid some problems.

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