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Monday 4 December 2017

A plumber's arm

A few days ago we had a minor plumbing problem, a small leak where the cold water pipe is screwed to the bath tap. I've done quite a few plumbing jobs but never mastered the inaccessible ones where even knuckles seem to get in the way. I had a go at the bath tap, but even when lying on the floor, head jammed against the wall I couldn't get my basin wrench onto the nut let alone turn the thing.

Along comes our middle-aged plumber to take a look while complaining of his bad back. He can't see the job without his glasses so he slips those on and fifteen minutes later the job is done. How do they do it? Do they have double-jointed arms?

5 comments:

wiggiatlarge said...

Not quite but they do have specialist tools like this.......

https://www.tooled-up.com/armeg-jaw-dropper-basin-easy-access-wrench-set/prod/170404/?Referrer=googleproductsearch&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu4zg2-7w1wIVTLXtCh1M1whHEAQYASABEgLbwvD_BwE

Sobers said...

He had one of these:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/adjustable-basin-wrench/14631

A K Haart said...

Wiggia and Sobers - I thought of buying a tool like that but couldn't even get my existing basin wrench onto the nut, I really needed three arms.

Sam Vega said...

There is a type of magic in certain trades. My brother was always the "practical" one of the family. He went to the old Secondary Technical school, got an apprenticeship, and ended up running his own business making things. He was competent at DIY, and was always fiddling with jobs around the house. Recently, he brought in a painter to do some doors (fiddly work - lots of little windows and beading involved) and other gloss paint jobs around the house. As it was a big job, he said that he would do some of the doors to help out; he explained that he normally did his own DIY, and could do a decent quick job. The tradesman looked a bit dubious. My brother thought it was due to the potential loss of trade, but soon found out why. In the time it took my brother to faff around with the brushes, get started, and paint the easy panels, this bloke had completed a door. No drips, runs, or brushmarks, it looked as if it had come from a high quality factory. After that, my brother put his brush away and made a nice big pot of tea for the professional.

A K Haart said...

Sam - I used to do all our decorating, but since I retired I've used a local decorator simply because he does a far better job than I could ever manage. I still do minor inconspicuous bits and pieces but that's all.