Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

[WaterTight]

The main frustration with Plumbers Mate centers round how to manipulate it. Nobody doubts it works when applied correctly but it's just properly hard to use. If you've got to return a WC to a pre-existing dodgy-looking pan connector you've not the time or inclination (or available stock) to replace, a ring of plumbers mate round the WC spigot (properly cleaned with an abrasive pad and some wipes first - oh joy) will sort it every time.

The way I've found that works is to never handle the same mm of it for more than half a second at a time. Keep it moving from finger to finger or it will stick to you. When you've got it where you want it start proding it at a million miles an hour, really quick, soft, finger moments pressing and persuading it this way and that. It starts to mould to your will rather than act like an autonomous little beggar. Bit like the wife.

 

[Dannypipe]

The main frustration with Plumbers Mate centers round how to manipulate it. Nobody doubts it works when applied correctly but it's just properly hard to use. If you've got to return a WC to a pre-existing dodgy-looking pan connector you've not the time or inclination (or available stock) to replace, a ring of plumbers mate round the WC spigot (properly cleaned with an abrasive pad and some wipes first - oh joy) will sort it every time.

The way I've found that works is to never handle the same mm of it for more than half a second at a time. Keep it moving from finger to finger or it will stick to you. When you've got it where you want it start proding it at a million miles an hour, really quick, soft, finger moments pressing and persuading it this way and that. It starts to mould to your will rather than act like an autonomous little beggar. Bit like the wife.

Don't know how we got onto plumbers mate, but back when I used that, which was a long time ago I did a couple of things.

I mixed a ball from a new tub with a ball from an old tub to give a better workable consistency. If I didnt have half an old tub, I would form a ball and roll it out on a bit on newspaper to remove some of the excess oil.

Haven't used plumbers mate for years, and don't see myself using it ever again!

Plumbers Gold on the other hand. Always carry a tube in clear and white. Lovely jollop!!

 

[Kyle87]

The main frustration with Plumbers Mate centers round how to manipulate it. Nobody doubts it works when applied correctly but it's just properly hard to use. If you've got to return a WC to a pre-existing dodgy-looking pan connector you've not the time or inclination (or available stock) to replace, a ring of plumbers mate round the WC spigot (properly cleaned with an abrasive pad and some wipes first - oh joy) will sort it every time.

The way I've found that works is to never handle the same mm of it for more than half a second at a time. Keep it moving from finger to finger or it will stick to you. When you've got it where you want it start proding it at a million miles an hour, really quick, soft, finger moments pressing and persuading it this way and that. It starts to mould to your will rather than act like an autonomous little beggar. Bit like the wife.

And the best way of getting plumbers mait off your fingers is to rub another ball of mait over it and that will snowball rather than stay stuck to you

 

[tamz]

Did no one ever play with putty when you were young? Fresh putty is much stickier but smells nicer.

 

[stevetheplumber]

Don't know how we got onto plumbers mate, but back when I used that, which was a long time ago I did a couple of things.

I mixed a ball from a new tub with a ball from an old tub to give a better workable consistency. If I didnt have half an old tub, I would form a ball and roll it out on a bit on newspaper to remove some of the excess oil.

Haven't used plumbers mate for years, and don't see myself using it ever again!

Plumbers Gold on the other hand. Always carry a tube in clear and white. Lovely jollop!!

theres no oil in plumbers mate your thinking of putty

 

[Ermintrude]

theres no oil in plumbers mate your thinking of putty

There clearly is oil in it. Leave in in a warm place for 2 weeks on a tray. It will split like Beurre blanc left under hot lights. Oil makes about 15% of it. That's why u shouldn't use it to seals sleeves on gas pipes.

 

[Dannypipe]

theres no oil in plumbers mate your thinking of putty

There is def' some sort of oil in it.

 

[tamz]

Bet you never knew it was like this! I didn't but i don't use it so have never looked at the coshh sheet.

http://www.bostik.co.uk/sds/download_sds/PlumbersMaitQuickLeakRepairPutty-English/04415314.pdf

 

[chris watkins]

Bet you never knew it was like this! I didn't but i don't use it so have never looked at the coshh sheet.

http://www.bostik.co.uk/sds/download_sds/PlumbersMaitQuickLeakRepairPutty-English/04415314.pdf

Think you have the repair one there Tamz the standard old style is

[DLMURL]http://www.indanc.com/downloads/pdf/Evo-Stik/Plumbers_Mait.pdf[/DLMURL]

Very dangerous stuff this one LOL

 

[stevetheplumber]

Think you have the repair one there Tamz the standard old style is

[DLMURL]http://www.indanc.com/downloads/pdf/Evo-Stik/Plumbers_Mait.pdf[/DLMURL]

Very dangerous stuff this one LOL

i like this line best seeing as it is designed for use on waste joints
"Stop leak if possible without risk. Do not contaminate water sources or sewer. "
how does that work???

 

[PlumbBobBob]

wrap it in cling film first? lol

 

[woodytheplumber]

one just popped to me today (im sure others will have used it plenty like as its so obvious but hey) when replacing a towel rad or standered rad upstairs and you cant find a drain off without lifting a trap or 2, find a downstairs rad has modern bleed valves you can drain straight into a large flexy tub through the bleed valve nice and easy allthough this wont allways work if all rads have been dropped from above

 

[Gas]

one just popped to me today (im sure others will have used it plenty like as its so obvious but hey) when replacing a towel rad or standered rad upstairs and you cant find a drain off without lifting a trap or 2, find a downstairs rad has modern bleed valves you can drain straight into a large flexy tub through the bleed valve nice and easy allthough this wont allways work if all rads have been dropped from above

That would take all day and is not the best way to achieve what you did.

 

[kay-jay]

one just popped to me today (im sure others will have used it plenty like as its so obvious but hey) when replacing a towel rad or standered rad upstairs and you cant find a drain off without lifting a trap or 2, find a downstairs rad has modern bleed valves you can drain straight into a large flexy tub through the bleed valve nice and easy allthough this wont allways work if all rads have been dropped from above

Far better to isolate valves and remove vent plug and replace with a compression coupler with a bit of pipe on it then open valves and fill a bucket or stick hose on pipe.

 

[Bunker]

Far better to isolate valves and remove vent plug and replace with a compression coupler with a bit of pipe on it then open valves and fill a bucket or stick hose on pipe.

Isn't that pretty much what the OP is saying?