Not to worry Ric, bit late but I'll react to it.
Well done Sean thank god you suggested plumbers mate - the correct solution to seal waste to basin.
I'm so pleased you didn't suggest silly-con-carny or some other hateful jollop which would permanently weld the waste to the basin preventing maintenance, cleaning, care, unblocking and replacement in future.
Good on you.
Okay okay: now you got me in! I hate "Plumber's Mait".
Or better:
I hate "Plumber's Mait"!
It's supposed to be able to be used for sealing sockets in spigot and socket type rainwater systems such as cast iron and it softens and falls into the downpipe. Fail!
It's supposed to be used for sealing wastes in. It develops a gloopy stuff that runs under the basin with use (hot water presumably) and is sticky and bleurgh (I had a cleaning job once and made it my mission to remove this - it took some time). Fail!
It is non setting. While this can be a good thing (reseals the basin waste after disturbance), it is also a source of minor weeps I have come across in various locations (installation by others). If you use silicone, the silicone sticks the waste in place and disturbance is unlikely. Often not bad enough for the layman to notice, but very often you will see a bit of limescale under/around a basin waste for this reason. Fail!
Plus, was taught in college that "Mait" shouldn't be used in conjunction with anything plastic/grp, so not suited to most bath tubs. Not sure if this is true, however, as I don't know that "Mait" genuinely leaches oils that may harm such substances.
Advantage is that it is removeable? How often do you need to remove and re-use a waste? I've done it, but rarely. I had used "Plumber's Gold" 'hybrid polimer technology' silicone-like substance to seal a waste into a bidet and the bidet was faulty. It took me less than 10 minutes to clean up the waste sufficiently to remove the waste and I refitted to the new bidet without issues. Perhaps the problem is that some people like to use a whole tube of the stuff?
I've yet to be convinced that "Plumber's Mait" has a place in my van. To be honest, I'd be more open to the idea of using an old-fashioned linseed oil putty. At least this would set and hold things firm. In fact, I know an old plumber who swears by "Plumber's Mait" but then admits that he doesn't actually mean the product that is branded "Plumber's Mait" but linseed oil putty...
If removeability is an issue, I wonder what people think about basin mates? The type with a conical rubber seal that mean you don't need to use any sealant whatsoever. I once used one in a situation in which I definitely did not want to disturb anything (a 1.25" kitchen waste with brass banjo overflow that was just waiting to start leaking the moment it was touched) and was so impressed that I bought two more just to have them in case I needed them: I felt they were excellent problem solvers. They feel a bit DIYey, but they work so well - unless there are known issues with durability? I generally don't use them, however, due to cost.
"Plumber's Mait" eurgh....
[endeth the rant]
