View Full Version : Where does the washer go?
Ferdelberger
3rd February 2008, 11:10 AM
Sorry to come to this forum and ask a silly question.
I have removed the drain outlet from my old bath and done some repairs to the paint finish. I discarded the old drain outlet and purchased a nice shiny chrome one with a rubber washer and brass nut.
Does the rubber washer go inside the bath or under it next to the brass locknut ?? Logic seems to say inside the bath to effect a seal but the guy who sold it to me said something about using a bit of silicone sealant under the chrome outlet inside the bath to get a perfect seal.
Can not see the point in both a washer and sealant. Can anyone help?
regards
Fred
wonderplumb
3rd February 2008, 03:46 PM
Mate use silicone on the underside of the plug and waste to seal it onto the bath, dont be shy make sure it squeezes out when you do up the nut.
The rubber washer goes on the under-side of the bath before the nut, it tightens up nice and tight sort of like a spring washer.
Use a rag or a glove to hold onto the thread while you tighten the nut with multi grips, those chrome plated threads can cut you to bits.
Use toilet paper to clean up the excess silicone.
Make sure you use clear kitchen and bathroom silicone as it is anti bacterial and wont let mold grow on it.
Done.
Fuzzie
3rd February 2008, 04:01 PM
Wonderplumb, my old-school Uncle, the plumber, used to use putty as a sealant. I've seen a few jobs over the years that used silicone and made a messy finish because it was not cleaned up well enough before it went off. Is there a good reason for not using putty these days?
davo2310
3rd February 2008, 04:25 PM
normally below the bath, use an anti fungal silicone on the top and clean off the excess once plug is fitted.
Regards
Davo
davo2310
3rd February 2008, 04:30 PM
Putty ages and hardens over time and eventually cracks.
MonkeyWrench
3rd February 2008, 05:39 PM
Ever tried removing a plug and waste that has been installed with basin putty? Impossible without breaking the fixture.
Use silicon, after tightening the plug and waste but before wiping off the excess silicon spray the waste and fixture area with surface cleaner/ detergent. This will stop the silicon spreading to areas you don't want it as you wipe it away.
wonderplumb
3rd February 2008, 06:02 PM
Fuzzie, there is still a few blokes that use it, silicone does the job just as well and as long as you clean the excess straight away there's no drama.
Ferdelberger
3rd February 2008, 11:01 PM
Thanks for the advice guys it was a piece of cake and the silicone cleaned up easily taking your advice.
Regards
Fred
bricks
4th February 2008, 10:41 AM
Just some advise for all you silicone junkies out there.
Bunnings and reece sell this stuff called REDBACK SILICONE CLEANUP it comes in a red tin, and helps to wipe silicone away clean when your using it to install stuff. it works really well and takes care of the beading effect that silicone sometimes has on fixtures.