• Re: Know your limits

    From Chris J Dixon@chris@cdixon.me.uk to uk.d-i-y on Mon Aug 10 09:32:53 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    Jeff Layman wrote:

    There have been quite a few messages recently noting the age of many
    posters here, and basically accepting they can't physically do what they
    did a few years ago.

    My most frustrating tap encounter was a couple of houses (and
    about 50 years) ago, but still memorable. I replaced a pair of
    pillar taps for the kitchen sink, which were mounted on the
    worktop.

    When I bought them I was also sold a pair of adaptors.

    The initial problem was that the thread on the new taps was too
    short to project beyond the worktop. As the pre-formed worktop
    turned out to have ply on top of chipboard, I simply (!) chipped
    away the chipboard layer to produce a counterbore. This was not
    fun, but achieved the objective.

    Then all I had to do was manage to get the joints leak free, the
    taps pointing in the right direction and firmly secured. This
    took quite a few attempts, with much to-ing and fro-ing to the
    stop taps.

    It was only when I next washed up, with kitchen bowl in place,
    that I realised I had never actually considered the projection of
    the spout, relative to the mounting hole. The nice tight jet of
    water was aimed straight at the edge of the bowl, and I was
    drenched.

    Pragmatism ruled - I just pared off the rim of the bowl, and all
    was well. A similar mod was done to any replacement.

    Chris
    --
    Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
    chris@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1

    Plant amazing Acers.
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  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.d-i-y on Mon Aug 10 19:49:39 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 10/08/2026 09:32, Chris J Dixon wrote:
    Jeff Layman wrote:

    There have been quite a few messages recently noting the age of many
    posters here, and basically accepting they can't physically do what they
    did a few years ago.

    My most frustrating tap encounter was a couple of houses (and
    about 50 years) ago, but still memorable. I replaced a pair of
    pillar taps for the kitchen sink, which were mounted on the
    worktop.

    When I bought them I was also sold a pair of adaptors.

    The initial problem was that the thread on the new taps was too
    short to project beyond the worktop. As the pre-formed worktop
    turned out to have ply on top of chipboard, I simply (!) chipped
    away the chipboard layer to produce a counterbore. This was not
    fun, but achieved the objective.

    Then all I had to do was manage to get the joints leak free, the
    taps pointing in the right direction and firmly secured. This
    took quite a few attempts, with much to-ing and fro-ing to the
    stop taps.

    It was only when I next washed up, with kitchen bowl in place,
    that I realised I had never actually considered the projection of
    the spout, relative to the mounting hole. The nice tight jet of
    water was aimed straight at the edge of the bowl, and I was
    drenched.

    Pragmatism ruled - I just pared off the rim of the bowl, and all
    was well. A similar mod was done to any replacement.

    Then there is the innocent-looking tap over a nicely rounded basin.
    A powerful jet of water follows the curve of the bowl, and cascades over
    the hapless user.
    --
    Sam Plusnet
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