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Default Jawdropper review FYI.


I change a lot of taps, very popular job in handyman land. Getting to the
tap connectors & backnuts is a constant problem and with 'designer' & mini
corner sinks it seems to be getting harder.

I've got several so called basin wrenches which claim to fit tap connectors
& back nuts, but don't - they can't because tap connectors & backnuts are
different sizes.

The self adjusting basin wrenches do work, but especially under a corner
sink there is rarely enough room to get much of a turn.

I've looked at the Armeg Jaw Dropper wrench set for a while, but the price -
£40 ish - made my jaw drop! Maybe thats where they got the name?

Had a job on new years eve to change basin & bath taps in a poorly
maintained & very old house. Thinking it could be a bit of an embuggerance
job I decided to bite the bullet & buy a Jaw Dropper set. Present to self &
I could always take it back if it wasn't any good.

I'm keeping it! After one use you would now have to prise it from my dead
cold fingers.

The ads aren't that clear on how it really works, the 'more pictures'
feature on the Axminster site show the details fairly well.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/user_sear...ers-649972.htm

First of all, you get two separate wrenches, one for the basin & one for the
bath. Each wrench is double ended, one hexagon fits the tap connector & one
fits the backnut. Under each hex end is a sliding jaw which isn't
hexagonal, but round so it fits the pipe.

To undo a tap connector you have the round jaw locked up against the
hexagonal jaw & it acts as a guide by sliding up the pipe until the hex jaw
locates on the tap connector. You can actually do this without being able
to see the joint.

To undo the back nut the round jaw is slid out of the way leaving a very
small profile hex jaw which would fit in the smallest corner basin space.

Side handle means you can get a lot of welly on reluctant connectors or back
nuts.

So - it does exactly what it says on the tin. Only cons are the price. It
comes in a moulded case with a stubby screwdriver to adjust the rounded jaw.
The case just takes up space & I already have screwdrivers, not including
those would knock maybe a £5 off the price?

If you change a lot of taps its well worth the money, its certainly going to
make my life a lot easier. Possibly a bit expensive for occasional DIY use
unless you have a large project on.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk








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Default Jawdropper review FYI.

On Sat, 03 Jan 2009 10:52:06 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:


I change a lot of taps, very popular job in handyman land. Getting to the
tap connectors & backnuts is a constant problem and with 'designer' & mini
corner sinks it seems to be getting harder.

I've got several so called basin wrenches which claim to fit tap connectors
& back nuts, but don't - they can't because tap connectors & backnuts are
different sizes.

The self adjusting basin wrenches do work, but especially under a corner
sink there is rarely enough room to get much of a turn.


You can also get box spanners which are for tightening tap back nuts
but you can only use them when the supply pipe isn't fitted although
if you are handy I suppose you could cut a slot out of one side to
allow the pipe to fit through.

The one I have fits both bath and basin backnuts .I found it easier to
use than the other adjustable one I have especially when doing the
bath ones when access is difficult and trying to hold the tap straight
with one hand AND tighten the backnut with the other is tricky.

For tap connectors I just use an adjustable or open-ended spanner .



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Default Jawdropper review FYI.

Wrenches/spanners/grips/pliers for the plumbing trade give me the
impression the designs came out of the ark. Whilst for vehicles
superbly made sockets/ratchet spanner kits are commonplace now, I've
never seen such a kit for plumbers - where are the likes of Teng tools
for plumbers? I have a few old large spanners that fit various
plumbing bits - very useful on a reluctant-to-shift fitting - but £50
of teng tools will buy something nice and comprehensive enough for
most smaller jobs on vehicles, why not the same for plumbers?
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Default Jawdropper review FYI.

On Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:33:51 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

wrote:
SNIP

You can also get box spanners which are for tightening tap back nuts
but you can only use them when the supply pipe isn't fitted although
if you are handy I suppose you could cut a slot out of one side to
allow the pipe to fit through.


I've got a set of those, but as you say the supply pipe has to be removed &
often there isn't enough room to move it aside so the box spanner can go on
the nut.

The one I have fits both bath and basin backnuts .I found it easier to
use than the other adjustable one I have especially when doing the
bath ones when access is difficult and trying to hold the tap straight
with one hand AND tighten the backnut with the other is tricky.


Indeed! Next purchase must be 4' long arms :-)

For tap connectors I just use an adjustable or open-ended spanner .


How do you get that into a confined space?


Anytime I have used the adjustable or open ended it's a case of
sticking it on to the nut vertically and rotating it on it's axis but
it's tricky as well ...a short piece of bar or rod through the unused
end of the open ender makes it easier to turn .The adjustable I have
has a hole through the end of the handle so you can do the same with
it . Tap connectors usually go on pretty easily IME.


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Default Jawdropper review FYI.


wrote in message
...
Wrenches/spanners/grips/pliers for the plumbing trade give me the
impression the designs came out of the ark. Whilst for vehicles
superbly made sockets/ratchet spanner kits are commonplace now, I've
never seen such a kit for plumbers - where are the likes of Teng tools
for plumbers? I have a few old large spanners that fit various
plumbing bits - very useful on a reluctant-to-shift fitting - but £50
of teng tools will buy something nice and comprehensive enough for
most smaller jobs on vehicles, why not the same for plumbers?


But Teng Tools wouldn't have a business if car mechanics had brains enough
to
improvise. hmm?

{flings self behind couch }
Arthur



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Posts: 274
Default Jawdropper review FYI.


"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
m...

I change a lot of taps, very popular job in handyman land. Getting to the
tap connectors & backnuts is a constant problem and with 'designer' & mini
corner sinks it seems to be getting harder.

I've got several so called basin wrenches which claim to fit tap
connectors
& back nuts, but don't - they can't because tap connectors & backnuts are
different sizes.

The self adjusting basin wrenches do work, but especially under a corner
sink there is rarely enough room to get much of a turn.

I've looked at the Armeg Jaw Dropper wrench set for a while, but the
price -
£40 ish - made my jaw drop! Maybe thats where they got the name?

Had a job on new years eve to change basin & bath taps in a poorly
maintained & very old house. Thinking it could be a bit of an
embuggerance
job I decided to bite the bullet & buy a Jaw Dropper set. Present to self
&
I could always take it back if it wasn't any good.

I'm keeping it! After one use you would now have to prise it from my dead
cold fingers.

The ads aren't that clear on how it really works, the 'more pictures'
feature on the Axminster site show the details fairly well.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/user_sear...ers-649972.htm

First of all, you get two separate wrenches, one for the basin & one for
the
bath. Each wrench is double ended, one hexagon fits the tap connector &
one
fits the backnut. Under each hex end is a sliding jaw which isn't
hexagonal, but round so it fits the pipe.

To undo a tap connector you have the round jaw locked up against the
hexagonal jaw & it acts as a guide by sliding up the pipe until the hex
jaw
locates on the tap connector. You can actually do this without being able
to see the joint.

To undo the back nut the round jaw is slid out of the way leaving a very
small profile hex jaw which would fit in the smallest corner basin space.

Side handle means you can get a lot of welly on reluctant connectors or
back
nuts.

So - it does exactly what it says on the tin. Only cons are the price.
It
comes in a moulded case with a stubby screwdriver to adjust the rounded
jaw.
The case just takes up space & I already have screwdrivers, not including
those would knock maybe a £5 off the price?

If you change a lot of taps its well worth the money, its certainly going
to
make my life a lot easier. Possibly a bit expensive for occasional DIY
use
unless you have a large project on.


You'll like this then on Ebay
280298808239




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Posts: 8,319
Default Jawdropper review FYI.

RW wrote:
"The Medway Handyman" wrote in
message m...

I change a lot of taps, very popular job in handyman land. Getting
to the tap connectors & backnuts is a constant problem and with
'designer' & mini corner sinks it seems to be getting harder.

I've got several so called basin wrenches which claim to fit tap
connectors
& back nuts, but don't - they can't because tap connectors &
backnuts are different sizes.

The self adjusting basin wrenches do work, but especially under a
corner sink there is rarely enough room to get much of a turn.

I've looked at the Armeg Jaw Dropper wrench set for a while, but the
price -
£40 ish - made my jaw drop! Maybe thats where they got the name?

Had a job on new years eve to change basin & bath taps in a poorly
maintained & very old house. Thinking it could be a bit of an
embuggerance
job I decided to bite the bullet & buy a Jaw Dropper set. Present
to self &
I could always take it back if it wasn't any good.

I'm keeping it! After one use you would now have to prise it from
my dead cold fingers.

The ads aren't that clear on how it really works, the 'more pictures'
feature on the Axminster site show the details fairly well.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/user_sear...ers-649972.htm

First of all, you get two separate wrenches, one for the basin & one
for the
bath. Each wrench is double ended, one hexagon fits the tap
connector & one
fits the backnut. Under each hex end is a sliding jaw which isn't
hexagonal, but round so it fits the pipe.

To undo a tap connector you have the round jaw locked up against the
hexagonal jaw & it acts as a guide by sliding up the pipe until the
hex jaw
locates on the tap connector. You can actually do this without
being able to see the joint.

To undo the back nut the round jaw is slid out of the way leaving a
very small profile hex jaw which would fit in the smallest corner
basin space. Side handle means you can get a lot of welly on reluctant
connectors
or back
nuts.

So - it does exactly what it says on the tin. Only cons are the
price. It
comes in a moulded case with a stubby screwdriver to adjust the
rounded jaw.
The case just takes up space & I already have screwdrivers, not
including those would knock maybe a £5 off the price?

If you change a lot of taps its well worth the money, its certainly
going to
make my life a lot easier. Possibly a bit expensive for occasional
DIY use
unless you have a large project on.


You'll like this then on Ebay
280298808239


Thats a square hole cutter?



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk


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Default Jawdropper review FYI.

The Medway Handyman wrote:


Thats a square hole cutter?


If you can't reach the nut, make a hole in the wall behind it to provide
access?

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org
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