Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?

Sue wrote:
Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?

Will you still be friends after this turns into a disaster?

Jim

"Sue" wrote in message
...
Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?

This is a project you don't want to start.. I sense disaster in the making.

Bill

Sue wrote:
Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?
Yes, preferably with a sledge hammer. NOT! Abort mission! ABORT
MISSION!

(I think I smell a troll)

In article .com,
"Dumbo" wrote:

Sue wrote:
Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?
Yes, preferably with a sledge hammer. NOT! Abort mission! ABORT
MISSION!

(I think I smell a troll)


I guess I'm really missing something here, or not explaining myself very
well. Not trolling. look me up. I've posted here before. the other
slightly differently munged addresss is just another computer.

It probably sounds like a stupid question so let me rephrase it. most
taps have a cap nut concealed under some type of decorative plate. the
little decorative granite piece on this particular tap is 1.25" x 1.25"
and is in the right place to conceal the cap nut. It is firmly glued.
Is it likely that underneath this little square of granite lies the cap
nut? or is likely that is purely decorative and if I pry it off I'll see
nada.

In other words... is there some other type of fitting that is in fairly
common use that I should be aware of and go ah ha! that must be a
"------" tap fitting, it comes off this other way.

Sue wrote:
In article .com,
"Dumbo" wrote:


Sue wrote:

Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?

Yes, preferably with a sledge hammer. NOT! Abort mission! ABORT
MISSION!

(I think I smell a troll)



I guess I'm really missing something here, or not explaining myself very
well. Not trolling. look me up. I've posted here before. the other
slightly differently munged addresss is just another computer.

It probably sounds like a stupid question so let me rephrase it. most
taps have a cap nut concealed under some type of decorative plate. the
little decorative granite piece on this particular tap is 1.25" x 1.25"
and is in the right place to conceal the cap nut. It is firmly glued.
Is it likely that underneath this little square of granite lies the cap
nut? or is likely that is purely decorative and if I pry it off I'll see
nada.

In other words... is there some other type of fitting that is in fairly
common use that I should be aware of and go ah ha! that must be a
"------" tap fitting, it comes off this other way.

Sue, it would help if we got on the same wavelength first.

Is the part you keep calling a "tap" something most knowledgable folks
would call a "faucet handle"?

Is the thing you call a "cap nut" something that the same knowledgable
folks would call a "screw"?

I've taken the handles off a lot of taps, but I can't recall ever
finding a nut under the pry off cover plate, it's always been just a
screw threaded into a hole in the end of a splined shaft which secures
the handle onto that shaft. But, I'm open to learning something new, so
which is it Sue, a "cap nut" or a screw?

Sue, do you really understand what you are talking about? If you don't
maybe you better back out and let your friend call in a professional.

Respectfully,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

In article ,
Jeff Wisnia wrote:



Sue, it would help if we got on the same wavelength first.

Is the part you keep calling a "tap" something most knowledgable folks
would call a "faucet handle"?

Is the thing you call a "cap nut" something that the same knowledgable
folks would call a "screw"?

I've taken the handles off a lot of taps, but I can't recall ever
finding a nut under the pry off cover plate, it's always been just a
screw threaded into a hole in the end of a splined shaft which secures
the handle onto that shaft. But, I'm open to learning something new, so
which is it Sue, a "cap nut" or a screw?

Sue, do you really understand what you are talking about? If you don't
maybe you better back out and let your friend call in a professional.

Respectfully,

Jeff



Tap is Canadian for Faucet. I appologize for getting my countries mixed
up. In your terminology I mean faucet handle.

As for the "cap nut", I made the mistake of looking the name up on the
internet (of all things) trying to get the correct terminology.(I
thought that little screw must have a name, and then I thought thats an
odd name for it, but whatever) . I guess one would more correctly call
it the handle screw.

As for knowing what I am talking about, clearly I don't have the
terminology down so while I know-no one else does. But honestly what is
the worst thing that can happen here? Either I break it and then they
call the plumber, or they just call the plumber. But fixing my own was a
2 on a hard scale of 1-10 where 10 is hard, and 1 is easy, So I think
it is at least worth a try.

Why are you guys giving Sue a hard time?

Sue - Most likely the screw that holds the handle to the faucet stem is
under the decorative granite thing. Look for a way to get it off. Its NOT
likely glued in place by the manufacturer. Look around all sides of the
handle for any type of hole, even very small. It could be possible that the
handle screw is what's called a set screw and uses a special wrench called
an Allen wrench. These would come in from the side, not the end, under the
granite.

Now - what's the worst that can happen if you pry of the granite. It breaks
into pieces and they have to get a while new handle or replace the whole
faucet? You can figure out any negative effects, if any, on your
relationship.


"Sue" wrote in message
...
Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?

Jeff - Its not called "A splined shaft" its called a valve stem. Shese give
her a break.
"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
...
Sue wrote:
In article .com,
"Dumbo" wrote:


Sue wrote:

Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?

Yes, preferably with a sledge hammer. NOT! Abort mission! ABORT
MISSION!

(I think I smell a troll)



I guess I'm really missing something here, or not explaining myself very
well. Not trolling. look me up. I've posted here before. the other
slightly differently munged addresss is just another computer. It
probably sounds like a stupid question so let me rephrase it. most taps
have a cap nut concealed under some type of decorative plate. the little
decorative granite piece on this particular tap is 1.25" x 1.25" and is
in the right place to conceal the cap nut. It is firmly glued. Is it
likely that underneath this little square of granite lies the cap nut? or
is likely that is purely decorative and if I pry it off I'll see nada. In
other words... is there some other type of fitting that is in fairly
common use that I should be aware of and go ah ha! that must be a
"------" tap fitting, it comes off this other way.

Sue, it would help if we got on the same wavelength first.

Is the part you keep calling a "tap" something most knowledgable folks
would call a "faucet handle"?

Is the thing you call a "cap nut" something that the same knowledgable
folks would call a "screw"?

I've taken the handles off a lot of taps, but I can't recall ever finding
a nut under the pry off cover plate, it's always been just a screw
threaded into a hole in the end of a splined shaft which secures the
handle onto that shaft. But, I'm open to learning something new, so which
is it Sue, a "cap nut" or a screw?

Sue, do you really understand what you are talking about? If you don't
maybe you better back out and let your friend call in a professional.

Respectfully,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

Sue wrote:

In article ,
Jeff Wisnia wrote:



Sue, it would help if we got on the same wavelength first.

Is the part you keep calling a "tap" something most knowledgable folks
would call a "faucet handle"?

Is the thing you call a "cap nut" something that the same knowledgable
folks would call a "screw"?

I've taken the handles off a lot of taps, but I can't recall ever
finding a nut under the pry off cover plate, it's always been just a
screw threaded into a hole in the end of a splined shaft which secures
the handle onto that shaft. But, I'm open to learning something new, so
which is it Sue, a "cap nut" or a screw?

Sue, do you really understand what you are talking about? If you don't
maybe you better back out and let your friend call in a professional.

Respectfully,

Jeff




Tap is Canadian for Faucet. I appologize for getting my countries mixed
up. In your terminology I mean faucet handle.

As for the "cap nut", I made the mistake of looking the name up on the
internet (of all things) trying to get the correct terminology.(I
thought that little screw must have a name, and then I thought thats an
odd name for it, but whatever) . I guess one would more correctly call
it the handle screw.

As for knowing what I am talking about, clearly I don't have the
terminology down so while I know-no one else does. But honestly what is
the worst thing that can happen here? Either I break it and then they
call the plumber, or they just call the plumber. But fixing my own was a
2 on a hard scale of 1-10 where 10 is hard, and 1 is easy, So I think
it is at least worth a try.

It would be great if you could discern the brand of those faucets and
contact the manufacturer or a distributor to see if there's a "trick" to
removing them.

It's hard for me to believe any manufacturer would design a faucet with
pieces of stone *glued* on right over the area you have to reach to
remove the handles.

Are there recesses in the handles matching the shape of the stones or
are they just standing proud of the surface? If they're in recesses,
then chances are the manufacturer put them there and maybe there's an
unconventional means for handle attachment, like perhaps a radially
placed set screw accessable from the side of or behind the handle. (Any
small as yet unexplained holes in the sides of those handles Sue? Have a
look see.)

If the stones are not in recesses, than perhaps some nutty interior
decorator more concerned with decor than function did make the bathroom
tile guy "glue them on" without regard to future access. If you reach
that conclusion then go ahead and have at them with a putty knife or
awide thin chisel. I'd suggest warming the handle up first with a hair
dryer or heat gun. wThat might help soften up the adhesive.

Let us know what it turns out to be, curious minds want to know.

Cheers,
--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

In article ,
"No" wrote:

Why are you guys giving Sue a hard time?

Sue - Most likely the screw that holds the handle to the faucet stem is
under the decorative granite thing. Look for a way to get it off. Its NOT
likely glued in place by the manufacturer.

It is very definitely glued, so maybe some decorator did it. seemed like
a dumb idea to me.

Look around all sides of the
handle for any type of hole, even very small. It could be possible that the
handle screw is what's called a set screw and uses a special wrench called
an Allen wrench. These would come in from the side, not the end, under the
granite.

yeah I looked for that. no holes that I can see. And despite the
ditzyness of my earlier post I do know what an allen wrench, (since if
you hand me a bike frame and a bunch of components I can build one-with
the exception that I don't build wheels), but I GREATLY appreciate your
kindness.

Now - what's the worst that can happen if you pry of the granite. It breaks
into pieces and they have to get a while new handle or replace the whole
faucet?
exactly.
You can figure out any negative effects, if any, on your
relationship.
none. these are good friends, who we've helped out before.

Thanks again.

"Sue" wrote in message
...
Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?

No wrote:
Jeff - Its not called "A splined shaft" its called a valve stem. Shese give
her a break.

Yeah, I agree. I hadn't had my morning coffee yet. Sue sounds like she's
capable of getting that job done, and I *am* curious to hear if she
figures out whether those stones were glued there by the manufacturer or
by some twit of a decorator.

Thank goodness It wasn't my friend Marty responding to Sue's post. He
would undoubtedly have spewed forth something classy like, "If G_d
wanted women to understand plumbing he would have given them brains
instead of boobs."

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

On 08/18/05 12:10 am Sue tossed the following ingredients into the
ever-growing pot of cybersoup:

Tap is Canadian for Faucet. I appologize for getting my countries mixed
up. In your terminology I mean faucet handle.

No "tap" is *English* for "faucet." But Canadians still speak a language
that is closer to English than the people to the south of them -- even
if they do have a funny accent. ;-)

Perce

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
"Sue" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"No" wrote:

Why are you guys giving Sue a hard time?

Sue - Most likely the screw that holds the handle to the faucet stem is
under the decorative granite thing. Look for a way to get it off. Its NOT
likely glued in place by the manufacturer.

It is very definitely glued, so maybe some decorator did it. seemed like
a dumb idea to me.

Look around all sides of the
handle for any type of hole, even very small. It could be possible that
the
handle screw is what's called a set screw and uses a special wrench
called
an Allen wrench. These would come in from the side, not the end, under
the
granite.

yeah I looked for that. no holes that I can see. And despite the
ditzyness of my earlier post I do know what an allen wrench, (since if
you hand me a bike frame and a bunch of components I can build one-with
the exception that I don't build wheels), but I GREATLY appreciate your
kindness.

Now - what's the worst that can happen if you pry of the granite. It
breaks
into pieces and they have to get a while new handle or replace the whole
faucet?
exactly.
You can figure out any negative effects, if any, on your
relationship.
none. these are good friends, who we've helped out before.

Thanks again.

"Sue" wrote in message
...
Having replaced the washer in one of our taps in our shower at home
this
now makes us experts in the eyes of our friends who have called upon us
to help them do the same for their leaky shower tap.

However, the shower has 2 square taps, both of which have a stylish
little piece of granite glued on top of them. Am I correct in
assuming
that this needs to be removed (it's going to take a hammer and a
chisel
to do so) to get at the cap nut underneath to remove the tap? There
doesn't seem to be any other obvious way to remove the tap but maybe
I'm
missing something.

So do I have to pry off that granite bit?