• Anchor a hose spray by yourself
  • Pipe dope helps drill bits
  • Kids' bubbles find leaks


  • One-Man Band
    This is an easy way for one person to anchor a hose spray on a kitchen faucet. Put putty on the base flange of the spray hose holder, and set the flange in place. Place an extra 1 1/4-inch plastic nut over the threaded shank, but above the plastic nut already provided for the spray hose. Lock in the spray hose plastic nut. Any excess putty will go into the extra 1 1/4-inch plastic nut, cutting down on chances of a leak. It is also easier to tighten the provided nut with the basin wrench. You only need one person to do the job this way.
    Albert Sciulli
    Albert Sciulli Plumbing & Heating
    Pittsburgh, Pa.

    Don’t Be A Dope
    Sometimes there’s a need to do some drilling through steel on the job. Everyone knows drill bits don’t last very long without a little oil. If you ever find yourself without any oil, I know you must have some pipe dope. It has enough of an oil base that will sufficiently lubricate the drill bit and save wear and tear.
    Leroy Yoder
    Yoder Plumbing & Heating Inc.
    Shipshewana, Ind. 

    Bubbling Up
    When looking for gas leaks, I ran out of leak detector. Windex, Palmolive and other similar soaps are corrosive to metals. I found children’s bubbles to be very sensitive, even for detecting the smallest leaks. It is also noncorrosive, nontoxic and inexpensive.
    Joey Kaplan
    Camp Shira Plumbing
    Monticello, N.Y.

    Send Us Your Tool Tips!

    If you have an idea that has saved you time and money,Plumbing & Mechanicalwould like to share your tip with our readers. You can e-mail your idea directly toPMeditorSteve Smith, or mail it to him c/o PM, 1050 IL Route 83, Suite 200, Bensenville, IL 60106.

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