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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Willow
 
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Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

Hi

What's the best way to clean rust & hard water grime off a pipe thread in
the shower? I need to replace the shower head, but the replacement bits
won't fit, despite the thread being the same size.

Any ideas? I'm onto my second application of CLR, don't know what to try
after that.

--
Wanda
aka Willow
The missing and definitely not to be taken seriously under any circumstances
garden gnome
http://www.2000cn.com.au/~willow

~~faeries are able to fly because they take themselves lightly~


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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Andrew G
 
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Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

"Willow" wrote in message
...
Hi

What's the best way to clean rust & hard water grime off a pipe thread in
the shower? I need to replace the shower head, but the replacement bits
won't fit, despite the thread being the same size.

Any ideas? I'm onto my second application of CLR, don't know what to try
after that.

SNIP

It definitely is a buildup causing the trouble? Usually as the thread would
be covered by the old bits it would protect it, and taking off the old bits
would at the same time remove any buildup. Can you see the buildup? Even try
putting the old bits back on if you have them, only lightly by hand to test
it. While the thread may be the same size, the thread may not be the same
type. Sometimes they have coarse or fine thread, meaning the gaps in the
thread are further apart or closer together.
If all is good, and it is the buildup, you could try vinegar. I have heard
that can help. Even with the CLR, hook up something so it is sitting in the
CLR for a while.
All the best with it.


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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Dwayne
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

Xref: 127.0.0.1 aus.gardens:20150

I am a chemical salesman. I used to work for a company that had an acid
based toilet bowl cleaner. The acid was safe enough that you could put you
hand into it (for a short time) and it wouldn't hurt you, but when you put
it in the toilet bowl or on a tub it would eat the lime and soap scum right
off. You doid have to be sure you washed it all off when you were done,
because within an hour or so, it would damage the chrome on the tub
hardware. I don't know what kind of acid it was, but if you can find one
that will eat lime and yet not be deadly to your skin, you've got it.

Good luck. Dwayne Ford312CrownVictoria



"Andrew G" wrote in message
...
"Willow" wrote in message
...
Hi

What's the best way to clean rust & hard water grime off a pipe thread

in
the shower? I need to replace the shower head, but the replacement bits
won't fit, despite the thread being the same size.

Any ideas? I'm onto my second application of CLR, don't know what to try
after that.

SNIP

It definitely is a buildup causing the trouble? Usually as the thread

would
be covered by the old bits it would protect it, and taking off the old

bits
would at the same time remove any buildup. Can you see the buildup? Even

try
putting the old bits back on if you have them, only lightly by hand to

test
it. While the thread may be the same size, the thread may not be the same
type. Sometimes they have coarse or fine thread, meaning the gaps in the
thread are further apart or closer together.
If all is good, and it is the buildup, you could try vinegar. I have heard
that can help. Even with the CLR, hook up something so it is sitting in

the
CLR for a while.
All the best with it.




  #4   Report Post  
Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Master Plvmber
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

You need to change the shower arm!
It is a simple procedure and costs less than one container of CLR.

Master Plvmber


"Willow" wrote in message
...
Hi

What's the best way to clean rust & hard water grime off a pipe thread in
the shower? I need to replace the shower head, but the replacement bits
won't fit, despite the thread being the same size.

Any ideas? I'm onto my second application of CLR, don't know what to try
after that.

--
Wanda
aka Willow
The missing and definitely not to be taken seriously under any

circumstances
garden gnome
http://www.2000cn.com.au/~willow

~~faeries are able to fly because they take themselves lightly~




  #5   Report Post  
Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
David Hare-Scott
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head


"Willow" wrote in message
...
Hi

What's the best way to clean rust & hard water grime off a pipe thread

in
the shower? I need to replace the shower head, but the replacement

bits
won't fit, despite the thread being the same size.

Any ideas? I'm onto my second application of CLR, don't know what to

try
after that.

--
Wanda
aka Willow


I doubt that a build up of grime is the cause of the problem. If an old
fitting came off then the new fitting of the correct type should go back
on with little or no effort. I think that the fitting you have is not
the correct thread. As somebody else said you may need to replace the
whole arm (if it has an arm) as joints internal to a proprietary
assembly may not be compatible with standard fittings.

If you cannot work it out call a plumber as forcing the wrong fitting on
will just damage your existing plumbing and make the job more expensive
to finish.

David




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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Gary Slusser
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head


"Master Plvmber" wrote
You need to change the shower arm!
It is a simple procedure and costs less than one container of CLR.

Master Plvmber


"Willow" wrote in

message
...
Hi

What's the best way to clean rust & hard water grime off a pipe

thread in
the shower? I need to replace the shower head, but the replacement

bits
won't fit, despite the thread being the same size.

Any ideas? I'm onto my second application of CLR, don't know what to

try
after that.

--
Wanda
aka Willow
The missing and definitely not to be taken seriously under any

circumstances
garden gnome
http://www.2000cn.com.au/~willow

~~faeries are able to fly because they take themselves lightly~


That’s ridiculous, replacing a shower arm because of scale buildup. What
if she then has a leak inside the wall. She should take a plastic
sandwich bag and put enough CLR in it to immerse the area on the shower
arm in the CLR as she attaches the bag to the shower arm and then leave
it immersed for a few hours if need be. Or, holding the shower arm from
turning, run a female fitting on the arm and clean the threads that way
before putting the new head on using Teflon tape naturally. It might be
plumbers’ putty too, damned stuff anyway.

Gary
Quality Water Associates


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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Rob D
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

I agree with Gary. I have never seen a shower arm that is not 1/2" NPT.
However; I would use vinigar, I think it works better than CLR.

Rob.


"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
u...

"Willow" wrote in message
...
Hi

What's the best way to clean rust & hard water grime off a pipe thread

in
the shower? I need to replace the shower head, but the replacement

bits
won't fit, despite the thread being the same size.

Any ideas? I'm onto my second application of CLR, don't know what to

try
after that.

--
Wanda
aka Willow


I doubt that a build up of grime is the cause of the problem. If an old
fitting came off then the new fitting of the correct type should go back
on with little or no effort. I think that the fitting you have is not
the correct thread. As somebody else said you may need to replace the
whole arm (if it has an arm) as joints internal to a proprietary
assembly may not be compatible with standard fittings.

If you cannot work it out call a plumber as forcing the wrong fitting on
will just damage your existing plumbing and make the job more expensive
to finish.

David




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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Mike Grooms
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head


"Gary Slusser"

The original message said that she couldn't get the new shower head on
the shower arm. Maybe the problem is the new shower head, but if it ain't,
I vote to change the arm too.




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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Bushy
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

But in Australia,(as in "aus.gardens") almost every plumbing fitting used
for showers for the last couple of hundred years has been 1/2" BSP.

If you have the other...

Give it a bit of a clean with a wire brush and a bit of elbow grease if
there is a lot of shit, have a look at the thread and see if it's damaged,
see if the end of the threaded pipe has been cut square or you are trying to
cross thread it.

Hope this helps,
Peter


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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Willow
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

Thanks for that everyone. I managed to get the bit on. The second round of
CLR & fitting the part onto the pipe must have done it. I've stuck with the
old plate on the wall as I couldn't fit the new part to the new plate,
although I've noticed a slight drizzle of water coming out at the wall so I
may well give it another go. Or maybe I'll just ask mum's partner to take a
look at it on the weekend.

--
Wanda
aka Willow
The missing and definitely not to be taken seriously under any circumstances
garden gnome
http://www.2000cn.com.au/~willow

~~faeries are able to fly because they take themselves lightly~
Bushy wrote in message
...
But in Australia,(as in "aus.gardens") almost every plumbing fitting used
for showers for the last couple of hundred years has been 1/2" BSP.

If you have the other...

Give it a bit of a clean with a wire brush and a bit of elbow grease if
there is a lot of shit, have a look at the thread and see if it's damaged,
see if the end of the threaded pipe has been cut square or you are trying

to
cross thread it.

Hope this helps,
Peter






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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Gary Slusser
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head


"Mike Grooms" wrote

"Gary Slusser"

The original message said that she couldn't get the new shower head

on
the shower arm. Maybe the problem is the new shower head, but if it

ain't,
I vote to change the arm too.


She also said there was something on the threads that she thought was
preventing her from getting the shower head on the arm. When she gets
the stuff off and then can’t get it on (which I think she might mean she
can’t tighten the connection) I’ll go along.


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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Gary Slusser
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head


"Willow" wrote
Thanks for that everyone. I managed to get the bit on. The second

round of
CLR & fitting the part onto the pipe must have done it. I've stuck

with the
old plate on the wall as I couldn't fit the new part to the new plate,
although I've noticed a slight drizzle of water coming out at the wall

so I
may well give it another go. Or maybe I'll just ask mum's partner to

take a
look at it on the weekend.


CLR huh. Take that doubters.


  #13   Report Post  
Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
silvasurfa
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head


"Willow" wrote in message
...
Thanks for that everyone. I managed to get the bit on. The second round of
CLR & fitting the part onto the pipe must have done it. I've stuck with

the
old plate on the wall as I couldn't fit the new part to the new plate,
although I've noticed a slight drizzle of water coming out at the wall so

I
may well give it another go. Or maybe I'll just ask mum's partner to take

a
look at it on the weekend.

--
Wanda
aka Willow


You might need to use a bit of plumbers tape. Imagine that plasticky sort of
dental floss but made really thin (almost transparent) and wide (1cm)... not
much to the stuff but when you wind it round a thread before putting a
fitting on, it seals somewhat like a washer or o-ring. Not hugelly
expensive, but if you only need a bit it might be best to borrow someone
else's. If you need to buy some go to any hardware store.


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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
Jeff Wisnia
 
Posts: n/a
Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head



Willow wrote:

Thanks for that everyone. I managed to get the bit on. The second round of
CLR & fitting the part onto the pipe must have done it. I've stuck with the
old plate on the wall as I couldn't fit the new part to the new plate,
although I've noticed a slight drizzle of water coming out at the wall


"Coming out at the wall"???

I probably don't understand the standard installation of shower arms down under,
but unless there's some sort of boss on the wall into which the shower arm is
threaded, and it's that joint which is leaking, I'd start expecting there's
water coming down the inside of the wall too.

What am I missing here Aussy guys?

And why does a little voice inside me keep urging me to open my big mouth and
dryly remark that if God had wanted women to understand anything mechanical he
would have given them brains instead of bosoms? (Ducking...)

Jeff

Jeff Wisnia Brass Rat '57 ee W1BSV

"I before E except after C"....(The height of insufficient weird ancient
science...)


snipped


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Old 05-04-2003, 07:35 AM
 
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Default OT - Replacing a Shower Head

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