How Did an Attempt to Fix a Dripping Tap Turn into a Fiery Disaster?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges and unexpected complications encountered during plumbing repairs, particularly focusing on a dripping tap that escalated into a larger issue. Participants share personal anecdotes related to home repairs, plumbing mishaps, and the humorous side of such experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a seemingly simple task of fixing a dripping tap that turned into a complex plumbing issue involving corroded pipes and unexpected water flow.
  • Another participant shares a similar experience where a straightforward plumbing job led to extensive replumbing and complications due to a lack of shut-off valves.
  • Several participants reflect on their own experiences with home repairs, noting that small jobs often become much more complicated than anticipated.
  • Humor is present in the discussion, with participants joking about the challenges of plumbing and the unexpected nature of such tasks.
  • Some participants express a sense of camaraderie in sharing their plumbing disasters, suggesting a common understanding of the frustrations involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that plumbing jobs can quickly escalate in complexity, often leading to unforeseen complications. However, there is no consensus on the best approach to handle such situations, as experiences and opinions vary.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific challenges such as corroded pipes and the absence of shut-off valves, which contribute to the complications faced during repairs. The discussion reflects a range of personal experiences without resolving the underlying issues related to plumbing repairs.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in home repair, plumbing, or those who enjoy humorous anecdotes about DIY projects may find this discussion relatable and entertaining.

  • #31
Moonbear said:
:smile: Is there an established equation for predicting the effects of job dilation? It would be really helpful when determining how long a job will actually take compared with how long the contractor says it will take.


There's no "u" in the equation! :bugeye: :blushing: Oh, maybe that's why I like dating engineers. :-p

I will gladly put, "u", in the equation Moonbear, but as you are as bad as me,
we may end up with a Humungous :bugeye: :smile:
 
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  • #32
I guess it is about time to post a link to davinci's notebook's site, where you can listen to a clip of their groundbreaking hit "E.P.":
http://www.davincisnotebook.com/sounds.asp
 
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  • #34
Moonbear said:
:smile: That reminds me of this one...
http://www.anysonglyrics.com/lyrics/k/kingmissile/detatchablepenis.htm
. :smile: :smile:
I never knew about that one!
Here's a link to the (not X-rated) music vivideo:
http://music.yahoo.com/ar-253946-videos--King-Missile

However, I find more joy when having an E.P. session*, than with the other option..





*LISTENING SESSION, that is.
 
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  • #35
arildno said:
. :smile: :smile:
I never knew about that one!
Here's a link to the (not X-rated) music vivideo:
http://music.yahoo.com/ar-253946-videos--King-Missile

However, I find more joy when having an E.P. session*, than with the other option..





*LISTENING SESSION, that is.

I don't know what you and Moonbear are on about, but i was going to tell
the story about extracting the main shaft from this machine, now that was
a job, it was four inch diameter s/steel, we got it out so far, but then it
picked up, no amount of lubrication or me hammering away at it could make
it move, i had been knocking 21 bells out on it for an hour, when the factory manager rolled up, i told him that it may take drastic measures to get it out,
and he told me, "well that's ok as long as your finished in 10 minutes", i told
him that he may consider going forth and multiplying, but i don't think he
knew enough about engineering to under stand.
 
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  • #36
So, what did you do, then?
 
  • #37
When all else fails and you can't do the job by hand, get out the power tools!
 
  • #38
Lisa! said:
arildno said:
Lisa! has a fascination for !'s.
Personally, I don't see the problem with that.
Thank you esp. because you didn't forget to put "!" in my username!
You're missing out on something even better than the exclamation point (can you possibly believe that‽).

You're missing out on the interrobang - ‽[/size] - much more expressive than a mere exclamation point. Example - Lisa‽[/size] How could you ever pass up a chance to use such a cool symbol ‽[/size]
 
  • #39
BobG said:
You're missing out on something even better than the exclamation point (can you possibly believe that‽).

You're missing out on the interrobang - ‽[/size] - much more expressive than a mere exclamation point. Example - Lisa‽[/size] How could you ever pass up a chance to use such a cool symbol ‽[/size]

But my, what an adorable bend it has‽‽‽
 
  • #40
Moonbear said:
:smile: Is there an established equation for predicting the effects of job dilation?
Yes, but you don't need it. You have already demonstrated an intuitive grasp of the transformation.
It would be really helpful when determining how long a job will actually take compared with how long the contractor says it will take.
Involving a contractor requires multiplication of the whole thing by a constant known as The Vila-Abrams Constant. They once explained this on an episode of This Old House in the late 1980s, but I neglected to write it down.
 
  • #41
Wolram, don't you have a sawzall? Mine has 6 different blade attachmens. Good for cast iron, steel, cement, plaster and lath..geez just about anything. And if that doesn't work time for the mini-jack hammer. A person can't have too many power tools :smile:
 
  • #42
My first ever plumbing job began as "attach water inlet to tap on sink" and ended as "take all plumbing back to single water inlet from mains and re-plumb all kitchen AND bathroom"! (sorry had to put them there)
This involved many hours on the phone to woolie and discussions of how much ptfe tape is too much? Can you cover a complete joint in silicon sealant and hope for the best? Does it make a difference if you put a metric olive on an imperial pipe? Do you really need to clean the cut pipe with wire wool? Does it make a difference?
 
  • #43
My guesses at daddy's answers, based upon his account of a simple plumbing job:

*Kia* said:
Can you cover a complete joint in silicon sealant and hope for the best?
Of course you can! That's what it's made for! Just make sure you use the black stuff so you can't see the imperfections.

Does it make a difference if you put a metric olive on an imperial pipe?
Does it look about the right size? Near enough is good enough!

Do you really need to clean the cut pipe with wire wool? Does it make a difference?

No, and no. Just make sure you over-tighten all the fittings to push the burrs back into the copper. That'll learn it.
 
  • #44
http://www.secondtoughest.com/images/pics/interrobang.gif

BRILLIANT! or should I say‽‽‽
 
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  • #45
zoobyshoe said:
Involving a contractor requires multiplication of the whole thing by a constant known as The Vila-Abrams Constant. They once explained this on an episode of This Old House in the late 1980s, but I neglected to write it down.
Oh well, I'll just continue multiplying by pi; it seems to have worked well so far. :biggrin:
 
  • #46
brewnog said:
My guesses at daddy's answers, based upon his account of a simple plumbing job:

Of course you can! That's what it's made for! Just make sure you use the black stuff so you can't see the imperfections.


Does it look about the right size? Near enough is good enough!



No, and no. Just make sure you over-tighten all the fittings to push the burrs back into the copper. That'll learn it.
Makes note: don't ask Brewnog for plumbing advice. :rolleyes:
 
  • #47
Moonbear said:
Makes note: don't ask Brewnog for plumbing advice. :rolleyes:

I'm surprised you haven't already got a note which says "don't ask Brewnog for advice, full stop."

Wait, someone else should have said that...
 
  • #48
BobG said:
You're missing out on something even better than the exclamation point (can you possibly believe that‽).

You're missing out on the interrobang - ‽[/size] - much more expressive than a mere exclamation point. Example - Lisa‽[/size] How could you ever pass up a chance to use such a cool symbol ‽[/size]

I have nothing to say but evil Bob! I love ! and if anybody ever disrespect my !, :devil:
 
  • #49
Lisa! said:
I have nothing to say but evil Bob! I love ! and if anybody ever disrespect my !, :devil:
There are no evil Bobs. Just ask MIH. Don't you keep up with the threads in this forum?
 
  • #50
BobG said:
There are no evil Bobs. Just ask MIH. Don't you keep up with the threads in this forum?
You mean I deny the sun because of what others say!
 
  • #51
Moonbear said:
When all else fails and you can't do the job by hand, get out the power tools!

Exactly, an angle grinder with cutting disc, chopping through two, plumbers
block bearings, sparks flying every where, pete asked ,"are you smoking",
and i said," do you think i can grind and smoke while under a machine", then
i realized my overalls were on fire, 30mins cutting and the bearings were off,
pete said, "you have done that good, look you hardly kissed the shaft", i looked
down at the burn hole in my overalls and though i was lucky to still have
mine, just another day for the poor old engineer,
 

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