Box spanner for basin back nuts

Struggled for hours trying to use various specialised basin wrenches. None worked because the shape of the (smallish) basin prevented turning of the wrench.

Here are some tips which I hope may help others.

A special box spanner is sold for the purpose. It is made by Monument but also sold under other brand names. It is widely available from plumbers merchants and internet tool/plumbing suppliers. Cost (Feb

2004) about 5 pounds + vat.

Known as a Monument 323 or MON323 or 323F - Tap back nut box spanner For an illustration, try searching via Google or at the following website

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is double ended, for quick rotation of tap back nuts on basins. The built in socket sizes are 27 and 32mm. This does not guarantee a perfect fit on all back nuts - but you can probably improvise some form of packing to solve that problem. It worked first time for me and did the job in a couple of minutes.

On another occasion I had a problem with back nuts embedded in (rock hard) putty. I dealt with it by painstakingly scraping the putty away with a scalpel type knife. Another suggested method is to put a drill bit in a small cordless electric screwdriver, and drill the putty away

- taking care to avoid damage to the bath or basin.

[T] Typical .. I inveded something similar (in my head) just like that the other day .. ;-(

[T] Ah, now mine was cut away so it would fit over any plumbing etc .. ;-)

[T] Just done that for a friend where the 'Plumber' didn't want to do it as he said "I'll probably break the basin" ? So *I* did it (an Electronics Eng by training) with my DeWalt and without breaking anything ;-)

It probably took a couple of hours all in, first drilling the bronze back nuts off then drilling out the rock hard putty from around the taps .. seating the new round shank taps in the old square holes wasn't much fun. I know they do plastic 'hats' to deal with taps with square seats in thin basins but what of the other way round?

All the best ..

T i m