Changing a wash basin drain.

[John]

The chrome has got in a bad condition (after 20 years) on my wash basin drain (plug hole) and I would like to replace it. However, access to the nut underneath is very poor due to the hot and cold pipes, the pedestal and the wall all being in the way somewhat. I was wondering if I might stand a chance of unscrewing it from the top by turning the grille - it is solid brass. Any thoughts? I had thought of trying to hit the nut with a screwdriver to get it to turn - but the basin is near a corner so access on the correct side for undoing is restricted.

[The Medway Handyman]

It's often possible to do that with a home made tool.

Piece of timber with two screws driven into one side, spaced so they fit into the gaps in the grill. Wind some tape around the whole thing to avoid scratches.

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WD40 sprayed on the nut will help.

[Roger Mills]

If it's been there for 20 years, it's going to take a *lot* of shifting. Chances are the threads will be bunged up with hardened Boss White. How easily can you disconnect the taps and trap and remove the whole basin? It will be a lot easier to work on if you can do that.

[TMC]

Not really a method of undoing from above

The tool is a useful idea to stop the top turning whilst undoing the nut from below

However I cannot see how it could be detatched from the trap and from the basin without access from below

There is also zero chance of getting the new waste to seal without cleaning up from below

Tony

[John]

That would be my preferred approach - but my walls are dry lined. The screws go into the breeze block behind but there may also be some bonding to the tiles. I just have a worry that it might be opening a can of worms. I tend to agree about hardened Boss White.