Jawdropper review FYI.

[The Medway Handyman]

I change a lot of taps, very popular job in handyman land. Getting to the tap connectors & backnuts is a constant problem and with 'designer' & mini corner sinks it seems to be getting harder.

I've got several so called basin wrenches which claim to fit tap connectors & back nuts, but don't - they can't because tap connectors & backnuts are different sizes.

The self adjusting basin wrenches do work, but especially under a corner sink there is rarely enough room to get much of a turn.

I've looked at the Armeg Jaw Dropper wrench set for a while, but the price - £40 ish - made my jaw drop! Maybe thats where they got the name?

Had a job on new years eve to change basin & bath taps in a poorly maintained & very old house. Thinking it could be a bit of an embuggerance job I decided to bite the bullet & buy a Jaw Dropper set. Present to self & I could always take it back if it wasn't any good.

I'm keeping it! After one use you would now have to prise it from my dead cold fingers.

The ads aren't that clear on how it really works, the 'more pictures' feature on the Axminster site show the details fairly well.

of all, you get two separate wrenches, one for the basin & one for the bath. Each wrench is double ended, one hexagon fits the tap connector & one fits the backnut. Under each hex end is a sliding jaw which isn't hexagonal, but round so it fits the pipe.

To undo a tap connector you have the round jaw locked up against the hexagonal jaw & it acts as a guide by sliding up the pipe until the hex jaw locates on the tap connector. You can actually do this without being able to see the joint.

To undo the back nut the round jaw is slid out of the way leaving a very small profile hex jaw which would fit in the smallest corner basin space.

Side handle means you can get a lot of welly on reluctant connectors or back nuts.

So - it does exactly what it says on the tin. Only cons are the price. It comes in a moulded case with a stubby screwdriver to adjust the rounded jaw. The case just takes up space & I already have screwdrivers, not including those would knock maybe a £5 off the price?

If you change a lot of taps its well worth the money, its certainly going to make my life a lot easier. Possibly a bit expensive for occasional DIY use unless you have a large project on.

[fictitious]

You can also get box spanners which are for tightening tap back nuts but you can only use them when the supply pipe isn't fitted although if you are handy I suppose you could cut a slot out of one side to allow the pipe to fit through.

The one I have fits both bath and basin backnuts .I found it easier to use than the other adjustable one I have especially when doing the bath ones when access is difficult and trying to hold the tap straight with one hand AND tighten the backnut with the other is tricky.

For tap connectors I just use an adjustable or open-ended spanner .

[dom]

Wrenches/spanners/grips/pliers for the plumbing trade give me the impression the designs came out of the ark. Whilst for vehicles superbly made sockets/ratchet spanner kits are commonplace now, I've never seen such a kit for plumbers - where are the likes of Teng tools for plumbers? I have a few old large spanners that fit various plumbing bits - very useful on a reluctant-to-shift fitting - but =A350 of teng tools will buy something nice and comprehensive enough for most smaller jobs on vehicles, why not the same for plumbers?

[The Medway Handyman]

I've got a set of those, but as you say the supply pipe has to be removed & often there isn't enough room to move it aside so the box spanner can go on the nut.

Indeed! Next purchase must be 4' long arms :-)

How do you get that into a confined space?

[fictitious]

Anytime I have used the adjustable or open ended it's a case of sticking it on to the nut vertically and rotating it on it's axis but it's tricky as well ...a short piece of bar or rod through the unused end of the open ender makes it easier to turn .The adjustable I have has a hole through the end of the handle so you can do the same with it . Tap connectors usually go on pretty easily IME.

[Arthur2]

But Teng Tools wouldn't have a business if car mechanics had brains enough to improvise. hmm?

{flings self behind couch } Arthur

[RW]

> First of all, you get two separate wrenches, one for the basin & one for > the

You'll like this then on Ebay

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[The Medway Handyman]

>>> First of all, you get two separate wrenches, one for the basin & one >> for the

Thats a square hole cutter?

[Rod]

If you can't reach the nut, make a hole in the wall behind it to provide access?