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View Full Version : Proper fitting to sweat onto copper for tub spout


Emfuser
Jul 13, 2008, 03:00 PM
In my continuing adventures in plumbing, I find myself replacing a tub spout/diverter thanks to a $0.50 piece of plastic that broke while I was re-installing the spout. This was the inside plastic pipe for the spout itself.

So I bought a new universal diverter spout, but noticed when I got home that the piece sweated on to the copper pipe was particular to just that spout, and was not just the easy end of 1/2" copper pipe (it is 1/2" ID pipe, btw).

Ok, so I undid the solder joint, took off that custom piece, and now I have bare pipe sticking out of the wall. I'm not sure if I should be looking for a fitting or some other option to make some threads available to me. What is the proper way for me to proceed here so that I may cleanly attach my universal spout/diverter?

Thanks :)

speedball1
Jul 13, 2008, 03:06 PM
In my continuing adventures in plumbing, I find myself replacing a tub spout/diverter thanks to a $0.50 piece of plastic that broke while I was re-installing the spout. This was the inside plastic pipe for the spout itself.

So I bought a new universal diverter spout, but noticed when I got home that the piece sweated on to the copper pipe was particular to just that spout, and was not just the easy end of 1/2" or 3/4" copper pipe.

Ok, so I undid the solder joint, took off that custom piece, and now I have bare pipe sticking out of the wall. I'm not sure if I should be looking for a fitting or some other option to make some threads available to me. What is the proper way for me to proceed here so that I may cleanly attach my universal spout/diverter?

Thanks :)
I would clean the end up and use a slip on tub spout,(see image) but if you have a universal spout then it should just slip on and tighten down. Make sure that the end of the copper has no burrs or rough spots. Good luck, tom

Emfuser
Jul 13, 2008, 03:11 PM
You're right, I had not paid close enough attention, and missed the slip-on hardware. It looks like all I have to do is cut down the length of pipe jutting out from the wall to the length designated on the instructions.

Thanks :)

speedball1
Jul 13, 2008, 03:16 PM
Don't forget to burr the end of the copper pipe. If you don't the "O" ring will peel back and out of position and you will have a leak out the rear. Cheers, Tom

Emfuser
Jul 13, 2008, 05:39 PM
Well, I could never get the thing to not leak since the pipe was twisted when I tried to originally remove that first adapter. Having spent an entire Sunday over a broken little piece of plastic, I'm going to suck up my total aversion to destructive home maintenance and call a plumber.