PLUMBING HACK

This “Instructable” is more of a “what I did in a pinch,” but the results are the same!

So what do you do when you have an old, leaky pipe right up against a wall with really limited working space – in other words, under the kitchen sink.

And its at night.
And the gorgeous, right-angle wrench with extension handle that you covet is $250 . . . and will take DAYS to get here. Ponder, ponder, ponder.

Aha!

I have a “Crescent” chain wrench. Cost is about $20.

I also have a “curb-key.” It is used to turn the main water supply valve on or off. Depending on the length of the stem, the cost ranges from $12 to over $30. The one I had handy was about 4-feet long. Most important, the portion that fits over the valve tab has an 11/16” gap between the tines.

I'm giving you a close-up of the business end of the key showing the tines.

Why is this gap so important? Because it fits perfectly on the neck of the chain wrench! Check it out in the photo.

First I put the chain around the bad pipe. (Naughty pipe! Went and got all corroded and leak!) Then, I latched the chain onto the wrench hook. Next, I fitted the curb key over the narrowest point on the chain wrench. Finally, I turned the handle. The set-up allowed for substantial torque and the pipe (what was left of it!) came away easily. Finished the job in 10 minutes. . . . with what I had on hand!