Tap Tool Mains Water

gday

This is a design for a tool for turning the, very stiff, mains water isolation tap outside your property. Developed for me and my dad because the city council decided to make it harder for us to turn the tap. Using it

You may not think you need this, Hello ,but, when your dishwasher of washing machine or fancy ice making fridge is throwing water over your lovely floor, you may decide that you did. A kid could use this tool once shown, and it is something that they should know how to do. The plumber can do the rest.

You just need a steel pipe and a strong pin or metal rod and a few tools that most people with access to a shed will have. Nothing specialized is needed.

Have fun looking and making it.

Unclecraig

Steel pipe (gate section is good)

Single door furniture pin or a steel rod approx 10cm(4 inch) long and approx 1/2 cm thick

TOOLS

Hack saw

Drill and bits for steel

big screw driver or other thing (you'll see)

metal file

vice

hammer

pencil (maybe)

Cut you length of steel pipe according to the depth of your mains water pit.

Turn the pipe end up, so you may use the hack saw to cut two lines, to allow the tap head to fit between, so that the metal flaps can be folded into the center of the pipe

Once the thin flaps are folded into the pipe you can cut an angle on the end of the pipe to fit the angle of the tap if needed,. this may not be necessary if your tap is horizontal. Angle

Turn the pipe over end so that you can add the handle. Decide which is the best orientation for the handle to be positioned and drill your holes accordingly. This will depend on the configuration of your meter box.

Drill the hole so that the pin or rod of steel is just larger than the hole. Place the pin/rod over the hole and slowly tap it into the holes with a nice hammer. Slowly does it. Leave one end of the rod as long as possible with only a fraction of it protruding from the other side of the pipe. Handle

Handle 2

Your done. Just file off any sharp bits so the kids or grandma/pa doesn't cut themselves. Done

Give it a go, and be prepared to modify it a bit if you need to. No harm done. Using it

Keep you new tap tool handy, because it will mainly be only needed in an emergency. Be very happy that you have it.

Good luck

Unclecraig

Ps Just realising that my elderly dad had difficulty due to his strength, i have modified and simplified it. check this out. Updated model