My latest pipe dream.

September 23, 2006 7:01 AM

I have an Epic faucet that's never been used. The company hasn't existed in 12 years (it was a Delta company, but they can't help me). The box is missing a mixing tee that would connect the hot/cold hoses to the central spout, so right now all I have is a few chunks of metal that vaguely resemble a nice faucet. The difficulty in building a tee to match is that the pipe coming down from the spout seems to be proprietary: it's not quite 3/8" pipe, and it's not quite 1/2" compression (but it's very close). How can I create a custom fitting to match what I need? Is there anyone in NYC that can machine a part like this at a reasonable price? Could a piece that would marry up to it somehow be cast from the thread? I recognize it's a longshot and a waste of time and energy, but I really want to use this fixture.
posted by thejoshu to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

You could use some auto rubber hose and hose clamps. It won't be pretty, but it will work.
posted by lee at 7:14 AM on September 23, 2006

You might try posting a question ( you have to register first, but it's free) at Plbg.com .
posted by lobstah at 7:23 AM on September 23, 2006

Any decent refrigeration tech could silver solder a standard brass fitting on to the down pipe assuming it is copper, brass or steel.

Heater hose isn't food safe, you need to use food safe flexible tubing if you go that route.
posted by Mitheral at 7:26 AM on September 23, 2006

Mitheral has it. Take it to any plumbing shop and ask them to rebuild the unit to your specs.
posted by Neiltupper at 7:58 AM on September 23, 2006

It's really a question of economics, practicality, and perhaps style, as much as it is technical possibility. Doing what mitheral suggests is possible, but may cost about as much as a new Delta, complete, and you'd have future problems finding replacement cartridges for the valves, when they leak. If you plan to live with the thing for any length of time, you'd be better off going with a stock Delta or Moen unit. Of course, if you're the kind of person who enjoys the idea of driving a stranger nuts in a few years, and are renting or selling the home in which this will be used, go for it.
posted by paulsc at 9:21 AM on September 23, 2006

Have you considered the possibility that the thread is metric? If you take it to a plumbing supply place they should be able to tell you what the thread is and get you fittings for it.

As Mitheral says, you could probably silver-solder a new fitting to it. Any competent plumber could do that for you, it just requires an acetylene torch and 2 minutes.
posted by polyglot at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2006

Response by poster: For some reason, I can't find a plumbing supply store or hardware store that has metric nuts. It's certainly a possibility. I asked one plumber what the really rich guys who import metric fixtures do to attach them to American plumbing, and he says he has them get all of the parts back to the copper pipe.

So, polyglot, let me ask you this - where can I get a metric bushing or adapter of some sort if indeed it is a metric thread?
posted by thejoshu at 10:52 AM on September 23, 2006

Apologies for the delay... What I'd do is go to a dedicated seller of fasteners and threaded things. Over here (AU) we have a mob called Coventry Fasteners who bought Universal Fasteners, either of which may exist in the US. They have big warehouses containing pretty much just things with threads on; I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a place like that.

Next time you corner a plumber or are in a hardware store, ask them to put a thread gauge against your device; that will tell you what it really is.

Silver solder is sounding easier by the minute...
posted by polyglot at 4:58 AM on September 26, 2006

Response by poster: Said one plumber last week, when I asked about a thread gauge (in other words): "What are those things called? I haven't seen one of those since school!" And he's probably the most competent person I've found.
posted by thejoshu at 5:59 AM on September 26, 2006

Response by poster: Faucet looks great, as of this week... turned out not to be a machine thread, contrary to what I kept being told, but is instead a 1/2" OD thread that I found a hose for off the shelf at Home Depot. Matched with a bushing from Lowes, a mixing tee and other brass pieces from a local plumber, it's very functional. Thanks for all your help, as always.
posted by thejoshu at 9:46 AM on November 24, 2006