Broken shower head fix?
July 25, 2023 3:19 PM Subscribe
I've have a perfect (for me) shower head for years. Unfortunately, it cracked on one side. I thought it was fixable...
but no. I tried superglue in the crack, then clamping. This worked for a couple of days, then the crack came back.
So, tougher measures were called for. I let it dry for a few days, then wrapped a snake of JB Weld SteelStik all around the head. Let it cure for 48 hours, then tried it. No good, there were several pinhole leaks. So, I sanded it lightly (for adhesion) and laid down another layer of SteelStik. I left it to cure for two days and got other pinhole leaks. Then I tried JB Weld Marine epoxy, I brushed a full tube all around the head, still leaking. So Sunday, I went with a second layer of the marine epoxy. Today I tried it, still leaking.
This is where I'm at now.
Any ideas on how I might fix this?
Clearly, appearance is secondary to operation.
I really love the perfect pressure/spray pattern on this head. Waterpik doesn't make them any more, and I really don't want to do the buy/try/return cycle a hundred times at the home store
but no. I tried superglue in the crack, then clamping. This worked for a couple of days, then the crack came back.
So, tougher measures were called for. I let it dry for a few days, then wrapped a snake of JB Weld SteelStik all around the head. Let it cure for 48 hours, then tried it. No good, there were several pinhole leaks. So, I sanded it lightly (for adhesion) and laid down another layer of SteelStik. I left it to cure for two days and got other pinhole leaks. Then I tried JB Weld Marine epoxy, I brushed a full tube all around the head, still leaking. So Sunday, I went with a second layer of the marine epoxy. Today I tried it, still leaking.
This is where I'm at now.
Any ideas on how I might fix this?
Clearly, appearance is secondary to operation.
I really love the perfect pressure/spray pattern on this head. Waterpik doesn't make them any more, and I really don't want to do the buy/try/return cycle a hundred times at the home store
eBay? https://www.ebay.com/itm/325575023532
posted by jferg at 4:49 PM on July 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by jferg at 4:49 PM on July 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
If you buy an old shower head, note that some states have made the older higher flow heads illegal and some sellers may be reluctant to sell to you. Consider having it sent to another address if necessary.
posted by soylent00FF00 at 7:25 AM on July 26, 2023
posted by soylent00FF00 at 7:25 AM on July 26, 2023
My go-to for these types of things is Sugru but not sure how it holds up under pressure. Hard to tell what's going on now from the photos and exactly how a fix would work, but a silicone sealant designed for plastic might also work.
posted by oneirodynia at 5:55 PM on July 26, 2023
posted by oneirodynia at 5:55 PM on July 26, 2023
Response by poster: I tried three layers of liquid Flexseal and let it dry for a couple of days. Instant failure.
I didn't even thing of Ebay, but found one a few days later. Thanks folks!
posted by Marky at 8:19 PM on August 14, 2023
I didn't even thing of Ebay, but found one a few days later. Thanks folks!
posted by Marky at 8:19 PM on August 14, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Slinga at 3:37 PM on July 25, 2023 [1 favorite]