What's the trick to using channel locks in a tight space?

[Arkitech]

I'm trying to attach a water line to my kitchen faucet and there's very little space under the sink. I can't even get a good 1/4 of a turn. I ran out and bought a 4" pipe wrench thinking that might be better but turns out that was a horrible idea. The bad thing is I managed to get it fairly tight, there's barely just a trickle of water coming out. But I just can't seem to get enough room to make that last little turn I need to completely tighten the connection.



arrrggggghhhhhh so frustrating


this is what happens when IT guys do plumbing

 

[Sukhoi]

Use a crow's foot?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The trick is not to use channel locks in a tight place.

 

[Arkitech]

that looks like what I need from the pic I googled



guess I'll try to get it tomorrow, I'm done for the night

 

[BladeVenom]

The bad thing is I managed to get it fairly tight, there's barely just a trickle of water coming out.

Did you put teflon tape on the threads?

 

[Sukhoi]

Did you put teflon tape on the threads?

May not need it depending on the connection type. Should never use tape on mechanical threads.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

that looks like what I need from the pic I googled



guess I'll try to get it tomorrow, I'm done for the night

You can also use a basin wrench, which is very similar.

 

[zinfamous]

socket wrench wouldn't work?

oh, lol. nvm

 

[Arkitech]

Did you put teflon tape on the threads?

yep, I did about 4-5 wraps with the teflon. Although I wonder if plumber's putty might give a better seal.

 

[Arkitech]

May not need it depending on the connection type. Should never use tape on mechanical threads.

The faucet has plastic connections but the water supply is metal. I don't want to risk over tightening so hopefully the tape will make a good enough seal.

 

[Arkitech]

You can also use a basin wrench, which is very similar.

never heard of that before, time to google


edit: wow, now that's what I need. Instead of scraping my knuckles underneath the sink and cramping my back, I could have been done in 10 minutes with that tool.

 

[xavier es]

"Mr. Natural sez, Use the right tool for the job"
basin wrench will make life so much simpler, i even used a basin wrench sometimes on my car repairs.

 

[Sukhoi]

The faucet has plastic connections but the water supply is metal. I don't want to risk over tightening so hopefully the tape will make a good enough seal.

Well it depends what's doing the sealing. If it's the threads, then use tape. But not too much. If there is a flared surface that's sealing then you shouldn't use any tape as the threads are just mechanical to keep the flared surfaces together.

 

[arrfep]

"Mr. Natural sez, Use the right tool for the job"
basin wrench will make life so much simpler, i even used a basin wrench sometimes on my car repairs.

:thumbsup: I got half way through removing a faucet using Channellocks and who knows what else a few years ago, thinking the entire time that there must be a better way to do it. After bloodying up a few knuckles I then consulted Google, and lo and behold, there's a specialized tool that I could get for $5 at Home Depot.

I've learned the hard way that if any job you're trying to do seems harder than it should be because of the tool you're using, a better tool for that job already exists.

 

[BoomerD]

yep, I did about 4-5 wraps with the teflon. Although I wonder if plumber's putty might give a better seal.

No. Plumber's putty is not for use on threads.

IF the fitting requires a sealant, either teflon tape or teflon pipe compound.

For plumbing, these things are worth their weight in gold:

Drizzle already mentioned them...Basin Wrench. Get one.