RE: [VAC] Plumber Heaven!

["Bob Kiger" <bobkiger@xxxxxxxx>]

Thanks to all for valuable advice about how to join my swelled copper pipe
to contemporary fittings.  I just finished the job :)  Here is how it went.

I saved the old nuts that screwed into the hot and cold taps.
It was the only hardware around that approximated the diameter of the
swelled pipe.  I mated that old nut with the rubber compression washer that
came as an optional fitting with the new faucet.

The tubing where I made the join was more swelled than the hole in the old
nut.  So I polished the end of the tubing with steel wool to try to reduce
the OD.  That did not work.  So I filed the inside diameter of the hole on
the old nut.  I was very careful to keep the hole round to prevent leakage.

After an hour of filing and polishing the old nut fit over the swelled
tubing.  I tightened everythinng up and turned on the water to a medium
pressure.  Voila!  Everything works perfectly.  The sink now looks shiny and
new.

The lessons I learned were perserverence, patience, don't be afraid to ask
your friends at vintage for help, don't cut your copper tubing unless you
have to and, if you do have to cut, save your old hardware because it may be
the best way to finish the job.  Now I'm in "Plumbers Heaven".

I can't wait for my next Airstream challenge.  This wonderful home on wheels
is teaching me self reliance for the first time in my life.

Bob Kiger aka Cruiser Bob
278 Idaho St. #10
Ashland, Oregon  97520
Phone (541) 201-0916
bobkiger@home.com