Probably a simple question but:

When should I be using plumbers mait and when should I use silicone sealant?

Obviously I use silicone for things like round edge of the bath etc.
However, on my new bath, the instructions said to use silicone around the
rim of the waste to seal it to the bath.. I thought I was supposed to use
plumbers mait. The sealant I got from Wickes (their kitchen and bathroom
stuff, which says it's suitable for baths, showers, etc) says it's not
suitable for continual immersion in water, which seems to suggest I
shouldn't use it for the bath. The bloke in Wickes recommended I use their
"external leak sealer and jointing compound" round the waste.. I'm a bit
confused by all this.

As per another post, I'm also about to put a new tank connector into my cw
cistern in the loft. If I want to be really paranoid, would putting some
plumbers mait in there make it less likely to leak, or would it be
pointless?

Thanks,
Andy

On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 12:59:08 +0000 (UTC), "AndyP"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


>As per another post, I'm also about to put a new tank connector into my cw
>cistern in the loft. If I want to be really paranoid, would putting some
>plumbers mait in there make it less likely to leak, or would it be
>pointless?
>
it would probably be counter-productive IMHO,just use the washers as
supplied with the tank connector fitting.

joe
>Thanks,
>Andy
>

AndyP wrote:
> Probably a simple question but:
>
> When should I be using plumbers mait and when should I use silicone sealant?
>

Use Fernox LS-X it's great for these applications.

Lee
--
Email address is valid, but is unlikely to be read.

"tarquin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 12:59:08 +0000 (UTC), "AndyP"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
> >As per another post, I'm also about to put a new tank connector into my
cw
> >cistern in the loft. If I want to be really paranoid, would putting some
> >plumbers mait in there make it less likely to leak, or would it be
> >pointless?
> >
> it would probably be counter-productive IMHO,just use the washers as
> supplied with the tank connector fitting.
>

Sadly no washers were supplied (tank connector bought from Wickes - they
sell many different types of washer separately, although it's not obvious
which sort I should use).

Cheers,
Andy

"AndyP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Probably a simple question but:
>
> When should I be using plumbers mait

Almost never.

> and when should I use silicone sealant?

Most of the time.

> [snip]
> As per another post, I'm also about to put a new tank connector into my cw
> cistern in the loft. If I want to be really paranoid, would putting some
> plumbers mait in there make it less likely to leak, or would it be
> pointless?

Whenever I've used plumber's mait in any joint, i've ended
up taking it out, cleaning it all off, and using silicone or the
correct washer. I reckon you'd be best to start with silicone
or the correct washer.

AFAICR, Belfast sink wastes need plumber's mait, but
I don't have one so I'm not sure about that.

HTH,
Al

"Al Reynolds" <ajr-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cl0kiq$smq$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "AndyP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > Probably a simple question but:
> >
> > When should I be using plumbers mait
>
> Almost never.
>
> > and when should I use silicone sealant?
>
> Most of the time.
>

So is there a brand of silicone suitable for total immersion in water - eg
round bath waste? As I mentioned, the stuff I've got (from Wickes) says it's
not suitable for this.

Thanks,
Andy

> > [snip]
> > As per another post, I'm also about to put a new tank connector into my
cw
> > cistern in the loft. If I want to be really paranoid, would putting some
> > plumbers mait in there make it less likely to leak, or would it be
> > pointless?
>
> Whenever I've used plumber's mait in any joint, i've ended
> up taking it out, cleaning it all off, and using silicone or the
> correct washer. I reckon you'd be best to start with silicone
> or the correct washer.
>
> AFAICR, Belfast sink wastes need plumber's mait, but
> I don't have one so I'm not sure about that.
>
> HTH,
> Al
>
>

AndyP wrote:

> So is there a brand of silicone suitable for total immersion in water - eg
> round bath waste? As I mentioned, the stuff I've got (from Wickes) says it's
> not suitable for this.


Then it's not silicone. Silicone is always suitable for immersion in water.

--
Grunff

On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 12:59:08 +0000, AndyP wrote:

> Probably a simple question but:
>
> When should I be using plumbers mait and when should I use silicone sealant?
>
> Obviously I use silicone for things like round edge of the bath etc.
> However, on my new bath, the instructions said to use silicone around the
> rim of the waste to seal it to the bath.. I thought I was supposed to use
> plumbers mait. The sealant I got from Wickes (their kitchen and bathroom
> stuff, which says it's suitable for baths, showers, etc) says it's not
> suitable for continual immersion in water, which seems to suggest I
> shouldn't use it for the bath. The bloke in Wickes recommended I use their
> "external leak sealer and jointing compound" round the waste.. I'm a bit
> confused by all this.
>
> As per another post, I'm also about to put a new tank connector into my cw
> cistern in the loft. If I want to be really paranoid, would putting some
> plumbers mait in there make it less likely to leak, or would it be
> pointless?

There are very few places where Mait (stay soft putty) is needed. Basin
wastes is one. Useful also when ceramic is on ceramic to soften the
contact, i.e. basin on pedestal, or WC pan on floor tiles.

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

"AndyP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cl0p8i$eks$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Al Reynolds" <ajr-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:cl0kiq$smq$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> "AndyP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> > Probably a simple question but:
>> >
>> > When should I be using plumbers mait
>>
>> Almost never.
>>
>> > and when should I use silicone sealant?
>>
>> Most of the time.
>>
>
> So is there a brand of silicone suitable for total immersion in water - eg
> round bath waste? As I mentioned, the stuff I've got (from Wickes) says
> it's
> not suitable for this.

I always use Unibond Sanitary Sealant.
Never had any problems on wastes etc.

Al

On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 15:59:14 +0000 (UTC), "AndyP"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>So is there a brand of silicone suitable for total immersion in water - eg
>round bath waste? As I mentioned, the stuff I've got (from Wickes) says it's
>not suitable for this.

Hi,

If it's cheap stuff maybe it has fillers in. Silicone has long been
used for holding glass fish tanks together so the proper stuff can be
used in that way.

cheers,
Pete.