Love your vids. I was the quality manager for a faucet shop for many years. We made millions of ceramic valves. Your conclusions are pretty spot on. The flatness of those disks are measured using optical flats to about 1/2 of a wavelength of a certain kind of light (can't recall what that light color was). I've watched the ceramics be made & lapped. It's amazing and very, very process specific. You won't be able to purchase the compounds used. However, I also did substantial life cycle testing on plates like this... the plates simply will not wear. We even put particles of sand & iron through them... they are brittle as heck (no shock, no strain) but nothing in your potable water will damage these. If you have a leaking ceramic faucet it will either be a failed seal or a loss of compression. I suppose a bad install could crack a valve or the valve body. That usually shows up soon after install. I think you bought yourself some decent time with your cleaning / seal flipping (not the kind they do in the arctic).
I'll bet that wavelength was 632.8nm (a HeNe laser). It's the most common laser used in interferometry for measuring flatness. The optics we use are usually spec'd between 1/4 wave and 1/20 wave (at 632.8nm). 1/2 wave would be a no go for the work I do. But in this case, 300nm (or 0.3um) seems flat enough.
Do you remember the compound used for lapping ceramic valves? I would assume diamond but it's not always the best abrasive for every situation. Thanks for the info 👍👌
Nah it's actually Tony as he was at 10 but fixing today's faucet. Totally just really good time machine engineering. Look at his "Metric Unicorn horns" 0:56. Just saying.
Hey Tony! Commercial Plumber here. You did a great job with that faucet. The seals and springs below the valve body are called "springs & seats" (we plumbers are an imaginative bunch) and were more than likely causing your leaky faucet, and "stretching" the springs is only a temporary fix. They are usually inexpensive, and are normally in stock at your local plumbing supply house. Disassembling the valve body was a brave move, and made for some interesting content, but was probably unnecessary. The scoring on the ceramic plates looked about normal for a 10 year old faucet. It's caused primarily by the abrasive iron and calcium deposits in your water supply passing. It should be mentioned that the pressure changes when the faucet is opened or closed can cause cavitation (on a very small scale) which will erode the surface of the plates over time (same reason container ships propellers need to be polished and repaired by underwater welders), causing them to appear dull over time.
Peter Charlton another go to: Use a hex bolt head of the right size. Then double nut the thread and turn with a wrench or impact. This also works when you need a large Allen wrench.
@@irondiver292 nice! but of course it wouldn't work for the application in this video as it needs to be hollow. but for the other application really nice!
I worked in a hardware store for my first job that specialized in plumbing. Those little seals that sit underneath in sinks that use cartridges are the most commonly replaced part. I don't have any sort of evidence or insight as to what goes wrong with these things, but I can say that in almost all cases when someone came in with a leaking faucet that used those cup seals, once they were replaced the leaking stopped. I probably saw 4 customers a week go out the door with those seals for replacement and do not remember a single instance of anyone coming back in saying they didn't work. That's all anecdotal so it as such but I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents
I am a Plumber down here in Florida. That is a common point of failure that we deal with. Generally replacing the rubber seals and using a tiny bit of silicone based O-ring grease for lubrication is the best fix.
Such anecdotal (aka empirical) experience (aka data) is a great tool in high-tech manufacturing, service, maintenance industry anywhere from fridge to fighter planes.
Peerless and Delta use those bottom seals and are easily obtainable.100% sure that was the leak source. I've sold hundreds of those spring and seal kits commonly available everywhere.
Nice job! My inlaws have high end sculpted looking super modern bath and kitchen plumbing hardware and all of them need specialized tools and knowledge to attempt any kind of repairs. His sink faucet was so complex and in frustration he asks me to look at it and after 10 minutes I am equally stumped and decide to check RUclips and sure enough there was at least 4 videos about his specific issue and it was only through watch the videos that we figured out how to get the damn thing apart and fixed. Germans make some amazing plumbing apparatus but quite maddening too. I know traditional style faucets may look boring, but I'll take them any day
German engineering is very strange. I think it's from the reverse engineering they did on UFO's in the 50's. Or, maybe, they are the E.T."s themselves. LOL
@@stanleydenning german and 50's and UFO? xD Sure enough Aliens have to bath or wash their Hands too. Wouldnt you think that a being capable of cruisin through Space wouldnt have a better solution to this? To not have that amount of water in their ships? :D same goes for the crashes in the USA.
Hrmpf... I'm German and I am buying Chinese faucets now b/c I get the cartridges on eBay for around 10 bucks. ... And then we have this one, fancy single US-made KOHLER mixer that drives us (and the plumbing guy crazy) and that requires an EUR 76,98 cartridge every two years... ;-)
Those cup washers are the culprit I'm sure. Usually the hot one goes first as the rubber softens with heat and gets a small nic in it. They look like the same as any delta faucet readily available in sets with the springs.
Eric Allen I second that. Those look like the Delta/Peerless cup washers and springs. Those were initially used with sliding parts gliding over them, either a ball or a flat surface. They were originally marketed as "washer-less faucets," as they did not use a rotating bib style washer that would turn and compress to seal. Not only does hot water soften them, but chlorine and possibly ammonia (if your water is chloriminated instead of chlorinated) harden and shrink the seals over time. The red seal inside the cartridge is usually more durable against chlorine and ammonia. On ceramic valve faucets, more often it is the rubber seals that fail, as they usually what compress the two disc together.
I agree and third that. Any decent plumbing center (Ace Hardware for me) will have replacements, take your old ones down and have them match them up for ya.
Yes, I agree. It's the Delta washers. But you need to spend the extra two dollars to get the real Delta washers and springs, the Chinese ones last less than a year and the conical springs are slightly too short.
Agreed with the above, but also, if you don't have a source for the washers handy and they're not too bad, you can clean the scale off of them and exercise them a bit and they'll usually reseal. It gives you at least several months to get new ones without the DRIP DRIP DRIP mentioned at the beginning of the video.
I think this is the first video I ever watched on RUclips that wasn't a calculus tutorial for college. I was trying to fix a faucet at the time. Now, in 2019, I'm a helpless TOT, AVE, and Abom79 addict. Thanks for that Tony. No really, I like having my life slowly sucked away by moving pictures. I'll send you a bill. Also, if you send that ceramic valve into Moen, they will send you a new one free of charge.
You know, not many care to have the production quality you have in both your hardware AND videos. I sure am glad there's somebody out there that can make this kind of content :)
I give it a year.or two You're a hero for tackling a ceramic valve faucet successfully or at least very brave for attempting it in the first place. It doesn't look you have hard water in your area so maybe a trap or two for debris/particles in the water supply might prolong the life of these things. If you had hard water, maybe a water softener cartridge might help too as long as you ensured everyone knew the water coming out is no longer drinkable - I don't know if you would want to use it for brushing teeth etc., probably not if there are kids in the house.
I actually did a similar fix on a run faucet that was leaking. It was most definitely the two "cup seals" and springs. That is what I replaced to repair the one I had to deal with. There are universal and brand specific replacements for the springs and cups at most local hardware stores. Great video though!! Keep em coming!
I like how your kid has been on these videos from so young on. He's going to be a handy repairman with his homethings when he grows up, even if it's not sparking an interest in actually becoming professional or hobbyist in machining and stuff. I hope it will, but future is hard to see. My dad let me help with pc repair and other stuff he did from younger than most would, and those are really fond memories.
This video helped me with the repair of my kitchen faucet. those rubber cup seals worked great, i had to purchase them twice as the universal part (which for all the world look exactly like the factory part) didn't work. But the original equipment manufacturer part is working well months later. Thank you for this video.
Love your channel. Bet this lasts at least five years. Keep up the good work and remember keep using your son. I have two, little older than you boy, Shaun is thirty one and Andrew twenty eight. I used to joke that my job was to give the a twisted and tourmented childhood.....lol. They both followed in my trade of Elecrical Contratracting / Engineering and we have the most wonderful relationship. Andrew and his wife live in my back yard (Granny Flat) and Shaun lives a few blocks away. Bet your son will keep close to you too.
Tony, You're not fooling me a bit. I know you have the answers for everything, but you're just to coy to admit it. I really enjoy watching your videos.
Your voice led me to believe you were much older, but looking at the video, you couldn't be more than 10 or 11 years old. Good for you little guy :) keep up the great videos.
LMAO!!!! I dunno how you keep coming up with all the fresh humor Tony but it's hilarious. Machinery's Handbook handy in the bathroom for study periods, funny as hell graph, Keith Fenners lost and found, hens teeth and metric unicorn horns, and probably more I missed. Funniest shite on YT for sure. .0066% dislikes against the likes, I wonder who in there lives feels sorry enough for them to help start up there computer every day. Life time rated ceramic valves? In dog life spans maybe. Nice fix tho. The ceramic faces look good enough, probably the rubber seals that are the most likely problem from what I can see. 2-10 year fix is my guess.
... Tony Pause Video at 7:28 the parts landed ... ... Perfectly in your Palm ... ... Note the step at the end of the Springs ... ... Look at the bottom Rubber seal ... ... The difference in colour between ... ... 12 & 3 pm this is where the step in the spring ... ... was seated HOW 2 fix the Dripping tap ... ... Measure the internal Diameter ... ... Locate a A4 grade Stainless Steel Washer ... ... As near as dam that size ... ... Drop one in the rubber cup round edge down ... ... Flat side facing the spring ... ... No need to stretch the spring ... ... That will only make them dig in more ... ... If there is a small hole/tear at 3 pm forget it ... ... Re-assemble & your good to go ... ... Might only be a Temporary fix but ... ... But it has lasted 7 years on my Taps ... ... Yours Retired 3 score & 2 UK Plumber ...
I usually don't like back ground music. Like salt and pepper, you added just enough to bring out the flavor, and not over power the taste. Nicely done.
So having just seen this four years later, was your fix long-lasting? I tried something similar with less complicated ceramic 1/4 turn valves here in the UK and the tap still dripped, but the good news was that the pair of replacement parts (separate hot and cold), were under £5 in total at my local hardware store. Loving the content by the way… and those storage drawer labels made me chuckle.
I'll tell you what it did it gave that young man a good learning experience. Outstanding you have my respect! As for the spigot try turning the water pressure down a tad
It's a good thing you didn't try to hone. I went at my valve from an RO spigot with some relatively rough SiC paper thinking that I could improve the sealing. Leak was increased a hundred fold. I bet your high viscosity grease did the trick. Cheers
I believe "should last forever" usually means 5 years, because after that, there's really no way you can force them to service or replace them. As opposed to 2 years that the normal stuff is supposed to break at.
I have a Delta Faucet in my shower and it had the same style springs and cup seals I replaced them with a new set from my local hardware store and it was good as new. Thanks for the great video!
Did anyone else notice the name on his scribe/pick? Great editing love the videos! And on the technical side of things, the seats that you found inside the faucet that sit on the bottom ceramic plate look to be standard delta/peerless spring seats very common and pretty cheap to get a couple sets.
Tony, Another spectacular video chocked with hilarious references and quality editing. The valve assembly looked entirely foreign until you made it to the "cup seals" & I'd wager that the repair was only marginally successful (by increasing the spring pressure). I'd further bet that replacing those seals would fix your problem. Let us know!
Ha ha yup. Could have told you it was those two replaceable cup seals. They are what always fails on this type faucet.the ceramic parts really should last 25 years.. You could clearly see the black circle smudges on the bottom of your valve while you were working on it. Tell tail sign of the seals aging and starting to fail. Had to chime in.cause it was one of the only times that I knew about something that you didn't catch. Most of the time I just watch you work with my mouth open and think..man I wish I had your knowledge....And shop. You are an amazing machinist /engineer..ECT. my favorite channel.
I fix ceramic plate valves by polishing / cleaning the ceramic plates with regular toothpaste and printer paper. From my experience, it's just build up dirt and calcium which needs to be cleaned off.
Funny, I was watching this random video about ceramic faucets, always wanted to know how they work, then at the end I noticed I was subscribed to the channel ! A little wtf moment...??? Then realised as I was playing at 2x speed I'd not automatically recognised your voice. (or checked who's video it was) Cool content as ever thanks :)
For 100 bucks it should be user serviceable!!!! The spring loaded cup seals always go though so its usually no big deal glad you got it fixed . I have been in this same place with the worn out seals .
maybe add a screen filter on the inlet pipe to prevent debris from getting stuck in the valve again. also i have to applaud you for having a faucet that is completely limescale and rust stain free, your local water must be crystal clear, i personally have to rely on a whole house filter to prevent the same issue since my water system is very calcium and magnesium rich (with a hint of mud/silt) in it.
So I'm super late to this party, but... The "cup gaskets" are called seats, and you can pick up a "seat and spring" kit at the hardware store for pretty cheap! Seats, like toilet flappers, tend to swell a bit and loose their shape after being submerged for a decade or so... Love the videos!
Greetings from Germany, great video as always. Much more entertaining than I suppose it should be. That's why I am watching. I give it a few weeks. Here in Europe we have a lot of hard water and I imagine calcium will deposit itself in there and give you headaches. I think you will need to polish the discs. Good luck though, I hope you get 10 years of use.
Neat. The ceramic surface roughness reminds me of magic mirrors. In the far east when Christianity was banned, Christians began to carry secrete symbols with them to identify each other. On of these was a magic mirror. When you looked at it, it just appeared to be simple mundane mirror, maybe used for shaving our grooming of some sort. But, when you shined light on it and looked at the reflection it cast, it would be a religious image. How this worked was very fine deviations ground into the mirror so minor, you wouldn't notice them looking at it, but those small deviations reflect light at a different angle than the untouched parts, and that small angle causes a noticeable difference when projected many times a larger distance than the actual deviation. I think a Japanese company manufacturing platters for microchips utilizes this idea to measure uniformity on the platter surface. The shine a bright light onto the surface at a angle, and look at the projected reflection to see if it is smooth and uniform enough to use. You might be able to do this with those ceramic pieces if you have to take the valve apart again.
I usually fix these things as you did here, except I use silicone paste. Ceramic valves have only one but rather tough enemy the waterhammer. It not only pushes the sealing gel out from the discs, it stresses the plastic housing to the point when it can't hold the stuff together properly because of the permanent bend it suffered. After every single reassembly you have to screw the nut a little harder, which makes the rubber sealant between the tap and the housing flatten a little bit more, 'till you can't even move the handle anywhere without forcing it. Thus you buy an new component (if they even sell any that fits at that point), and the cycle restarts. Ceramic valves are nice for sure, but they are expensive to maintain, especially when there're crude, and inpatient people around.
I had a problem with my shower leaking and it had those spring loaded seals. I stretched them out alittle like you did and it fixed the leak. It lasted years like that. I got the replacement seals and springs later and haven’t installed them yet. So hopefully that’s your problem. But I just now noticed this video is 3 years old so yeaaahhh.
I speculate it'll last for about 2 weeks, I've had mine apart many times from the shower and mine had silicone grease between the disc's. Sometimes if you over tighten them it can cause scars on the ceramic as well. I have called the company and they have sent me replacements free of charge.
Took 30 minutes to watch this cause I was cracking up at the beginning, even the pick tools say SUBSCRIBE, I was cracking up Tony, thank you soooooooo much buddy, great stuff as always!
I have found most of the time it is the pressure that is put onto the discs by the rubber gasket that causes the problem. if there is not enough pressure then the disks will allow the water to pass. I have taken new valves and switched out the gasket to find the cause. your idea if putting the food grade paste does seem to add the added pressure needed. good video.
I work with sub micron glass and ceramic glass daily for optics. That haziness is bad surface roughness, but I have no idea how long it will take to be a problem. If you wanted to polish it, I'd recommend making a jig. Last thing you want is turning a coplanar plate into a wedge.
I've had similar problems in other ceramic valves, where it would start leaking after a year or so. The ceramic valve itself was still good, but the gasket that was in between the body and the valve assembly was not good enough. Adding another thin gasket in between fixed this. I've fixed three different sink valves this way.
Tony , The hazy look you saw is normal , the white ceramic is slightly abrasive. The spring loaded seals are the more common reason for the seepage . They are stainless steel to stop corrosion, but stainless steel will take a set quicker than regular spring steel . You did buy some extra time , when it seeps again you should be able to just replace the seals . Good luck brother .
$100? It would be cheaper to buy a new faucet. Including a valve. This is why the old fashioned types that used a grommet that cost 20cents to replace once every 6 months to a year.
Theoretically ceramics should last a long time -- 25 years sounds right, so it is either glop on ceramics or something else. Sure enough it was those weird cylinder seals at the bottom. Very good diagnosis, Dr. Tony, and glad to see patient recovered satisfactorily. It was much easier when all we had to do is replace a pair of rubber washers in the faucet.
My parents installed 5 faucets with ceramic plates in ´81. One is used very rarely, so that doesn´t count. But the four others are ad of them only one ever developed a leak. If I remember right, even there it wasn´t the ceramic plates themselves. So - 35 years and still choochin´! If your tap water has highh levels of calcium carbonte in it, dipping the valve body in descaler every few years might be good idea.
Lots of factors. How well the ceramics were made. Calcium in water. Other junk in water.. Quality control procedures. On and on. THat's why I said "theoreticaly" :)
There is a huge difference in ceramics. Some hard, some soft. No need to explain soft. But all will "weld" the plates together if not used frequently. Explaining is complicated: flatness, stagnent water, atomic bonds, calcium, silicon, on and poor memory. But the plates slightly bond. Then when operated there is a small tearout. The pit grows over time and scratches in the plate happen. Eventually a leak happens on the plates.
What do mean.....? Spend a bit did you? and you might be quite lucky, depending on your location, they might be spreading salt on the roads at winter. I you want to see an Alfa disappear in a hurry go and drive one in north Europe.
In Australia, many years ago I renovated the bathroom. I chose Zucchetti mixer taps. They are supposedly one of the largest tap manufacturers in Europe. On one of the taps, the gold plating was peeling off the plastic cap and the tap was leaking after only 5 years. It so happened that the Zucchetti distributor discontinued this model of tap, wonder why but was able to supply a replacement ceramic valve. You guessed it, for $100. Nowadays you could buy 4 Chinese mixer taps for the cost of one ceramic valve, if you can tolerate quality of Chinese taps.
I have worked on ceramics for some time , and found that the compression from the silicone seal has weakened this not only seals but puts pressure on ceramics. If you replced the seals or increased the pressure on ceramics this will solve the problem.
Imagine, there is a guy who can bind 390k people to the screen while fixing a faucet! Not sure which of these two talents is the greater...! :-) Keep on doing so, Tony!
1873Winchester & @This Old Tony YEAH! I loved the espresso pot fabrication and would love to see more not-your-typical-machine-shop-rush-order projects! Do you also work in plastic, styrofoam, paper mache or wood! I have so many projects where I know I could fix ‘em if I could just laser scan the broken/missing part then sneak into Fry’s/Conrad’s at night and access their 3D printers for the perfect fitting part! The wife would be so proud! And Mama too!
With luck a couple of years. I have had to fix a number of faucets around the house that had similar seals. I guess they are "better" than the old style you had to regrind the seat on they do seem very susceptible to any kind of grit in the water line and I have an old house. I usually get a year or two before disassembly and cleaning it all out is required. May try the hot vinegar next time also because we do get some mineral build up.
Tony...I think you should've first checked with NASA to see if that faucet wasn't actually meant to be installed in the bathroom on the space station! It's like they designed it to be as complicated as humanly possible.😵 Excellent save though. 10/10✅👏
the black rubber and springs look exactly like the ones in the Delta faucet, the ones with the ball "crystal" (plastic) handles. These usually rub against a chrome or brass ball that has holes in it to mix hot and cold and shut off. these shred over time. so if you wanted to replace just those, they are readily available.
About 7 years ago I replaced two of my faucets with ceramic disc style models. The sales pitch was that they will never leak and that they get better with age as they wear. In reality what I found is that they're fragile and cannot handle any dirt or debris. Rust from old pipes, dirt or rust from the city water main, or any rough use will destroy this type of cartridge. Also, finding some models is nearly impossible. We have two plumbing suppliers here, as well as the big box stores and none of them stock cartridges for the older Delta or Moen models. I called about warranty and was told that I'd have to buy a new cartridge locally, then return the old one and they would send me a replacement. I got lucky with the one unit, the fixture itself, supposedly stainless steel, corroded through and had to be replaced. They sent me a complete new faucet, after I shipped the old one back. I still had to buy a new one out of pocket.
Love your vids.
I was the quality manager for a faucet shop for many years. We made millions of ceramic valves.
Your conclusions are pretty spot on. The flatness of those disks are measured using optical flats to about 1/2 of a wavelength of a certain kind of light (can't recall what that light color was). I've watched the ceramics be made & lapped. It's amazing and very, very process specific. You won't be able to purchase the compounds used. However, I also did substantial life cycle testing on plates like this... the plates simply will not wear. We even put particles of sand & iron through them... they are brittle as heck (no shock, no strain) but nothing in your potable water will damage these.
If you have a leaking ceramic faucet it will either be a failed seal or a loss of compression. I suppose a bad install could crack a valve or the valve body. That usually shows up soon after install.
I think you bought yourself some decent time with your cleaning / seal flipping (not the kind they do in the arctic).
I'll bet that wavelength was 632.8nm (a HeNe laser). It's the most common laser used in interferometry for measuring flatness.
The optics we use are usually spec'd between 1/4 wave and 1/20 wave (at 632.8nm). 1/2 wave would be a no go for the work I do. But in this case, 300nm (or 0.3um) seems flat enough.
@LowJack187 I loved that seal flip video. Now you have me thinking how far can I launch my neighbors tiny loud dog?
@LowJack187 Wow!
Do you remember the compound used for lapping ceramic valves? I would assume diamond but it's not always the best abrasive for every situation. Thanks for the info 👍👌
@@weldersandblaster Just feed it a really small squeaky toy with a diamond inside, like in the movie "Snatch".
I found the use of child labor refreshing.
Nah it's actually Tony as he was at 10 but fixing today's faucet. Totally just really good time machine engineering. Look at his "Metric Unicorn horns" 0:56. Just saying.
hahah
This Old Tony I want to see what's in the "stuff that k fenner 'lost'" drawer. That could be interesting, (or embarrassing for fenner.) lol
puhlease, any good tradie uses their kids like unpaid apprentices for the shit work all the time.
Ye good o'l times. Orphans and factories.
Hey Tony! Commercial Plumber here. You did a great job with that faucet. The seals and springs below the valve body are called "springs & seats" (we plumbers are an imaginative bunch) and were more than likely causing your leaky faucet, and "stretching" the springs is only a temporary fix. They are usually inexpensive, and are normally in stock at your local plumbing supply house. Disassembling the valve body was a brave move, and made for some interesting content, but was probably unnecessary. The scoring on the ceramic plates looked about normal for a 10 year old faucet. It's caused primarily by the abrasive iron and calcium deposits in your water supply passing. It should be mentioned that the pressure changes when the faucet is opened or closed can cause cavitation (on a very small scale) which will erode the surface of the plates over time (same reason container ships propellers need to be polished and repaired by underwater welders), causing them to appear dull over time.
I got a $350 invoice for "consultation" just for reading this comment
You certainly look a lot younger than you sound. ;)
this might be the funniest comment on youtube :D
is Tony the kid from that one cowboy bebop episode, where spike shoots the kid with a magic crystal?
Poptart McJelly… that's where the Tot comes into the equation. G :)
...Maybe he's fixing the Fountain of Youth!
WHAT ? No Safety Eye Wear ?..........
The use of the air coupling as a hex tool made me so happy. I love that kind of ingenuity.
Peter Charlton another go to: Use a hex bolt head of the right size. Then double nut the thread and turn with a wrench or impact. This also works when you need a large Allen wrench.
@@irondiver292 nice! but of course it wouldn't work for the application in this video as it needs to be hollow. but for the other application really nice!
Yeah that was brilliant, definitely got an audible "No waaay!" out of me.
I worked in a hardware store for my first job that specialized in plumbing. Those little seals that sit underneath in sinks that use cartridges are the most commonly replaced part. I don't have any sort of evidence or insight as to what goes wrong with these things, but I can say that in almost all cases when someone came in with a leaking faucet that used those cup seals, once they were replaced the leaking stopped. I probably saw 4 customers a week go out the door with those seals for replacement and do not remember a single instance of anyone coming back in saying they didn't work. That's all anecdotal so it as such but I figured I'd throw in my 2 cents
I am a Plumber down here in Florida. That is a common point of failure that we deal with. Generally replacing the rubber seals and using a tiny bit of silicone based O-ring grease for lubrication is the best fix.
@@WhirlybirdFlyer Agree! "Mineral rich" water makes the condition worse, and that's the usual fix...! 😎
Such anecdotal (aka empirical) experience (aka data) is a great tool in high-tech manufacturing, service, maintenance industry anywhere from fridge to fighter planes.
It is the chlorine in the water. It eats up the nitrile rubber and that is why they leak.
Peerless and Delta use those bottom seals and are easily obtainable.100% sure that was the leak source. I've sold hundreds of those spring and seal kits commonly available everywhere.
What kind of abomination is a micro-inch
Never seen one (with the naked eye), but I'd imagine about 1/1000th a milli-inch. Seems I'm about 7 months late with this joke.
@@android01978 exactly, or in every day language about 5.55x10^-8 ancient Egyptian cubits.
I think it roughly equals one femto light-second, give or take.
its a lil bigger than a nano-inch about 27 times bigger
One milli-mil.
Nice job! My inlaws have high end sculpted looking super modern bath and kitchen plumbing hardware and all of them need specialized tools and knowledge to attempt any kind of repairs. His sink faucet was so complex and in frustration he asks me to look at it and after 10 minutes I am equally stumped and decide to check RUclips and sure enough there was at least 4 videos about his specific issue and it was only through watch the videos that we figured out how to get the damn thing apart and fixed. Germans make some amazing plumbing apparatus but quite maddening too. I know traditional style faucets may look boring, but I'll take them any day
traderjoes grohe?
traderjoes I had to replace the cartridge in my fathers moen single handle shower... 45 seconds later🤫 straight to RUclips.
German engineering is very strange. I think it's from the reverse engineering they did on UFO's in the 50's. Or, maybe, they are the E.T."s themselves. LOL
@@stanleydenning german and 50's and UFO? xD Sure enough Aliens have to bath or wash their Hands too. Wouldnt you think that a being capable of cruisin through Space wouldnt have a better solution to this? To not have that amount of water in their ships? :D same goes for the crashes in the USA.
Hrmpf... I'm German and I am buying Chinese faucets now b/c I get the cartridges on eBay for around 10 bucks. ... And then we have this one, fancy single US-made KOHLER mixer that drives us (and the plumbing guy crazy) and that requires an EUR 76,98 cartridge every two years... ;-)
Those cup washers are the culprit I'm sure. Usually the hot one goes first as the rubber softens with heat and gets a small nic in it. They look like the same as any delta faucet readily available in sets with the springs.
Eric Allen I second that. Those look like the Delta/Peerless cup washers and springs. Those were initially used with sliding parts gliding over them, either a ball or a flat surface. They were originally marketed as "washer-less faucets," as they did not use a rotating bib style washer that would turn and compress to seal. Not only does hot water soften them, but chlorine and possibly ammonia (if your water is chloriminated instead of chlorinated) harden and shrink the seals over time. The red seal inside the cartridge is usually more durable against chlorine and ammonia.
On ceramic valve faucets, more often it is the rubber seals that fail, as they usually what compress the two disc together.
I agree and third that. Any decent plumbing center (Ace Hardware for me) will have replacements, take your old ones down and have them match them up for ya.
Yes, I agree. It's the Delta washers. But you need to spend the extra two dollars to get the real Delta washers and springs, the Chinese ones last less than a year and the conical springs are slightly too short.
Agreed. The rubber cups are normally the issue most of the time.
Agreed with the above, but also, if you don't have a source for the washers handy and they're not too bad, you can clean the scale off of them and exercise them a bit and they'll usually reseal. It gives you at least several months to get new ones without the DRIP DRIP DRIP mentioned at the beginning of the video.
I think this is the first video I ever watched on RUclips that wasn't a calculus tutorial for college. I was trying to fix a faucet at the time. Now, in 2019, I'm a helpless TOT, AVE, and Abom79 addict. Thanks for that Tony. No really, I like having my life slowly sucked away by moving pictures. I'll send you a bill. Also, if you send that ceramic valve into Moen, they will send you a new one free of charge.
I was told once by my plumber that it looked like I blew a seal. I assured him that I am only attracted to walruses.
You know, not many care to have the production quality you have in both your hardware AND videos. I sure am glad there's somebody out there that can make this kind of content :)
Tony, I'm watching this in July 2019, how has the repair held up?
Tony & Maxx, I'm watching this in 2020, how has the repair help up?
@@abcqer555 i think he asked that in a recently video. it is leaking again.
Tony, I'm watching this in June 2020, how has the repair held up?
Tony, I'm watching this in July 2020, how has the repair held up?
Tony, I’m watching in August 2020, how has the repair held up?
I give it a year.or two You're a hero for tackling a ceramic valve faucet successfully or at least very brave for attempting it in the first place.
It doesn't look you have hard water in your area so maybe a trap or two for debris/particles in the water supply might prolong the life of these things. If you had hard water, maybe a water softener cartridge might help too as long as you ensured everyone knew the water coming out is no longer drinkable - I don't know if you would want to use it for brushing teeth etc., probably not if there are kids in the house.
That music will be stuck in my head all day. Thank you.
I actually did a similar fix on a run faucet that was leaking. It was most definitely the two "cup seals" and springs. That is what I replaced to repair the one I had to deal with. There are universal and brand specific replacements for the springs and cups at most local hardware stores. Great video though!! Keep em coming!
Two videos in one day? It's an October 16th miracle!
I like how your kid has been on these videos from so young on. He's going to be a handy repairman with his homethings when he grows up, even if it's not sparking an interest in actually becoming professional or hobbyist in machining and stuff. I hope it will, but future is hard to see. My dad let me help with pc repair and other stuff he did from younger than most would, and those are really fond memories.
Where do you get your Hen's Teeth? My supplier doesn't carry them any more.
Mike Regan bottom shelf next to the tartan paint.
Next to the sky hook.
And the long stand!
I switched to rocking horse poo. Not a perfect replacement but, ya know, any vice in a storm.
Grow my own hens. When they're the right age I punch them in the mouth.
This video helped me with the repair of my kitchen faucet. those rubber cup seals worked great, i had to purchase them twice as the universal part (which for all the world look exactly like the factory part) didn't work. But the original equipment manufacturer part is working well months later. Thank you for this video.
Absolutely love your editing Tony, keep these videos coming.
Love your channel. Bet this lasts at least five years. Keep up the good work and remember keep using your son. I have two, little older than you boy, Shaun is thirty one and Andrew twenty eight. I used to joke that my job was to give the a twisted and tourmented childhood.....lol. They both followed in my trade of Elecrical Contratracting / Engineering and we have the most wonderful relationship. Andrew and his wife live in my back yard (Granny Flat) and Shaun lives a few blocks away. Bet your son will keep close to you too.
I really love your editing man, keep up the great work :)
Tony,
You're not fooling me a bit. I know you have the answers for everything, but you're just to coy to admit it. I really enjoy watching your videos.
I just love all the details you put in your videos
Your voice led me to believe you were much older, but looking at the video, you couldn't be more than 10 or 11 years old. Good for you little guy :) keep up the great videos.
LMAO!!!! I dunno how you keep coming up with all the fresh humor Tony but it's hilarious. Machinery's Handbook handy in the bathroom for study periods, funny as hell graph, Keith Fenners lost and found, hens teeth and metric unicorn horns, and probably more I missed. Funniest shite on YT for sure. .0066% dislikes against the likes, I wonder who in there lives feels sorry enough for them to help start up there computer every day.
Life time rated ceramic valves? In dog life spans maybe. Nice fix tho. The ceramic faces look good enough, probably the rubber seals that are the most likely problem from what I can see. 2-10 year fix is my guess.
Check out the label on the pick at 2:21
@@Dadams206 Good spotting David! Does this qualify as subliminal suggesting?
Love the fact that you include your kid on your work! He will grow up to be like you! something that not many man can say about their kids...
... Tony Pause Video at 7:28 the parts landed ...
... Perfectly in your Palm ...
... Note the step at the end of the Springs ...
... Look at the bottom Rubber seal ...
... The difference in colour between ...
... 12 & 3 pm this is where the step in the spring ...
... was seated HOW 2 fix the Dripping tap ...
... Measure the internal Diameter ...
... Locate a A4 grade Stainless Steel Washer ...
... As near as dam that size ...
... Drop one in the rubber cup round edge down ...
... Flat side facing the spring ...
... No need to stretch the spring ...
... That will only make them dig in more ...
... If there is a small hole/tear at 3 pm forget it ...
... Re-assemble & your good to go ...
... Might only be a Temporary fix but ...
... But it has lasted 7 years on my Taps ...
... Yours Retired 3 score & 2 UK Plumber ...
@@lvk104 i lost him at hole at 3 pm
Maybe he meant hole at 3 “AM” and not PM! Should switch to German 24hr time. Damn that metric system! So easy to forget where the decimal goes!!!
I usually don't like back ground music. Like salt and pepper, you added just enough to bring out the flavor, and not over power the taste. Nicely done.
So having just seen this four years later, was your fix long-lasting?
I tried something similar with less complicated ceramic 1/4 turn valves here in the UK and the tap still dripped, but the good news was that the pair of replacement parts (separate hot and cold), were under £5 in total at my local hardware store.
Loving the content by the way… and those storage drawer labels made me chuckle.
It started leaking again eventually. He covered that in one of the pandemic videos I think
I'll tell you what it did it gave that young man a good learning experience. Outstanding you have my respect! As for the spigot try turning the water pressure down a tad
"Hen's Teeth" "stuff keith fenner lost" lol Nice helper you got there !
I missed the Keith Fenner drawer - had to watch again.
🔥Ramsey Customs - turbocobra and the "metric unicorn horns"
Metric Unicorn horns are easy, it's the left hand thread Unicorn horns that are hard to find.
I thought unicorn horns were only SAE/ANSI.
Ah ha! Good one!
It's a good thing you didn't try to hone. I went at my valve from an RO spigot with some relatively rough SiC paper thinking that I could improve the sealing. Leak was increased a hundred fold. I bet your high viscosity grease did the trick. Cheers
I believe "should last forever" usually means 5 years, because after that, there's really no way you can force them to service or replace them. As opposed to 2 years that the normal stuff is supposed to break at.
I have a Delta Faucet in my shower and it had the same style springs and cup seals I replaced them with a new set from my local hardware store and it was good as new. Thanks for the great video!
This Old Home Improvement!
Did anyone else notice the name on his scribe/pick? Great editing love the videos!
And on the technical side of things, the seats that you found inside the faucet that sit on the bottom ceramic plate look to be standard delta/peerless spring seats very common and pretty cheap to get a couple sets.
I'm in for the same fix this weekend. Just as soon as somebody gets the bathroom clean enough for youtube I'll get started.
Tony, Another spectacular video chocked with hilarious references and quality editing. The valve assembly looked entirely foreign until you made it to the "cup seals" & I'd wager that the repair was only marginally successful (by increasing the spring pressure). I'd further bet that replacing those seals would fix your problem. Let us know!
You were able to upload two videos in a day because of child labor, right?
i laughed way too hard at that.
Nothing beats some help from This Little Tony!
with tvs all coming with remotes these days what else do you feed them for?
@@537331208 This young Tony (gone Sexual) (not clickbait)
no because of his lathe time machine ofc
Ha ha yup. Could have told you it was those two replaceable cup seals. They are what always fails on this type faucet.the ceramic parts really should last 25 years.. You could clearly see the black circle smudges on the bottom of your valve while you were working on it. Tell tail sign of the seals aging and starting to fail. Had to chime in.cause it was one of the only times that I knew about something that you didn't catch. Most of the time I just watch you work with my mouth open and think..man I wish I had your knowledge....And shop. You are an amazing machinist /engineer..ECT. my favorite channel.
I fix ceramic plate valves by polishing / cleaning the ceramic plates with regular toothpaste and printer paper. From my experience, it's just build up dirt and calcium which needs to be cleaned off.
I need to find the time to watch more of your videos. I'm always impressed on so many levels.
Now I've been looking for a set of sub-Scribes like those @ 2:21 for a long time!
Funny, I was watching this random video about ceramic faucets, always wanted to know how they work, then at the end I noticed I was subscribed to the channel !
A little wtf moment...???
Then realised as I was playing at 2x speed I'd not automatically recognised your voice. (or checked who's video it was)
Cool content as ever thanks :)
1:35 fixing that faucet seems like child's play
For 100 bucks it should be user serviceable!!!! The spring loaded cup seals always go though so its usually no big deal glad you got it fixed . I have been in this same place with the worn out seals .
those look just like Delta or Peerless faucet seat washers, easy to find at any hardware store - you should replace those two seals.
maybe add a screen filter on the inlet pipe to prevent debris from getting stuck in the valve again.
also i have to applaud you for having a faucet that is completely limescale and rust stain free, your local water must be crystal clear, i personally have to rely on a whole house filter to prevent the same issue since my water system is very calcium and magnesium rich (with a hint of mud/silt) in it.
two videos in one day!? love it! :)
He did owe us for the last week...
So I'm super late to this party, but...
The "cup gaskets" are called seats, and you can pick up a "seat and spring" kit at the hardware store for pretty cheap!
Seats, like toilet flappers, tend to swell a bit and loose their shape after being submerged for a decade or so...
Love the videos!
Lol, handbook in the bathroom vanity? Is that vanity a Gerstener or a Kennedy?
Greetings from Germany, great video as always. Much more entertaining than I suppose it should be. That's why I am watching. I give it a few weeks. Here in Europe we have a lot of hard water and I imagine calcium will deposit itself in there and give you headaches. I think you will need to polish the discs. Good luck though, I hope you get 10 years of use.
Neat.
The ceramic surface roughness reminds me of magic mirrors. In the far east when Christianity was banned, Christians began to carry secrete symbols with them to identify each other. On of these was a magic mirror. When you looked at it, it just appeared to be simple mundane mirror, maybe used for shaving our grooming of some sort. But, when you shined light on it and looked at the reflection it cast, it would be a religious image.
How this worked was very fine deviations ground into the mirror so minor, you wouldn't notice them looking at it, but those small deviations reflect light at a different angle than the untouched parts, and that small angle causes a noticeable difference when projected many times a larger distance than the actual deviation.
I think a Japanese company manufacturing platters for microchips utilizes this idea to measure uniformity on the platter surface. The shine a bright light onto the surface at a angle, and look at the projected reflection to see if it is smooth and uniform enough to use. You might be able to do this with those ceramic pieces if you have to take the valve apart again.
This is called "interferometry"
Always enjoy your commentary. Concise & well thought out.
2 videos in one day?! madness
Two burs with one bench stone...
(I'll see myself out)
I usually fix these things as you did here, except I use silicone paste. Ceramic valves have only one but rather tough enemy the waterhammer. It not only pushes the sealing gel out from the discs, it stresses the plastic housing to the point when it can't hold the stuff together properly because of the permanent bend it suffered. After every single reassembly you have to screw the nut a little harder, which makes the rubber sealant between the tap and the housing flatten a little bit more, 'till you can't even move the handle anywhere without forcing it. Thus you buy an new component (if they even sell any that fits at that point), and the cycle restarts.
Ceramic valves are nice for sure, but they are expensive to maintain, especially when there're crude, and inpatient people around.
Exceptional placement of child labor
I like that one of my favorite channels watches another of my favorite channels even though they are pretty different.
I had a problem with my shower leaking and it had those spring loaded seals. I stretched them out alittle like you did and it fixed the leak. It lasted years like that. I got the replacement seals and springs later and haven’t installed them yet. So hopefully that’s your problem. But I just now noticed this video is 3 years old so yeaaahhh.
Its now 25/2/2018
Has it leaked since you fixed it ??
The Workshop Mechanic
It is now Sep 13, 2018.
The tension is unbearable!
@@SideBurn12 3 days ago he said in a reply to another comment that it's still holding out
AES 2015
Ah ok, nice!
Thanx bud :)
Its now oct 6, 2018...whats up with that seal
I am here for the comments (and the update)
It’s a little thing but good on you for teaching the boy how to fix stuff and use tools. To many things get thrown away that need minor repairs.
That feeling when you set the spring pre-load just right on your faucets.
I speculate it'll last for about 2 weeks, I've had mine apart many times from the shower and mine had silicone grease between the disc's. Sometimes if you over tighten them it can cause scars on the ceramic as well. I have called the company and they have sent me replacements free of charge.
0:22 "My drip rate isn't quite DEFCON 5" LLOL
Took 30 minutes to watch this cause I was cracking up at the beginning, even the pick tools say SUBSCRIBE, I was cracking up Tony, thank you soooooooo much buddy, great stuff as always!
"There's no labor like child labor"-- another great vid! T'anks!
I have found most of the time it is the pressure that is put onto the discs by the rubber gasket that causes the problem. if there is not enough pressure then the disks will allow the water to pass. I have taken new valves and switched out the gasket to find the cause. your idea if putting the food grade paste does seem to add the added pressure needed. good video.
How long did your fix last Tony?
still holding!
This Old Tony how about now, still holding?
still good!
I work with sub micron glass and ceramic glass daily for optics. That haziness is bad surface roughness, but I have no idea how long it will take to be a problem. If you wanted to polish it, I'd recommend making a jig. Last thing you want is turning a coplanar plate into a wedge.
good point, thanks Aaron!
Always fun to watch someone who knows what he is doing do something he knows less well. Why is that?
Christmas came early this year - two videos by you in the same day :-) Great video, as always.
As a plumber... You're really making my head hurt!!!
I've had similar problems in other ceramic valves, where it would start leaking after a year or so. The ceramic valve itself was still good, but the gasket that was in between the body and the valve assembly was not good enough. Adding another thin gasket in between fixed this. I've fixed three different sink valves this way.
Twice in one day honey.. Guess who´s getting flowers tomorrow. ;)
Tony ,
The hazy look you saw is normal , the white ceramic is slightly abrasive. The spring loaded seals are the more common reason for the seepage . They are stainless steel to stop corrosion, but stainless steel will take a set quicker than regular spring steel . You did buy some extra time , when it seeps again you should be able to just replace the seals . Good luck brother .
$100? It would be cheaper to buy a new faucet. Including a valve.
This is why the old fashioned types that used a grommet that cost 20cents to replace once every 6 months to a year.
$100 wouldn't replace 1/3 of the cheapest faucet in my house. Good faucets are pricey.
@Undefined Lastname agreed.
I love that you engage your kid with fixing stuf.
Wow you can make everything be interesting keep do what you do best (everything) haha
Theoretically ceramics should last a long time -- 25 years sounds right, so it is either glop on ceramics or something else. Sure enough it was those weird cylinder seals at the bottom. Very good diagnosis, Dr. Tony, and glad to see patient recovered satisfactorily. It was much easier when all we had to do is replace a pair of rubber washers in the faucet.
My parents installed 5 faucets with ceramic plates in ´81. One is used very rarely, so that doesn´t count. But the four others are ad of them only one ever developed a leak. If I remember right, even there it wasn´t the ceramic plates themselves.
So - 35 years and still choochin´!
If your tap water has highh levels of calcium carbonte in it, dipping the valve body in descaler every few years might be good idea.
Lots of factors. How well the ceramics were made. Calcium in water. Other junk in water.. Quality control procedures. On and on. THat's why I said "theoreticaly" :)
There is a huge difference in ceramics. Some hard, some soft. No need to explain soft. But all will "weld" the plates together if not used frequently. Explaining is complicated: flatness, stagnent water, atomic bonds, calcium, silicon, on and poor memory. But the plates slightly bond. Then when operated there is a small tearout. The pit grows over time and scratches in the plate happen. Eventually a leak happens on the plates.
Hi mate. I bet it's of Italian design. If it's Italian it will cost twice as much to replace parts. Ask me how I know?!
Marcel Timmers are you a Ferrari tech?
Sorry nah mate, I just had to deal with a few Italian appliances, that's why.
you own alfa romeo?
What do mean.....? Spend a bit did you? and you might be quite lucky, depending on your location, they might be spreading salt on the roads at winter. I you want to see an Alfa disappear in a hurry go and drive one in north Europe.
Marcel Timmers + The Alfasud was very popular here in Denmark, but they rusted faster than the speed of light - it was hillarious...
In Australia, many years ago I renovated the bathroom. I chose Zucchetti mixer taps. They are supposedly one of the largest tap manufacturers in Europe. On one of the taps, the gold plating was peeling off the plastic cap and the tap was leaking after only 5 years. It so happened that the Zucchetti distributor discontinued this model of tap, wonder why but was able to supply a replacement ceramic valve. You guessed it, for $100. Nowadays you could buy 4 Chinese mixer taps for the cost of one ceramic valve, if you can tolerate quality of Chinese taps.
drawer label: "stuff keith fenner lost" LMFAO
I have worked on ceramics for some time , and found that the compression from the silicone seal has weakened this not only seals but puts pressure on ceramics.
If you replced the seals or increased the pressure on ceramics this will solve the problem.
Best music...ever :D
amen
Shazam doesn't recognize it. :(
Jimmy Fontanez "Cha Cappella"
Reminds me of the Bobby McFerrin song from Pixars 'Knick Knack' short.
@@ThisOldTony Thanks 👍
Dude... I love your humor. The video's are quite helpful too. Keep up the awesome work!
i love the music
Mikael Crouton yeah I really wanna know what it is
Imagine, there is a guy who can bind 390k people to the screen while fixing a faucet!
Not sure which of these two talents is the greater...! :-)
Keep on doing so, Tony!
Build your own replacement faucet
1873Winchester & @This Old Tony YEAH! I loved the espresso pot fabrication and would love to see more not-your-typical-machine-shop-rush-order projects! Do you also work in plastic, styrofoam, paper mache or wood! I have so many projects where I know I could fix ‘em if I could just laser scan the broken/missing part then sneak into Fry’s/Conrad’s at night and access their 3D printers for the perfect fitting part! The wife would be so proud! And Mama too!
With luck a couple of years. I have had to fix a number of faucets around the house that had similar seals. I guess they are "better" than the old style you had to regrind the seat on they do seem very susceptible to any kind of grit in the water line and I have an old house. I usually get a year or two before disassembly and cleaning it all out is required. May try the hot vinegar next time also because we do get some mineral build up.
The perks of being handy round the house...nagging from your woman :)
As always informative and entertaining, and I must say you do get around with the other youtube content providers.
I'm running out of metric unicorn horns...
Andreas Hötzel Metric Unicorn are chosen by 9/16 technicians
Was that Perry Como? Will never own a ceramic mixer but that was neat. Lapping and honing methinks not.
What do you mean "food grade teflon"
www.rocol.com/products/ptfe-food-grade-grease
www.hathawaystamps.com/tri-flow-lubricant
Tony...I think you should've first checked with NASA to see if that faucet wasn't actually meant to be installed in the bathroom on the space station! It's like they designed it to be as complicated as humanly possible.😵 Excellent save though. 10/10✅👏
I don't like these subliminal subscription messages in videos videos. Anyway, who wants a coke?
entemomohTV I think its double meaning because its a scribe and its a small one so sub-scribe
the black rubber and springs look exactly like the ones in the Delta faucet, the ones with the ball "crystal" (plastic) handles. These usually rub against a chrome or brass ball that has holes in it to mix hot and cold and shut off. these shred over time. so if you wanted to replace just those, they are readily available.
Microinch? What is this abomination :O
knowing the imperial system it could easily be 1/8 of a 12/12.5 of 32/5 of 123/321 of the surface of the moon divided by the past christmas!
1 microinch = 37.4 km
About 7 years ago I replaced two of my faucets with ceramic disc style models. The sales pitch was that they will never leak and that they get better with age as they wear.
In reality what I found is that they're fragile and cannot handle any dirt or debris. Rust from old pipes, dirt or rust from the city water main, or any rough use will destroy this type of cartridge. Also, finding some models is nearly impossible.
We have two plumbing suppliers here, as well as the big box stores and none of them stock cartridges for the older Delta or Moen models. I called about warranty and was told that I'd have to buy a new cartridge locally, then return the old one and they would send me a replacement. I got lucky with the one unit, the fixture itself, supposedly stainless steel, corroded through and had to be replaced. They sent me a complete new faucet, after I shipped the old one back. I still had to buy a new one out of pocket.