Welding on a new mains tap handle

[Neil Carroll]

The actual " handle" of my mains water tap has become loose , it just turns , ive removed the little screw and taken it off , the fixing is mangled , however can be turned with a small spanner , now I know that I could put the handle back on and tack it with a small weld , however is there a safety issue with a quick weld on a water pipe that ultimately leads to the boiler ,by the way boiler is on a different floor, I know this question may sound bizare but i regularly weld cars and the advice when welding cars is to disconnect battery as welding could damage electrics , thanks in advance

 

[Notch7]

Can’t you turn it off in the road and fit a new stop cock

I don’t know about the electrics, I guess it will be earthed

 

[Neil Carroll]

Well I could but it will also turn everyone else on the streets off and knowing my luck a 20 minute job will turn into a day's work

 

[opps]

Can you not just buy a new stopcock and swap over the handle?

 

[Mrs Ten Names]

Well I could but it will also turn everyone else on the streets off and knowing my luck a 20 minute job will turn into a day's work

Warn them , perhaps with a days notice, followed up by an hour or so before, that you are doing some maintenance work on your water main stopcock.
Neighbours are usually accommodating if you treat them reasonably.
It probably will not turn off the whole street, just a pair or four houses.

Or call in a professional who can 'freeze' the supply.

Or hire the kit.

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[Burnerman]

Is the tap not made from brass, Neil?
John

 

[Notch7]

Is the tap not made from brass, Neil?
John

Brass welding…

 

[Exedon]

Brass welding…

That would be brazing soldering may work we would just freeze and replace.

 

[Mrs Ten Names]

That would be brazing soldering may work we would just freeze and replace.

Will freezing be effective if there's pressure behind it?

 

[ajohn]

Epoxy putty might fix it. Depends on what shapes are there that need to fit together.

You could also drill through and fit a low diameter roll pin.

 

[Burnerman]

Freezing is just as effective whether there is pressure or not.
Personally I’d freeze and replace the inner part of the stopcock.
John

 

[foxhole]

Well I could but it will also turn everyone else on the streets off and knowing my luck a 20 minute job will turn into a day's work

So is it the streets main stop cock , not yours?

 

[Madrab]

Nothing wrong with soldering the handle back on (gas torch, flux and solder) and it would probably last, replacing would obviously be a more complete job though.

Arc/MIG/TIG welding on steel is different as it's using high currents conducted through the cars bodywork. Hence why best to disconnect the battery - lead. Any of the car electrical systems that are on a permanent live and ground through the cars bodywork could be damaged by the high current spikes, if there's a completed circuit via the battery.

 

[Laurieo]

If Its in the street then call your water supplier to replace .

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Just an FYI. As a total DIY first timer, I bought a freeze kit from Screwfix, and changed my stop cock. The whole process went completely as planned. Just in case, I had a plan B involving a hosepipe going out into the garden with a suitable fitting for the cut end of the incoming pipe, but it was not needed.