bending pipe for shower fixture?

Question

Sorry to ask such an elemental question, but I will anyway! ;->

I bought a new showerhead that we like a lot better than the old one, but the stream is wider and it's hitting on a tile area where we've had breakdown in the past (and we'd really just rather have ALL the shower stream hitting in the tub area anyway).

So the pipe at present is bent down maybe 30 degrees, just a couple inches off the wall. I've considered slipping a larger pipe over it, or a smaller bar inside of it, but neither gives me a good lever point .... and I worry about screwing up the threads or taking it out of true.

So this is probably a very simple problem for this group. Help me out?

Thanks!

Liam

Winston · Accepted Answer

You could unscrew the existing shower arm and replace it with an 'adjustable' like: way *everybody* can be happy!--Winston

starbolins · Answer

Don't try to bend it while it's in the wall!!!  It's sure to break atthe threads if you do that.

42 · Answer

Yeah, or tear the elbow loose inside the wall. Think $$$.

Bruce L. Bergman · Answer

You can NOT bend it while it's still in the wall - big trouble. The shower ell is threaded 1/2" NPT on both ends, and there is a "drop ear ell" with matching threads in the wall if it's copper pipe. Galvanized pipe will have an elbow in the wall going down to the shower valve, but it might not be secured to anything than the riser pipe.

And consider the nice chrome plating on the pipe will get messed up badly if you try bending it. Even padding the bender jaws might not be enough.

They sell several factory made variations on the shower ell that have two adjustable swivels, and ones with a big shepherd's hook bend in them to gain altitude and clear the heads of tall people. Find one that will work for you, get one.

If you're totally stumped, you can get chromed brass pipe nipples, chromed brass threaded elbows and fittings, and roll your own.

Clean out the threads in the wall elbow with a wire brush, put teflon tape on the arm threads before installing it, and count the turns to make sure it's in there securely, at least 8 turns - you do NOT want a water leak inside the wall.

-->--

Gerald Miller · Answer

An acquaintance asked me to look at the shower head in the lower floor WR to see if it might possibly be leaking. After I turned it in four full turns, I gave her the news that she was going to have to completely rebuild the wall, since the shower had been in use for several years. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

LLBrown · Answer

OR you could kink the pipe shut!

Gerald Miller · Answer

Why not just install a hand shower?Gerry :-)}London, Canada

Michael A. Terrell · Answer

What kind of slob only washes their hands? ;-)

Pipe Man · Answer

bending pipe for shower fixture?

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