Snapped-off faucet aerator

[David cgc]

Well, this is the biggest forum I frequent, so I figure it's the best chance to find someone who can help. I was trying to install a new aerator on my kitchen sink, but when twisting off the old one, the threaded part snapped off with about 3/4s of it still inside the faucet. Now it's stuck in there, with no apparent way for me to get any kind of grip on it to twist it out. Does anyone have any ideas for how to remove the broken piece, preferably that won't require me to buy a new faucet?

 

[Holdfast]

No idea. I'm guessing drilling it out or something similar is going to be the way to go, but I usually get someone else in to deal with this sort of stuff, because it's way beyond anything I know (or care to learn). Hopefully someone else here can help you out!

 

[Trekker4747]

Needle-nosed pliers?

 

[Gary Mitchell]

That happened to me once. I just opened up a pair of needle nose pliers inside the hole. If you keep pressure on them to keep them open enough, you should be able to turn them enough to get the aerator off.

 

[Jadzia]

If the broken bit in the faucet is completely hollow, I'd probably try sticking something inside the faucet as tight as possible against the broken bit (eg, a piece of wood). The applying torque to that to unscrew the broken bit.

If the wood keeps twisting out, consider applying a small amount of superglue to the wood so it sticks to the broken piece better. But be very careful that you don't glue the broken piece to the faucet.

 

[Luckyflux]

Well I have an idea but it ain't pretty. If the threads broke when you tried to unscrew it, then it probably won't come off without a little force. So first thing to do is get some CLR or something like it. CLR is the calcium, lyme, rust remover. Pour some of that into a glass then stick the faucet part into the glass to try and loosen up the aerator.

Next part is tricky and this idea is probably out of left field, but since your thing is broken anyway what do you have to lose right?

So get some crazy glue and try to glue a lever to the inside of the broken aerator still in the faucet. If you can crazy-glue something like a screwdriver to the inside of the broken aerator, the screwdriver might give you enough leverage to unscrew the piece.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

A nipple extractor should do the job, assuming it's thick enough to get a grip. Some kind of screw extractor might work too.

Also, what Luckyflux said about the CLR. There's probably some calcification that needs to be softened up.

If you can remove the faucet from the sink, you could get a better angle on it and maybe soak the end in the CLR.

 

[David cgc]

Thanks, guys. I'll grab some CLR and check around for a nipple extractor in the morning. I tried using the pilers, but I couldn't get a grip. I actually have a couple of spare fittings that will screw into the inside-diamator of the aerator, so I can use those if I go for the super-glue route to get a piece to grip on, but I want that to be my absolute last resort, considering how likely it is some of the glue will end up sticking the aerator to the faucet.

 

[Trekker4747]

A nipple extractor should do the job, assuming it's thick enough to get a grip. Some kind of screw extractor might work too.

Also, what Luckyflux said about the CLR. There's probably some calcification that needs to be softened up.

If you can remove the faucet from the sink, you could get a better angle on it and maybe soak the end in the CLR.

A nipple extractor. That may be the best named tool ever.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Vice grip pliers. 'nuff said.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Ouch.

 

[broberfett]

A plumber.

 

[Holdfast]

A nipple extractor should do the job, assuming it's thick enough to get a grip.

A nipple extractor. That may be the best named tool ever.

I suggest everyone spends some quality time thinking about alternative designs/uses for such an imaginatively-named instrument.

 

[Jadzia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipple_(plumbing)

 

[Holdfast]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipple_(plumbing)

Men, do not click on this factual link. You will not be happy. I strongly recommend shunning this link and instead focusing strongly on meeting the requirements of my earlier post:

I suggest everyone spends some quality time thinking about alternative designs/uses for such an imaginatively-named instrument.

See? You're much happier now, aren't you?

 

[Plecostomus]

I have four sets of dykes in my toolbox. And a full set of tweekers. Points to anyone who knows what I'm saying here.

 

[Geckothan]

nipple extractor

Kinky.

 

[Tim]

A nipple extractor should do the job, assuming it's thick enough to get a grip. Some kind of screw extractor might work too.

Also, what Luckyflux said about the CLR. There's probably some calcification that needs to be softened up.

If you can remove the faucet from the sink, you could get a better angle on it and maybe soak the end in the CLR.

And if the nipple extractor and CLR soak don't work, there might be some corrosion on the threaded bit that might resolve with a WD-40 soak. It might also help to roughen up the inner surface of the aerator remnant with some sandpaper so that the extractor can get more of a grip.

 

[K'riq Sa]

Where in god's name could you stick your nipple where you would need a nipple extractor to get it out? If this is you I would seriously reconsider the things I was doing with my nipples....




kriq

 

[trekkiedane]

Where in god's name could you stick your nipple where you would need a nipple extractor to get it out? If this is you I would seriously reconsider the things I was doing with my nipples....

I suppose you could get them stuck in a pair of nipple suckers...