How do I remove bath taps cemented in from an Enamel bath.

Thanks

Any advice welcome

Dont want to smash up the bath!:mad:

On the underside of the bath, are there a couple of backnuts on the threaded part of the tap, tightened up to the metal of the bath? It could just be that they have been caked in some sort of cement/mastic, perhaps to stem a leak at some time. I have never heard of taps being held in place just by cement alone. I would suggest chipping away at it carefully with a hammer and sharp chisel and hopefully uncover the nuts which should actually be holding them in place. Any damage to the surface of the bath should then be restricted to the underside. I hope this all makes some kind of sense.

If you eventually manage to get rid of all the cement underneath (if that's what the problem was) then you'll need a basin spanner to get at the backnuts. They're not always easy tools to use but getting in there with a regular spanner could be near impossible. They sell them at most plumbers merchants and places like B&Q. :)

Originally posted by letting
Dont want to smash up the bath!:mad:

Unfortunately, that's usually the solution with an older enamel bath :(

The answer is probably to grit your teeth and say goodbye to the bath, then apply increasing force (possibly with a hammer to shatter said cement), then if the bath survives it's a bonus.

Sorry.

PS, are they brass taps? How about sawing off the tops or bottoms and drilling out the remainder?