Plugging sink overflows...again.

[Crazyraceguy]

I don't really understand the fascination with this, but lately it has been a thing? The last time I had to do this was in sinks where this was at least available, but they had already been installed before someone requested it. It was in the front edge of an oval shaped bowl. In this case, it is not an option, and a little more difficult to do. It is near the corner of a rectangular shaped bowl. It ended up taking an off-set base router to get in there.
Shaper Origin to the rescue again. It made the jig, to slightly increase the size of the holes, making them more uniform, and the plugs. You might find it, if you knew it was there, but in real life, it's a decent repair.
 

 

[PaulMarcel]

I had never seen one of those offset bases before. Bet that could solve a number of problems. Might even simplify [member=297]Michael Kellough[/member] 's tapered flutes issue.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

I have absolutely no idea why anyone would want to plug an overflow and risk a flood. It’s like having an electrical installation without a circuitbreaker.

 

[peter halle]

I have absolutely no idea why anyone would want to plug an overflow and risk a flood. It’s like having an electrical installation without a circuitbreaker.

I agree!  Also every time I see a pasta pot filler over a range I cringe imagining a precocious child getting up and turning it on for fun.

Peter

 

[Holzhacker]

I don't generally freak out about liability but in this case I wouldn't plug an overflow unless the client signed a paper acknowledging 'Yes we know we are stupid but we want you to do this anyway'
Someone will want to blame someone besides little Johnny when the bathroom overflows and gets destroyed

 

[Sparktrician]

I don't generally freak out about liability but in this case I wouldn't plug an overflow unless the client signed a paper acknowledging 'Yes we know we are stupid but we want you to do this anyway'
Someone will want to blame someone besides little Johnny when the bathroom overflows and gets destroyed

There is no way in holy hades that I'd agree to close off an overflow.  If I'm not mistaken, it becomes a code violation to NOT have a working overflow. 

 

[woodferret]

Just on tubs.  Sinks aren't coded to have overflow... Hence vessel sinks a few years back.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Just on tubs.  Sinks aren't coded to have overflow... Hence vessel sinks a few years back.

Yup, I have a vessel sink without an overflow. I asked my plumber neighbor if those were generally required and he said no.

The nuisance with a vessel sink is that they don't get air in the drain pipe and sometimes (mine, often would...) start filling since the drainage slows to a crawl. I added a Y pipe and it now never backs up; opens the risk of a plugged drain overflowing at the Y, but I'm good with that

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I said the same thing, the first time. There were 28 of them to do, in the field, to previously installed sinks.
Believe it or not, this is not only in a commercial setting (not residential) it's in a hospital!
Apparently, the thinking is to block bacteria from growing in the darkness and potential moisture-rich area?
Like I said, the oval sinks, from the last time, are available from the manufacturer without the overflow.
It was just an oversight by someone, that they were done that way.
I found the pic of the plugs, but maybe didn't get one of a sink? I find that hard to believe.

[member=3513]PaulMarcel[/member] Really? That surprises me  [huh] The first one I ever had was a DeWalt, 20 years ago. It was only available as part of what they called Laminate trimmer "Installers set", which was the main motor/fixed base, a tilting base, an underscribe plate, and the off-set base. It is not particularly user-friendly, because every operation required the tear-down of another. The selling point was that you have everything in one small case/kit. Great for a guy in an on-site emergency, while taking minimal space in the van, since it's not a frequent-flyer.
The DeWalt was no longer available when I was replacing things, from the fire, so I got a couple of the similar kits in the Bosch Colt platform. Not long after that I got a Makita compact, in the full set form, because it included a plunge base too. That's something the Bosch was missing. (there is one, separately, not in that kit) Then I discovered the performance of the cordless version of the Makita compact and that the motors were interchangeable with the corded ones.
For laminate work, losing the cord is a huge advantage. The cords tend to drag/snag and the power required is minimal, perfect mates.
There are some odd restrictions of those off-set bases though. Bit height and/or cut depth are a bit challenging, as well as the amount of material you can cut in one go. The bit is driven by a small belt, so it won't take a big load against the cutter. It's really intended as an emergency situation solution, to minimize filing in awkward places.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Apparently, the thinking is to block bacteria from growing in the darkness and potential moisture-rich area?

A friend of mine runs a large contract cleaning company - his two biggest contracts are with local hospitals.
As part of twice-daily restroom cleaning, his staff spray diluted bleach down overflows from a trigger bottle. It takes 10 seconds per overflow.

No bacteria + no floods. It all seems so simple .....

 

[Michael Kellough]

Rockwell made one so they’re at least 45 years old. Rockwell spin PC back out in 1980. It was probably developed the Porter Cable people but I don’t know if they had done so prior to being absorbed by Rockwell in 1960.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Apparently, the thinking is to block bacteria from growing in the darkness and potential moisture-rich area?

A friend of mine runs a large contract cleaning company - his two biggest contracts are with local hospitals.
As part of twice-daily restroom cleaning, his staff spray diluted bleach down overflows from a trigger bottle. It takes 10 seconds per overflow.

No bacteria + no floods. It all seems so simple .....

This is America man, we have to over-complicate things in the medical field to justify someone's over-paid job  [huh] Logic pays no roll in it.

 

[PaulMarcel]

A friend of mine runs a large contract cleaning company - his two biggest contracts are with local hospitals.
As part of twice-daily restroom cleaning, his staff spray diluted bleach down overflows from a trigger bottle. It takes 10 seconds per overflow.

This is America man, we have to over-complicate things in the medical field to justify someone's over-paid job  [huh] Logic pays no roll in it.

Shocked the hospitals haven't gone the "spray the overflow" route: billed to the room at $15 each time

 

[Packard]

I don't generally freak out about liability but in this case I wouldn't plug an overflow unless the client signed a paper acknowledging 'Yes we know we are stupid but we want you to do this anyway'
Someone will want to blame someone besides little Johnny when the bathroom overflows and gets destroyed

There is no way in holy hades that I'd agree to close off an overflow.  If I'm not mistaken, it becomes a code violation to NOT have a working overflow.

Kitchen sinks do not have overflow vents.

A Google search finds plenty of sinks without an overflow:
https://www.google.com/search?q=bat...erflow&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-m

After years of reluctant drain plugs in my bathroom sink, I replaced it with a plunger style drain plug.  Best upgrade I’ve seen.  Easy install.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

In a commercial situation, I don't think you are allowed to have a plug, in the first place? They always seem to have the drain fitting with the holes, not as small as what you would call a screen, but smaller than the usual + in the bottom.