The Bath Handle Fell Off, How Can We Cover The Bolts?

catz747

Hi,

Basically the bath handle fell off like I said & the 2 bolts are sticking throught the side of the bath. This is the side next to the wall which is completely inaccessible so we can't get the bolts back through that way. I also read that the chances of replacement handles are rubbish & especially the bath / room is peach coloured.

Anyway, the bolts do turn but they won't screw back through the plastic. I'm thinking if we whack them with a hammer it'll break the bath - crack the plastic?

So I'm hoping someone can come up with a cheap ok looking answer as to how we can cover these bolts over so that no-one hurts themself on them - they would cause a nasty gash

I'm guessing here as I haven't measured yet but they stick out about 1.5cm

Thanks in advance for any help.

withabix

Cut the bolts off with a hacksaw and fit some plastic caps?

Glue the handle back over the bolts using Araldite (epoxy resin adhesive)?

Try eBay for replacement handles - it is amazing what some people try to sell!

wallbash

Cut the bolts , down flush with a junior hacksaw.

Would take some time. but apart from playing with you rubber duck , wot else would you be doing.

catz747

Ha ha! Thanks, hacksaw it is then!

We can't glue the handle back on as it cracked quite badly & we threw it away - it was a while ago & the safety has come about due to having kids now.

I think I'll look for some plastic caps then, or someone mentioned rubber bungs on another thread if we can get the right size ...... I'll try ebay as well lol!

Thanks.

Owain_Moneysaver

If it's a plastic bath you might be able to make up some caps in coloured acrylic - try a local signmaker - and solvent-weld them to the bath with the approrpiate solvent glue.

Cut the bolts flush as you can with a dremel-type cutter.

catz747

So when I've cut the bolts, I shouldn't just poke them out then?

Makes more sense to leave them there when you put it that way

ormus

cut the heads off and let them fall to the floor. leave them there!
fill the holes with rubber stoppers. or epoxy a plastic block in place, colored to match.

catz747

See I'd be more than happy to put these in which was suggested on another thread (it comes up tops in google if you type replacement bath handles) but I don't know how big these stoppers are, how big a cistern lever hole is?

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Plumbing/Hole+Stoppers/Cistern+Hole+Stopper+White/d20/sd3108/p57894

EDIT: They ended up far too big - they were over an inch so we used the spare bolts from diving regulators which have their own rubber washers

ormus

from memory they are about 3/4 inch.
check out the toolstation catalogue for door handles too.
they do some very cheap door handles which may be suitable for your bath.
ie
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hardware/Stainless+Handles/D+Handle+Stainless+Steel+Effect+160mm/d170/sd2832/p29820