How to Put a Drain in a Plastic Tub
Putting a drain in a plastic tub shows ingenuity, cleverness and little quirkiness. Remodeling a plastic tub requires only a few basic tools and novice level skills. The result is an unusual and undoubtedly useful item.
Step 1
Mark the intended position of the drain at the bottom of the plastic tub. Use a pencil to create an \"X\" that indicates the center of hole through which the drain assembly will be placed.
Step 2
Measure the diameter of the drain assembly. Place calipers around the drain assembly's shank. Transfer the measurement to a tape measure to determine the diameter of the drain assembly's shank. Select a hole saw equivalent in diameter to the shank of your drain assembly. Attach the hole saw to a drill, place the hole saw's pilot bit at the center of the \"X\" mark and drill a hole through the plastic tub.
Step 3
Deburr and clean the freshly cut hole using an emory cloth and a lint-free cloth. Pull large chunks from the hole’s perimeter using your fingers. Sand and remove burrs by rubbing the hole's perimeter with an emory cloth, and remove dust and small particles from the area by wiping it with a lint-free cloth.
Step 4
Place a bead of plumber's putty on the underside of the sink assembly's strainer. To create a bead of plumber's putty, roll a portion of the putty on a flat surface until it forms a long, thick thread. Try to create a piece of \"spaghetti\" approximately ?-inch thick. Wrap the bead around the underside of the strainer's flange, pinch off the excess putty and join the cut ends by smoothing them with your fingers.
Step 5
Place the drain assembly's shank through the hole created in step 2. Hold it in place, and attach gaskets and nuts to the shank's threads. Turn the nut clockwise to tighten it. Continue to tighten the nut while keeping an eye on the putty to make sure it remains on the underside of the strainer's flange. Tighten the nut until the flange tightly fits against the tub's surface and the excess putty oozes out around its perimeter.
Step 6
Remove excess putty with a lint-free cloth, and smooth the remaining putty with a moistened finger.
Tips
- If your drill is too large to place in the tub, mark and drill the hole from the outside instead of the inside of the tub.
Warnings
- Always wear goggles and gloves when using a power drill because shards of plastic may fly from the tub as it is being drilled.
Writer Bio
Based in Hawaii, Shane Grey began writing professionally in 2004. He draws on his construction experience to write instructional home and garden articles. In addition to freelance work, Grey has held a position as an in-house copywriter for an online retailer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts from Humboldt State University.
More Articles
