I've been there with overtightening bolts—thought I was being thorough, ended up cracking stuff instead. Now I'm paranoid and barely tighten anything... Is there like a sweet spot or trick to it?
Torque wrenches exist for a reason—especially if you're dealing with plumbing fittings. I get the paranoia (been there myself after cracking a porcelain sink...ugh), but barely tightening isn't the answer either. Here's what I've learned the hard way:
- Invest in a decent torque wrench. Plumbing fittings usually have recommended torque specs, and following those takes out the guesswork.
- If you don't have specs handy, a good rule of thumb is hand-tight plus about a quarter to half turn with a wrench. But honestly, this varies depending on material (plastic vs metal vs porcelain).
- Wrap threads with plumber's tape or use pipe dope—helps seal without needing to overtighten.
- Also, don't underestimate the value of practice. Grab some scrap fittings or cheap hardware store parts to get a feel for it without risking your actual fixtures.
I wouldn't say there's a universal sweet spot—it's more about getting comfortable with the materials you're working with and trusting your tools.
Good points here, especially about torque specs. I'd just add—be extra careful with plastic fittings. They seem forgiving until suddenly they're not...cracked a few myself before learning to ease up on the wrench.
Torque specs are definitely important, but honestly, I've found that even easing up on the wrench isn't always enough with plastic fittings. Sometimes it's not about how gentle you are—it's the fitting itself. I've had brand-new fittings crack on me even when I was super careful. Now I prefer brass fittings wherever possible. Yeah, they're pricier, but they're way more forgiving and reliable in the long run. Plastic might save a few bucks upfront, but replacing cracked fittings and dealing with leaks later isn't worth the hassle. Just my two cents from some frustrating experiences...
I've had decent luck with plastic fittings, actually...but only certain brands. Seems like quality varies a ton, and some plastics hold up way better than others. Brass is solid, no doubt, but I've seen corrosion issues pop up over time too, especially with certain water types. I guess it depends on your local water conditions and how long you plan to keep things in place. Just something else to consider before spending extra on brass fittings.
